Jelly Roll Morton used to say that he invented jazz one afternoon when he didn't have anything better to do -- which was hard to believe, because he was in New Orleans at the time, where there's always something to do -- until the past three weeks.
Hurricane Katrina silenced the clubs known for jazz and funk, blues and R&B, and scattered the city's musicians across the country. Rooted in French, African-American, and Latin influences, the music of the Big Easy has always been one of the principal reasons the city drew visitors from around the world. Talk of the Nation pays tribute to the distinctinctive style that infects all the music of New Orleans.
A few players from the Crescent City, including Rock and Roll Hall of famer Allan Toussaint, perform live in NPR's Washington, D.C. studios.
Guests:
David Mooney, jazz guitarist and teacher at the New Orleans center for creative arts
Derek Douget, jazz saxaphonist and musical director of the Ellis Marsalis quintet
Allen Toussaint, singer, pianist, songwriter, arranger and producer
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