New Orleans Music Tour
Description
Although New Orleans is heavily associated with Jazz, this tour will show how every form of American popular music is informed by New Orleans. As the outgrageous New Orleans R&B legend Ernie K-Doe said: “I'm not sure, but I'm almost positive, all music came from New Orleans.”
Tour Options
Itinerary
Explore the world’s richest musical city, starting with Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square, historic site of African slave gatherings, the only place in North American where pure West African religious ritual and musical traditions were performed. Congo Square is considered the wellspring of all New Orleans music and, consequently, so much of worldwide popular song. It is also the site of the first New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1970. From Armstrong Park, view the building which housed Cosimo Matassa’s groundbreaking J&M Studios which created the “New Orleans Sound” with such New Orleanians as Professor Longhair, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Guitar Slim, Shirley & Lee, Lloyd Price, Ernie K-Doe, Allen Toussaint, Clarence “Frogman” Henry & visitors including Little Richard, Ray Charles, & Jerry Lee Lewis. J & M Studios is the true birthplace of rock ’n roll.
You will visit Basin Street Station and stroll down Basin Street where you’ll see the remains of Storyville (including Frank Early’s “My Place” Saloon where “Pretty Baby” was written), fabled turn-of-the-century red light district whose parlors presented the likes of King Oliver, Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet and many more during the early days of jazz.
Then stroll through the Tango Belt to May Bailey’s and the site of the Old French Opera House.
End at the legendary Preservation Hall, a place which represents the past, present, and future of New Orleans music. Learn the origins of New Orleans Bounce Music and check out the world’s greatest street musicians who are carrying the flame to this very day.
Congo Square is the only place in North America where pure West African religious ritual took place. If American popular music comes from New Orleans, it specifically originates in Congo Square.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(73)
Our guide, David, was extremely knowledgeable, personable and engaging. Worth more than every penny.
Our tour guide, Mr David Higgins, was wonderful! Full of energy, very knowledgeable, and a musician himself with music in his family lineage. I learned so much in one hour! I 100% recommend. A few things I didn't expect: there was quite a bit of standing for long periods, although there were benches to sit nearby and we could have asked him to move. It began to rain one hour into the tour, we took cover in a nearby bar and he ended the tour there. I wish he would have stayed to chat until the rain ended and we continued on.
David is very passionate about music. And a wealth of knowledge. He is very animated and fun to listen to.
Very informative, interesting, well presented. David Highins is a weakth of knowledge regarding New orleans music as well as all things New Orleans
Brion was absolutely the BEST!! He was so knowledgeable in history and music. It was more than we ever expected!! We learned so much. He was personable and fun. I highly recommend this tour.
The tour was enjoyable, and our guide, David (I believe that was his name), was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of music. I found it interesting overall. However, when my friends and I booked the tour, we expected to visit the hotspots where music or jazz is currently happening, along with a bit of its history. Instead, we mainly visited statues of people who played significant roles in the history of music, while David explained who they were and what they accomplished. On the bright side, he also helped take some great pictures for us and told us a little about vampire history.
Margie was the best!! She took us all over Armstrong Park and shared amazing stories about each section and statue with music playing as we walked. Congo Square’s history was so impactful and to see so many of our great musicians all with NOLA in their blood was great!
What a fabulous music tour with the animated and passionate David Higgins! Not only did he have the historical information to share, but his personal stories along with the visuals and audible snippets from his iPad to compliment it! Money and time well spent!
What an experience. David is extremely knowledgeable about not only local music but the impact New Orleans musicians had on the national level. David is a gem.
Great tour. 5 stars. David was very fun and knowledgeable. If you love the history of jazz, this tours for you
