New Orleans, Louisiana.- French Quarter Festivals, Inc. proudly announces the complete music schedule for the 15th Anniversary Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron. The premier American jazz festival dedicated to the life, legacy, and music of New Orleans' native son, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, Satchmo SummerFest takes place July 31-August 2 on the grounds of the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint. In 2015, French Quarter Festivals, Inc. will implement a nominal $5 daily admission fee (kids 12 and under are free).
Over 40 Musical Performances
Two stages will feature over 40 contemporary and traditional jazz musicians and brass bands. Friday, July 31st, Deacon John makes his Satchmo SummerFest debut. With a career spanning more than 50 years, vocalist, songwriter, and bandleader Deacon John Moore was part of the early rhythm and blues scene that later gave birth to rock 'n roll. In the late 1950s, he was a member of the legendary Dew Drop Inn's house band and has played with renowned artists like Allen Toussaint, Ernie K. Doe, Aaron Neville, and Lee Dorsey. Deacon John was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2000.
Jewel Brown returns to Satchmo SummerFest for the first time since 2005. In the 1960's, the vocalist was offered positions with Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong and "immediately" chose Armstrong. The two worked together for seven prolific years that included international tours and films. In addition to her Saturday, August 1st performance with the Ella and Louis Tribute Band, Ms. Brown will be interviewed by Fred Kasten at the Old U.S. Mint on Sunday, August 2nd at 2:30pm.
Grammy-winning percussionist Bill Summers also returns to Satchmo SummerFest to perform jazzed up versions of Afro-Cuban and Latin roots music with his band, Jazalsa. Summers, an original member of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters band, worked with Quincy Jones on the musical score for "Roots," performed with Los Hombres Calientes, and has collaborated with countless artists including Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Anita Baker, Carlos Santana, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Prince, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others.
Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band makes a rare Satchmo SummerFest appearance by closing out the Red Beans & Ricely Yours Stage on Friday, July 31st. Since 1983, Rebirth has upheld the New Orleans brass band tradition while infusing it with funk and hip-hop to create a signature sound. Festival organizers are thrilled to welcome them back to the event after a five-year hiatus due to the band's international touring schedule.
Yoshio Toyama, the "Satchmo of Japan," will celebrate his love of New Orleans and Armstrong during his Festival performance on Saturday, August 1st. Kermit Ruffins, in keeping with tradition, will close out the festival by leading a Trumpet Tribute to Louis on Sunday, August 2nd. Other festival favorites include James Andrews, Jeremy Davenport, Donald Harrison, Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns, Charmaine Neville, Paulin Brothers, and many more.
Complete Music Schedule
Friday, July 31
10:30-11:15 Opening Day Parade led by Storyville Stompers Brass Band presented by Buffa's Bar & Restaurant
Red Beans & Ricely Yours Stage
12:00-1:15 PresHall Brass
1:30-2:45 The Palm Court Jazz All Stars
3:00-4:15 The New Orleans Jazz Vipers
4:30-5:45 Ellis Marsalis
6:00-7:15 Deacon John
7:30-9:00 Rebirth Brass Band
Cornet Chop Suey Stage
11:45-12:15 Dance Lessons by NOLA Jitterbugs
12:15-1:30 Palmetto Bug Stompers
1:45-3:00 Sharon Martin
3:00-3:30 Dance Lessons by NOLA Jitterbugs
3:30-4:45 Doreen's Jazz
5:00-6:15 Leah Chase
6:30-7:30 James Andrews
7:45-9:00 Donald Harrison's All Star Louis Armstrong Tribute
Saturday, August 1
Red Beans & Ricely Yours Stage
12:00-1:15 Steve Pistorius and the Southern Syncopators
1:30-2:45 Butch Thompson's Goodtime Boys
3:00-4:15 Treme Brass Band
4:30-5:45 Yoshio Toyama and the Dixie Saints
6:00-7:15 Charmaine Neville
7:30-9:00 Tribute to Trumpet Black featuring Corey Henry's Treme Funktet
Cornet Chop Suey Stage
11:45-12:15 Dance Lessons by NOLA Jitterbugs
12:15-1:30 Seva Venet and the Storyville Stringband
1:45-3:00 Jane Harvey Brown Trad Jazz Stars
3:00-3:30 Dance Lessons by NOLA Jitterbugs
3:30-4:45 Paulin Brothers Jazz Band
5:00-6:15 The Ella & Louie Tribute Band with special guest Jewel Brown
6:30-7:30 Ecirb Müller's Twisted Dixie
7:45-9:00 Bill Summers & Jazalsa
Sunday, August 2
11:30am - 12:30pm "Satchmo Salute" Second-line Parade featuring Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, Million Dollar Baby Dolls, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, and more! Sponsored by the Orpheum Theater
Red Beans & Ricely Yours Stage
12:00-1:00 Connie Jones and Tim Laughlin
1:15-2:15 Jamil Sharif
2:30-3:30 New Birth Brass Band
3:45-4:45 Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns
5:00-6:15 Robin Barnes
6:30-7:30 Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers
7:30-8:00 Trumpet Tribute to Louis Armstrong (with Kermit Ruffins)
Cornet Chop Suey Stage
11:45-12:15 Dance Lessons by NOLA Jitterbugs
12:15-1:15 Orleans Brass Band
1:30-2:30 Kid Merv and All That Jazz
2:30-3:00 Dance Lessons by NOLA Jitterbugs
3:00-4:00 Don Vappie & The Creole Jazz Serenaders
4:15-5:15 Shannon Powell Traditional All-Star Band
5:30-6:30 Jeremy Davenport
6:45-7:45 Free Agents Brass Band
About Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in an area known as 'Back o' Town.' Throughout his career, he entertained millions - from heads of state and royalty to the kids on his stoop in Corona, New York. Despite his fame, he lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood. The man known around the world as 'Satchmo' was widely recognized as a founding father of jazz - a uniquely American art form. His influence as an artist and cultural icon is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. Armstrong was a charismatic, innovative performer whose improvised soloing was the main influence for a fundamental change in jazz. One of the most famous musicians of the 20th century, he was first known as a cornet player, then as a trumpet player, and toward the end of his career he was best known as a vocalist and influential jazz singer. The nickname 'Satchmo' is short for 'Satchelmouth.' In 1932, Melody Maker magazine editor Percy Brooks greeted Armstrong in London with "Hello, Satchmo!" and the nickname stuck.
Satchmo SummerFest is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (www.fqfi.org), the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which also produces French Quarter Festival in April and Christmas New Orleans Style in December. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. promotes the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through high quality special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of this unique city, contribute to the economic well-being of the community, and instill increased pride in the people of New Orleans.
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