The birthplace of jazz and blues came alive recently as the KNKX Travel Club visited New Orleans for the annual French Quarter Festival. This vibrant celebration highlighted the talents of local musicians, many of whom have deep connections to the Seattle music scene.
With nearly 100 jazz clubs, hotel bars, and live street performances, New Orleans offers a fertile ground for musical collaboration. Here, musicians often refine their skills through jam sessions and partnerships, even before the establishment of formal jazz education.
New Orleans has long been home to legends of jazz and blues, making it a sanctuary for eager artists seeking mentorship and growth in their musical journey.
Saxophonist Skerik, a member of Earshot’s Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame, has made New Orleans his part-time residence. After performing an entirely improvised funk gig with Ivan Neville on keyboards and Tony Hall on bass, he shared with KNKX his sentiments about balancing his life between Seattle and New Orleans.
“It’s so flat here,” he joked. “I do miss the mountains, but I come here for the culture.”
Skerik’s extensive collaborations in New Orleans include drummer Stanton Moore, his longtime partner in the band Garage A Trois. Last year, he curated Sauce Fest during the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, leading to the creation of the Compersion Quartet album with a local rhythm section comprised of Brian Haas, James Singleton, and Simon Lott.
In frequent visits to Seattle, Skerik was recently in town for performances with McTuff and his band Crack Sabbath. He is set to lead an acoustic quintet at the Jazz Center of Bellingham on May 28.
Another figure making waves in the New Orleans music scene is Marina Albero, a pianist originally from Barcelona. After spending a decade in Seattle, Albero relocated to New Orleans this winter and is currently navigating her way through its musical landscape.
She is learning local standards, including the beloved
image source from：https://www.knkx.org/jazz/2025-04-22/turning-up-the-seattle-new-orleans-jazz-connections
