Workshop #6 “Tiny Household Helpers” (Multiple Development Areas)

Does anyone need a toddler’s kind of help? Well, maybe caregivers don’t, but you won’t believe the benefits for the helper! Learn how to promote your child’s development by simply including them in your everyday duties during this week’s YALA Baby ArtsPlay!™ workshop, “Tiny Household Helpers.

This workshop is FREE and presented by The Helis Foundation, and you must register for each workshop to participate.

This free 6-part workshop series is made possible by The Helis Foundation. Our workshops provide engaging arts-based activities designed to instruct caregivers on how to use the arts at home to promote early learning. Lessons are conducted by certified Louisiana Wolf Trap Teaching Artists, who have expertly crafted multi-sensory experiences that foster children’s natural curiosity for learning. After each workshop, children and their caregivers can download our digital Connection Cards for tips on how workshop activities can be continued at home. Watch all the videos in the series again by following us on YouTube (@youngaudiencesla).

February 22 - Workshop 1 - Oh, What A Feeling! (Emotional Development)

March 8 - Workshop 2 - Hello, Friend... (Social Skills)

March 15 - Workshop 3 - Express Yourself (Early Language)

March 22- Workshop 4 - Tiny Motor Scooters (Fine Motor Skills)

April 12- Workshop 5 - Baby Balancing Acts (Bilateral Integration)

April 19 - Workshop 6 - Tiny Household Helpers (Multiple Development Areas)

On April 21, 2026, the New Orleans Jazz Museum will open the exhibition, Less is More: The Photography of Steve Rapport. In March 2022, Rapport planned a four-day trip to New Orleans from his home in California, where he had spent the last few decades teaching martial arts. Seven weeks later, the short trip became a permanent move after the city inspired Rapport to return to his true calling and pick up the camera again. Rapport cites New Orleans, particularly Preservation Hall, which he refers to as his spiritual home, as a fuel to his work as a documentarian in the birthplace of Black American Music. Less is More embodies Rapport's artistic philosophy of simplicity and minimalism. The exhibition features work from his notable earlier rock 'n' roll career alongside stark, emotional new portraits made since arriving in New Orleans—the first time both bodies of work will be shown together. To bring this vision to life and properly honor New Orleans, the show requires funding for printing, framing, installation, and programming. The exhibition marks his return home.

find out more here! : https://nolajazzmuseum.org/lessismore

Join us on April 22 at 2 PM at the New Orleans Jazz Museum for a special afternoon celebrating jazz history and artistry with Scott E. Brown, who will present and sign his acclaimed book Speakeasies to Symphonies: The Jazz Genius of James P. Johnson. Discover the legacy of James P. Johnson, the pioneering force behind Harlem stride piano, through Brown’s engaging insights drawn from rare archival research. The program will be brought to life with a live piano performance by renowned New Orleans pianist John Royen.

James P. Johnson (1894–1955) is one of the most important figures in twentieth-century American music. However, few people other than scholars and serious fans know of his life and work. Rare jazz aficionados know him as the Father of Harlem Stride piano, but his other monumental contributions to American music are seldom acknowledged. Speakeasies to Symphonies: The Jazz Genius of James P. Johnson seeks to rectify this.

Johnson, born in New Jersey, absorbed many musical elements in his youth, especially the African American culture of the Southeastern Seaboard, to create a new musical and rhythmic force for jazz, musical theater, and symphonic music. Johnson’s career stretched from the early 1910s to the early 1950s. His heyday was the 1920s—the decade known for the Jazz Age, the Harlem Renaissance, rent parties, classic blues singers, the first golden age of Broadway and the Great American Songbook, and, perhaps most notably, the worldwide music and dance phenomenon, the Charleston. Johnson not only composed the signature tune that has come to define the decade but was a critical part of the other seminal cornerstones of American music.

Speakeasies to Symphonies presents a detailed portrait of Johnson’s life, music, teachers, associates, protégés, and activity right up to his death. Scott E. Brown explores primary sources previously unavailable, including Johnson’s personal papers, to fill in many gaps and answer lingering questions in his biography, painting a complete picture of his essential legacy.

Scott E. Brown is an independent jazz researcher. He has written two books on James P. Johnson and has published several articles and lectured widely about jazz. He is a practicing physician and holds a master’s degree in jazz history and research.

John Royen is a pianist orn in Washington, D.C. in 1955, John has performed at Preservation Hall for over 35 years, originally taking over the piano chair with the band of "Kid" Thomas Valentine.
John was a protege of the Late Don Ewell and is an exponent of the "stride" piano style. His playing is an eclectic mix of "Jelly Roll" Morton, Fats Waller and Willie "The Lion" Smith among others.

A popular performer, John has worked with virtually every major traditional jazz group in New Orleans and filled the piano chair for internationally known clarinetist Pete Fountain for over 2 years.. In 2008, John was voted as All Star Jazz Pianist by New Orleans Magazine.

A superb soloist as well, John frequently performs and lectures on traditional jazz for the National Park Service, numerous private groups and festivals nationally and overseas.

John currently performed in various jazz clubs around New Orleans and has been in residence in the Polo Club Lounge at the prestigious Windsor Court Hotel for over 12 years.

Free and open to all ages, Gallatin Street Fest invites locals and visitors alike to spend the day enjoying live music, great food, cold drinks, and a lively, laid-back festival atmosphere.

The festival was conceived as a way to champion artists associated with Gallatin Street Records, the museum’s in-house record label dedicated to preserving and promoting New Orleans music, art, and culture while supporting emerging talent through recording resources and performance opportunities.

This year’s lineup brings together an incredible mix of local talent across genres with DJ Archivist keeping the energy going all afternoon. Guests are encouraged to come early, stay late, and soak in a full day of music, food, and celebration in one of the city’s most iconic cultural spaces.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

12:00 PM – James Andrews & The Crescent City All-Stars
1:00 PM – Joe Lastie
2:00 PM – Grayhawk Perkins
3:00 PM – Cha Wa
4:00 PM – George Brown Band
5:00 PM – Robin Barnes
6:00 PM – Bon Bon Vivant

International Jazz Day Festival

Experience the electrifying rhythms and soulful melodies of jazz as we celebrate the International Jazz Day Festival on Tuesday, April 28th, 2024, starting at 2:00 PM. In collaboration with Professor Gordon Towell and the esteemed Music Department at Loyola University, our festival promises an enchanting showcase of talent and creativity.

Highlighting the diversity and depth of jazz, we are thrilled to feature music performances from local schools and colleges, showcasing our community's immense talent and passion.

Join us for an unforgettable International Jazz Day Festival filled with captivating performances, delicious international cuisine, and a celebration of the timeless legacy of jazz.

Steve Masakowski Family & Friends Official Two Worlds Release Concert: Celebrating a landmark New Orleans jazz album honoring guitarist Steve Masakowski, with a multigenerational project featuring Steve, Sasha, and Martin Masakowski, plus Brian Blade, Oscar Rossignoli, and Rex Gregory

The Masakowski Family stands at the heart of New Orleans’s modern jazz scene, carrying forward a rich tradition of musical innovation and artistry across generations.

Patriarch Steve Masakowski has been a central figure in New Orleans jazz since the early 1980s. A celebrated guitarist, composer, and founding member of the award-winning group Astral Project, he has released numerous recordings, including two on Blue Note Records, and has twice been named “Best Guitarist” by Gambit and Offbeat. Steve has performed with legends such as Alvin “Red” Tyler, Ellis Marsalis, Danny Barker, James Black, and Earl Turbinton, as well as Grammy-winning artists Bobby McFerrin, Nicholas Payton, Allen Toussaint, and Dianne Reeves. For nearly 30 years, he served as the Coca-Cola Endowed Chair of Jazz Studies at the University of New Orleans, mentoring generations of musicians while publishing influential works, including Jazz Ear Training (Mel Bay).

Carrying this legacy forward are Steve’s children, Sasha and Martin Masakowski, each acclaimed artists in their own right.

Jazz vocalist, composer, and producer Sasha Masakowski has gained international recognition for her fearless approach to jazz, blending electronic elements into both her performances and songwriting. She has led projects such as Art Market and Tra$h Magnolia on stages around the world, from Blue Note NYC and SFJAZZ to the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, Cotton Club Tokyo, Copenhagen Jazz Fest, and the Detroit Jazz Festival. Named one of Paste Magazine’s “12 Jazz Artists to Watch” in 2019 and hailed by Offbeat as “one of the brightest young talents in the Big Easy,” Sasha has collaborated with modern icons including Nicholas Payton, David Binney, Damon Locks, and Jason Lindner.

Bassist and luthier Martin Masakowski is known for his adventurous musicianship, fusing jazz with folk, classical, electronic, North African, Eastern European, and Indian influences. Trained at NOCCA, the Rotterdam Conservatory, and the University of New Orleans under his father’s mentorship, Martin was selected for the U.S. State Department’s OneBeat residency (2016–17), after which he released the acclaimed album Valley View with violinist Ira Echo. As a luthier, he designed the custom MAZ Bass travel instrument, expanding the double bass’s possibilities. Now based in New Orleans, he is a sought-after collaborator and performer at premier clubs and festivals.

To celebrate Steve Masakowski’s 70th birthday, his children Sasha and Martin organized a recording session as both a tribute to his legacy and to honor the continuation of the city’s family-driven jazz tradition, joining the lineage of esteemed jazz families such as the Marsalis, Jordan, Batiste, and Andrews families.

The album, entitled Two Worlds, is set for release in the Spring of 2026 and features Steve (guitar) and his children Sasha (vocals) and Martin (bass), alongside Oscar Rossignoli (piano), Rex Gregory (saxophone), and internationally acclaimed drummer Brian Blade. The 9 tracks, recorded at Marigny Studios and mixed/ mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Mike Marciano, blends virtuosic artistry and masterful songwriting with the kind of familial chemistry that could only come out of the Big Easy. 

Two Worlds is grounded in the spirit of mentorship and collaboration that defines New Orleans jazz. A prime example is Steve’s four‑decade musical kinship with drummer Brian Blade, who first studied under him at Loyola University and later appeared on Steve’s Blue Note release Direct Axecess. The album’s title track, along with original compositions by Steve, Sasha, and Martin, sits beside James Black’s classic “A Love Song,” reaffirming New Orleans’ role as a wellspring of modern standards. 

Together, the Masakowski Family embodies the living continuum of New Orleans jazz by honoring its deep roots while continuing to innovate and push the music forward, keeping the art form vibrant, evolving, and alive.

Live at the New Orleans Jazz Museum 

Join us on Tuesday, May 5th at 2:00 PM for a special live performance by Brazilian pianist and composer Luciano Leães!

New Orleans Jazz Museum
400 Esplanade Ave
New Orleans, LA 70116

Blending the soulful sounds of New Orleans R&B and jazz with vibrant South American rhythms, Luciano Leães brings a truly unique and internationally celebrated sound. His latest single Festa Brasilis—a tribute to the legendary Professor Longhair—premiered right here in New Orleans on WWOZ.

With a career spanning over three decades, Leães has performed alongside icons like Carey Bell, Hubert Sumlin, and James "Boogaloo" Bolden, and has appeared at world-renowned festivals including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Montreal Jazz Festival.

As bassist Reggie Scanlan says: “Luciano Leães is the real deal—his swinging, funky groove is too deep to measure.”

Don’t miss this unforgettable afternoon of music, culture, and rhythm in the heart of New Orleans!

Gratefully, 

Bon Bon Vivant’s dynamic sound fuses the pulse of their New Orleans home with the grit of indie and the heart of Americana. In the hands of frontwoman Abigail Cosio and saxophonist/vocalist Jeremy Kelley, Bon Bon Vivant's music is a tribute to life, from the chaotic to the captivating and everything in between. 

Cosio and Kelley have built their home on stage, where their bandmates are like family and every show is a gathering of their ever-growing community. Their marriage and creative partnership is foundational to Bon Bon Vivant’s musical identity. Together, they craft a sound that balances infectious energy with introspective depth, drawing listeners into a world of captivating rhythms and evocative storytelling.  Their eccentricity is as likely to captivate a curious NPR listener as it is to draw in the wandering festival-goer. 

For Bon Bon Vivant, live performance is about more than music—it’s storytelling in motion. Their shows are charged and immersive, pulling audiences into a world that’s both intimate and theatrical. Lead songwriter Abigail Cosio crafts songs that unfold like vignettes—emotional, witty, with a hint of the macabre. 

Bon Bon Vivant's music is, at its core, a celebration of life in all its messy, beautiful contradictions. Their songs revel in the joys of existence while acknowledging the ever-present specter of loss, a balance deeply embedded in the ethos of New Orleans itself. The band's performances carry this philosophy forward, transforming venues into communal gatherings where revelry and reflection can coexist.

Bon Bon Vivant is proving that it’s more than possible to exist beyond any one label or set of expectations. They are musicians, storytellers, and enthusiastic ambassadors of a city that embraces contradiction and complexity — and they invite you to join in the dance.

The New Orleans Jazz Museum presents. Join us as we celebrate the artists that make New Orleans a world destination for music. 

This program takes place inside our third-floor Performance Center, listening room. Admission is free and open to the public, seating is limited and offered first-come, first-serve.

Enjoy jazz music from home with the New Orleans Jazz Museum! Join the Jazz Museum online for our daily Live-Stream Concert Series, in which dynamic musicians perform live from the Jazz Museum! Tune in at 2 pm on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live to watch for free.

NOLA Thru My Eyes is a photography educational outreach program organized by Carol Harris of the N’Awlins D’Awlins Baby Dolls and facilitated by photographer and lead instructor, Linda A. Reno to motivate and empower New Orleans youth (ages 10-15) to learn the craft of visual storytelling so they can document their own culture in their own authentic voices. ‍ The unique African-retentive / street culture of New Orleans is consistently documented by photographers, but quite often these photographers are not members of the culture. NOLA Thru My Eyes is for the kids of the culture - those born of Cultural Bearers or those who are Cultural Bearers themselves, as well as frequent participants in the culture of New Orleans. ‍ The objective of this initiative is to give the kids of the culture the opportunity to make images in an effort to explore the catharsis of creative expression and to engage in visual storytelling to both create and control the narrative of their own lived experience. This is their history to be documented, and Thru My Eyes will offer the youth the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to become the most prominent narrators of their culture while also striving to offer an antidote to crime by encouraging youth to shoot pictures and not guns. ‍The TEAM - NOLA THRU MY EYES ‍ ‍Carol Harris, also known as Baby Doll Kit, is a native New Orleanian Cultural Bearer. She is founder of the N’Awlins D’Awlins Baby Dolls. She has a track record of creating and implementing public programs to celebrate New Orleans culture including The Baby Doll Blessing of the Streets annually since 2018, The Baby Doll Juneteenth Celebration - History Through Our Eyes, and The NOLA River Fest. Carol is committed to empowering the youth of New Orleans to continue the traditions of street culture to keep the unique culture of the city alive and thriving. Linda A. Reno is a photographer/storyteller/educator residing in New Orleans, LA. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where she earned an M.A. in Photojournalism. She has been a photography educator at Metairie Park Country Day School since 2020, where she shares the craft of visual storytelling with New Orleanian youth. Her personal work focuses on documenting subcultures and exploring the manifestation of ancient collective memory within culture. To that end, she has been photographing Second Lines in New Orleans since 2007, and amassed a collection of over 150,000 images depicting this uniquely African-retentive cultural and spiritual practice.

Event Tickets Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987266742322?aff=oddtdtcreator

The New Orleans Jazz Museum presents its weekly Balcony Courtyard concert series on Tuesday at 5pm CDT. Bring your blanket! Seats are not provided for outdoor programs. 

Enjoy Jazz Music from home with the New Orleans Jazz Museum! Join the Jazz Museum online for their weekly Courtyard Live-Stream Concert Series, in which dynamic musicians perform live from the Jazz Museum’s balcony! Tune in every Tuesday at 5pm on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live to watch for free.

The New Orleans Jazz Museum and Jazz Foundation of America presents a live performance on Wednesday, May 13th at 2:00 PM CDT inside the New Orleans Jazz Museum. 

This program takes place inside our third floor Performance Center, listening room. Admission is free and open to the public, seating is limited and offered first come, first serve.

Enjoy Jazz Music from home with the New Orleans Jazz Museum! Join the Jazz Museum online for our daily Live-Stream Concert Series, in which dynamic musicians perform live from the Jazz Museum! Tune in at 2pm on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live to watch for free.

The New Orleans Jazz Museum presents. Join us as we celebrate the artists that make New Orleans a world destination for music. 

This program takes place inside our third-floor Performance Center, listening room. Admission is free and open to the public, seating is limited and offered first-come, first-serve.

Enjoy jazz music from home with the New Orleans Jazz Museum! Join the Jazz Museum online for our daily Live-Stream Concert Series, in which dynamic musicians perform live from the Jazz Museum! Tune in at 2 pm on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live to watch for free.

NOLA Thru My Eyes is a photography educational outreach program organized by Carol Harris of the N’Awlins D’Awlins Baby Dolls and facilitated by photographer and lead instructor, Linda A. Reno to motivate and empower New Orleans youth (ages 10-15) to learn the craft of visual storytelling so they can document their own culture in their own authentic voices. ‍ The unique African-retentive / street culture of New Orleans is consistently documented by photographers, but quite often these photographers are not members of the culture. NOLA Thru My Eyes is for the kids of the culture - those born of Cultural Bearers or those who are Cultural Bearers themselves, as well as frequent participants in the culture of New Orleans. ‍ The objective of this initiative is to give the kids of the culture the opportunity to make images in an effort to explore the catharsis of creative expression and to engage in visual storytelling to both create and control the narrative of their own lived experience. This is their history to be documented, and Thru My Eyes will offer the youth the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to become the most prominent narrators of their culture while also striving to offer an antidote to crime by encouraging youth to shoot pictures and not guns. ‍The TEAM - NOLA THRU MY EYES ‍ ‍Carol Harris, also known as Baby Doll Kit, is a native New Orleanian Cultural Bearer. She is founder of the N’Awlins D’Awlins Baby Dolls. She has a track record of creating and implementing public programs to celebrate New Orleans culture including The Baby Doll Blessing of the Streets annually since 2018, The Baby Doll Juneteenth Celebration - History Through Our Eyes, and The NOLA River Fest. Carol is committed to empowering the youth of New Orleans to continue the traditions of street culture to keep the unique culture of the city alive and thriving. Linda A. Reno is a photographer/storyteller/educator residing in New Orleans, LA. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where she earned an M.A. in Photojournalism. She has been a photography educator at Metairie Park Country Day School since 2020, where she shares the craft of visual storytelling with New Orleanian youth. Her personal work focuses on documenting subcultures and exploring the manifestation of ancient collective memory within culture. To that end, she has been photographing Second Lines in New Orleans since 2007, and amassed a collection of over 150,000 images depicting this uniquely African-retentive cultural and spiritual practice.

e New Orleans Jazz Museum presents its weekly Balcony Courtyard concert series on Tuesday at 5pm CDT. Bring your blanket! Seats are not provided for outdoor programs. 

Enjoy Jazz Music from home with the New Orleans Jazz Museum! Join the Jazz Museum online for their weekly Courtyard Live-Stream Concert Series, in which dynamic musicians perform live from the Jazz Museum’s balcony! Tune in every Tuesday at 5pm on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live to watch for free.

The New Orleans Jazz Museum presents. Join us as we celebrate the artists that make New Orleans a world destination for music. 

This program takes place inside our third-floor Performance Center, listening room. Admission is free and open to the public, seating is limited and offered first-come, first-serve.

Enjoy jazz music from home with the New Orleans Jazz Museum! Join the Jazz Museum online for our daily Live-Stream Concert Series, in which dynamic musicians perform live from the Jazz Museum! Tune in at 2 pm on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live to watch for free.

NOLA Thru My Eyes is a photography educational outreach program organized by Carol Harris of the N’Awlins D’Awlins Baby Dolls and facilitated by photographer and lead instructor, Linda A. Reno to motivate and empower New Orleans youth (ages 10-15) to learn the craft of visual storytelling so they can document their own culture in their own authentic voices. ‍ The unique African-retentive / street culture of New Orleans is consistently documented by photographers, but quite often these photographers are not members of the culture. NOLA Thru My Eyes is for the kids of the culture - those born of Cultural Bearers or those who are Cultural Bearers themselves, as well as frequent participants in the culture of New Orleans. ‍ The objective of this initiative is to give the kids of the culture the opportunity to make images in an effort to explore the catharsis of creative expression and to engage in visual storytelling to both create and control the narrative of their own lived experience. This is their history to be documented, and Thru My Eyes will offer the youth the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to become the most prominent narrators of their culture while also striving to offer an antidote to crime by encouraging youth to shoot pictures and not guns. ‍The TEAM - NOLA THRU MY EYES ‍ ‍Carol Harris, also known as Baby Doll Kit, is a native New Orleanian Cultural Bearer. She is founder of the N’Awlins D’Awlins Baby Dolls. She has a track record of creating and implementing public programs to celebrate New Orleans culture including The Baby Doll Blessing of the Streets annually since 2018, The Baby Doll Juneteenth Celebration - History Through Our Eyes, and The NOLA River Fest. Carol is committed to empowering the youth of New Orleans to continue the traditions of street culture to keep the unique culture of the city alive and thriving. Linda A. Reno is a photographer/storyteller/educator residing in New Orleans, LA. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where she earned an M.A. in Photojournalism. She has been a photography educator at Metairie Park Country Day School since 2020, where she shares the craft of visual storytelling with New Orleanian youth. Her personal work focuses on documenting subcultures and exploring the manifestation of ancient collective memory within culture. To that end, she has been photographing Second Lines in New Orleans since 2007, and amassed a collection of over 150,000 images depicting this uniquely African-retentive cultural and spiritual practice.

e New Orleans Jazz Museum presents its weekly Balcony Courtyard concert series on Tuesday at 5pm CDT. Bring your blanket! Seats are not provided for outdoor programs. 

Enjoy Jazz Music from home with the New Orleans Jazz Museum! Join the Jazz Museum online for their weekly Courtyard Live-Stream Concert Series, in which dynamic musicians perform live from the Jazz Museum’s balcony! Tune in every Tuesday at 5pm on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live to watch for free.

The New Orleans Jazz Museum and Jazz Foundation of America presents a live performance on Wednesday, May 27th at 2:00 PM CDT inside the New Orleans Jazz Museum. 

This program takes place inside our third floor Performance Center, listening room. Admission is free and open to the public, seating is limited and offered first come, first serve.

Enjoy Jazz Music from home with the New Orleans Jazz Museum! Join the Jazz Museum online for our daily Live-Stream Concert Series, in which dynamic musicians perform live from the Jazz Museum! Tune in at 2pm on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live to watch for free.

The New Orleans Jazz Museum presents. Join us as we celebrate the artists that make New Orleans a world destination for music. 

This program takes place inside our third-floor Performance Center, listening room. Admission is free and open to the public, seating is limited and offered first-come, first-serve.

Enjoy jazz music from home with the New Orleans Jazz Museum! Join the Jazz Museum online for our daily Live-Stream Concert Series, in which dynamic musicians perform live from the Jazz Museum! Tune in at 2 pm on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live to watch for free.

NOLA Thru My Eyes is a photography educational outreach program organized by Carol Harris of the N’Awlins D’Awlins Baby Dolls and facilitated by photographer and lead instructor, Linda A. Reno to motivate and empower New Orleans youth (ages 10-15) to learn the craft of visual storytelling so they can document their own culture in their own authentic voices. ‍ The unique African-retentive / street culture of New Orleans is consistently documented by photographers, but quite often these photographers are not members of the culture. NOLA Thru My Eyes is for the kids of the culture - those born of Cultural Bearers or those who are Cultural Bearers themselves, as well as frequent participants in the culture of New Orleans. ‍ The objective of this initiative is to give the kids of the culture the opportunity to make images in an effort to explore the catharsis of creative expression and to engage in visual storytelling to both create and control the narrative of their own lived experience. This is their history to be documented, and Thru My Eyes will offer the youth the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to become the most prominent narrators of their culture while also striving to offer an antidote to crime by encouraging youth to shoot pictures and not guns. ‍The TEAM - NOLA THRU MY EYES ‍ ‍Carol Harris, also known as Baby Doll Kit, is a native New Orleanian Cultural Bearer. She is founder of the N’Awlins D’Awlins Baby Dolls. She has a track record of creating and implementing public programs to celebrate New Orleans culture including The Baby Doll Blessing of the Streets annually since 2018, The Baby Doll Juneteenth Celebration - History Through Our Eyes, and The NOLA River Fest. Carol is committed to empowering the youth of New Orleans to continue the traditions of street culture to keep the unique culture of the city alive and thriving. Linda A. Reno is a photographer/storyteller/educator residing in New Orleans, LA. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where she earned an M.A. in Photojournalism. She has been a photography educator at Metairie Park Country Day School since 2020, where she shares the craft of visual storytelling with New Orleanian youth. Her personal work focuses on documenting subcultures and exploring the manifestation of ancient collective memory within culture. To that end, she has been photographing Second Lines in New Orleans since 2007, and amassed a collection of over 150,000 images depicting this uniquely African-retentive cultural and spiritual practice.

Join us at the New Orleans Jazz Museum for Lafcadio Fest 2026, a celebration of the life and legacy of New Orleans author Lafcadio Hearn, presented and produced by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Festivities include: a panel of scholars offering insights on Lafcadio's writings from New Orleans, the Caribbean, and Japan; a keynote from Hearn biographer Steve Kemme; talks by Krewe of Lafcadio founder John Kelly and Krewe of Rex float designer Caroline Thomas; community members' reflections on the ongoing connections between New Orleans and its sister city Matsue, Japan; food by Greta's Sushi; virtual "visits" from the Mayor of Matsue and Hearn's great-grandson; and musical surprises to come! Entry to the event is free and open to the public.

Where: The New Orleans Jazz Museum (400 Esplanade Ave)

When: Saturday, June 20th from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM

For more information and schedule updates, visit the JSNO website (www.japansocietyofneworleans.org/Lafcadio-Fest) and our Facebook event page (https://www.facebook.com/events/2388455514989408)

Follow us on Instagram @lafcadiofest. To get involved with Lafcadio Fest, for media inquiries, or to learn more about the Japan Society of New Orleans, contact us at lafcadiofest@gmail.com.

Join the New Orleans Jazz Museum on Thursday, October 29 at 2:00 PM in welcoming:
Imox Jazz is one of the most prominent jazz projects in Guatemala and Central America. Founded in 2004 by pianist Víctor Arriaza, this Guatemalan quartet—composed of Rosse Aguilar (saxophone and voice), Luis Pedro González (bass), and Kevin Escobar (drums)—has built a two-decade career and released five recordings that fuse elements of swing, Latin music, flamenco, and neo-soul with the essence of traditional Guatemalan music.
Their international reach has led them to represent Guatemala on important stages in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and the United States. Their participation in the annual Jazz Education Network (JEN) conference stands out, where they have presented their fusion-driven approach to a global community of educators and artists. Throughout their career, the ensemble has collaborated with and shared the stage alongside world-class artists such as Erick Marienthal, Jason Marsalis, Andrea Motis, Luis Gasca, Dave Schroeder, and Marco Pignataro.
More than an ensemble, Imox is the epicenter of jazz in Guatemala. As founders of the Imox Jazz Institute and creators of #LosMartesSonDeJazz—the iconic jam sessions that, for more than 10 years, have nurtured the local scene—the group embodies a balance of technical excellence, educational innovation, and deep cultural identity that resonates on world music stages across the globe.
The name “Imox” comes from Mayan culture and refers to a Nawal, or guardian spirit, that connects a person with nature. It represents sensitivity, chaos, spontaneity, and the human will to create.

Gratefully,