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Danny Barker Fest

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Sporting a plastic cigar in his mouth, Danny Barker leads the Onward Brass Band in a parade at the 1974 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Michael P. Smith/The Historic New Orleans Collection

Sporting a plastic cigar in his mouth, Danny Barker leads the Onward Brass Band in a parade at the 1974 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Michael P. Smith/The Historic New Orleans Collection

Join us at the New Orleans Jazz Museum from Friday, January 11 through Sunday, January 13 for the Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival, three days of great talk, music, and more in celebration of the life and legacy of NEA Jazz Master Danny Barker.

Taking place throughout the Jazz Museum grounds and third floor auditorium, admission is only $10 daily – $25 for all three days – and includes access to all Museum exhibits. Learn more at dannybarkerfestival.com


Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival Schedule


Friday, January 11, 2018 – Jazz Museum 3rd floor auditorium 

2pm – Leroy Jones and Chris Sylvain talk with Fred Kasten about Danny Barker’s impact on their lives and New Orleans music.
3pm – Gregg Stafford and Fred Johnson talk with Fred Kasten about Danny Barker’s profound and on-going cultural influence.
4pm – Producer Scott Billington, writer Jon Pult and publisher Jan Ramsey share favorite memories of Danny Barker.
5pm – The Arrowhead Jazz Band with special guests (live music)

Saturday, January 12, 2018 – Jazz Museum 3rd floor auditorium

11am - Danny Barker: A Life In Jazz – Journalist Gwen Thompkins, writer Jason Berry and editor Molly Reid talk with Fred Kasten about the Historic New Orleans Collection’s recent expanded edition of Danny Barker’s autobiographical memoir A Life In Jazz.
12pm – Tom McDermott (live music)
1pm – Mari Watanabe (live music)
2pm – Wendell Brunious (live music)
3pm – Gregg Stafford (live music)
4pm – Topsy Chapman and Solid Harmony (live music)

Music of the Banjo – Jazz Museum 2nd floor

1:00 – 1:40 pm - Joe Cushenberry 
2:00-2:40pm - Carl LeBlanc 
3:00-3:40pm - Seva Venet 
4:00 -4:40pm - Don Vappie

Outside Stage at Jazz Museum

Charmaine Neville - Amasa Miller - 1-1:40pm
John Boutte - 2:00-2:40p 
Gerald French - 3:00-3:40pm 
Treme Brass Band with Black Men of Labor - 4:00-4:40pm

Sunday, January 13, 2018 – Jazz Museum 3rd floor auditorium

10am to 10:30am – In the Beginning: The Fairview Church and Danny Barker
Pastor Chris Sylvain’s multi-media presentation about the beginnings of the Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band
1pm – Danny Barker: Man of Many Hats - Pianist Ellis Marsalis, composer Roger Dickerson, clarinetist Dr. Michael White and historian Don Marquis talk with Fred Kasten about Danny Barker’s multiple contributions to New Orleans music and culture.
2pm – Danny Barker Film Fest – Filmmaker Matt Martinez talks about and screens some of his classic segments with Danny and Blue Lu Barker.
3pm – Robert Allen Quartet (live music)
4pm - Dr. Brice Miller’s Band (live music)

Jazz Museum 2nd floor

1pm – Adella the Storyteller
2pm – Greer Goff Mendy – Cultural dance

Danny Barker Day Parade


Second-line from New Orleans Jazz Museum to Danny’s house in the French Quarter – through the Quarter - back to the New Orleans Jazz Museum – with the Hot 8 Brass Band 
11:00am-12:00pm - Free 

Danny Barker Day Proclamation and Celebration – Outside Stage at Jazz Museum

Mayor or Representative of the City of New Orleans to make proclamation

12:30pm -1:10pm - Steve Pistorius 
1:30pm-2:10pm - Leroy Jones
2:30pm-3:10pm - Mark Brooks
3:30pm-4:10pm - Kermit Ruffins

Later Event: January 12
Danny Barker Fest