The Chitlin’ Circuit: Food Stories from the Road
Mark your calendars! On Friday, May 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., the New Orleans Jazz Museum, in collaboration with the Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African American Material Culture, proudly invites you to a special panel discussion and live performance exploring the legacy of the Chitlin’ Circuit—a vital network of performance venues that fostered African American artistry and resilience during the era of segregation.
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 5pm on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live to watch for free.
From juke joints to legends, join us for an unforgettable evening of music, culture, and storytelling, featuring a special guest performance by James Andrews—the "Satchmo of the Ghetto" and a true torchbearer of New Orleans' rich musical heritage. Known for his electrifying trumpet playing and magnetic stage presence, Andrews carries forward the spirit of the Chitlin' Circuit, blending traditional jazz, brass band rhythms, and street-funk soul into a sound that embodies the heart of the Crescent City.
Come experience an immersive journey through food, music, and life on the road as we honor the legends who built a movement from the margins—shaping American music and culture as we know it.
Event Highlights:
Panel Discussion featuring Zella Palmer, Director & Chair, Dillard University Ray Charles Program, Jon Pult, Jazz Historian & Dillard University Food Studies Professor, Kathe Hambrick, Musicologist & Director of the Amistad Research Center moderated by Greg Lambousy, Director of the New Orleans Jazz Museum
Live Performance by James Andrews, blending traditional jazz with personal narratives and food memories
Pop-up Tastings inspired by the dishes and diners of the Juke Joints and the Chitlin’ Circuit
Presented in partnership with the Dillard University Ray Charles Program and the Council of Independent Colleges.
Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: New Orleans Jazz Museum
400 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116