New Orleans is home of Jazz, Blues and all sorts of sounds

Below is only a sampling

[Traditional Jazz | Contemporay Jazz | Blues | Cajun & Zydeco | Rock n' Roll | Latin Beat]


Where to hear traditional jazz in the French Quarter... Preservation Hall (726 S Peter St; tel:504-523-8939; $3.00 cover)- jazz in its purest form. Palm Court Cafe (1204 Decatur St; tel:504-525-0200; $4.00 cover)- very stylish; records for collectors. Fritzel's European Jazz Pub (733 Bourbon St; tel:504-561-0432)- worth the visit!

Where to hear contemporary jazz... Snug Harbor (626 Frenchman St in Faubourg Marigny; tel:504-949-0696; $5-$10 cover depending on the performer- one of the most vibrant jazz clubs in the country

Hot new jazz clubs...Funky Butt (714 N Rampart in the French Quarter; tel:504-558-0872)- features late-night jam sessions. New Showcase Lounge (1915 N Broad St in Gentilly; tel:504-945-5612)

Where to hear the blues...House of Blues (225 Decatur St in the French Quarter; tel:504-529-1421; $5-$15 cover) offers an eclectic mix of everything from bluegrass to alternative. The town's best buried blues treasure is John Mooney's Sunday night gig at Madigan's (800 S Carrollton Ave in Uptown; tel:504-866-9455). Other choices include Tipitina's (501 Napoleon Ave in Uptown; tel:504-895-8477); Mermaid Lounge (1102 Constance St in the Warehouse District; tel:504-524-4747; closed Mondays; $5 cover); and Vic's Kangaroo Cafe (636 Tchoupitoulas St in Uptown; tel: 504-524-43290- excellent blues music on Thursdays from 10pm to 2am and on Saturdays from 11pm to 3am

Where to hear Cajun & Zydeco...Maple Leaf Bar (8316 Oak St in Uptown; tel:504-866-9359; $3-$10 cover) is the place to be for great Cajun & Zydeco music- Thursdays are the best day. Other choices include: Michaul's on St Charles (840 St Charles Ave in the Warehouse District; tel:504-522-5517)- also good cajun cuisine; Mulate's (201 Julia St in Uptown; tel: 504-522-1492; Patout's Cajun Cabin (501 Bourbon St in the French Quarter; tel:504-529-4256); and don't miss Mid-City Lanes (4133 S Carrollton Ave in Mid City; tel:504-482-3133; about$5 cover)- very popular zydeco nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Where to hear Rock 'n Roll...By far the most consistent, progressive, high-quality rock venue is downtown in the Warehouse District. The Howlin' Wolf (828 S Peters St in the Warehouse District; tel:504-523-2551; 45-$10 cover) presents both local and touring artists. Other rolling places include: Check Point Charlie's (501 Esplande Ave in Faubourg Marigny; tel:504-947-0979; open 24 hours)- local up-and-coming blues and rock bands; plus there is a 24 hour laundromat in the back; also check out the Mermaid Lounge (1102 Constance St in the Warehouse District; tel:504-524-4747).

Where to meet the Latin beat...Caribbean and Latin-American music has always played an important role in the New Orleans sound. Today, the outfit called the Iguanas is the city's best-loved dance band, and you can often catch the "Iggies" playing a border sweep of swamp pop, Tex-Mex, Mexican, and South American styles for packed houses at any number of clubs, especially Mid-City Lanes (4133 S Carrollton Ave in Mid City; tel:504-482-3133); Cafe Brasil (100 Chartres St in Faubourg Marigny; tel:504-947-9386); Howlin' Wolf (828 S Peters St in Warehouse District; tel:504-523-2551). For the best merengues and salsa; it's well worth venturing out to the suburb of Metairie to join the local Latin crowd at Cima Super Club (2726 Causeway Blvd in Metairie; tel:504-833-6766; $5 cover)- city's best Latin dance band.

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