Live music venues are still not open in the French Quarter. Since May, the Jazz Museum on Esplanade is enjoying Tuesday afternoon “balcony concerts” outside with a group of musicians on the 2nd floor playing to listeners in the ground level patios below. With the city entering Phase 3 restrictions this month, it was hoped that the re-opening of some bars and restaurants would allow indoor live music or even street level performers to begin filling the air with their sweet sounds.
Many musicians have taken to streaming their performances (Facebook, YouTube, etc.) and the Jazz Museum indoor stage has been one of the available sites being used for this purpose.
With cigar and chardonnay in hand, Jazz Curator Emeritus, Don Marquis, attended his final “balcony concert” at the Museum in early August. Having lived only a few blocks away for 40 years, Don was going “back home to Indiana” the following day to begin his new life in an assisted living facility nearer to family.
At 87, Don is frail but full of vigor. He established the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint and has been consistently involved in its operation, directly and indirectly.
