An intriguing question in social history is why creative explosions happen when and where they do. What was it about Switzerland during the Great War that made it fertile ground for Dadaism? What was in the water in Austria that made the public ready for The Interpretation of Dreams? What mix of elements collided in New Orleans to give birth to Jazz? Often times the answer seems to lie in the fortunate meetings of a handful of inspired people who create a local renaissance around a new idea, even if that is the revival of an old one.Such a renaissance has been brought again to New Orleans as a collection of 50 or so phenomenal musicians have begun to feed off each other, combining into amorphous groups, and creating some of the best traditional jazz ever made. This is part of our attempt to highlight several of them. (See: Catching up with New Orleans, Part 1 & Catching up with New Orleans, Part 2)Tuba SkinnyNo mention of the current New Orleans traditional jazz revival would be complete without Tuba Skinny, unofficially led by Shaye Cohn, a horn player of exquisite talent, known not for her flame but for the subtle brilliance of her playing. You will also find her on piano and occasionally fiddle. She is one of several core members who have traveled with the band from the streets of the French Quarter to stages around the world.Another is Barnabas Jones on trombone: his simple
