This past January, we welcomed our inaugural Bamboula Residents Allan Mednard, Brandee Younger, and Rashaan Carter to New Orleans. All three worked on individual projects related to sounds of the Gulf South, inheritance, and legacy. We also hosted Sita Michelle Coltrane, Lisa E. Harris, and Arianna Gouveia (the Devotional Ensemble) in preparation for The Music and Legacy of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda, a landmark event which you can watch on our newly launched YouTube channel.
Every year, Bamboula: Jazz Studies in Motion will ground our programming in a theme. This year’s theme is Healing and Democracy. Considering the geopolitical urgency of our current times, and the dynamic environmental climate crisis that the Gulf South and the rest of the planet are enduring, we turn to music, collaboration, democratic processes, deep listening, and shared leadership, in the spirit of healing, to revive us as we face these challenges.
I hope to see some of you at our upcoming events that we’re hosting and co-hosting this month. Scroll to learn more.
— Denise Frazier, Bamboula Creative Director
Recent performances and gatherings
Allan Mednard: A Preview of Rhythm and Words, Historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, January 10, 2026. January Artist-in-Residence Allan Mednard performed an hour of pulsating drum solos supported by prophetic audio recordings by authors Toni Morrison and Octavia Butler, and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. The solo performance was inspired by Mednard’s research during the Bamboula Residency and was punctuated by a Q&A.
Brandee Younger LP Listening Session & Artist Talk for Gadabout Season, Domino Sound, January 11, 2026
Brandee Younger/Rashaan Carter: Sound and Story: An Informal Exploration, The New Quorum, January 12, 2026. Brandee Younger and Rashaan Carter improvised harp and bass accompaniments to an intimate audience while discussing inspirations, legacies, and what it means to play jazz music today. Brandee talked about the importance of inheritance and inspiring future generations of African-descended classical musicians to break through the molds and limitations of racism in the classical world to find their unique sounds.
An Oral History Presentation on Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda, Tulane University, January 14, 2026. Sita Michelle Coltrane and Brandee Younger presented on the life, music and spiritual journey of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda at Tulane University, performing songs and sharing how Alice’s legacy has impacted their lives.
Sita Michelle Coltrane presenting next to a photo of her parents Alice and John Coltrane
Sita Michelle Coltrane and the Devotional Ensemble (Lisa E. Harris and Arianna Gouveia workshop at Xavier University), January 15, 2026
The Brandee Younger Trio at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts High School, January 15, 2026
The Music and Legacy of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda, New Marigny Theatre for Arts and Sciences, January 16, 2026. Bamboula: Jazz Studies in Motion, in partnership with New Marigny Theatre, hosted The Music and Legacy of Alice Coltrane Turiyasanitananda to a sold out audience at the New Marigny Theatre for Arts and Sciences on January 16. Watch the full performance of this special evening on our YouTube channel.
The Inaugural Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr. Afro-New Orleans Festival of Literature & Culture, André Cailloux Center, January 24, 2026
The Bamboula Residency allows artists to have unique experiences that bring them to a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the Gulf South region. The Brandee Younger Trio went on an excursion to the Whitney Plantation Museum where they were able to explore in-depth history and learn about the lives of the people who were enslaved and rebelled along the German Coast of River Road, Louisiana.
Brandee Younger, Allan Mednard, Courtney Bryan and Rashaan Patterson at the Whitney Plantation
“Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought. To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears. To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool. To be led by a thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen. To be led by a liar is to ask to be lied to. To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery.”
Upcoming Events
Friday, April 3, 10-11:30am, Djembe, Sabar, and Tama: New African Orleans Dialogue and Drum Workshop, Gallier Hall | 545 St. Charles Avenue | Free and open to the public
Join us for a conversation and workshop led by djembefola Weedie Braimah and Senegalese sabar/tama drummers Babacar Seck and Aly Guissé. Musicians and listeners alike are welcome. Feel free to bring your drum or an inclination to dance.
The workshop is part of the New African Orleans Festival produced by the Neighborhood Story Project, Alune Wade's Crescendo SUNU Production, Alliance Française, and the Jazz Generations Initiative. It is generously supported by Collaborative Public Humanities in Action and the School of Music at the University of New Orleans, the Mayor's Office of Cultural Economy and Embrace the Culture Initiative, and Tulane University's Department of Music.
Saturday, April 4, 4:30-10:30pm, New African Orleans Family Festival, The Broadside, 600 N. Broad St. Adults: $15-25, Children: $5 | No one turned away for lack of funds.
Wednesday, April 8, 6-8 pm, Deep Listening: A Conversation exploring the Practice and Philosophy of Pauline Oliveros | Historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Sisco Room | 1222 N. Dorgenois Street, New Orleans, LA
Hosted by Lerin Williams and featuring Lisa E. Harris and Ron Bechet. Free and open to the public. Register here.
Saturday, April 11, 1-3 pm, The Quilts of Gee’s Bend: An Art Workshop hosted by Amy Bryan | Historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Suggested Donation $10. No one turned away for lack of funds. Free and open to the public. Register here.
Sunday, April 12, 6-8 pm, Sunset and Sonic Meditation | Couterie
Hosted by Lerin Williams and featuring Lisa E. Harris. Free and open to the public. Register here.
Monday, April 13, 6-7:15 pm, Deep Dish Listening: Willie Colón | Historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Discussants: Yusa and Diego Martín-Pérez. Free and open to the public. Register here.
Sunday, April 26, Doors: 7:30 pm, Vanito Brown: Live in New Orleans | Caribbean and New Orleanian Arts (CANOA), 4210 Saint Claude Avenue
Tuesday, April 28, Inaugural Bamboula Jazz Cohort presents Ancient Entry, Snug Harbor, 626 Frenchmen Street
Artists include: Tonya Boyd Cannon, Victor Campbell, Aurora Nealand, Steve Lands, Max Moran and special guests! First Set: 7:30 pm | Second Set: 9:30 pm | Tickets: $45
Partnership Highlight
The New Quorum resides in a historic mansion on the beautiful tree-lined Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans’ 7th ward. The executive director of The New Quorum is Gianna Chachere and the organization aims to provide vital support for visiting and local artists/musicians/writers to thrive, create, and collaborate in New Orleans.
We’re also incredibly grateful to the Music Department at Tulane University, the Skau Art and Music Grant from the Newcomb Institute, New Marigny Theatre of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University of Louisiana, Historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, WWOZ, Bvlbancha Liberation Radio, Cassie Francillon, Gianna Chachere, Chris Finney, Spy Boy Media Productions, and the New Quorum for their support and collaboration at these recent and upcoming events.