Welcome to the first edition of Bamboula: Jazz Studies in Motion’s newsletter! I’ve had the pleasure of engaging with many of you since our launch last fall, but I’m excited to share more of the history, goals and upcoming programming we have going on here in New Orleans.

Based in New York and New Orleans, the Jazz Generations Initiative is a project founded by Columbia University professor and jazz scholar Dr. Robert O’Meally and composer and 2023 MacArthur Foundation grantee Dr. Courtney Bryan, with funding and support from the Mellon Foundation and the Jazz Foundation of America. The JGI’s mission is to expand jazz audiences through uniting artists and listeners with intergenerational performance opportunities and interdisciplinary jazz scholarship. JGI will grow diverse audiences in its two cities, expand archival preservation of jazz through oral history interviews, and spark new possibilities in improvised music and beyond.

I hope to see some of you at our talks on March 9 and March 11 at the Community Book Center here in New Orleans. Scroll for more details.

— Denise Frazier, Bamboula Creative Director

In January, we had the privilege of hosting Rashaan Carter, Allan Mednard, and Brandee Younger as our first Bamboula residents at The New Quorum. In our April issue we will highlight the wonderful work that they conducted during their two week stay in New Orleans. 

In October 2025, Bamboula: Jazz Studies in Motion, hosted the first JGI all-staff meeting at The New Quorum, an artist/scholar residency founded by Gianna Chachere, located on the beautiful, tree-lined Esplanade Avenue promenade in New Orleans’ historic 6th ward. 

The gathering included New Orleans jazz luminaries, scholars from various institutions, traditional and experimental jazz musicians, writers, and New Orleans culture bearers.

Following the opening reception, the Neighborhood Story Project and Bamboula: Jazz Studies in Motion co-hosted an event entitled Tukki, one of many in a series of events in Alune Wade’s New African Orleans tour and film release. The gathering included oral history interviews with local and international musicians including Wade, Alex Abalos, Alix Goffic, Papa Titos Sompa, Les Cenelles (Joseph Darensbourg, Peter J. Bowling, and Denise Frazier), Cory Henry, with interviews conducted by Faith Quashie, Rachel Breunlin, Giovanni Russonello, and Denise Frazier. 

The interviews will be on the YouTube JGI channel next month. Subscribe here!

Bamboula: Jazz Studies in Motion is an innovative interdisciplinary residency, fellowship and creative hub based in New Orleans, offering opportunities for gatherings based on experimentation, creativity, and interdisciplinary explorations, while drawing inspiration from the city of New Orleans and its connections with the African diaspora, the Global South, and the Gulf South region. While New Orleans, often referred to as the northernmost Caribbean city, is known for its rich history of music and culture with visitors from around the world, there is a desire among artists for more spaces for experimentation away from the pressures of commerce and tourism.

Taking inspiration from the Columbia University Center for Jazz Studies’ “commitment to interdisciplinary musickings, listenings, and conversings” and “by rallying a variety of disciplinary methodologies, perspectives, and concerns,” Bamboula will aim to prioritize artistic and scholarly creativity and experimentation with a focus on interdisciplinarity, to help foster fellowship between visiting and local artists and scholars. 

The name is inspired by teachings of the jazz language by educator and musician Alvin Batiste, by culture bearer Baba Luther Gray’s Bamboula 2000 music ensemble, and the concept of Congo Square’s living history and impact.

Alvin Batiste, The Jazz Language

First was the dot
Then the dot begot the dong-gong
Followed by the ta-ta-ta
The abadaba-doo
The hambone
Didli-didli-bop
Bamboula

I hope you’ll join us for two free events featuring our Bamboula residents we have coming up next week:

On Monday, March 9, Dr. Tao Leigh Goffe will discuss her latest work, Dark Laboratory: On Columbus, The Caribbean, and the Origins of the Climate Crisis, in conversation with Monique Verdin, Denise Frazier, and Courtney Bryan.

Next Wednesday, March 11, Maxine Gordon, one of our Bamboula residents this season, will be in conversation with jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, Gregory Agid and Courtney Bryan about Gordon’s book, Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gordon. RSVP for both events on Eventbrite.

Follow us on Instagram for up-to-date info about everything we’ve got going on.

Bamboula: Jazz Studies in Motion is based at the Historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Founded in 1855, the church contains the national shrine of Blessed Frances Joseph-Gaudet. A mural by Keith Duncan commemorating the life and work of Frances Gaudet was revealed in January.