McHugh Michael

Music of the Week Joseph Nathan “King” Oliver was an American jazz player who pioneered the use of mutes in his music. Oliver was a mentor and teacher to music greats like Louis Armstrong. Born near Donaldsonville, Louisiana, Oliver moved to New Orleans, learning to play the trombone, followed by the cornet. He also spent […]

Music of the Week The Neville Brothers were an American R&B/soul/funk group, formed in the 1970s in New Orleans. The group was made up of the four Neville brothers, Art, Charles, Aaron, and Cyril. Aaron spun out another group called The Meters, while Aaron’s son Ivan and Art’s son Ian are in the band Dumpstaphunk.

Music of the Week Don Vappie is a jazz musician from New Orleans who started his music career at age 6 and now encompasses the guitar, banjo, vocals, mandolin, double bass, and washboard. The Blue Book of Storyville is a fantastic album that helped bring me much-needed mental calmness this week. Quotes of the Week

Music of the Week Herbert Hancock is an American jazz musician from Chicago who blends jazz fusion, funk, and electro styles into beautiful songs. He’s been active since the early 1960s, which speaks to his longevity. A few of my favorite songs include Cateloupe Island, Watermelon Man, Chameleon, and Rockit. Quotes of the Week In

Music of the Week Sherry Finzer is a classical flutist who has expanded into the genres that include Latin Jazz, Flamenco, Pop, and World Music. Finzer oversees Heart Dance Records – a woman-owned/run label consisting of instrumental artists. She specializes in the low flutes – alto, bass, contrabass, and native flutes. I found Finzer during

Music of the Week Trombone Shorty, aka Troy Andrews, is a trombone player and producer from New Orleans. Andrews also plays drums, organ, and tuba. Andrews has toured with his band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, since 2009. Whenever I’m in the mood for upbeat jazz, Andrew’s music comes to the rescue. Some of my

Music of the Week The Soul Rebels are an eight-piece brass band out of New Orleans fusing soul, jazz, funk, hip-hop, rock, and pop. The band consists of Lumar LeBlanc and Derrick Moss (percussionists), Julian Gosin and Marcus Hubbard (trumpet), Corey Peyton and Paul Robertson (trombonist), Erion Williams (saxophonist), and Manuel Perkins Jr. (sousaphonist). My

Music of the Week Preservation Hall Jazz Band is a jazz band founded in New Orleans by tuba player Allan Jaffe in the early 1960s. The band derives its name from Preservation Hall (such a cool venue) in the French Quarter. Band members include Charlie Gabriel, Walter Harris, Ben Jaffe, Ronell Johnson, Branden Lewis, Clint