The Second Annual New Orleans Traditional Jazz Camp Swings in the French Quarter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Nita Hemeter:
504-865-9792
504-234-4184 (cell)
nhemeter@gmail.com

THE SECOND ANNUAL NEW ORLEANS TRAD JAZZ CAMP
SWINGS IN THE FRENCH QUARTER

The New Orleans Traditional Jazz Camp for adults is kicking off it’s second season June 5-10, 2011. The camp is held in the heart of the French Quarter at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. Campers from 18 states as well as Canada, Switzerland and Argentina are attending the camp to hone their music skills with some of the best Traditional Jazz Musicians in the city. The camp was started in 2009 by Banu Gibson, Leslie Cooper and Nita Hemeter to promote and preserve Traditional Jazz in New Orleans. Established trad jazz camps for adults already exist in Sacramento and San Diego, but there’s no place like home, the place where it all began.

This year the camp is excited to award scholarships to ten student musicians from local schools. The scholarships were made possible by contributions from local jazz lovers and well as supporters from across the country.

Morning sessions begin with our guest speakers who include: Bruce Raeburn from the Hogan Jazz Archives, John Joyce jazz studies professor at Tulane University, Grammy nominated musician David Sager from the Library of Congress and John McCusker a local photographer and expert on Jazz. Their focus is on the musical heritage of New Orleans.

The major part of the day is spent in music classes with instructors specific to their instrument and in bands where musicians will hone their skills learning selected songs. Evenings are spent jamming in the hotel and around town in the clubs. On Thursday night campers will go to Preservation Hall as their dreams come true to perform in the mecca of Traditional Jazz. Friday June 10th is the free and open to the public Camper Concert. Campers will perform the songs they have been working on for the week. Saturday June 11th will be the first ever New Orleans Traditional Jazz Festival at the Palm Court Jazz Cafe from 11am-4pm.

Schedule of Events:

June 5th - Bourbon Orleans Hotel - Meet and Greet and Professor Performance - 7pm Private (press are welcome)

June 7th - Second Line Parade through the Quarter - parade rules apply

June 9th - Preservation Hall Party - 6-8pm – Private (press are welcome)

June 10th - Camper Concert - Grand Ballroom Bourbon Orleans Hotel - 7 pm Public Invited - Free

June 11th - New Orleans Trad Jazz Festival - Palm Court Jazz Cafe 11am-4pm Public invited - Free