https://www.preservationhall.com/ Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

And jazzing it up today, we’re happy to sing the praises of New Orleans a wonderful musical world, on the occasion of it being awarded a UNESCO Creative City for Music award.

Nawlins, as the natives pronounce it, is, of course, known for its jazz.

And as the hometown of the great trumpeter Louis Armstrong.

But The Big Easy has also spawned Blues, R&B and Soul greats Fats Domino, Irma Thomas and Dr John and crooner Harry Connick Jnr.

While leading hip-hop light Lil Wayne has also brought the Big Easy sound into his music.

A-Z of Cultural Cities

It feels like an oversight that New Orleans is only now joining the 407-strong pantheon of cities globally.

From Abu Dhabi to Xalapa in Mexico.

And also including my home city of Glasgow and favourite English city of Liverpool.

Although they’ve yet to bestow a ‘Z’ so maybe time to step up Zurich.

New Orleans’ enrolment on World Cities Day 2025, sees it join Charlie Parker and Burt Bacharach’s back yard, Kansas City, Missouri.

The mantle of Creative City gives local musicians prestigious global recognition.

And opportunities with other named cities.

The Biggest Rock Band on Earth

Building on this designation, January will see New Orleans welcome the Biggest Rock Band on Earth.

Which we don’t have to tell you but is the Rockin’1000, to the US for the first time.

Having gained rave reviews across Europe.

To perform on the floor of the Caesars Superdome.

Rockin’1000 is a collection of 1,000 singers and musicians from around the world who perform in unison.

All of which is a Godsend for the New Orleans economy which means we can roll out our take… the cents come marching in.

And all that jazz

Give it some blow: New Orleans at its finest

With apologies, of course, to the jazz exponents who have long entertained us in host American cities at the travel fair IPW.

When the New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band have marched us into their gatherings.

In time-honoured fashion then we’ll raise a brunch Sazerac to our friends in New Orleans.

And say, as a proud Glaswegian, welcome to the band.

Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the Bayou as we go Platinum Jimbalaya in New Orleans.

Or if you’re being particular Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and a fillet gumbo but I took to Cajun cuisine the first time I sampled it.

On the forecourt of the American Travel Fair in Washington DC where the New Orleans delegation held their liquid breakfast.

Food for thought

That liquid being the famous local delicacy Sazerac.

And the jambalaya being a spicy rice pot of chicken andouille sausage, shrimps and veg.

Crawfish pie, well being crawfish which tastes a bit like lobster under a crust.

While gumbo is the Louisiana state dish, a soup of meat or shellfish, or maybe both.

With the Creole Holy Trinity of celery, bell peppers and onions.

New Orleans Saints

All of which was consumed with relish and all before 10am.

Before the Saints came marching in and led us into the conference room.

Those Saints being the famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Well we’re being seduced again by the tastes and sounds of New Orleans.

As the Big Easy delegation are the first out of the traps with details of their American Travel Fair party.

Which this May is being held in San Antonio in Texas.

And where helpfully their gig will be at the Westin Riverwalk where we’ll be staying…

Well, we are always where the party is at.

Rhythm in the heart

Of course New Orleans is just eight hours by road across the Deep South and served by road, rail, bus and air.

Or you could go Platinum with a 14-night fly-drive Southern Rhythms trip from €1519pp.

And what’s best is that this offer takes in and ticks off five states, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.

But let’s get the Irish Travel providers and American experts to give us the highlights…

Their pitch is that we will get to tap your feet to the beat in Nashville, Memphis, Lafayette and New Orleans, the region that gave rise to every form of contemporary American music.

And visit Natchez, perhaps the best preserved antebellum town in the South.

As well as historic buildings in Atlanta, where the spirit of Scarlett O’Hara is still in the air.

Although for all her fineries we’d be more Downstairs and all that jazz.

And Jimbalaya in New Orleans.