When people ask me about the state of jazz, I always tell them that from where I live in New Orleans, the view is great, thank you. N’Awlins isn’t a museum to jazz but a living, breathing gumbo of jazz, blues and everything else besides. And that’s what attracts musicians like me to experience a music scene that’s generous in encouraging young players to “sit in” with those who’ve been doing it for a lifetime.
Given that New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, work is plentiful in this tiny city overflowing with legacy. But it also vibrates with the new. It looks back whilst moving forward, and…