This August, the historic Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans will be filled with music. For the first time since Hurricane Ida caused damage in 2021, a Jazz Mass will be held at St. Augustine Church. The Treme Brass Band will play music in the church at 10 a.m., which is a hopeful sign of recovery for the church and the community.
After the service, the celebration will move outside. The Satchmo Salute Parade will go down Esplanade Avenue towards the New Orleans Jazz Museum. This parade starts the Sunday events of Satchmo SummerFest, a two-day festival honoring Louis Armstrong, the city's most famous musician. The festival, which began in 2001 to celebrate Armstrong's birth, is now in its 26th year. It is free for everyone. The museum and festival grounds will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The New Orleans Jazz Museum, located at 400 Esplanade Avenue, has recently been improved with new facilities and outdoor spaces. A new stage, the Friends of Fest Stage, will be used for the first time this year. Inside the museum, the Fidelity Bank Piano Sessions Stage offers a quieter place for smaller performances and to see historical exhibits.
The festival will feature many local musicians. Saturday includes performances by Roots of Music, Preservation Brass, and a blues tribute to Ma Rainey. Sunday will have new performers like Sir Chantz Powell and Jenna McSwain, along with well-known artists such as John Boutté and The Original Pinettes Brass Band. The festival will end with Kermit Ruffins performing a tribute to Armstrong.
Besides music, the Satchmo Legacy Stage will explore jazz history. Ricky Riccardi from the Louis Armstrong House Museum will discuss Armstrong's famous recordings and his trip to Ghana. Other speakers will talk about Armstrong's wife, Lil Hardin Armstrong, his travels, and early jazz musician Buddy Bolden.
Attendees can also enjoy food from nine local vendors, including Cafe Dauphine and Southern's. A new restaurant, Rizzuto's Ristorante & Chop House, will also be there. Visitors can also decorate coconuts with the help of the Junior Zulu organization from noon to 4 p.m. each day.
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. organizes the event, with the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation as a main partner. Many organizations support the festival. Emily Madero, the CEO of the organizing group, said that the festival shows Armstrong's worldwide influence and that the artists performing continue his spirit.