Grand Opening Month Will Present Concerts, NOJO Gala, Daytime Programming, Festival Appearances

APRIL 3, 2015

THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ ORCHESTRA (NOJO) KICKS OFFTHE GRAND OPENING OF THE PEOPLES HEALTH NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MARKET

Grand Opening month will present concerts, NOJO Gala, daytime programming, festival appearances

Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) kicked off the grand opening of their new building project, the Peoples Health New Orleans Jazz Market (PHNOJM), with a ribbon-cutting celebration last night. Councilperson LaToya Cantrell, NOJO Board Chairman Ron Forman and NOJO President and CEO Ronald Markham hosted the event, which featured an awe-inspiring performance by NOJO Artistic Director Mayfield with Grammy and Tony Award-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, who is also Honorary Chairperson of NOJO’s Board of Directors. The program also included representatives and speakers from NOJO’s development and capital campaign partners, as well as city and state representatives.

“The Peoples Health New Orleans Jazz Market is a monument to the greatest achievement that New Orleans has ever accomplished – the creation of Jazz. This building has been a dream of mine since founding NOJO in 2002, and it is beyond exciting to see that dream become a reality.” explained Mayfield.

“This is an exciting time for NOJO, Central City and the Greater New Orleans region. We are thrilled to be a part of such a magnificent effort,” added NOJO President and CEO Ronald Markham.

"This building has been a dream of mine since founding NOJO in 2002, and it is beyond exciting to see that dream become a reality."

The program featured several exciting announcements, including an upcoming international tour and album – “Dee Dee’s Feathers” – featuring Mayfield and NOJO with Bridgewater. The stage in the Market will be officially dedicated to Bridgewater this fall. Michael Illanne, Vice President of Chevron - Gulf of Mexico, announced a physical STEAM (Science – Technology – Engineering – Arts – Math) Zone in collaboration with NOJO at French Quarter Festival, as well as a digital STEAM Zone being developed for the PHNOJM currently. Mikki Shepard, Executive Producer for the Apollo Theater, announced an upcoming partnership between the famed Harlem theater and the Market, as well as an upcoming commission with Mayfield and performances featuring him as Apollo Artist-in-Residence; a reception celebrating that partnership will be hosted at the PHNOJM today from 5:00-7:00pm.

The Bolden Bar

The Bolden Bar in the Jazz Market, which opened in early March, hosted the event after-party featuring Walter "Wolfman" Washington and the Roadmasters. The bar opens every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening at 5:00pm, with live music nightly. The venue was named in honor of famed Central City resident and Jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden (1877-1931). Friday, April 3rd, will feature the Leroy Jones Quintet, and Saturday, April 4th, will feature Little Freddie King; each night is free and open to the public. The following weekend (April 9-11) will debut a new “Taste. Wear. See. Hear.” happy hour series; the bar will present cocktail, wine and restaurant tastings on Thursdays, fashion brands and designers on Fridays, and both visual art and book premieres on Saturdays. To see the weekly schedule, visit The bar program was designed by respected sommelier and hospitality professional Sara Kavanaugh with bar manager Mark Reuther.

Other Programming

In addition to hosting concerts in the Jazz Market’s performance space, IberiaBank Hall, the building will serve as a Jazz community center during the day. Senior citizen activities, in partnership with Peoples Health, began consistently earlier this month; visit here for a list of upcoming events.

In partnership with the New Orleans Public Library (NOPL) and through the support of the NOPL Foundation (NOPLF) and the Youth Rescue Initiative’s Illumination Center, NOJO will begin weekly daytime programming on Friday, April 3rd. Moving forward, the PHNOJM will open every Friday and Saturday from 10:00am until 4:00pm. Fridays will be a time for guests to relax, meet, mingle, read and enjoy a curated record collection; Saturdays will focus on families, featuring solo ragtime pianists and creative, kid-friendly programming. The public is encouraged to stop by and enjoy the music, meet a friend or colleague, grab a cup of coffee, peruse the Jazz book collection being curated by NOPL, and register for a Jazz-themed library card. These weekly events are also free and open to the public. A developing digital archive of Jazz recordings, history and charts will debut at the Market later this year.

Through April

The grand opening will continue throughout the month. On Friday, April 24th, NOJO will celebrate their fourth annual _THE BIG BEAT Gala_ – the first to be hosted at the PHNOJM. The night will begin with a private dinner curated by Purloo Chef Ryan Hughes at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum and featuring a selection of hors d’oeuvres from famous local restaurants such as Galatoire’s, Restaurant R’evolution and Café Reconcile. After dinner, guests will enjoy a seated concert in IberiaBank Hall at the Jazz Market; the performance will feature Mayfield, Bridgewater and the NOJO big band. Individual tickets are $350, and patron packages begin at $1,000; for more information, please contact Sarah Bell [504-913-0575].

The first public, ticketed performance at the PHNOJM will be hosted on Saturday, April 25th; doors will open at 8:00pm, and the show will begin at 9:00pm. The night will feature a 90-minute performance by Mayfield and 18-piece NOJO. Ticket prices start at $35 and are available for purchase at Starting in the fall, Mayfield and NOJO will perform 8-10 big band concerts per year, while producing additional themed concerts for the community. The full fall season will be announced this summer.

Through the New Orleans Jazz Institute (NOJI), NOJO’s partnership with the University of New Orleans (UNO), the Jazz Market will host education initiatives geared toward youth development and Jazz appreciation. NOJI’s current year-round youth education programs will continue to be produced in Gentilly at UNO and Medard H. Nelson Charter School. However, an after-school component, youth and community big bands, master classes and workshops – as well as practice and performance opportunities – will be announced for the Market later this year. Additionally, the facility will serve as a welcome center for visiting and local Jazz enthusiasts; NOJO will produce _Jazz 101_ classes with musical demonstrations and discussions about the history and development of the music.

The Development

Goldman Sachs’ Urban Investment Group provided approximately $10 million in capital for the project. The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority awarded a loan in the amount of $800,000 through its Commercial Corridor Gap Financing Program. The Prudential Insurance Company of America served as a bridge lender. The sale of Louisiana Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits and Louisiana Theater Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credits provided equity. The Louisiana Office of Facility Planning and Control administered two legislative Capital Outlay appropriations. Community Development Capital provided acquisition financing.

Redmellon Restoration and Development was the development partner for the project. Landis Construction was the General Contractor, Kronberg Wall Architects designed the facility, and Kirkegaard Associates designed the hall’s acoustics. Major construction took less than a year to complete.

In addition to the project’s development partners, NOJO owes gratitude to several capital campaign supporters. Peoples Health named both the Jazz Market and its elevator. The NOPLF and the Youth Rescue Initiative’s Illumination Center supported the developing digital Jazz Archive, which will open later this year. IberiaBank’s name will be featured on the 340-seat performance hall in recognition of their support. Chevron - Gulf of Mexico both named the practice and education space and provided programming support and the development of a digital STEAM (Science – Technology – Engineering – Arts – Math) Zone for the Market’s lobby. Pamela and Warner Williams will receive naming rights for the Jazz Market’s stage, which will be officially dedicated to Bridgewater in the fall. The support of the Goldring Family Foundation is being recognized with naming rights for the upstairs lounge. Neal and Anne Morris of Redmellon participated as capital campaign supporters by donating a Steinway Model D for the performance space. The Helis Foundation supported the purchase of more than 25 original photographs from late photographer Herman Leonard, who was also an original NOJO board member. Local Hearst affiliate WDSU donated a restored 1951 Steinway for the Jazz Market’s lobby. Other vital supporters include The Patrick F. Taylor Foundation and The Keller Family Foundation. Current VIP seat patrons for the hall include Nate and Priscilla Gordon, Pamela and Warner Williams, Robert Bohne, and Charles and Susan Mayne.