Iconic Albums Written About New Orleans

Of all the music centers in the U.S., none have spawned quite as much virtuosic talent as New Orleans, Louisiana. Known as the birthplace of jazz music, and several of its most famous performers, this American city is hailed for its loose rhythms, improvised melodies, and joyous parades. Here, we document six of the city’s most iconic albums, which give the interested listener several rich pathways to explore the region’s colorful sound.

Louis Armstrong taocando junto a las Pirámides y la Gran Esfinge (Giza, 1961)

Louis Armstrong, The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings Volume 1 (2003)

Few musicians in history have had as much influence on a place and its culture as Louis Armstrong of New Orleans. His contributions to jazz, popular music and society in general are felt to this day, largely through his charismatic trumpet playing. The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings Volume 1 documents Satchmo’s first recording as a band leader, where his sound takes center stage among the syncopated horn cacophony of the players behind him. This album provides the best look at modern jazz’s most formative period, coming out of the triumphant sound of Armstrong’s cornet.

Professor Longhair, New Orleans Piano (1972)

The Meters, Rejuvenation (1974)

Jazz isn’t the only music heard in New Orleans: funk was big back in the 1970s, especially with the home-grown sounds of The Meters blasting from club stages. Their 1974 release, Rejuvenation, is perhaps one of the most well known funk albums ever recorded, due to its smooth, non-stop grooves and the recognizable vocals of Art Neville. This album hangs loose in classic New Orleans style, especially on ‘Africa’ and ‘Jungle Man’, while the first track, ‘People Say’, is sure to bring some life to any party!

Terence Blanchard, A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem For Katrina) (2007)

Of all the Hurricane Katrina tribute albums released in the wake of the disaster, no other album garnered as much attention as the Terence Blanchard Quintet’s A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem For Katrina) (2007). At the forefront of jazz today, Terence Blanchard stands as one of the genre’s biggest supporters, A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem For Katrina) is partly the score for Spike Lee’s documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006), and maintains a reflective, somber tone throughout. It also won a Grammy award; the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.

Dr. John, Gris Gris (1968)

Dr. John is a musical phenomenon only the city of New Orleans could foreseeably produce, being a performer known for his eccentric swagger and mastery of the New Orleans-oriented style. Coming to fame in the 1970s as a psychedelic prototype of acts like Professor Longhair, it was his debut album, Gris Gris that initially set his act apart from the rest. The album pays tribute to the voodoo culture of New Orleans, in a style reminiscent of a backwoods ritual in the swamps of the bayou, with its ghostly chorus as his main, driving vocal force.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Voodoo (1989)

Voodoo, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s first release on Columbia records, is their finest record too, mixing their signature R&B leanings with the sounds of a traditional New Orleans brass band. The album is high-energy and masterfully executed, sounding as it were plucked straight from the streets during the mardi gras celebration. Voodoo also features the raspy voice of Dr. John, and the unbelievable instrumentals of Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and Branford Marsalis on saxophone. Check out this album to be transported in place and time, to the bacchanal streets of New Orleans gone wild.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.