During Mardi Gras celebrations, you'll hear a whole mish-mash of party music and other genres. For this Mardi Gras playlist, we've focused mainly on brass bands, rhythm and blues, jazz, and zydeco in order to capture the traditional sounds of the Bourbon Street festivities. Recorded on the Ric label, Al Johnson’s “Carnival Time” hit the streets of New Orleans for Mardi Gras of 1960. While it didn’t catch on at first, today it’s a standard. That’s Mac Rebennack (Dr. John) on the piano. 70 Songs For Your Mardi Gras Playlist. Traditional Mardi Gras Classics. Mardi Gras Mambo by The Hawketts The ultimate Mardi Gras anthem. Go to the Mardi Gras by Professor Longhair A quintessential New Orleans piano-driven classic. Second Line (Part 1) by Stop, Inc. Perfect for parades and dancing. Big Chief by Professor Longhair Mardi Gras History and Tradition. Now a cultural phenomenon, Mardi Gras began as a Christian practice — particularly a Roman Catholic one. On the Tuesday before Lent, which marks a period of penance and fasting, revelers would enjoy liberal amounts of rich, savory foods. This tradition became known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday.” A selection of music to get you in the mood for Mardi Gras and Carnival from the artists of New Orleans' premiere record label, Basin Street Records! Featuring Jon Cleary, Rebirth Brass Band, Dr. Michael White, Henry Butler, Los Hombres Calientes, Kermit Ruffins, Jason Marsalis, Irvin Mayfield and more. The Essence of Mardi Gras Music. Historical Roots: From Brass Bands to Today’s Hits; Mardi Gras music traces its origins to the lively streets of New Orleans, a melting pot of cultural influences. Brass bands, a cornerstone of Mardi Gras music, set the stage for a tradition of celebration that spans genres from jazz to R&B, zydeco, and beyond Now, we relay to yet another pair of local maestros, playing in tandem and ably keeping the pace. Harrison's nimble sax weaves in and out of the expert groove laid down by the good doctor's piano. Contrary to the idealized image of Mardi Gras in the public mind, Carnival time often requires a lot of time simply hanging out with your people. The traditions of Mardi Gras are a huge part of New Orleans' cultural identity. They've been evolving since the mid-1700s, and for the past century or so, the music of the Crescent City has With the YouTube Music app, enjoy over 100 million songs at your fingertips, plus albums, playlists, remixes, music videos, live performances, covers, and hard-to-find music you can’t get anywhere else. Yes, there are several famous Mardi Gras music festivals you should check out! The New Orleans Jazz Fest showcases diverse American music with over 5,000 musicians. Family Gras offers free concerts and local art, perfect for families. NOLA Funk Fest celebrates the unique sounds of funk and Mardi Gras music. NO MID-ROLL ADS. Step into the soul of New Orleans with this vintage jazz playlist, set against the enchanting backdrop of a Mardi Gras-adorned French Quarte Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Art Neville in The Meters and Earl King performed, Big Chief ♪ Professor Longhair made his mark on Mardi Gras music as early as 1949, with his composition Mardi The Hideout is ready to rock out this Mardi Gras with The Cajun Vagabonds, Chicago’s favorite zydeco troupe. The Vagabonds will bring the music of The Big Easy to Chicago, with fiddle and accordion accompaniment as well as traditional French Cajun singing. It’s the ultimate Mardi Gras concert for zydeco lovers! Snag tickets here. The official colors of New Orleans Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. The Krewe of Rex chose these colors in 1872 in part to honor the Russian Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich Romanov, who visited New Orleans during that year’s carnival season. Get psyched for Fat Tuesday with over 2 hours of great Mardi Gras music. Celebrate with Classic Dixiland Jazz from NOLA! Fat Tuesday in the Big Easy. Second Everyone in New Orleans knows the essential Mardi Gras songs. The likes of “Carnival Time,” “Mardi Gras Mambo,” “Go To the Mardi Gras,” “Big Chief” and “Second-Line, Pt. 1” are Mardi Gras music, like Christmas music, is not so much a style of music as it is an aural milieu comprised of various forms. Among them: orchestral and big-band arrangements played at tableau balls; Mardi Gras-themed rhythm-and-blues numbers that pour out of jukeboxes, “cutting-loose” jazz tunes that drive revelers to “shake booty” and pump umbrellas in the air; Afro-Caribbean chants But for those celebrating outside of the ballroom scene, there was another music form brewing in the Mardi Gras world. Brass Bands, Mardi Gras Indians, and More [Image Provided by Where Y'at Staff] Not everyone could afford to attend a fancy ball during Mardi Gras, but that did not stop people from enjoying the season. Mardi Gras Indians, or Black Masking Indians, practice a unique cultural tradition rooted in New Orleans' Black community. While its origins are somewhat murky, many say the legend honors a relationship forged by south Louisiana's indigenous communities who were brave enough to take in enslaved people when they escaped bondage in the state's
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