Fritzel's New Orleans Jazz Band

Biography

Fritzel's New Orleans Jazz Band is the resident ensemble at Fritzel's European Jazz Pub, a historic venue in New Orleans' French Quarter established in October 1969 within an 1831 building on the 700 block of Bourbon Street. The band embodies the exuberant, traditional New Orleans jazz style, performing nightly with high energy, spontaneity, and audience interaction in an intimate, immersive setting that has made the club a mecca for jazz lovers worldwide.[1][2][5] Their music features upbeat ragtime and Dixieland influences, capturing the joie de vivre of the city through foot-stomping rhythms and raucous live atmospheres.[1][2]

The band's career is tied to the pub's legacy as a hub for jam sessions and traditional jazz, where musicians from across the country and globe congregate without prior rehearsal, often taking audience song requests. In 2009, they released a studio album titled Fritzel's New Orleans Jazz Band, featuring 15 classic tunes like 'Bourbon Street Parade' and 'When the Saints Go Marching In,' recorded by top performers from the club to bottle its live magic.[1] The rotating lineup ensures fresh interpretations of standards, maintaining the club's reputation for joyful, soul-stirring performances seven nights a week.[2][6]

Fritzel's band has left a lasting legacy as a preserver of authentic New Orleans jazz amid Bourbon Street's bustle, fostering a 'home away from home' for fans and players. Their influence endures through the pub's continuous operation, even post-hardships like hurricanes, symbolizing resilience and the city's jazz heritage.[2][4]

Fun Facts

• Fritzel's hosts nightly jam sessions where musicians pick songs on the spot, often based on audience requests, echoing the origins of jazz jam sessions popularized during World War II.[4]
• The 2009 album captures the band's live frenzy, with tracks like 'Fidgety Feet' featuring dueling clarinet and cornet solos that mimic the club's raucous applause.[1]
• The pub's tiny stage fits a full band on just two risers, creating an ultra-intimate experience where instruments feel 'right in your face' even from a few rows back.[3][4]
• Fritzel's bills itself as 'Where Jazz Lives!' and has operated continuously since 1969, providing a resilient space for jazz amid New Orleans' challenges.[2][7]

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• Chuck Brackman - cornet player in 2009 album band (Fritzel's New Orleans Jazz Band (2009)) [2009]
• Tom Fischer - clarinet player and frequent performer (Fritzel's New Orleans Jazz Band (2009)) [2000s]
• Barry Foulon - banjo player in 2009 album band (Fritzel's New Orleans Jazz Band (2009)) [2009]
• Richard Scott - piano player in 2009 album band (Fritzel's New Orleans Jazz Band (2009)) [2009]
• Bradford Truby - bass player, producer of 2009 album (Fritzel's New Orleans Jazz Band (2009)) [2009]
• Brian Bess - drums player in 2009 album band (Fritzel's New Orleans Jazz Band (2009)) [2009]
• Gerald French - vaunted drummer in rotating All-Star band (Fritzel's All Star Band) [ongoing]
• Jamil Sharif - trumpet/vocals in current lineup (Live performances at Fritzel's) [2020s]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz