The Gear That Made the New Orleans Sound

The birthplace of Dixieland jazz, and a gateway that aided the spread of Delta blues across the nation, New Orleans has long been on the forefront of musical innovation. As African traditions met changing American sensibilities, new forms of music placed bold emphasis on percussion within the musical landscape. Modern drum sets like the Catalina Club Jazz kit owe their prominence in today's music to the intricate rhythms and textures at the heart of New Orleans' Hot Jazz.

Delta blues players like Robert Johnson and Ishman Bracey were drawn to the Mississippi River, America's first highway. These solitary wanderers strolled into town with Gibson L-00 guitars in hand, leaving an indelible mark on NOLA. The mingling of harmonicas, trumpets, hi-hats, and guitars spawned a flurry of musical growth and helped fertilize the rich cultural soil that sustains New Orleans as an incubator of uniquely American music to this day. Return to the Map.