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“I Got the Fish in the Head- A Radiators Retrospective”

"Jay Mazza is the ultimate authority on the New Orleans music scene. If he doesn't know it, it's not worth knowing."
Reggie Scanlan, bassist for the Radiators and formerly for Fess

"You can always trust Jay Mazza's musical judgement. He's always on the scene to find out the real deal."
Kirk Joseph, founding member of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Backyard Groove

"He's been on the scene for as long as I can remember."
Corey Henry, Rebirth Brass Band, Galactic

Jay Mazza has been on the music scene in New Orleans since 1979. He has been documenting his live music experiences for three decades. His forthcoming book is titled, "Up Front and Center- New Orleans Music at the End of the 20th Century." He wrote the "Jazz City" column and covered culture in the Louisiana Weekly from 1992-2005. He has numerous other writing credits including articles in Downbeat, Blues Access, Tower Records Pulse!, the Times-Picayune, Offbeat and he was the editor of Beat Street magazine.

Topics include:

The history of the Jazz Fest

The breakup of the Meters

Bands including Galactic, the Rebirth Brass Band, the Neville Brothers, and the Radiators

Musicians such as Kermit Ruffins, John Boutte, June Yamagishi, Jon Cleary

Existing and defunct clubs such as Tipitina’s, the House of Blues, Donna’s, Café Brazil, Benny’s Bar, the Mermaid Lounge, and Dorothy’s Medallion

The black culture in Tremé, second line parades, brass bands, jazz funerals and Mardi Gras Indians.