NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Jazz Museum announced a collaborative partnership with Taiwan as part of the Jazz International initiative. Representatives of the museum will visit Taipei, Taiwan Oct. 11-17 at the invitation of the Taiwanese Minister of Culture to strengthen existing collaboration and establish new partnerships with the Taichung Jazz Festival, music organizations, record labels, jazz clubs, music clubs, the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development, festival organizers, university jazz departments, museums (history, music, and art), the tourism office, and the U.S. Embassy.
In collaboration with the Taiwan Minister of Culture, Vincent Hsu & Soy La Ley Afro-Cuban Jazz Band will perform at the New Orleans Jazz Museum’s Improvisation Gala, presented by the Herb Alpert Foundation on Saturday, Dec. 7. This performance is part of the on-going partnership between the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the Minister of Culture in Taiwan, and the Taiwanese Academy, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston. In addition to the gala performance, Vincent Hsu, who has performed in the past during NOLA RiverFest at the Museum, will lead a Latin Jazz drumming workshop on Friday, Dec. 6, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. This workshop will provide invaluable insights and inspiration to the participants. There will also be a performance at Snug Harbor Friday evening, Dec. 6.
Jazz International is an initiative of the New Orleans Jazz Museum dedicated to a broad range of global partnerships spanning Europe, East Asia, Africa and Latin America. The innovative program fosters intercultural exchange and supports the cultural economy of New Orleans by showcasing the city’s rich jazz legacy and cultural heritage. Jazz International implements its mission through five overreaching strategies: music missions, educational programming, traveling exhibits, historical research and Gallatin Street Records. Each new partnership with Jazz International is customized to include one or more of these strategies depending on partner needs, goals, and resources.
Jazz Museum Executive Director Greg Lambousy touts Jazz International as a cultural and economic stimulus. “Musicians are employed, the city and state are being recognized, and we are raising awareness with potential tourists,” said Lambousy. “The Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser proclaimed 2024 as the ‘year of music’. What better time to educate the global community about the importance of jazz and its far-reaching effects, as well as all that Louisiana has to offer.”
Past partnerships have brought New Orleans musicians and culture bearers to destinations around the globe, from France to Hong Kong to the Dominican Republic and now, Taiwan. Esteemed artists such as Herlin Riley, Dr. Michael White, James Andrews and Gregg Stafford have shared and educated global audiences about the music and culture of New Orleans. Jazz International collaborations have also featured the New Orleans Jazz Ambassadors, a partnership between the New Orleans Jazz Museum and local universities that provides a rotating roster of New Orleans music students an opportunity to perform abroad and serve as ambassadors for the city. Additionally, through Jazz International, traveling exhibits from the New Orleans Jazz Museum’s collection are customized to suit specific needs of host galleries.
