Blast Off: A Futuristic Flashback Featuring Star-Studded Cast of Talent
NEW ORLEANS (9/6/23) – The New Orleans Jazz Museum Improvisations Gala,
presented by the Herb Alpert Foundation, takes place on Saturday, December 2
from 8-11 pm, preceded by a Patron Party. Amidst space-themed art installations,
the 6th annual fundraiser promises to be a cosmic experience headlined by the
incomparable Jason Neville Funky Soul Band & Special Guest Mr. P. Funk “George
Clinton”, sponsored by James Douglas Hislop.
The “interstellar” line-up for the evening will also feature the Dixie Cups & James
Andrews with the Crescent City All-Stars, The Original Pinettes Brass Band,
Mahmoud Chouki & the New Orleans All-Stars, Gallatin Street Records artist
George Brown Band, Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots, People Museum,
international performers Hibriduz from Honduras and the Dominican Republic’s
ensemble, Primero Caribe. The New Orleans Jazz Ambassadors, an on-going
educational initiative of the New Orleans Jazz Museum will greet guests.
Additional talent will be announced in coming weeks.
The Improv Gala will take place throughout the historic Jazz Museum complex at
400 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans. Messina’s Catering and Events will provide
lavish food fare, complemented by craft cocktails, wine, beer, and other
beverages. Attendees will also experience interactive art installations and light
displays by the Krewe of Vaporwave and other visual artists created for the
Museum’s Sound Collage event, current exhibitions, space-themed art
installations, and more.
Tickets are $300 per person for the Patron Party and VIP Backstage Experience
and $150 per person for General Admission, available at Improvisations Gala
2023 Tickets . Patrons and sponsors will receive the added benefit of a one-hour
private pre-party with passed hors d’oeuvres, featured servings by New Orleans
renowned restaurants, and exclusive perks, including access to a VIP Backstage
Experience throughout the evening.
Back by popular demand will be the Online Auction with one-of-a-kind items,
unforgettable experiences, and unique collectibles and adventures. Bidding will
open October 4 online at https://nolajazzmuseum.org/gala and will close on
December 4. The Treasure Chest Key Challenge is also returning, allowing one
lucky attendee the opportunity to purchase the key that unlocks the chest holding
a beautiful piece from Adler’s Jewelry of New Orleans.
The 2022 Improvisations Gala was record-breaking with 1,200 music and culture
aficionadas in attendance. Highlights of the evening may be viewed here.
New Orleans Jazz Museum Executive Director Greg Lambousy is predicting that
the 2023 Improvisations Gala will be otherworldly. Lambousy states, “The Improv
Gala has established itself as ‘one of the best parties of the year’ and our
reputation as a destination event continues to grow. With dynamic talents like
the legendary George Clinton and the Dixie Cups, and rest of our extraordinary
line-up this year, the Gala will indeed be an astronomical evening and a true
cultural showcase.”
All proceeds for the Improvisations Gala will support the Jazz Museum’s
Education Center and related programming, such as the Jazz Ambassadors
Student Bands and Jazz International, while directly benefitting the Museum,
musicians, students, and educators – working together to share the history of Jazz
and to secure its future growth and development.
Co-chairs for the 2023 Improvisations Gala, presented by the Herb Alpert
Foundation, are James Douglas Hislop, Dr. Thomas LaVeist and Bridget LaVeist,
and Valerie Landry. Herb Alpert, Jon Batiste, Randy Fertel, John Goodman,
Wynton Marsalis, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, and Dan Pritzker serve as
Honorary Co-chairs.
For additional information or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, please
visit https://nolajazzmuseum.org/gala.
About The New Orleans Jazz Museum
Located at the juncture of the French Quarter where Esplanade Avenue meets Frenchmen Street,
an epicenter of live music in the city, the New Orleans Jazz Museum celebrates jazz in the city
where it was born. Through dynamic interactive exhibits, multigenerational educational
programming, research facilities and engaging musical performances, the music New Orleans
made famous is explored in all its forms. Partnerships with local, national, and international
educational institutions have enabled the New Orleans Jazz Museum to promote the global
understanding of jazz as one of the most innovative, historically pivotal musical art forms in world
history. For more information, Visit www.nolajazzmuseum.org.
About Sound Collage
The annual event, which takes place the first Friday of December, celebrates the intersection of
visual art and music through a mixture of musical performances, illuminated installations,
digital sculptures, and dance. Rooted in New Orleans’ long tradition of creative collaboration,
the festival transforms the Jazz Museum grounds into a space for artists to showcase their work
in new and interesting ways, playing off each other and experimenting with form. Free and
open to the public, Sound Collage invites audiences of all ages to enjoy multiple music
performances and activations, cocktails, and food from local vendors as well as free access to
the New Orleans Jazz Museum’s many exhibits.
