Walk the Birthplace of Jazz
with Grammy-Winning Musician Craig Klein
Experience the New Orleans you didn’t know about with a lifelong New Orleans musician, not a scripted tour guide.
New Orleans jazz is not just history for Craig Klein—it is his life’s work as a Grammy‑winning trombonist, composer, recording artist, licensed tour guide, and New Orleans native.
With more than 45 years as a professional musician, Craig offers a rare insider’s perspective on the people, neighborhoods, and traditions that shaped New Orleans music.
ABOUT THE TOUR
This is not a typical history tour, this is a musician’s journey through the origins of jazz and New Orleans music, led by someone who has spent a lifetime performing and preserving the tradition.
On this walking tour, you will:
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Walk the neighborhood where Louis Armstrong grew up
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Explore the former red‑light district of Storyville, where early jazz musicians found work
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Discover the meaning and deep roots of jazz funerals and second lines
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Stand in Congo Square, where African rhythms helped shape American music
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Finish at the site of J&M Recording Studio, where engineer Cosimo Matassa helped bring the sound of New Orleans to the world
For guests who truly want to understand where jazz and New Orleans music began, this experience brings history to life through the stories and insights of a working New Orleans musician whose career continues that tradition.
WHAT MAKES CRAIG UNIQUE
Craig received a Grammy Award in 2020 as a member of the New Orleans Nightcrawlers for their album Atmosphere, honoring the city’s brass band tradition while pushing it forward with original music.
He has performed for decades with groups such as the Storyville Stompers Brass Band and the New Orleans Jazz Vipers, and leads his own Craig Klein New Orleans All‑Stars for festivals, corporate events, and private celebrations around the world.
Craig is part of the extended Preservation Hall Jazz Band family, performs regularly at Preservation Hall, and participates in the Preservation Hall Foundation Legacy Program for Master Practitioners, helping protect and pass on New Orleans’ musical culture.
CONTACT
Private and small‑group tours available.
For information, availability, and pricing email: