The Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry

The Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry features two days of fascinating discussions by renowned Armstrong scholars. Join us on the third floor of the New Orleans Jazz Museum. 

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM | Roger Dickerson interviewed by David Kunian

Speakers: David Kunian & Roger Dickerson

Roger Dickerson is one of the great composers and educators of New Orleans. He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025 and Pulitzer Nominations for both his A Musical Service for Louis (a Requiem for Louis Armstrong). He sits down with David Kunian to talk about his life in music.

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM | Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong in Film

Speaker: Dr. Robert S. Mikell

Examination of the role of Louis Armstrong in selected films as both a Jazz musician and actor. Further, a brief discussion of other Jazz artists who appeared with Armstrong in film. Attention will be given to Jazz songs performed by Armstrong in selected films and shorts.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM | Louis & New York City

Speaker: Adriana Carrillo

“This year (2025) marks the 400th anniversary of New York City’s founding, and the Louis Armstrong House Museum wants to join the celebration by highlighting stories of Louis in New York. This presentation will gather vital archival material of memorable performances in venues of the city, such as Carnegie Hall, The Town Hall, and The Apollo, as well as historic concerts, including an appearance with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

We will revisit iconic spaces and places that no longer exist, bringing back their valuable role in the city’s history. Finally, some stories recollecting pinnacle recording sessions will be enlightening when painting a portrait of the Artist and his relationship with music itself and other musicians.

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM | New Orleans Musicians, James Andrews and Kermit Ruffins, and Their Connection to Louis Armstrong—Their Stories in Donna Poniatowski Sims’ Book, Donna’s Bar & Grill-New Orleans

Speakers: Donna Poniatowski Sims with James Andrews and Kermit Ruffins

Donna Poniatowski Sims will talk with James Andrews and Kermit Ruffins about the vibrant music scene at Donna’s Bar & Grill, which is the subject of her new book. Donna’s was known for its jam sessions and as a hot spot for traditional New Orleans music, where many up-and-coming artists honed their craft. The book “Donna’s Bar & Grill-New Orleans” presents the history of the transition of New Orleans heritage music onto the world stage during the years that Donna’s was open from 1993 through 2010. Kermit Ruffins and James Andrews both performed regularly at Donna’s with their respective bands as they were building their reputations as New Orleans musicians, following in the footsteps of Louis Armstrong.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Dexter Gordon with Louis Armstrong

Speakers: Ricky Riccardi & Maxine Gordon

Ricky Riccardi and Maxine Gordon will discuss Dexter Gordon joining the Louis Armstrong Orchestra in 1944. The talk will include music, photos, and scenes from films. Dexter Gordon considered this experience one of the highlights of his life and career.

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM | See See Rider: The Classic Blues Singers Meet Louis Armstrong

Speaker: Robert Cataliotti

The first blues artists to make their mark on the recording industry and command attention in American popular culture were the African American female vocalists who have come to be called “The Classic Blues Singers.” This was music sung by African American women usually backed by pianists or small bands that emerged from minstrel shows and vaudeville. These women were the first Black women to be portrayed as glamorous, the first divas. Their songs often explored female sexuality using metaphorical coded language. Between 1924 and 1929, Louis Armstrong played a central role in this music; his solos are featured on the recordings of a breathtaking who’s who of these singers, including Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Sippie Wallace, Clara Smith, Trixie Smith, Bertha “Chippie” Hill, Victoria Spivey, and many others. Armstrong’s blues sensibility, improvisational mastery and rhythmic sophistication were definitive in shaping the Classic Blues style and the broader blues idiom.

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM | The Making of King Oliver’s “Centennial” Boxed Set

Speakers: Ricky Riccardi, Richard Martin and Meagan Hennessey

This special panel will celebrate “Centennial,” the remarkable King Oliver boxed set that won two GRAMMY awards earlier this year. Producers Richard Martin and Meagan Hennessey will be on hand, along with Ricky Riccardi, author of the set’s album notes, to share insights into the project, its significance, and the process of bringing this historic collection to life.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM | Joe Darensbourg, Louis Armstrong’s All-Star Clarinetist

Speakers: Sally Young & Joe Darensbourg

Joe Darensbourg’s history as an American jazz clarinetist, known for his work with Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, and Kid Ory, will be presented by his nephew Joseph Darensbourg and WWOZ traditional jazz show host Sally Young. Joseph will be sharing photographs, ephemera, and music from his collection.

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM | You Rascal, You: Louis Armstrong’s Hidden Transcripts

Speaker: Sam Irwin

When Louis Armstrong famously dedicated a performance of (I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead) You Rascal, You to the Memphis Police Department after being arrested by them in 1931, the song was intended as a joke. But murderer John Guillory meant every word of it when he asked trumpeter Evan Thomas of Crowley, La., to play the tune in an Acadia Parish honky-tonk on November 21, 1931. What were the hidden transcripts in the song, and what were the reasons for the glaring differences between Armstrong and Guillory’s interpretations?

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Stomp Off, Let’s Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong

Speakers: Ricky Riccardi & Peggy Scott Laborde

Satchmo Summerfest regular Ricky Riccardi returns to discuss his latest book, Stomp Off, Let’s Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong, in conversation with Peggy Scott Laborde, author, histroy documentary prodcuer and host of WYES’ weekly arts and entertainment program, Steppin’ Out. Together, they will discuss the new sources that have come to light in recent years that helped Riccardi finish off his trilogy of Armstrong biographies with this critically-acclaimed work.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The 25th annual event returns with favorite traditions and added fun for the whole family:

Satchmo SummerFest Exhibit

Location: New Orleans Jazz Museum

On July 31, 2025, the New Orleans Jazz Museum will open a retrospective exhibit to celebrate and honor the 25th anniversary of the Satchmo Summerfest, the premier Louis Armstrong festival in the world.  This exhibit, entitled “Brother, Can You Spare A Quarter: Satchmo Summerfest Turns 25”, features Satchmo Summerfest posters from the 25-year run of the festival.  The artists in the exhibit include Jane Brewster, Tami Curtis-Ellis, Margaret Slade Kelley, Ayo Scott, Marinta Skupin, Scott Hodgin, Koby Sackey, Mario Padilla, Richard Thomas, Philip Bascle, and many others.  These framed posters will be displayed on the walls of the world-famous New Orleans Jazz Museum throughout the festival and beyond. Attendees will be able to view them as they make their way to the 3rd floor to hear the assorted lectures in the Jazz Museum’s newly renovated performance venue and as they tour the Shake Your Hips, Congo Square to the World, Drumsville, and Economy Hall exhibits.  “Brother, Can You Spare A Quarter: Satchmo Summerfest Turns 25” was designed and selected by David Kunian, the curator of the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

Roots of Music Satchmo Soundoff

Presented by Fidelity Bank | Saturday | 11:30 AM

Location: In front of the Fidelity Bank Stage alongside Barracks Street

This year’s festivities will kick off with a high-energy performance by some of New Orleans’ most promising young musicians. The Roots of Music Satchmo Soundoff, presented by Fidelity Bank, begins at 11:30 AM on Saturday in front of the Fidelity Bank Stage alongside Barracks Street.

Chill at the Fest

Powered by Entergy | Saturday and Sunday | All Day

Location: Across the festival grounds

To help guests stay cool throughout the weekend, Entergy New Orleans returns as the sponsor of the popular Chill at the Fest amenities. Complimentary neck chillers and misting fans will be available across the festival grounds on both days.

Coconut Decorating

Presented by Jr. Zulus of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club | Saturday and Sunday | Noon

Location: Lonely Alcove

Let your inner artist shine by decorating your own custom Zulu coconut. This fun for the family activity is hosted by the Junior Zulus on both Saturday and Sunday from 12pm – 4pm.

Satchmo SummerFest Jazz Mass

Sunday | 10:00 AM

Location: St. Augustine Church Parish Hall, Treme

Live Stream: Facebook.com/saintaugchurch

A beloved tradition, the Jazz Mass will take place at 10 AM on Sunday at St. Augustine Church in Treme, with the Treme Brass Band. Due to ongoing renovations, this year’s service will be held in the Parish Hall, with limited seating. For wider accessibility, the mass will also be live-streamed at Facebook.com/saintaugchurch.

25th Anniversary Satchmo Salute Parade

Presented by New Orleans Tourism & Cultural Fund (NOTCF) | Sunday | 11:15 AM

Starting Location: Outside St. Augustine Church, historic Treme neighborhood

The Satchmo Salute Parade is a signature moment of Satchmo SummerFest’s 25th anniversary, honoring Louis Armstrong with a vibrant second-line celebration of New Orleans culture.

On Sunday, August 3, the parade will be led by the Treme Brass Band, stepping off at 11:15 AM from St. Augustine Church in the historic Tremé, where Armstrong once attended mass as a child.

Following the 10 AM Jazz Mass, the procession will roll down Esplanade Avenue, ending at the New Orleans Jazz Museum to kick off the festival’s final day. The parade features a dynamic lineup of cultural groups, including Sha Ka Zulu on Stilts, Treme Million Dollar Baby Dolls, Zulu Steppers, Al Harris Brass Band, Sudan Social Aid and Pleasure Club, TBC Brass Band, and many more. Spectators and participants are encouraged to wear linen or seersucker in the spirit of summer tradition. The parade is a joyful tribute to Armstrong’s legacy and a celebration of the city’s enduring second-line culture.

Learn about Louis

at the Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry!

Catch past presentations from the Satchmo Legacy Stage at Satchmo SummerFest!

The Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry features an impressive array of national and international speakers, including jazz scholars. Here from folks who knew and worked with Armstrong, historians, Armstrong House Museum faculty, and musicians.

Check out the French Quarter Festivals, Inc. YouTube Channel Playlists to view past presentations – and don’t forget to subscribe!