Celebrations and Lamentations: A New Orleans Portrait invites audiences on a stirring journey through the streets of America's most musical city. In New Orleans, music is life itself. From jubilant second-line parades to mournful dirges that honor the departed, the sound of brass carries the stories of a resilient people.
This performance captures the rich emotional spectrum of New Orleans music: the uncontainable joy, the deep-seated sorrow, the infectious spirit of community. Through traditional marches, spiritual hymns, and modern brass band masterpieces, we present a living soundscape of the French Quarter’s vibrant past and ever-evolving present.
Blending the energy of street performance with the grandeur of concert presentation, Celebrations and Lamentations offers a portrait of New Orleans where every note is a heartbeat, every rhythm a step along Bourbon Street, and every melody a testament to the power of music to celebrate, to mourn, and ultimately, to transcend.
Mark Rapp
Trumpet, ColaJazz
Mark Rapp, a renowned trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader, is a driving force behind the jazz scene in Columbia, South Carolina. Through his initiative, ColaJazz.com, he promotes jazz through events, education, recordings, and advocacy. His summer jazz camp has attracted renowned musicians like Delfeayo Marsalis and Dave Liebman, while his annual ColaJazz programs showcase prominent artists such as Chris Potter, Fred Wesley, Wycliffe Gordon, Wess "Warmdaddy” Anderson and Wynton Marsalis. Recognized as an Ambassador of Jazz for South Carolina, Rapp's dedication to the art form extends beyond performance. He is a passionate educator, offering private lessons and leading workshops internationally. With a discography that includes critically acclaimed albums and collaborations with jazz luminaries, Rapp's contributions to the jazz world have solidified his reputation as a versatile and influential artist. His commitment to performance, education, and advocacy ensures the continued growth and appreciation of jazz music.
