New Orleans is known worldwide as the “cradle of jazz”. However, the pulsating metropolis on the Mississippi has even more to offer, from its food culture to its street art and colorful architecture. Shaped by the colonial era, New Orleans is very diverse and multifaceted. In his illustrated book “New Orleans”, photographer Werner Pawlok shows the uniqueness of this city and its stories with visually stunning photographs. He captures the diverse atmosphere and brings it to life in his unconventional photographs. He has met many people on his travels and experienced many stories, which he has captured with great attention to detail in his coffee table book. We spoke to him about his interest in the city of New Orleans and the people who live there, and also about the special status of jazz.

teNeues:
Do you have a personal connection to New Orleans?

Werner Pawlok:
Having already published books about Havana and Venice, it was obvious for me to photographically explore another special city on the water. I was drawn to the unique cultural mix of New Orleans. A city with a rich history, cultural heritage and exotic mix of African, European and Caribbean influences makes it a fascinating subject.

We traveled to New Orleans without knowing anyone on the ground, but with positive expectations to change that. And that's how it turned out. We quickly made contact with people who were very supportive of our project. We owe our enthusiasm for New Orleans largely to the exchange with these three people from the House of Blues, who became our friends:

First Erika and Nathan Winowich, both chefs in the Foundation Room at the House of Blues. Soul food is part of the concept of the event organizer, which was founded in the early 1990s as a reminiscence of the legendary film Blues Brothers. The Foundation Room was our go-to place when we wanted to relax with a meal in the evening after a busy day. Through the two chefs we got to know Dwight Joseph Payne Sr., known to the world as Mr. Dwight, the VIP director of the House of Blues, who in his many years of work for the house hosted all the musicians who made the Sound of the South one of the most famous music genres in the world. They have brought us much closer to the city. Our interview with Mr. Dwight was one of the prominent pillars in the creation of the book.

teNeues:
New Orleans is not only the French Quarter, but also an important port on the Mississippi and an important industrial center in the south of the USA, what effect does that have?

Werner Pawlok:
Yes, that's absolutely right! New Orleans is not only known for its charming French Quarter and lively music scene, but also as an important port and industrial hub in the southern United States. These diverse aspects have a significant impact on the city and its economy.

The Port of New Orleans is one of the largest and most important in the country, which means it is a major location for the trade of goods such as oil, chemicals, grain and other commodities. This brings a lot of jobs and economic activity to the region. Its proximity to the Mississippi River and access to the Gulf of Mexico make New Orleans an important supply center for the entire southern region of the US. The mix of port, industrial and tourism economies makes New Orleans a unique city that encompasses a variety of economic sectors and activities. This also has an impact on the social structure and culture of the city, as people from different backgrounds and professions are brought together.

Overall, New Orleans is an important location for the US economy, especially in the south of the country. The mixture of traditions, culture and economic importance makes the city a unique place.

teNeues:
Can you say something about the special features of the southern states?
What can still be felt today?

Werner Pawlok:
The southern states of the USA are a region with a unique history, culture and identity. They are also known for their warm and friendly atmosphere, their lively music scene, their rich cuisine and their special architecture. Here are some special features that can still be felt today:

The southern states have a dark history of slavery and racism, which has left its mark on people's collective memory to this day. There are many monuments and museums that highlight this history and remind people that slavery and racism should not be forgotten.

They are home to many unique cultural traditions, such as zydeco music, blues and jazz, and have a rich musical tradition ranging from blues, gospel, jazz, country and rock and roll to modern genres such as hip-hop and R&B.

They also have a rich culinary tradition ranging from traditional dishes such as Gumbo, Jambalaya, Fried Chicken and Biscuits and Gravy to modern fusion dishes.

They are home to many unique architectural styles, such as Antebellum style, Greek Revival style and Art Deco style.

In general, it can be said that the southern states are a unique region with its own identity, characterized by its history, culture and traditions.

teNeues:
Music generally plays a huge role in the south of the USA, Nashville, Memphis and so on - what makes New Orleans the center of jazz?

Werner Pawlok:
The south of the USA is a travel destination for music fans: it is the cradle of the blues, the sound of the African-American population, whose importance for the development of modern music styles can hardly be overestimated. The blues originated on the plantations in the Mississippi Delta in the early 20th century, so it seemed sensible to us not to start our New Orleans project at our destination, but to head for the southern states first, following in the footsteps of the blues.

New Orleans is known for its outstanding musical tradition, especially in the field of jazz. Jazz originated in New Orleans in the 1920s as a hybrid style of music that stemmed from various African and European traditions such as the blues, ragtime, gospel and Dixieland music. New Orleans was an important port city at the time, attracting many migrants from different parts of the world, which encouraged the meeting of different musical traditions and cultures.

These factors contributed to New Orleans becoming the center of jazz:

African American musical traditions: Slaves from West Africa brought their own musical traditions with them, such as Yoruba music from Nigeria. These traditions developed in the south of the USA and shaped the cultural heritage of New Orleans.

The European immigrants, particularly the French and Italians, brought their own musical traditions with them, such as marching music and opera. These influences mixed with African-American traditions and led to a unique musical style.

Jazz also developed through the improvisational skills of African-American musicians. These improvisational skills enabled musicians to create new melodies and harmonies that stood out from other musical styles.

In New Orleans, there were several factors that encouraged jazz:

The Creoles were the descendants of French colonists and African slaves. They played an important role in the development of jazz and created a bridge between the European and African-American musical traditions.

The Hot Five: The Hot Five was a jazz orchestra founded by Louis Armstrong. They were one of the first orchestras to take up jazz and make it a worldwide phenomenon.

Altogether, New Orleans was an ideal place for the development of jazz, as the city had a mixture of African, European and Latin American cultures. This special mix of cultures and traditions developed jazz in New Orleans into a unique musical style.

Thank you very much for this interview, Werner Pawlok.