Jazz at the Sandbar returns this spring, continuing a celebrated tradition that has connected students with world-class jazz artists for more than three decades.
The Spring 2026 series opens Wednesday, March 11, and will be held at 7 p.m. in the 410 Lounge on the fourth floor of the Earl K. Long Library. Presented by Jazz Studies at LSU New Orleans, the weekly Wednesday performances pair internationally recognized musicians with jazz students for live collaborative performances in an intimate setting.
Established in 1990 by the late Ellis Marsalis Jr., the founding chair of the Jazz Studies Program, Jazz at the Sandbar was designed to give students real-world experience performing alongside respected professional musicians. For 36 years, the series has served as a cornerstone of the program’s experiential learning model, offering direct mentorship through rehearsals, masterclasses and live performances.
Each guest artist works with students in the classroom during the week leading up to the performance, culminating in a public concert that showcases both artistic collaboration and student growth. DownBeat Magazine has called the program “one of the best things going in America.”
The Spring 2026 lineup includes:
- March 11 – Masakowski Family Band
- March 18 – Artist-in-Residence Brian Blade, drums
- March 25 – Kyle Roussel, piano
- April 1 – Brad Walker, saxophone
- April 8 – Dan Loomis, bass
- April 15 – Kevin Louis, trumpet
- April 22 – Faculty Showcase featuring guitarist Brian Seeger
- April 29 – Sasha Berliner, vibraphone
Performances begin at 7 p.m. each Wednesday.
Jazz at the Sandbar provides students the opportunity to refine their improvisational skills, deepen their understanding of ensemble performance and engage directly with accomplished artists who represent the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans and the broader jazz community. The series also offers the extended university and regional community the rare opportunity to experience world-class jazz in an accessible campus setting.
The Spring 2026 season of Jazz at the Sandbar is supported by the New Orleans Theatre Association, the Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation, New Orleans Jazz Celebration, Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, Nate and Priscilla Gordon, O’Malley & Associates, OffBeat Magazine, WWOZ 90.7 FM and Coca-Cola.
