Jazz Reunion on the President

Riverboats and Jazz



In 1982 Tulane University’s Hogan Jazz Archive produced its first Hot Jazz Classic in collaboration with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. One of the major events of theClassic was a Jazz Reunion designed to recognize the achievements of jazz pioneers from New Orleans, and the S. S. President was the perfect location for this celebration. Attracting hundreds of musicians and their families, the dinner and jam session afforded these jazz veterans an opportunity to renew old acquaintances and to reflect upon the good times they had shared, some while working on the riverboats. Standing at right is Curtis D. Jerde, then Curator of the Archive and organizer of the Classic.