The New Orleans Jazz Museum, together with the Cervantes Hispano-American Art Foundation and the Conservatori Liceu Foundation, presents a unique musical encounter that pays tribute to the history and vitality of jazz: the Liceu Big Band, directed by Sergi Vergés, and a very special guest: Michael White, clarinetist, bandleader, and a legendary figure in traditional New Orleans jazz.
Through a repertoire that explores the roots, evolution, and diversity of jazz, performers from both sides of the Atlantic will share the stage to explore the rhythms, improvisations, and free spirit that define this genre.
A celebration of cultural exchange, creativity, and friendship between two cities, New Orleans and Barcelona, that share music, passion, history, and a future.
With this initiative, the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the Cervantes Hispanic American Art Foundation, and the Conservatori Liceu Foundation reaffirm their commitment to disseminating jazz heritage and creating new spaces for artistic dialogue, fostering encounters between musical traditions that share a firm commitment to education, innovation, and performance excellence.
Michael White
Dr. Michael White is one of New Orleans’ most renowned, respected, and influential musicians. Born in this city, he is one of the few contemporary artists who has managed to maintain the authentic, traditional style of New Orleans jazz. Recognized for his classic clarinet sound, Dr. White is equally famous as a bandleader, historian, educator, producer, and cultural advocate dedicated to preserving and expanding the traditions of early jazz. His lineage includes first-generation jazz musicians such as bassist Papa John Joseph, clarinetist Willie Joseph, and saxophonist and clarinetist Earl Fouche, deeply grounding his artistry in the musical heritage of New Orleans.
Dr. White’s musical training began at St. Augustine High School, where he played in the acclaimed Marching 100 and Symphonic Bands. He also received private lessons from bandleader Edwin Hampton. Academically, he earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign language teaching from Xavier University in Louisiana, followed by a master’s degree and a doctorate in Spanish from Tulane University. In 2001, he was awarded the Charles and Rosa Keller Endowed Chair in the Humanities. He also founded Xavier’s Culture of New Orleans, an innovative program that combines scholarship with authentic cultural professionals and live performances.
Beyond academia, Dr. White is highly respected as a jazz historian, lecturer, consultant, and producer. He has developed numerous jazz history programs, published extensively, been a visiting professor at Juilliard Jazz, conducted concerts for Jazz at Lincoln Center, and, since 1995, has been a consultant and traditional jazz coordinator for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He has also maintained a long and significant artistic relationship with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.
Dr. White’s professional career began in 1975 with Ernest “Doc” Paulin’s brass band. He later worked closely with more than three dozen first-generation musicians born between 1890 and 1910, absorbing firsthand the musical knowledge and history passed down by artists who had played alongside legends such as Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, and Sidney Bechet.
His clarinet style, original yet deeply rooted, draws inspiration from the rich Afro-Creole traditions exemplified by Johnny Dodds, Sidney Bechet, George Lewis, and others. While respecting the classic repertoire, Dr. White has expanded the tradition with original compositions and innovative reinterpretations, demonstrating that traditional New Orleans jazz remains a living and evolving art form.
Internationally acclaimed, Dr. White has performed throughout the United States and in nearly three dozen countries, appearing in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Apollo Theater.
He has participated in more than one hundred recordings, including seventeen as a leader, eight of which were released by Basin Street Records. His work has been widely praised by critics and has received numerous prestigious awards, including the NEA National Heritage Fellowship and the French Order of Arts and Letters. In 2023, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery acquired his portrait, confirming his enduring cultural legacy.
