Tom McDermott and Tim Laughlin at 419 Decatur St

Park Event · New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park · Oct 21, 2026 · 3:00 PM–4:00 PM

Tom McDermott and Tim Laughlin Wednesday at 3:00 pm At the National Park Service French Quarter Visitor Center 419 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA

Tom McDermott

Few pianists or composers are able to embrace the breadth and depth of New Orleans’ piano traditions as Tom McDermott. The venerable musician grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where he absorbed ragtime, traditional jazz, and, inevitably, the sounds of New Orleans musical legends such as James Booker, Dr. John, and Professor Longhair.

He followed the river down to the Crescent City to perform at the 1894 World’s Fair, and he quickly became a staple on the scene. His strong left hand and deft touch, combined with his immense repertoire and sly sense of humor, cemented his position as a local’s favorite.

Tim Laughlin

Tim Laughlin is a clarinetist of the highest caliber, an expert in the New Orleans traditional jazz idiom who keeps it fresh with a hefty roster of originals and fresh takes on the standards.

Laughlin was 15 when he played his first gig on clarinet (on a Mardi Gras float, no less) and he soon began playing with a Who’s Who of Crescent City jazz masters:

• Connie Jones
• Danny Barker
• Al Hirt
• Pete Fountain

This program is free and open to the public.

Source: National Park Service (public domain).