KEY TAKEAWAYS: The New Orleans Jazz Museum will hold its ninth annual Improvisations Gala on Dec. 5. The fundraiser will debut the museum’s new stage and revitalized grounds, funded through the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Performers include The Soul Rebels, Cha Wa, Sunpie and t he Louisiana Sunspots and the Danny Barker All-Stars. Proceeds will support the museum’s educational programs and initiatives focused on preserving and promoting New Orleans jazz.   The New Orleans Jazz Museum will hold its ninth annual Improvisations Gala on Dec. 5, bringing an evening of live music, cultural programming and fundraising to the museum and surrounding Esplanade Avenue grounds. The event, presented for the fifth consecutive year by The Herb Alpert Foundation, will also mark the debut of the museum’s new stage and revitalized grounds. The improvements were funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The gala serves as a fundraiser for the museum’s educational programs and other initiatives focused on preserving and promoting New Orleans jazz and its cultural history. The event will begin with a patron party from 7-8 p.m., followed by the main gala from 8-11 p.m. The museum plans to transform the 400 block of Esplanade Avenue into a “Winter Lights” setting featuring live performances, art installations, food and beverages. Performers will include The Soul Rebels, Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, Cha Wa, Mahmoud Chouki and the Danny Barker All-Stars, featuring Detroit Brooks, Mark Brooks, Freddie Lonzo, Herlin Riley, Greg Stafford and Dr. Michael White. The lineup also includes the Masakowski Family Trio, River Eckert, Mikayla Braun and the Treme-Lafitte Brass Band. Additional performances and appearances are planned from the NOLA Chorus Girls, Kit Harris N’Awlins D’Awlins Baby Dolls, Big Queen Mary K. Stevenson The Original Wild Tchoupitoulas and Ritmeaux Krewe. “There is no place in the world that celebrates music, culture and the spirit of community quite like New Orleans, and the Improvisations Gala captures all of that in one unforgettable night,” Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said. “The New Orleans Jazz Museum tells the story of the music that helped shape Louisiana and the world, while giving new generations the opportunity to experience it for themselves. I’m proud to be part of this celebration and invite everyone to come enjoy the music, the culture and the magic of New Orleans.” This year’s event will incorporate midcentury modern fashion and holiday-themed art with New Orleans cultural traditions. Plans include a roving fashion show curated by The Fashion Council of New Orleans, art installations inspired by vintage holiday cards featuring jazz musicians, second lines and vintage-style photography. Messina’s Catering Events will provide food, while the event will also feature cocktails, wine and beer. Exhibitions, lighting displays and art installations will be located throughout the museum and its grounds. General admission early-bird tickets will cost $125 from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, a $25 discount from the regular price. Patron tickets cost $300 and include admission to the preview party before the main event. The museum will also hold an online auction from Nov. 1 through Dec. 7 featuring experiences, artwork and other items. In addition to showcasing recent improvements to the museum grounds, the gala comes as the New Orleans Jazz Museum plans a new education center designed by acoustician John Storyk of WSDG. “We are also looking ahead to the construction of our state-of-the-art Education Center, designed by renowned acoustician John Storyk of WSDG,” New Orleans Jazz Museum Executive Director Greg Lambousy said. “We are deeply grateful to Herb Alpert and his team for their extraordinary generosity and commitment to music education. In recognition of his transformative support, the Center will be named the Herb Alpert Education Wing.” The 2026 gala committee is chaired by Val Grubb, Valerie Landry and Stacey Messina. Honorary co-chairs include Herb Alpert, Jon Batiste, John Goodman, Arthel Neville and Nungesser. The New Orleans Jazz Museum is located at the intersection of Esplanade Avenue and Frenchmen Street and hosts exhibitions, educational programming, research and musical performances focused on jazz and its history. ...read more read less