The Music Box recently hosted its first benefit! It was a beautiful evening for exploring the installation and sharing our plans for the future Dithyrambalina with a wonderful crowd of city art patrons and members of government.

We were honored that some of New Orleans most beloved musicians joined us that evening to help us advance our cause.  Guest conductor and musical director Luke Winslow-King spent weeks mapping out the sounds of the musical village for a performance which used drew out the shantytown’s most classically musical performance to date. He was joined by Ben Jaffe, Theresa Andersson, Clint Maegden, Helen Gillet, Cassidy Holden, Ben Polcer, Rob Cambre, Esther Rose and Washboard Chaz.

Thank you to everyone who came, all the musicians, our staff and our volunteers!

Consulting architect Michael Glenboski explains Dithyrambalina to our guests

Swoon's original model for Dithyrambalina

Conductor Luke Winslow-Kings notations for the night. He used a flash light to cue performers.

Creative Director, Delaney Martin, speaks to the crowd about our vision for Dithyrambalina with associate curator Theo Eliezer and Airlift co-director Jay Pennington

The performance begins

Ben Jaffe of Preservation Hall in the Glass House

Luke Winslow-King and Esther Rose sing along with the orchestra

Ben Polcer plays his trumpet through the Echo Wall

Washboard Chaz

Musicians take a bow

Mel Chin, the conceptual artist, joined the crowd

Dithyrambalina architect, Wayne Troyer, speaks with Airlift director Jay Pennington (right), Dithyrambalina patron's Dathel and Tommy Coleman speak with the evening's host Bryan Bailey

The Music Box was recently brought to life by New Orleans singer/songwriter Theresa Andersson and the music video director Alicia Rose. Theresa is a beloved figure in the New Orleans music scene with a growing reputation around the world. Her new album “Street Parade” is about to come out. Theresa approached Music Box curators with a video concept that makes The Music Box a central character in the narrative.  We were delighted to work with Theresa and to have the village receive a lush photographic treatment under the talented eye of the Portland-based video director Alicia Rose.

Here are some of Alicia’s snaps from the shoot. We can’t wait to see the video!

Last night New Orleans Airlift and the artists of The Music Box picked up the 2012 Big Easy Awards. We were honored to receive the 2012 Special Recognition Award and we were happy to see other Music Box collaborators, like Quintron, Mannie Fresh and the singer Meschiya Lake, up for awards. Congratulations Meschyia for Best Female Performer! Mannie took the best DJ/Electronica.

Thank you to the Gambit for hosting the award ceremony and to all our supporters in the wider New Orleans community!

The Music Box announces the first of our series of surprise spring programming!

Nortec Collective is a Latin Grammy award winning group of electronic music makers and DJ’s. The Music Box is honored to have a visit from three of Nortec Collective’s musicians includingRamón Amor Amezcua Sanchez, considered The Godfather of Nortec, as his track, “Polaris,” established the Nortec sound, an original musical style blending the sounds of traditional instruments of Tijuana with electronic beats. We are also joined by Pepe Mogt, who is one of the most prominent electronic DJ and musician in Mexico. Besides being the founder of Nortec Collective, he has produced over 20 albums, five movie soundtracks  and several remixes for artists such as Morrisey, Lenny Kravitz and Beck. Juan Carlos Reyna works within the boundaries of literature, music and the visual arts. He has pursued postgraduate studies in Critical Theory and is a member of the artist council at SOMA visual arts school in Mexico City. He is a permanent fellow of Nortec Collective.

It was a beautiful day!  Thank you to everyone who came. We will post video and audio recordings soon!

Nortec Collective with Airlift Directors Jay Pennington (aka DJ Rusty Lazer), Delaney Martin, and Music Box artist Taylor Shepherd

Ramon Sanchez, of Nortec Collective, with our neighbors Sonje and DJ Paul

A rare evening opening welcomes back over 300 visitors for our Spring Season. Photos by Morgan Sasser

“Express Yourself” is the brand new collaboration between Diplo (producer of hits by Beyonce, Lil Jon, Usher and more) and local Bounce rapper Nicky Da B. It’s the perfect example of outside musical culture and New Orleans staples coming together. Jay Pennington (as Rusty Lazer), of the New Orleans Airlift, brought these artists together to record and create the video earlier this year, and Diplo is slated to return for work with more local rappers soon.

The amazing video for “Express Yourself” makes use of The Music Box as a backdrop. Watch Nicky and his dancers work it out against the installation’s 24ft fence mural by Swoon along with a host of other classic New Orleans locations. As a pleasant coincidence, Swoon and Diplo attended high school in Florida together, making the choice of the Music Box as a central set piece that much more serendipitous.

An informative video about one of The Music Box’s most enigmatic instruments.

Andrew W.K. // Meschiya Lake // Michael Zerang // Aaron Warren of Black Dice // Aurora Nealand // Vockah Redu // DJ Q and Mane   // Viktoria // Frank Pahl // Miss Pussycat // Marshall LaCount and the Undershakers // Rusty Lazer// Rob Cambre // Benny Divine

Conducted by Quintron

Photos, Melissa Stryker

It is wonderful to see The Music Box through so many photographer’s eyes. New Orleans Airlift was delighted to host photographer Tod Seelie over our Nov 19th performance weekend. Tod regularly documents Swoon’s projects around the world.

Mannie Fresh // Dickie Landry // Jeff Mattsson // Jim White // Hamid Drake // Shelia Santamaria // Theris Valdery // Andrew Shrock // James Singleton // Jay Pogee

Conducted by Quintron

All Photos by Melissa Stryker