Making Jazz Fest: The Soul of New Orleans | Quint Davis Moderated by: Mitch Landrieu

For more than five decades, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has helped define the sound, spirit and soul of the city. In this conversation with former Mayor Mitch Landrieu, producer and co-founder Quint Davis reflects on building Jazz Fest from a local celebration into a world-renowned cultural institution while keeping its heart rooted firmly in New Orleans. Together, they explore the festival’s origins, its evolution through triumph and tragedy, and its lasting impact on music, culture and community. From unforgettable performances to the behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped its legacy, this conversation offers an inside look at how Jazz Fest became more than a festival—it became a living expression of New Orleans itself. 

The New Orleans Book Festival brings the world’s leading authors to Tulane University for a multi-day celebration of their works. The Festival features both fiction and non-fiction and convenes readings, panel discussions, symposia and keynote speeches. It provides an opportunity for outlets, authors and readers to interact with each other in one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse cities in the world.