HBO will begin airing a new drama, Treme, on April 11th. The show is filmed and set in New Orleans and follows the lives of struggling musicians who try to rebuild their lives and their city after Hurricane Katrina.
In anticipation of the series premiere Dave Walker, TV critic for the Times-Picayune, has published an article, Extra-credit Homework for HBO's 'Treme', which highlights some helpful reading and listening materials which will give viewers some background information on the culture of New Orleans. One of the titles he listed is Creole New Orleans: Race and Americanization edited by Arnold R. Hirsch and Joseph Logsdon.
We are looking forward to the series and would like to add some additional titles to Mr. Walker's list that readers may also find useful:
- Cajun Music and Zydeco by Philip Gould
- Keeping the Beat on the Street: The New Orleans Brass Band Renaissance by Mick Burns
- Walking with Legends: Barry Martyn's New Orleans Jazz Odyssey edited by Mick Burns
- New Orleans on Parade: Tourism and Transformation of the Crescent City by J. Mark Souther
- Louisiana Culture from the Colonial Era to Katrina edited by John Lowe
- Katrinaville Chronicles: Images and Observations from a New Orleans Photographer by David G. Spielman
