Roots Music Runs Deep in National Parks, but Government Cuts Mean the Song Cannot Remain the Same

Each Tuesday afternoon in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, the Arrowhead Jazz Band tunes up and gets ready to perform. While the band includes veteran jazz artists, it’s unlike any other in the vibrant, music-filled neighborhood; their main gig isn’t at one of the many clubs in the Crescent City. Instead, the group performs at an entirely different type of music venue — The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. That’s because the Arrowhead Jazz Band is made up of National Park Service rangers who perform with jazz musicians from The Big Easy.

“We’re focused on having a well-grounded understanding of New Orleans and its music history. I’ve made it a point of emphasis to recruit New Orleans musicians that are born and raised here or spent many years playing music in the city of New Orleans,” says Matt Hampsey, a New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park ranger and guitarist in the Arrowhead Jazz Band. “Providing authentic New Orleans jazz and opportunities to hear and listen and also just get a deeper understanding and context of music by being able to interact with the musicians and park rangers —  that’s our calling card.”

The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park includes a jazz museum and a performing arts center. Dedicated to preserving and sharing the history and culture of jazz, the park is one of the few national park sites to primarily focus on the arts. But it’s far from the only national park to celebrate the unique music traditions of its respective region. From NOLA to Appalachia and beyond, national parks and national heritage areas offer programs to connect locals and visitors alike with the arts and culture of the land.

Earlier this month — just days before Independence Day and during the height of visitor season —  the Senate voted to cut funding for national park staffing by $267 million.

“Congress is failing to do its job yet again,” Daniel Hart, Director of Clean Energy and Climate Policy for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) said in a statement.  “At a time when our national parks are facing record visitation and historic staffing shortages, lawmakers are making a choice to cut funding. Their continued failure to champion national parks puts irreplaceable landscapes, historic treasures and visitor safety at risk. Our parks deserve leaders, not lawmakers willing to turn a blind eye.”