Dear Listener,

If you haven't checked recently, we've completely redesigned the WWOZ website to make it much easier to use on all platforms and to allow you to get the info you need quickly and clearly. The article below gives you more details, and we urge you to let us know how it works for you. With so much content, there are bound to be glitches, but we are excited about new capabilities that will be worked on over the coming months. We've made major improvements in the various calendars we maintain, including the Livewire music listings.

Looking forward, we are planning our summer and fall live broadcasts. Be sure to listen for an extensive series of in studio performances previewing acts from Satchmo SummerFest at the beginning of August.

The WWOZ video team has been out and about more than ever and our new website improves access to both the increased "on the scene" material and our vast inventory of musical performances and event coverage. 'OZ has always been committed to serving the music and culture of New Orleans in as many ways as possible - primarily as a radio station, but also as a leader in digital and now video as well. There's something magic about the immediacy of radio, but these platforms add enduring impact for amazing content that in the past you could have missed if not tuned in real time.

Now, more than ever, WWOZ strives to be your link to the vital music and cultural scene of our city and region. Whether it's the soundtrack to your barbecue, a guide to concerts and clubs, sharing news about culture through Facebook, or watching music from the air-conditioned comfort of your computer or home theater, 'OZ aims to keep you connected.

Yours,

Arthur Cohen
Chief Operating Officer

If you've visited wwoz.org in the last few weeks, you noticed some big changes. Our website has a new look, and more importantly, employs responsive design, so that each page's content adapts to the size of your screen. It greatly improves the experience of WWOZ on phones and tablets. Enjoy all your favorite WWOZ content - the live stream, the Livewire Music Calendar, two-week archive, program schedules, videos - on the device of your choice.

» Check out the new wwoz.org

WWOZ welcomes Pearl Ricks, our new Outreach Coordinator. Starting as a volunteer in 2014, Pearl stalked the job listings page of WWOZ.org until she found a position that could harness her passion for New Orleans culture. In the position of Outreach Coordinator, Pearl will heighten the visibility of 'OZ, its values, mission, and the people who create the culture. In her off time Pearl enjoys singing, cooking, and harassing her dog Coda.

» Pearl Ricks pictures

The U.S. Travel Association put a spotlight on New Orleans this summer, and WWOZ served as musical chauffeur to the world. New Orleans hosted this year's IPW Conference, a large travel industry gathering, with more than 70 countries represented. 'OZ volunteers, staff, and local musicians spoke with media and performed live, offering audio essence of what New Orleans has to offer. Our volunteer Michael Liuzza reports.

 » 'OZ at IPW

Our weekly New Music Spotlight features a recent release by a New Orleans artist or band. Recent spotlights have included James Evans' Octuple Odyssey's The Golden Whippet of Algiers and Mike Dillon's Functioning Broke. In the former, traditional jazz meets contemporary classical, while the latter features Dillon alone on vibraphone, mallet instruments, and various percussion with a result both celestial and ghostly.

 » New Music Spotlight

This month on WWOZ's weekly syndicated program New Orleans Calling, host George Ingmire goes in search of boogie-woogie piano player Champion Jack Dupree. Piecing together interviews and facts gathered over two years into a special two-part program, we begin to put together the story of Champion Jack Dupree's music and surprising life story. Listen to New Orleans Calling on Saturday mornings at 7, or stream episodes online anytime -- don't miss this one!

» Champion Jack Dupree, part 1

» Champion Jack Dupree, part 2

"All'amatriciana" is a traditional Italian pasta sauce made from cured pork jowl or (as here) pancetta, tomatoes, onions and dried chiles. The name "all’Amatriciana" refers to the region from which it comes, around the town of Amatrice in central Italy. It was show host Marc Stone's contribution to WWOZ's cookbook, That Sounds Good.

 » Recipe: Marc Stone's Pasta all’Amatriciana