New Orleans Jazz Club Owner George Brumat passes away at age 63

George Brumat, owner of Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday July 7, 2007.

George was more than a beloved figure on the New Orleans music scene. He opened Snug Harbor in 1983, and his contribution to modern jazz will resonate for years to come. George’s legacy will include recognizing emerging artists and providing a place for them to hone their craft, fostering future generations of jazz musicians.

Snug Harbor was George’s labor of love, and he could be found in his club seven nights a week making sure everything was running smooth and sounding great.

The music industry is often defined by the bottom line. George ran his business from his heart where his passion for music and sense of fairness to the musicians who create it came first.

George was my buddy in post-Katrina New Orleans, and Snug Harbor was my refuge. I will treasure the hours in the office with George talking about music and musicians we were excited about and future plans and ideas. He could synthesize ideas with few words and was an inspiration to without trying. In the days when so many wondered if we had a future, he thought only of how soon Snug Harbor could welcome music lovers again. He had no doubt New Orleans would continue to be the muse it always had been.

Services and burial will be private, a memorial tribute is in the planning stages. WWOZ will keep you informed as plans develop.

- Friday, July 13

Memorial services set for George Brumat

There will be a memorial service for Snug Harbor owner George Brumat on Sunday, July 22, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The service will be at the University of New Orleans Performing Arts Recital Hall on the Lakefront Campus (the building beside the bus circle at the end of Alumnae Drive where the Jazz Studies Program resides). Everyone is welcome. Snug Harbor will be closed Sunday evening.

UNO will be establishing a George Brumat Jazz Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made out to the UNO Foundation, noting “Brumat Scholarship” in the memo line, and can be mailed to:

UNO Dept. of Music
2000 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70148

- Tuesday, July 17