Born and raised in New Orleans' 13th Ward, Henri Smith grew up inside the music — in a neighborhood thick with musicians, where names like the Neville Brothers, Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew, and Papa French were simply part of the air. He carried that inheritance into a long career as a beloved voice on WWOZ, New Orleans' legendary jazz station, and as a performer and emcee at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Then Hurricane Katrina took his home, and the storm that scattered so much of New Orleans carried Henri north — to Cape Ann, where he rebuilt his life and his music. Today he's our neighbor, and his songbook of jazz, blues, Creole, and Cajun is a living thread between two communities that both understand resilience.
For this performance Henri brings his Ensemble, an all-star lineup carrying the New Orleans tradition forward. Expect a warm, joyful, deeply soulful evening — standards and second-line spirit, ballads and barrelhouse, the sound of a city that turns hard times into celebration.
[processed] =>Born and raised in New Orleans' 13th Ward, Henri Smith grew up inside the music — in a neighborhood thick with musicians, where names like the Neville Brothers, Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew, and Papa French were simply part of the air. He carried that inheritance into a long career as a beloved voice on WWOZ, New Orleans' legendary jazz station, and as a performer and emcee at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Then Hurricane Katrina took his home, and the storm that scattered so much of New Orleans carried Henri north — to Cape Ann, where he rebuilt his life and his music. Today he's our neighbor, and his songbook of jazz, blues, Creole, and Cajun is a living thread between two communities that both understand resilience.
For this performance Henri brings his Ensemble, an all-star lineup carrying the New Orleans tradition forward. Expect a warm, joyful, deeply soulful evening — standards and second-line spirit, ballads and barrelhouse, the sound of a city that turns hard times into celebration.
) [food_service] => Array ( [0] => 4 ) [benefit_organization] => Array ( [0] => 14 ) [image] => Array ( [assetID] => 3384 [title] => HenriSmith2 [_default] => /perch/resources/henrismith2.jpg [bucket] => default [path] => henrismith2.jpg [size] => 55371 [w] => 1280 [h] => 720 [mime] => image/jpeg [sizes] => Array ( [thumb] => Array ( [w] => 150 [h] => 84 [target_w] => 150 [target_h] => 150 [density] => 2 [path] => henrismith2-thumb@2x.jpg [size] => 13680 [mime] => image/jpeg [assetID] => 3385 ) [w240hc1] => Array ( [w] => 240 [h] => 135 [target_w] => 240 [target_h] => [crop] => true [density] => 1 [path] => henrismith2-w240.jpg [size] => 9753 [mime] => [assetID] => 3388 ) [w100h100c1] => Array ( [w] => 100 [h] => 100 [target_w] => 100 [target_h] => 100 [crop] => true [density] => 1 [path] => henrismith2-w100h100.jpg [size] => 5989 [mime] => [assetID] => 3389 ) [w496hc0] => Array ( [w] => 496 [h] => 279 [target_w] => 496 [target_h] => [crop] => [density] => 1 [path] => henrismith2-w496.jpg [size] => 29112 [mime] => [assetID] => 3390 ) [w458h250c1] => Array ( [w] => 458 [h] => 250 [target_w] => 458 [target_h] => 250 [crop] => true [density] => 1 [path] => henrismith2-w458h250.jpg [size] => 27106 [mime] => [assetID] => 3391 ) [w400h300c1] => Array ( [w] => 400 [h] => 300 [target_w] => 400 [target_h] => 300 [crop] => true [density] => 1 [path] => henrismith2-w400h300.jpg [size] => 34249 [mime] => [assetID] => 3392 ) ) ) [image_large] => Array ( [assetID] => 3384 [title] => HenriSmith2 [_default] => /perch/resources/henrismith2.jpg [bucket] => default [path] => henrismith2.jpg [size] => 55371 [w] => 1280 [h] => 720 [mime] => image/jpeg [sizes] => Array ( [thumb] => Array ( [w] => 150 [h] => 84 [target_w] => 150 [target_h] => 150 [density] => 2 [path] => henrismith2-thumb@2x.jpg [size] => 13680 [mime] => image/jpeg [assetID] => 3385 ) [w2000h1400c1] => Array ( [w] => 1280 [h] => 720 [target_w] => 2000 [target_h] => 1400 [crop] => true [density] => 1 [path] => henrismith2-w2000h1400.jpg [size] => 54807 [mime] => [assetID] => 3393 ) [w380h168c1] => Array ( [w] => 380 [h] => 168 [target_w] => 380 [target_h] => 168 [crop] => true [density] => 1 [path] => henrismith2-w380h168.jpg [size] => 17613 [mime] => [assetID] => 3394 ) ) ) [focalpoint] => -0.037,0.595 [fullWidthImage] => Array ( [assetID] => 3386 [title] => Henrismith [_default] => /perch/resources/henrismith.jpeg [bucket] => default [path] => henrismith.jpeg [size] => 13118 [w] => 275 [h] => 183 [mime] => image/jpeg [sizes] => Array ( [thumb] => Array ( [w] => 150 [h] => 99 [target_w] => 150 [target_h] => 150 [density] => 2 [path] => henrismith-thumb@2x.jpeg [size] => 26665 [mime] => image/jpeg [assetID] => 3387 ) [w1400hc0] => Array ( [w] => 275 [h] => 183 [target_w] => 1400 [target_h] => [crop] => [density] => 1 [path] => henrismith-w1400.jpeg [size] => 13118 [mime] => [assetID] => 3395 ) ) ) [altTag] => Henri Smith and Ensemble [show_table] => [optional_table] => Array ( [data] => [[null,null,null,null],[null,null,null,null]] [headers] => ["A","B","C","D"] [types] => ["text","text","text","text"] [options] => ["","","",""] ) [youtubeFeature] => [cost] => Array ( [_flang] => plain [raw] => Free, Donations Encouraged. [processed] => Free, Donations Encouraged. ) [ticket_link] => [registration] => Array ( [_flang] => plain [raw] => [processed] => ) [sitePage] => [registrationlink] => [linknewwindow] => [show_on_calendar] => yes [door_only] => [off_site_link] => [_blocks] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [spotify_embed] => Array ( [_flang] => html [raw] => [processed] => ) [_block_type] => spotify [_block_id] => tfd8x5 [_block_index] => 0 ) ) [virtualEvent] => [venue] => Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church [map] => Array ( [adr] => 10 Church Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 [_title] => 10 Church Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 [_default] => 10 Church Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 [lat] => 42.6132529 [lng] => -70.666245 [clat] => 42.6132529 [clng] => -70.666245 [zoom] => 16 [type] => map [admin_html] =>New Orleans comes home to Cape Ann. Jazz vocalist Henri Smith — a 13th Ward native raised among the Neville Brothers and Fats Domino, a longtime WWOZ radio voice, and a New Orleans Jazz Fest emcee — brings his Ensemble to the Meetinghouse for an evening of jazz, blues, and Creole soul.
[eventDescHTML] =>New Orleans comes home to Cape Ann. Jazz vocalist Henri Smith — a 13th Ward native raised among the Neville Brothers and Fats Domino, a longtime WWOZ radio voice, and a New Orleans Jazz Fest emcee — brings his Ensemble to the Meetinghouse for an evening of jazz, blues, and Creole soul.
[eventDynamicFields] => {"event_URL":null,"time_range":"1","program_duration":"2","date_range":null,"tentative":null,"tentativeShowDateNoTime":null,"postponed":null,"postpomenentText":{"_flang":"html","raw":"","processed":""},"dtend":"2026-05-20","additionalDescHTML":{"_flang":"html","raw":"Born and raised in New Orleans' 13th Ward, Henri Smith grew up inside the music \u2014 in a neighborhood thick with musicians, where names like the Neville Brothers, Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew, and Papa French were simply part of the air. He carried that inheritance into a long career as a beloved voice on WWOZ, New Orleans' legendary jazz station, and as a performer and emcee at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.<\/p>\r\n
Then Hurricane Katrina took his home, and the storm that scattered so much of New Orleans carried Henri north \u2014 to Cape Ann, where he rebuilt his life and his music. Today he's our neighbor, and his songbook of jazz, blues, Creole, and Cajun is a living thread between two communities that both understand resilience.<\/p>\r\n
For this performance Henri brings his Ensemble, an all-star lineup carrying the New Orleans tradition forward. Expect a warm, joyful, deeply soulful evening \u2014 standards and second-line spirit, ballads and barrelhouse, the sound of a city that turns hard times into celebration.<\/p>","processed":"
Born and raised in New Orleans' 13th Ward, Henri Smith grew up inside the music \u2014 in a neighborhood thick with musicians, where names like the Neville Brothers, Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew, and Papa French were simply part of the air. He carried that inheritance into a long career as a beloved voice on WWOZ, New Orleans' legendary jazz station, and as a performer and emcee at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.<\/p>\r\n
Then Hurricane Katrina took his home, and the storm that scattered so much of New Orleans carried Henri north \u2014 to Cape Ann, where he rebuilt his life and his music. Today he's our neighbor, and his songbook of jazz, blues, Creole, and Cajun is a living thread between two communities that both understand resilience.<\/p>\r\n
For this performance Henri brings his Ensemble, an all-star lineup carrying the New Orleans tradition forward. Expect a warm, joyful, deeply soulful evening \u2014 standards and second-line spirit, ballads and barrelhouse, the sound of a city that turns hard times into celebration.<\/p>"},"food_service":["4"],"benefit_organization":["14"],"image":{"assetID":"3384","title":"HenriSmith2","_default":"\/perch\/resources\/henrismith2.jpg","bucket":"default","path":"henrismith2.jpg","size":55371,"w":1280,"h":720,"mime":"image\/jpeg","sizes":{"thumb":{"w":"150","h":"84","target_w":150,"target_h":150,"density":2,"path":"henrismith2-thumb@2x.jpg","size":13680,"mime":"image\/jpeg","assetID":"3385"},"w240hc1":{"w":"240","h":"135","target_w":"240","target_h":false,"crop":"true","density":"1","path":"henrismith2-w240.jpg","size":9753,"mime":"","assetID":"3388"},"w100h100c1":{"w":"100","h":"100","target_w":"100","target_h":"100","crop":"true","density":"1","path":"henrismith2-w100h100.jpg","size":5989,"mime":"","assetID":"3389"},"w496hc0":{"w":"496","h":"279","target_w":"496","target_h":false,"crop":false,"density":"1","path":"henrismith2-w496.jpg","size":29112,"mime":"","assetID":"3390"},"w458h250c1":{"w":"458","h":"250","target_w":"458","target_h":"250","crop":"true","density":"1","path":"henrismith2-w458h250.jpg","size":27106,"mime":"","assetID":"3391"},"w400h300c1":{"w":"400","h":"300","target_w":"400","target_h":"300","crop":"true","density":"1","path":"henrismith2-w400h300.jpg","size":34249,"mime":"","assetID":"3392"}}},"image_large":{"assetID":"3384","title":"HenriSmith2","_default":"\/perch\/resources\/henrismith2.jpg","bucket":"default","path":"henrismith2.jpg","size":55371,"w":1280,"h":720,"mime":"image\/jpeg","sizes":{"thumb":{"w":"150","h":"84","target_w":150,"target_h":150,"density":2,"path":"henrismith2-thumb@2x.jpg","size":13680,"mime":"image\/jpeg","assetID":"3385"},"w2000h1400c1":{"w":"1280","h":"720","target_w":"2000","target_h":"1400","crop":"true","density":"1","path":"henrismith2-w2000h1400.jpg","size":54807,"mime":"","assetID":"3393"},"w380h168c1":{"w":"380","h":"168","target_w":"380","target_h":"168","crop":"true","density":"1","path":"henrismith2-w380h168.jpg","size":17613,"mime":"","assetID":"3394"}}},"focalpoint":"-0.037,0.595","fullWidthImage":{"assetID":"3386","title":"Henrismith","_default":"\/perch\/resources\/henrismith.jpeg","bucket":"default","path":"henrismith.jpeg","size":13118,"w":275,"h":183,"mime":"image\/jpeg","sizes":{"thumb":{"w":"150","h":"99","target_w":150,"target_h":150,"density":2,"path":"henrismith-thumb@2x.jpeg","size":26665,"mime":"image\/jpeg","assetID":"3387"},"w1400hc0":{"w":"275","h":"183","target_w":"1400","target_h":false,"crop":false,"density":"1","path":"henrismith-w1400.jpeg","size":13118,"mime":"","assetID":"3395"}}},"altTag":"Henri Smith and Ensemble","show_table":null,"optional_table":{"data":"[[null,null,null,null],[null,null,null,null]]","headers":"[\"A\",\"B\",\"C\",\"D\"]","types":"[\"text\",\"text\",\"text\",\"text\"]","options":"[\"\",\"\",\"\",\"\"]"},"youtubeFeature":null,"cost":{"_flang":"plain","raw":"Free, Donations Encouraged.","processed":"Free, Donations Encouraged."},"ticket_link":null,"registration":{"_flang":"plain","raw":"","processed":""},"sitePage":null,"registrationlink":null,"linknewwindow":null,"show_on_calendar":"yes","door_only":null,"off_site_link":null,"_blocks":[{"spotify_embed":{"_flang":"html","raw":"

