1. Places to stay - This is a big Airbnb city. Options abound.

2. recommendations of jam sessions - Jam Sessions are hard to come by. Hanging out on a Monday or a Tuesday on Frenchmen Street will probably be your best bet. Avoid the Quarter. No jam sessions to be found. Also, the Old Point Bar in Algiers used to have a jam session. Not sure if they still do.

3. musical connections (musicians or people who know the scene) - Hang out at the Maple Leaf Bar (tons of history, and lots of musicians just hang there, also check out the new New Orleans Jazz Market (members of the Jazz Orchestra (Irvin Mayfield included) just hang out at the bar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Also, Sidney's Saloon on St. Bernard and Ooh Poo Pah Doo Bar on Orleans Avenue are owned and frequented by musicians.

4. anyone who wants to show an OKP a good time - I'm down to meet up. Let me know.

5. other? When you get into town, listen to WWOZ, the local jazz station. They have the LiveWire, which tells you who is playing where every night. It is also available online. Also check out the Gambit and Where Y'at free newspapers to find out what's going on around town.

Most of the music culture around here is free or close to it. Don't be afraid to explore.