The barbershop quartet tradition is alive in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (InvestigateTV) - On a Mid City evening, a four-part harmony rang out just off Canal Street.

The group, Southern Tradition, has been around since 1999. The quartet is a place where a traditional American art form forges a friendship.

“The main attribute to be a barbershop quartet singer is to not be embarrassed, just keep going,” said Karl Hansen.

Four men with four different careers create one sound.

Hansen is a doctor who sings bass. Hansen Eschette is a med tech singing tenor. Joe Jacquat is a civil engineer who sings baritone. Johnnie Oufnac is the only actual barber in this barbershop quartet, singing lead.

“Being together for a long time helps us harmonize and understand where the other person is going,” Hansen said.

Barbershop quartets have been around for more than a century. Though they can be found all over the world, ties to New Orleans are strong.

“It really is the nexus of American music at its most basic level and a lot of it comes from New Orleans,” said Zachary Matherne.

One of the city’s most famous native sons sang before he played.

“Louis Armstrong was in a vocal quartet before he ever started playing a horn,” Matherne said.

Matherne is an award-winning barbershop quartet singer who also performs with a larger vocal group, NOLA Vox, which spawned The Dreamers, a coed barbershop quartet.

Quartet aficionados said female voices are a welcome addition to this traditionally male art form.

“It’s a lot of fun to see where you stack up against somebody else,” said Sarah Todd.

“We need the ladies to hit the high notes,” said Matt Ridley. “We do have some gentlemen, but they’re not as attractive.”

The singers do it for love, not money, though New Orleans has a long history of hosting thousands of singers for international competition.

“The most recent one in New Orleans international was 1992 in the Superdome,” Matherne said.

But for these local quartets, it’s more about harmony and camaraderie.

“I think it’s beautiful, when you learn the parts really well and it all comes together it’s really amazing,” Ridley said.

The groups join voices every couple of weeks. In a city built on music, their harmony still has a place.