During Barack Obama’s presidency, jazz and blues music became a far more visible part of life inside the White House.
While previous presidents had certainly welcomed jazz musicians before him, the Obama years saw a notable increase in concerts, educational events and musical celebrations centred around African American musical history. Jazz, blues, soul and gospel were repeatedly presented not simply as entertainment, but as an important part of American culture itself.
The White House hosted a wide range of performances during this period, often featuring major names from across jazz and blues history. Musicians including Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Esperanza Spalding, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Chick Corea, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Wayne Shorter all appeared during various events connected to the Obama administration.
One of the most memorable evenings came in 2012 with the White House concert “Red, White & Blues,” a celebration of blues music and its influence on American culture. The event brought together artists including B.B. King, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy and Trombone Shorty.
The performance below captures Trombone Shorty playing the traditional song “St. James Infirmary” inside the White House itself. The tune has deep roots in New Orleans musical culture and had already passed through generations of jazz musicians long before Louis Armstrong famously recorded it in the 1920s.
Yet hearing it performed in this setting still feels striking — a century-old New Orleans standard echoing through one of America’s most symbolic buildings.
One of the distinctive things about the Obama-era White House concerts was the atmosphere surrounding them. The events often felt less like formal state occasions and more like genuine celebrations of musical history, with musicians visibly enjoying the chance to perform in a setting that had not always welcomed Black American art forms so openly.
That spirit is visible throughout this performance — and in the reaction of the audience watching it unfold.