New Orleans Quartet Keeps Barbershop Harmony Alive

The sound of four-part harmony recently cut through the evening air near Canal Street in Mid City. The group, Southern Tradition, has performed together since 1999. They represent a small but persistent community of singers dedicated to a specific American vocal style.

The quartet consists of men with distinct professional backgrounds. Karl Hansen sings bass and works as a doctor. Hansen Eschette sings tenor and works in medical technology. Joe Jacquat sings baritone and is a civil engineer. Johnnie Oufnac sings lead and is the only member who actually works as a barber. Hansen noted that the group’s longevity allows them to predict each other’s movements during performances. He said, “Being together for a long time helps us harmonize and understand where the other person is going.”

Zachary Matherne, an award-winning singer, described New Orleans as a central hub for this type of music. He pointed to the city’s historical connection to the art form, noting that Louis Armstrong performed in a vocal quartet before he began playing the trumpet. Matherne also performs with NOLA Vox, a larger vocal group that produced The Dreamers, a coed barbershop quartet. This inclusion of female voices has become a welcomed change in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Sarah Todd, a singer in the community, said she enjoys the competitive aspect of the genre. Matt Ridley added that female voices are essential for reaching high notes. He joked, “We need the ladies to hit the high notes. We do have some gentlemen, but they’re not as attractive.” The singers do not perform for financial gain but for the social and artistic experience.

New Orleans has a history of hosting large scale competitions for these groups. Matherne said the most recent international competition in the city took place in 1992 at the Superdome. Today, local groups like Southern Tradition focus less on competition and more on the camaraderie of regular practice. They gather every couple of weeks to work on their parts. Ridley said, “I think it’s beautiful, when you learn the parts really well and it all comes together it’s really amazing.”