Harmony: A quartet in New Orleans sustains a century-old tradition

Four men stand just off Canal Street in the Mid City neighborhood, producing a four-part harmony that has defined a specific American musical tradition for over a century.

The group, Southern Tradition, began performing in 1999. The members are not professional musicians. They hold day jobs in medicine, technology, and engineering. Only one member, Johnnie Oufnac, works in the trade that gave the genre its name.

Karl Hansen serves as the bass singer and works as a doctor. Hansen Eschette is a medical technician who sings tenor. Joe Jacquat is a civil engineer singing baritone. Oufnac, the lead singer, is a barber. Their day jobs do not overlap, but their musical duties require precise synchronization.

Hansen noted that long-term familiarity allows the group to anticipate each other's musical movements. He stated, "Being together for a long time helps us harmonize and understand where the other person is going." The group prioritizes commitment over perfection. Hansen added, "The main attribute to be a barbershop quartet singer is to not be embarrassed, just keep going."

Zachary Matherne, an award-winning singer and member of the larger vocal group NOLA Vox, identified New Orleans as a central hub for this style of music. He cited Louis Armstrong as a foundational figure who performed in a vocal quartet before becoming a trumpeter. Matherne said, "It really is the nexus of American music at its most basic level and a lot of it comes from New Orleans."

The tradition has expanded to include female voices through groups like The Dreamers, a coed quartet spawned from NOLA Vox. Sarah Todd, a member of the female-inclusive groups, said, "It’s a lot of fun to see where you stack up against somebody else." Matt Ridley, a male singer, acknowledged the value of higher registers, stating, "We need the ladies to hit the high notes."

The local performers do not receive wages for their evening sets. They practice every few weeks to maintain their vocal alignment. While New Orleans hosted a major international competition in the Superdome in 1992, local groups focus on the internal dynamic of the ensemble. Ridley described the result of dedicated practice: "I think it’s beautiful, when you learn the parts really well and it all comes together it’s really amazing."