Doreen Ketchens, “Queen Clarinet” with a Street Corner Throne

By Jann Darsie

‍ ‍When Doreen Ketchens was in fifth grade, her teacher gave the class a pop quiz. Just as he was about to call on her, the loudspeaker erupted in an announcement for students interested in playing a musical instrument to report to the band room. Seeing her opportunity to escape the quiz, she raised her hand, then shot out the door. 

‍ ‍So began the career of one of New Orleans’ most beloved musicians. The jazz clarinetist is now in demand internationally, has played on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, and has appeared in films and television. Locally, however, she is best known as a French Quarter busker, and The Ella Project has assisted her with that activity’s legal complexities.

‍ ‍In that band room decades ago, Ketchens had her eyes on the flute, but when the band director got to her, she thought there were too many flutes, so she chose the clarinet. “My parents bought it for me, so I took it home every night. My junior high had one of the best bands in the city so, I played well,” remembers Ketchens.  

‍ ‍After junior high, she was determined to go to a high school with a good band. She was admitted to John F. Kennedy Senior High School with the excuse that she wanted to study Latin, which her neighborhood school did not offer. The band was bigger and better than anything Ketchens had played with before. Soon this led to parades and athletic games. All these years later, she credits her band directors as inspiration.

‍ ‍She also successfully auditioned for the music program at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). It was there she met Ellis Marsalis, who confronted her about reaching her potential. “He asked me if I had thought about playing jazz,” said Ketchens. “I said I respect it, but it’s really not my thing.”

‍ ‍Then, one year into her studies at Loyola University, she met a handsome tuba player who, like Marsalis, urged her to play jazz. Ketchens recalled that her future husband, Lawrence Ketchens, said almost verbatim what Marsalis had said about her playing. “He was gorgeous! So, I gave it a try.”

‍ ‍Her passion for jazz grew, alongside their love for each other. The Ketchens’ successful personal and professional partnership continued until Lawrence Ketchens’ passing in January 2025.

‍ ‍When scholarship funding ran out at Loyola, Doreen Ketchens transferred to the music school at the University of Hartford, while Lawrence Ketchens went to Xavier. When Doreen’s car was stolen, he moved to Hartford for her safety. The couple formed a band and started getting booked for gigs. Then tragedy struck when both their fathers died within a short period of time. They returned home to New Orleans.

‍ ‍At first Ketchens resisted the idea of playing on the street for tips. “But I met some really good musicians, and I really got into improvising.” She also preferred busking on the street to playing in clubs, with the late hours and the smoke. Locally, the corner of Royal and St. Peter streets is known as “Doreen’s corner.”

‍ ‍During Covid times, author Walter Isaacson asked Doreen to do an interview with Ted Koppel. That 2022 interview on the CBS Sunday Morning show led to a booking at the Kennedy Center. The Center’s then-director of jazz programming happened to see the interview and heard Ketchens tell Koppel that the Kennedy Center was one of her dream gigs. He then reached out to Ketchens, and her dream gig came true. 

‍ ‍“This opened a lot of doors,” said Ketchens. “It’s lucky to be in the right place at the right time.” That same year, she received an honorary doctorate degree in music from Five Towns College, in Dix Hills, New York.

‍ ‍Ketchens’ admiration of Louis Armstrong earned her the nickname of “Lady Louis.” “I am drawn to his personality and his power on his instrument,” she said. “I try to play my clarinet the way he played his trumpet.” But it is Ketchens’ own talents that earned her the “Queen Clarinet” moniker. 

‍ ‍Playing on the street is not without its problems. Issues like harassment and sound levels led Ketchens to seek the legal assistance of The Ella Project. She learned about them word of mouth and then met Ashlye Keaton and Gene Meneray.

‍ ‍“You don’t know you need them until you need them,” Ketchens said. “It’s empowering to be able to concentrate on my music instead of legal issues like people pirating my songs.” 

‍ ‍And when she had issues with an appearance on Netflix’s Queer Eye, the Ella Project also was there for her. “The people at the Ella Project always ask, ‘How can I help you?’” she said. “I consider the Ella Project one of these gifts from God.” 

‍ ‍Ketchens is still playing internationally, most recently at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, where she headlined the City Stage in performances entitled “Reflecting the Streets of New Orleans.” Back home, she will also be starring in the September WWOZ gala and will continue teaching master classes.

‍ ‍Doreen Ketchens can be found at her website www.doreensjazz.org and on Facebook @DoreensJazzNewOrleans, Instagram @doreensjazzneworleans and YouTube @DoreensJazzNewOrleans8454. Fans can also hear her live on many weekends from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM on “Doreen’s corner” in the French Quarter.

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