Current residency (Spring 2010):

KidSmart at Wilson Elementary  look 

for upcoming  New Orleans Jazz Fest

showcase in the Kids Tent)!

Performance, appreciation, theory,

CAC - I also teach through the New

Orleans Contemporary Arts Center for

their "Artist For A Day" field trips and

Courses in Jazz, blues, brass bands,

Seva came to New Orleans from Los Angeles in 1999. In L.A., He worked as a professional musician and

supplemented his income by teaching guitar to 35-40 students a week. He played in Traditional Jazz bands, Cajun and

zydeco bands, country and western bands, blues bands and rock and roll bands. He came to New Orleans because he

wanted to learn more about the music he loves to play and teach: American roots music, especially Traditional Jazz.

The music and culture in New Orleans changed his life and he knew that he could continue developing his craft while

making a living and contributing to the community so he moved here later that same year after busking in Europe on a

Seva's education came from a few very good teachers (Bill Harkleroad (a.k.a. Zoot Horn Rollo), Ted Greene, and his

uncle the legendary producer Nik Venet, as well as a healthy stream of self-education, and some college. He was

introduced to the New Orleans Traditional Jazz style by playing several years in a band with George Lewis style Albert

system clarinetist Mike McClelland. In New Orelans Seva found his teachers in New Orleans Jazz in Tuba Fats and his

band. After arriving in New Orleans, he worked with Tuba Fats and His Chosen Few for four years with many long

days in Jackson Square, as well as an 18 month engagement at Donna's Bar and Grill, and a myriad of other

By the time Tuba passed in 2004, Seva had picked up banjo and branched out to work with hundreds of other local

musicians. But it was during his time with Tuba that he was introduced to many of the local greats including Leroy

Jones, Greg Stafford, Tanio Hingle, Fredric "Shep" Sheppard, and Daryl "Little Jazz" Adams, as well as Jack Fine,

Washboard Chaz, and many others. Today he works his own Stringband as well as with the Treme Brass Band, Dr.

Michael White, Greg Stafford, Shannon Powell, Lars Edegran, Lionel Ferbos, Clive Wilson, Tommy Sancton,

Preservation Hall, Panorama Jazz Band, The Palmetto Bug Stompers and many other New Orleans greats. In 2007 He

released his debut CD "What's in the Bag" with a follow up in 2008 released on the GHB label "Mens Working". Both

CDs are available at the Louisiana Music Factory or on my web page at sevavenet.com.

Home of the Storyville Stringband

The Storyville Stringband

Background and Bio

In Thomas Brothers spicy view on the music scene of the early

20th century New Orleans Louis Armstrong's New Orleans he

points out that, "Wind instruments were actually illegal in the

[Storyville] district until 1907.  Before that, there was only 'soft

music,' as Louis Keppard described it, mostly strings and pianos

and the occasional clarinet."

The Storyville Stringband led by guitarist Seva Venet is a New

Orleans Traditional Jazz band that performs on strings rather

than horns.  The music pulls from the same repertoire, rhythms

and spirit as the funky down home sound of a brass band but

without the brass.  Instrumentation includes steel (slide) guitar,

acoustic rhythm guitar, mandolin, violin, tenor guitar, electric

guitar and acoustic upright bass.

The Storyville Stringband has been performing since 2006 and

already been inducted into the Hogan Jazz Archives at Tulane

University.  They are keeping the sounds of New Orleans string

band jazz alive.

The Storyville Stringband made their festival debut at the French

Quarter Festival in New Orleans in 2009 and in the fall of 2009

played live on the local and world famous radio station WWOZ. 

Other noteworthy engagements include a concert at City Park's

Pavilion of Two Sisters in New Orleans and a "stringband

summit" at Snug Harbor Jazz Club in New Orleans for the final

Sunday evening concert of French Quarter Festival 2008 with

Evan Christopher.