photo #1893875

Blue Angel Club, Bourbon Street, New Orleans. Owned by NOLA Family member Carlo Montalbano. Montalbano was a respected member of the Family and feared for his hair trigger temper. Story is that he got so worked up in 1993 after a couple of FBI agents went to his house to question him that he had a stroke and died. The Blue Angel started out as your average burlesque joint on Bourbon Street but over time became a first rate Jazz club, booking first rate talent. Surprisingly, for a guy of Montalbano's reputation, he was a patron of the arts. Besides the Jazz he became the patron of a local artist, Leo Meiersdorff, buying his work and hanging it in the Blue Angel and helping to support his career. Apparently they became close friends Meiersdorff is known for his Jazz scenes.