Tonight, see a play about Malcolm X, enjoy some contemporary Cajun music, or enjoy some indie rock on Oak Street. Happy Birthday to the late Ernie K-Doe, a local R&B legend who would have made 77 today. Now, more to do this Friday night.

Get over your hump day with jazz, hip hop, funk, and soul all over the city. Before you get your night started, head to Octavia Books for an author event with World War II historian Christopher Browning. On this day in 1960, the Federal Court blocked an attempt by the Louisiana legislature to replace the entire School Board following desegregation. Now, more Wednesday happenings.

Monday is back after the long weekend, and there’s no shortage of things to do in New Orleans to ease into the workweek. Old Crow Medicine Show is making a stop in the Big Easy, the art of funk is at Banks Street, and great local acts are performing all over the city. On this day in 1955, “Tutti Frutti,” by Lil’ Richard entered the R&B Charts. The track was written by native Dorothy LaBostrie and recorded in Cosimo Matassa’s Studio.

Love Sessions: A Festival of Giving begins tonight, with Irvin Mayfield and Kermit Ruffins giving their all for the New Orleans Public Library Foundation. For seven consecutive nights, the two famous trumpet players go head to head to raise money for various charities at Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta Hotel (300 Bourbon St.). After August 25, Mayfield will take the party  to the I Club (614 Canal St.) to go into musical battle with Dee Dee Bridgewater. Tomorrow night, proceeds will go towards UNITY of greater New Orleans.

Today, as the city recovers from another weekend festival, grab a cold beer and listen to Lil Red bellow at BMC, or get a few beers and join the Irish jam session at The Irish House. On this day in history, clarinetist Joe Darensbourg, who played with Mutt Carey, Kid Ory, and Louis Armstrong’s All-Stars, was born in Baton Rouge (1906), piano man Duke Burrell was born in New Orleans (1920), and funeral services were held for Louis Armstrong before he was laid to rest in Flushing Cemetery in Queens, NY (1971).

by Shay Sokol

At an event Don King could have organized, Irvin Mayfield threatened to leave Kermit Ruffins in critical condition. “After I’m through with him, Kermit’s gonna need an IV. He’s gonna need morphine.” The two will face off in a battle of trumpets for seven nights later this month as part of the second annual Love Sessions: A Festival of Giving. The festival, which doubles as a fundraising benefit for local non-profits was a success last year, with all seven nights sold out. This year, the festival has expanded across two clubs – Mayfield’s own Jazz Playhouse and I Club – and 11 days, leading up to the anniversary of Katrina.