Saturday Nite in New Orleans..Frenchmen Street and then some...

..ok..so after hanging out at the Mid-City Krewe float den...headed back to my sister's apartment to plan my evening..had researched- as I usually do before a trip to NO- music options for Saturday nite..It turns out I had a rare opportunity to re-create my own little "jazzfest" music tour of Frenchmen Street..so, that's what I did...Started out at 6pm at the Spotted Cat...Panorama Jazz Band (whose album 17 Days was voted one of the Best NO Albums of 2010)...7pm..down the street to Blue Nile to see Washboard Chaz Trio..always a treat!..after 1st set finished, headed up street a bit (only in NO!) to d.b.a to catch John Boutte's set..WOW!..what a show..he gives it his all and place was packed!..at 1st set break- around 9pm- sis calling it a nite..Decide to leave Frenchmen St and head over to the Quarter to One Eyed Jack's..have not been here before and wanted to check out a group- Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns- that I have heard about but never seen. So, hoofed it over to One Eyed Jacks and paid my cover..turns out Meschiya Lake is the house band for a variety show..pretty cool..old style club atmosphere- cigarette girls, old time radio announcers and the performers included dancing girls,tap dancers, a magician and comedians..in between band played a couple of songs- lots of fun!..anyway, stayed for 1st set and then decided to head back to Frenchmen St..on the way, this being New Orleans, ran into a wedding second line complete with brass band marching in Jackson Square..how cool!..continued on to Frenchmen ....and as I got closer heard the band- as usual there was a brass band playing on corner of Frenchmen and Chartres St...had to stop to listen and to dance with the gathering crowd..man is this alot of fun..eventually tore myself away and made my way back up Frenchmen Street back to d.b.a. for Lil' Freddie Kings late set..again, place was packed and Freddie was cookin'..don't know any other place that you could even attempt something like this- literally walking from venue to venue -catching even more music outside along the way- all in one evening..boy I love this town...Next Post: So, what do you do on Sunday in New Orleans?....

Finally...Back to my recent New Orleans Trip....

...Day 1: Saturday..landed New Orleans 10:30 am CST..Sister picked me up at airport..First stop: Rouse's Market to make groceries and get supplies (ie beer)..Per beer , settled on Abita Strawberry Ale which was in season and a six-pack from another local brewery on the Northshore Covington Brewery...Back to sister's apartment to relax a bit and say hello. Weather very nice...70's and sunny..not hot or humid..unusual for this time of year..Ok..so now time for purpose of my trip: going to the Krewe of Mid City float den for an open house for prospective members. I had met a guy in NYC at New Orleans Coney Island Fureral who, even tho he lives in New Jersey (!) is part of a honest to God New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewe. After me quizzing him on the particulars he said he would forward me a rider application and I could see about joining up!..Anyway, I went ahead and sent in my deposit $ to save me a spot on a float for next year's parade and ...next thing you know..here I am..In New Orleans visiting the float den that will be location of my Krewe ...unbelievable..anyway, back to my trip..so me and my sister get on our bikes and ride over to the float den (less than 1 mile from my sister's apartment-thinking this was meant to be!)..not a lot of folks there but meet all the key members of the krewe: President, Ride Captain, last years King and a couple of other guys and their wives who have been riding/involved with the krewe for 30+ years who give me the lowdown on what it means to become a krewe member..what a production to get a parade rolling!..all the while, drinking beer and eating plate after plate of crawfish, sausage, corn and potatoes...only in New Orleans.....so my sister and I spent a couple hours eating,drinking and socializing at the krewe den...I'm all in- gonna ride in parade next carnival season...Sunday February 19th, 2012..Nice!...Stay tuned for Saturday Evening Trip re-cap....

Blow by Blow in NO

As I mentioned last week, I just returned from a 4 day whirlwind visit to New Orleans. I had a blast as usual- did lots of stuff that I will write about over next few days including but not limited to visiting a Mardi Gras Krewe den, marching in a Sunday secondline, attending a backyard crawfish boil and finding about 150 pounds of beads on the side of the road.

Bounce New Orleans Style in NYC

Here's a treat...Coming up on May 28th, Big Freedia one of the "Big 3" of the New Orleans Bounce music scene (the other 2 being Katey Red and Sissy Nobby) is making a rare appearance out of NO and in NYC (well Brooklyn anyway) at the Brooklyn Bowl. I have not been to this venue yet but appears to be the East Coast version of New Orlean's Rock N Bowl. Anyway, if showtime was a bit earlier (scheduled for a Brass Bandesque 11pm EST start) and I lived a bit closer would go to this. Big Freedia and Sissy Nobby appeared at this year's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on the Congo Square stage. I have never been to a bounce show in person- have only seen some online videos and the scene has been briefly featured in HBO's Treme; will have to get to one sooner or later. In meantime you can checkout nolabounce.com for free mp3s and to read up on whats up in bounce. Here's an article to check out from NO's Gambit.com and here's where you go for information about this weekends show.

Wanda Jackson Live@ Tipitina's- Wow!

Just sittin' here listening & watching Wanda Jackson live online from Tip's in New Orleans . She puts on some show- have been reading a lot about her and have listened to some of her stuff but first time seeing her in action. See that she will be playing for FREE at NYC Central Park Summerstage on July 27,2011. I would highly recommend checking this lady out!

Live Radio Broadcast Alert: Monday 5.23.11 on WWOZ 7pm CST/8pm EST

Tune in to wwoz.org or 90.7 fm to hear the live broadcast of the "Soul Queen of New Orleans" Irma Thomas and the Professionals, along with Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World on the Eastbank. This concert is part of Rotary International's annual convention, taking place this year in New Orleans. 

Another first at 35,000 feet...no...not that..

in the air somewhere between Atlanta and Philadelphia..just ate a Popeye's Chicken Po Boy, small container of red beans and rice (picked those up in Atlanta Airport) and then had a Hubig's Chocolate Pie-fresh from Rouse's Market on Royal  Street in New Orleans this morning..not bad for being up in an airplane..Blog to y'all soon.

Goin' home

Sitting here at Liuzza's by the Track aka Post-Jazzfest central having my so long New Orleans Lunch: a cup of gumbo, 1/2 a garlic oyster po'boy and of course a Abita draft in their signature frosted mug (actually more of a huge goblet) ..anyway have lots to blog about ...as usual had a great time ..stay tuned for more pix n posts...

Jazzfest from a Distance....

..let me be clear..nothing can replace actually being there..the sounds, the sights, the crowds and most of all the energy!...BUT if you can't be there you make do...listening to live broadcasts on Oz, getting live texts and pics from the Fairgrounds (Thanks Sis!) and watching recorded performances via Rollingstone.com was better than nothing at all. Oz always does a great job- love the fact that they are right at the Fairgrounds ..highlights for me were the Irvin Mayfield NOJO broadcast on last day..also enjoyed Ruthie Foster, Mahalia tribute and David Torkonowsky piano show..lots of what they broadcasted  I would not necessarily have gone to see if I was there in person but thats how  you hear different stuff and discover new bands and artists which should be purpose (IMHO) of the Fest anyway...Same goes for RollingStone broadcast..not a big Acura Stage fan...typically I stay away from big stages (my favorites are Fais Do Do and Jazz & Heritage stages along w/ Jazz,Blues and Economy Hall tents)..figure most folks on big stages I can see in Philly or NY at some point...like to seek out the local or more obscure artists that may not travel as much or are just emerging or even better, groups put together just for Fest..anyway, even given that, was impressed that RollingStone did 5 (!) hrs of coverage each day..broadcast and sound quality was very good (actually hooked up my  sons new laptop to my big screen flat panel tv) and they did a nice sampling of all the artists who plaayed Acura for the 2 days..My favorites were Better than Ezra w MG Indians , Bonerama and of course the Nevilles to close things out..keep wishing that some day they will figure out how to do a Pay per View thing or ideally let you tap into any stage at any time through out the Fest ( a guy can dream can't he?)..well thats all for now..actually writing this again from the skies- actually on my way to New Orleans for a quick visit...will write about reason for my visit in a later post..bye for now.

Last Day at Fest...Haiti

...This year Haiti is being recognized at Fest via music and culture..some folks believe New Orleans has more in common with Haiti and Carribean than rest of US .. Pix below of Tabou Combo and some Haitian art at the festival..

Fest Last Day ...cont'd..

..chasin' a secondline at the Fairgrounds...

Last (!) day of Fest ...

...and sis back at it .. Kickin' day off in style with Lost Bayou Ramblers...

Tipitinas.com Now: Soul Rebels & Dirty Dozen

...Fest after Dark @ Tipitinas.com ..brass bands early show..Trombone Shorty after that at 2am ...catch it..

End of day at Fest...

...Jimmy Buffet @Acura...CJ Chenier..outside Fairgrounds....sundown over Bayou St John ...see ya tomorrow..

and even mo' from Fest Fairgrounds...

...you go sister! Tuba Tuba..James Andrews and Wtf?...

Mo' from Fest...

....Geno Delafose from Fais Do Do. ..

Jazzfest Live..

..Sis back in action Today Saturday from Fairgrounds.. Pfister Sisters @ Economy Hall to start the day.

Live broadcast alert

Listening to 'Oz Fest broadcast today Thursday - caught Charlie Musselwhite earlier and right now Ruthie Foster from Blues Tent-nice. My sister to be back in action live from Fairgrounds this weekend BUT until then you can also check out ( watch and listen) some great live NO music via Tipitinas.com...Tonite sounds great: Blind Boys of Alabama & Gal Holiday- should be some great country & gospel . Also this weekend -same place- Friday Nite: The Radiators and then on Sat Nite a fantastic Brass Band show: Soul Rebels & Dirty Dozen..lawdy, lawdy....

BTW....Wynton Marsalis and Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra were great..



Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra

 ...show was this afternoon at Kimmel Center in Center City, Pennsylvania. Great show as usual- those guys can play...1st half of show was with a smaller group- 6-7 players doing some early 1900's jazz by way of Paris, France..Wynton really seems to enjoy himself when he plays and it comes thru in his playing and I'm thinking also positively impacts rest of group. He was also very funny- concert was final performance of the month long Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) which was apparently a huge success (read about it here). Anyway, theme of festival was France so concert and the music was supposed to have connections to France but the connections were loose at best and Mr.Marsalis was very funny in his attempts to "verify" or "prove" that the music being played actually had any kind of- pardon the pun- "French Connection".anyway, 2nd half of show showcased the full 16 piece ensemble and it was a real treat to here some Ellington, Benny Moten and Sidney Bechet pieces fully realized..Wow- if you ever have opportunity to see this orchestra perform-  jump at it . Even tho I have seen them several times in various configurations I always make a point to see them whenever I can.

Glen David Andrews.....1st Sunday at Fest

...sis went to see Glen David Andrews- a personal favorite of mine- at Blues Tent.. Among others had Amanda Shaw, Marcia Ball & Trombone Shorty on stage during show...and also GDA did his signature Superman crowd surf across the Jazzfest tent crowd...only in New Orleans & only at Jazzfest ...wow..

Mo' pix from Fest

...and more pix from sis straight from Fairgrounds...Second line parade & Storyville Stompers...

More Pix from the Fest

Sis back in action at the Fairgrounds..Gospel..Washboard Chaz & Hats...