if you ain't in the streets..

..then check out the Bayou..Mid City Bayou Boogaloo continues today and you can listen in Live on WWOZ.org.

Today's broadcast lineup: Pine Leaf Boys 1:10pm EST, The New Orleans Nightingales at 3:20pm EST and Ironing Board Sam @ 5:40pm EST.

Be there in person or online to enjoy the show.

Key links:

WWOZ

Pine Leaf Boys

New Orleans Nightingales

Ironing Board Sam

2 New NO Recordings



PHJB Vinyl EP Cover

Received 2 new New Orleans recordings of note this week. First up is a limited edition vinyl EP of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band that includes 5 songs recorded live at their 50th Anniversary Concert this past January at Carnegie Hall in NYC. (See NY Times Concert Review here).This recording is very cool for a number of reasons. First, it's PHJB; second its live, third its a limited edition (only 504 copies) vinyl release and last-and maybe coolest of all- I was at the show! (along with my wife and some other East Coast New Orlean-ophiles). To my understanding, a full recording of the show will be released sometimes this year, but for now, this is pretty cool.



PHJB Vinyl EP Back Cover

Next up, I was listening to 'Oz on Friday and local NO musician Alex McMurray was in the studio talking up a record release party for one of my favorite New Orleans bands- the Valparaiso Men's Chorus. If you don't know who this group is you gotta check em out. Go here -their new website- for details. The group includes a large cast of New Orleans musicians including McMurray, Matt Perirne, Washboard Chaz, Rick Trolsen, and Greg Schatz backed by a large supporting "chorus" that is 25+ persons strong and includes among others WWOZ DJ George Ingmire  . They were making a rare appearance last weekend at the Saturn Bar and Mr. McMurray gave a little bit of background and history about the band, the origin of the name and concept. Very interesting- it turns out the group takes their name from the Chiliean port city of Valparaiso which was a major stopover for ships and sailors travelling between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the early 19th century. Their first CD release-Guano and Nitrates (2007)- is one of my favorite cds. The first time I heard it-on Oz of course- I was blown away (no pun intended). As soon as I heard mention made of the new CD being released I went right to the website and placed my order. Within minutes I received a confirmation email of my order-from Alex McMurray himself- and- blow me down-today I received the CD in the mail- shiver me timbers! Anyway, on first listen this second CD-titled The Straits of St. Claude- is as much fun as the first and I hope someday to be in New Orleans when this group makes one of their rare late night club appearances. It has to be a real blast. Yo ho ho and yeah you right.

Trail Ride Philly Style

View from the trail

Beautiful weather + Bike+ iPhone app+ bluetooth speaker= PRICELESS! I listen to station KRVS out of Lafayette, LA every weekend. This Saturday the DJs happened to be talking about an event that was happening in Southeast Louisiana (aka Cajun Country) over the weekend. For folks who don't know, there are trail rides pretty much every weekend in SE Louisiana starting around this time of year and going into the summer. These are sometimes 2 and 3 day affairs with folks gathering at the trail head with their trucks and horse trailers with a plan to ride horses,camp, party and have a good old time as they ride thru the woods for the whole weekend. There is usually live cajun and zydeco music at the campsites along with food and drink each day and night throughout the event. Now, I dont have a horse, but I do have a bike and I also have a trail near my house that goes thru the woods along a creek. That gave me an idea. So today, when I set out for my usual "trail ride" on my bike, I made sure to first tune into WWOZ's live broadcast of Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie as they played onstage at the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo via my iPhone. As part of my bike set up I have a bluetooth speaker mounted on my handlebars so I can listen to tunes via my iPhone as I ride, so I was able to ride thru the woods on a spectacular spring Sunday here on the East Coast, all the while listening to a live broadcast of cajun and zydeco music live from Louisiana. Now thats what they call passin' a good time down in cajun country . Yeah you right.