"Music is one of the best ways to enjoy the present. Its not much fun to look forward to hearing music or to remember what a song sounded like last week, but music right now absorbs you and places you in the present moment"
-Sonnett Branche
It was a very cool, relaxing Tuesday nite as I walked from Dauphine Street to Bourbon St towards Fritzel’s Jazz Club; I knew I would be absorbed by music tonight. Bourbon Street was relatively calm and quiet and did not reflect the vibrant atmosphere inside of Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub.
I was immediately greeted and attended to by Kate, the most gracious host of the club. The place was packed with jazz aficionados of all ages and there was a joyful spirit in the air. In order to head upstairs, I had to pass in front of the band and I must say they sounded amazing. I felt like I stepped into a 1920’s jazz parlor with the ragtime beats behind me. The club boasted 2 bands tonite, the Loose Marbles at 7pm followed by Tom Fischer & Friends at 9 pm.
As I made my way up the grand spiral wooden staircase, I was immediately drawn to the a beautifully ornate painted ceiling in the main room. I couldn’t take my eyes off it and imagined the room full of people dancing the night away to a live jazz ensemble in that exact room in year passed. Another grand feature of the upstairs section was the very wide Balcony overlooking Bourbon St and I took a moment to enjoy the cool nite air while “people-watching” the individuals on that block. The wind whispered to me the need to head downstairs and truly enjoy the main ingredient to this experience, THE MUSIC.
The 40th Anniversary celebration at Fritzel’s included 2 jazz acts that normally play there during the week. Fritzel's is open with Live Jazz 7 nights a week. The club boasts being the “Oldest Operating Jazz Club in New Orleans ” with its debut on October 1969. Fritzel’s Boasts an impressive history with its 40 years running and has had many legendary jazz musicians gracing its tiny stage in the historic 1831 Building. The bar at Fritzel's offers many Shnapps (usually served cold) and a variety of German beers to enjoy. Fritzel's has become a sort of mecca for Jazz lovers in the local and international community amidst all the noise and rock bands playing nearby in other establishment on Bourbon Street.
The first band I had the pleasure to enjoy was the “Loose Marbles” Band comprised of 5 very talented musicians. This Band is most commonly known for playing on various French Quarter streets such as Royal Street and Frenchman Street and usually is made up of a rotating band with many members. The members tonight included Ben Polcer on trumpet, Todd Yannacone on Acoustic guitar, Brothers Bruce Brackman on Clarinet and Chuck Brackman on Sousaphone and a magnificent female piano player named Shaye Cohn.
Loose Marbles is best known for playing 1920's and 30's ragtime jazz. I walked into the last set of the band and into the well-known tune “ Canal Street Blues” a very upbeat, lively song that had audience members clapping and tapping their feet. The young female piano player was a treat to the eyes and ears as she rapidly bounced her fingers on that piano scale as if her wrists were held by marionette strings. She was “Stride” playing, a style very popular in jazz numbers.The name "stride" comes from the left-hand movement "striding" up and down the keyboard. Stride players often leap a greater distance with the left hand, play faster and have more room for improvisation.This style was popularized by Our own "Professor" Jelly Roll Morton as well as Fats Waller and stride master James P. Johnson.
Halfway thru the set, the 2nd song I caught called for a Sousaphone solo and Chuck Brackman’s performance was heavily applauded. The feel in Fritzel’s was one of shared joy as everyone listened attentively to the performance. The last song “Donna” concluded the “Loose Marbles” set on an UPBEAT literally. The cool jazzy voice of Ben Pulcer drifted through the Jazz Club like wispy little jazz notes. The Loose Marbles are an amazing "younger" addition to the older more established jazz Acts that play at Fritzel's and I'm sure we will hear alot more out of this band for many years to come.
As the Marbles Cleared the stage, the members of the second Band, "Tom Fischer and Friends" began walking in, dressed to impress in very nice suits and they all had that air of being "Fritzel's All Stars". This band was comprised of Tom Fischer on Clarinet, Gerald French on Drums, John Royen on Piano and Jesse Boyd on Stand up Bass. If you these names are not familiar, be rest assured that these gentleman ARE without a doubt some of the best traditional Jazz Players in our City.
The band leader ,Tom Fischer, was born in Chicago and moved to New Orleans in 1989. He received formal training at Indiana University and his informal training in the jazz clubs of Chicago and New Orleans. Tom’s clarinet playing reflects his love for the great New Orleans clarinet tradition.He has been called by Jazz Times magazine " one of the best". Drummer Gerald French began playing drums at the tender age of 5 and is part of an illustrious New Orleans Music family the 'Frenches". He has appeared on various recordings,movie soundtracks and television scores. French is a 4th generation Musician and also member of the Wild Magnolia's Mardi Gras Indian Tribe. John Royen is well known for his Stride playing and has been called the " New Orleans most important living stride piano player". He is one of the busiest piano player in the city and also appears on many albums. Bass player Jesse Boyd, is one of the city's most sought after Stand-Up players and is known for his versatile style. He is currently a professor of Jazz and Music Industry Depts at Loyola University.
The band played jazz numbers that included the popular song "Beale Street Blues", "China Boy" "Why Don't you Go Down to New Orleans" and an impromptu performance of the song "Crazy" (popularized by Patsy Cline) sung by New Orleans living legend, Uncle Lionel Batiste. The audience seemed to grow in excitement with the beginning of each song as they boisterously clapped their hands and danced in their seats.
"Beale Street Blues" was performed flawlessly and its original composer, American Lyricist W.C. Handy would have been proud. The song is a well known jazz number which romanticizes the popular Memphis Street. The sweet clarinet sounds of Tom Fischer and sweeps of the Royen ,Piano player extraordinaire, were the key components to this song. One of the highlights of this band's set was the Drummer, Gerald French doing vocals on "Why don't you go down to New Orleans". His voice was silky smooth as he sang the lyrics
" Why don't you go to New Orleans,
ride in Ole Street Cars,
celebrate Mardi Gras!" and midsong, Ben Pulcer of the former band, Loose Marbles joined in on Trumpet.
A real new Orleans Character, Uncle Lionel Batiste, enchanted the audience with a surprise rendition of the song"CRAZY" as he is known for his maple-sweet take on sentimental standards. Originally a bass drummer by trade for the Treme Brass band, this gracious, debonair man with his big sunglasses and walking cane has become a staple on Frenchman St and New Orleans events in general. The band had to lower the volume on their playing to accomodate the low gentle voice of "UNC" (known to many by these three 3 words). Halfway through the song, Batiste began flirting and singing to the ladies in the audience and they LOVED IT! It was such a sweet sight to be a witness to. He graciously ended his song with the words " Crazy for loving you all" as he motioned to the crowded audience at Fritzel's.
Its always been custom at Fritzel's to bring up jazz vocalists to sing on their stage and this nite it was Jayne Morgan's turn as she was introduced by band leader Tom Fischer. She sang an upbeat tempo version "Puttin on the Ritz" and clearly enjoying every minute of her performance as was evident by her facial expressions and snapping fingers.
Although I could've stayed at Fritzel's until closing time enjoying the lovely Jazz Numbers or the general ambiance of the Club, I decided my 7 a.m. alarm would not be so forgiving and headed out the still packed house at the 40 yr old establishment. As we walked to the with Jazz Still ringing in my ears, I stopped to enjoy and old fire-escape on the side of a grand ole French Quarter building prompted by my boyfriend's love of those structures. I was full of admiration for our Magical Lil city where the allure of Old time jazz is an timeless as our Brick streets and as enduring as the architecture of French Quarter homes and businesses. Fritzel's 40th anniversary celebration will continue on through out the rest of the week which includes many other Fritzel's All star bands. If you love traditional jazz and a highly musical atmosphere Fritzel's European Jazz Pub on 733 Bourbon Street is a must.
New Orleans is the only place I know of where you ask a little kid what he wants to be and instead of saying "I want to be a policeman," or "I want to be a fireman," he says, I want to be a musician".
—Alan Jaffe
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