A lil bit of the Big Easy in The Big Apple

If New Orleans Music is allowed to die, a crucial part of the world's music heritage will disappear."
--Ray Davies

In 2004, I took an elective class at Tulane called "The History of Rock and Roll." I absolutely loved that class, which consisted of listening to old recordings and watching live footage of bands; it was a music lover's dream.

It was this class that introduced me to the Tulane Library Jazz Collection, boasting the largest collection of jazz recordings in the country. I would find myself at the library for hours on end, never growing tired of listening to the classic sounds of New Orleans' jazz greats like Jelly Roll Morton and Buddy Bolden. I looked forward to it every week and enjoyed the assignments for that class more than any other class of my college years.

The professor who taught that class is part of a group of musicologists who believe that all American music began right here in Congo Square. Over the course of the semester, he converted me to this way of thinking as well, but then again, I didn't need much convincing.

Jazz music began in New Orleans as a fusion of classical music and African sounds, the result of affluent Creoles sending their sons to school in Europe. The music at Congo Square began in the 1800's, because that was the only place slaves could rejoice through song and dance on Sundays. The music there was an expression of freedom at a time of unimaginable oppression.

A direct line can be drawn from the sounds of Congo Square right through jazz, blues and soul - which leads off to R&B - all the way to rock and roll through punk, metal and all the rest. New Orleans has given the world a tremendous cultural gift: Our music, which all started with repressed, exploited human beings attempting to squeeze some joy out of their daily struggles, has touched hearts and changed lives.

That same sentiment goes on today with every second line parade, every Mardi Gras float, every beautiful Mardi Gras Indian procession. New Orleanians enjoy life through a rich tapestry of music and tradition, and it is all for free. Times-Picayune columnist extraordinaire Chris Rose said it best in his 2005 letter to America when he stated, "We dance even when there is no radio, we drink at funerals, we talk too much and laugh too loud and live too largely, and frankly, we are suspicious of those who don't."

Now in 2010, we have the duty as a dominant cultural music city to broadcast our music all over the world. We must promote our immense talent so all can see that we're not just a wasteland of crime, poverty and swampland. We deserve to be here; we deserve to be protected; we deserve government funding for our coastlands and historical landmarks, because of our unique music and our unique culture and for the sheer joy of it all.

One organization that is working towards this goal is the BackBeat Foundation. BackBeat is a local non-profit whose main purpose is to promote New Orleans culture and music. They also promote non-smoking shows, as many musicians are exposed to tremendous amounts of unhealthy second-hand smoke in bars and venues. Their purpose statement on their website states the following:

"It has been recognized that the unique backbeat of New Orleans' music has influenced jazz, blues and rock and roll. Most music that is considered uniquely American has been influenced by the rhythms and tempos that pour out into the streets of this uniquely American city, born of the merger of Spanish, French, African and Caribbean cultures. At the core of the city's vitality is music. In New Orleans, music is the lifeblood of the culture, it accompanies both life and death, it celebrates and it mourns. It is essential to the life and future of the city that music continues to permeate the air from every open door, window and street corner."

What a beautiful mission! That last sentence is my favorite because I truly feel the same way about New Orleans music. Doesn't it say something when anything moves you so much that you feel the dire need to foster, protect and promote it? Isn't that what life is all about? New Orleans music promotes joy and life and freedom, and it deserves to be both shared and celebrated.

The BackBeat Foundation is hosting a showcase of local talent at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference (APAP) in New York City. The series will run from today through Tuesday, January 8 - 12. This conference is one of the largest music conferences in the world and includes various workshops, clinics and keynote speakers in the music industry. This year's conference theme is "Risk. Opportunity. Now."

New Orleans will be one of the over 1000 showcases at the conference, represented by Export NOLA for the second year in a row. Performances will be held at two venues: Sullivan Hall and The Bitter End. Featured musicians at Sullivan Hall include the Jon Batiste Band, trumpeter Christian Scott, Jon Ellis and Double Wide, the Paul Sanchez Duo feat. Matt Perrine, The Jason Marsalis Quartet, and the Funky Butt Revisited, which includes Big Sam Williams, Jon Batiste, Will Bernard, Christian Scott, Doug Wimbish and Adam Deitch.

Just a short walk away at the Bitter End, more New Orleans sounds will float through the New York City air with acts that include The Jamie McClean Band, Paul Sanchez, Mia Borders, Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys, and The Iguanas.

With such a variety of music - ranging from funk to rock, from zydeco to jazz - these artists will appropriately represent our cultural gumbo to industry leaders and other conference attendees.

One of my all time favorite responses to why should New Orleans should have been rebuilt after Katrina comes from former Oregon State Representative, Chris Beck, when he stated, "First, New Orleans is our Venice; should the world abandon Venice? Second, New Orleans is our man-made Grand Canyon, our Yellowstone and Yosemite. It is where jazz and blues - our music - found their roots after slavery's descendants developed a voice away from the plantation. Today, it is home to the largest collection of historic buildings in the country."

New Orleans will export its grit and soul around the world one more time this weekend, thanks to the BackBeat Foundation. To read more about BackBeat's other events and music shows, visit their website at http://www.backbeatfoundation.org/.

For now, though, let's all look forward to another great Carnival season, during which we get to enjoy our unique culture, music, food, and cast of characters. Everything convenes at the 30N-90W line here in the biggest little city in the country. L'aissez Les Bon Temps Rouler, Y'all!