Unsung Musical Heroes at the Cabildo Museum

The trouble with this country is that everything has to be new. We don’t have any consideration for the past…Just because something is old, you don’t need to rip it down. You can renovate it instead of ripping it down and building something new.” —Woody Shaw

The Cabildo Museum in Jackson Square is offering an exhibit perfect for the music lover in all of us titled “Unsung Heroes: The Secret History of Louisiana Rock and Roll” which pays homage to Louisiana musicians, both past and present. The musically themed exhibit is presented by Ponderosa Stomp founder Dr. “Ike” Padnos who started Ponderosa Stomp in 2001; but you only have a few more months to get to the Cabildo and enjoy this display because it is a year long event which began in April 2009 and runs through May 2010.

This exhibit pays tribute to the numerous contributions Louisiana musicians have made to the world of rock and roll, R&B, soul, etc. and sounds like a fun, educational weekend activity. Enjoy the sights in and around Jackson Square and the surrounding French Quarter locations and gain some appreciation for the many “Unsung Musical Heroes” in Louisiana.

“Unsung Heroes” will be a perfect addition to the yearly Ponderosa Stomp concerts in between the two Jazzfest weekends. The exhibit includes various rock and roll artifacts such as Fats Domino’s Piano and Earl Palmer’s drums as well as LP’s and recordings from Dr. Ike’s private collection. This is the first exhibit of its kind, paying tribute to the musical stylings of so many talented musicians whose music is now interwoven into the fabric of American rock and roll. You’ll also be able to see rare vintage posters, photographs and records as well as video footage of interviews with many Ponderosa Stomp artists.

A beloved and well known New Orleans studio owner and engineer, Cosimo Matassa, also shares a special spotlight in the exhibit with an entire wall dedicated to his now famous establishment, J&M Recording Studio. Matassa was instrumental in the recording of such artists like Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino, Lil Richard and Lee Dorsey just to name a few, creating what is now known as the “New Orleans” sound. Ernie K. Doe also shares a spotlighted section in the exhibit, which honors him as the “Emperor of the Universe”. So many colorful and unique characters have made the music coming out of this part of the country infectious.

The display honors those who maybe have not “made-it” in popular mainstream music but who have been the backbone and inspiration for so many other musicians who have turned these Louisiana sounds into their own. As stated by Dr. Ike Padnos, "Too often, American music history is the history of the ones who 'made it.' 'Unsung Heroes' integrates some of the missing pieces into that history, revealing a fuller, more accurate account of the seminal role Louisiana played to the public."

I am definitely making it a point to visit this exhibit, as it is a one of a kind. It exposes the public to our valuable musical talents of past and present artists. An exhibit like this is necessary to showcase those artists who have been overlooked and underappreciated by the country and world in general, but who nonetheless have made a significant impact on our culture. The treasures of our musically saturated area have played an immense role in many different genres of music and it all goes back to the school of thought that all music began at Congo Square.

“You’ve got to remember a lot of good musicians made me look good” —Cosimo Matassa

Lil piece of History inside a King Cake

NEW ORLEANS | This morning at work my boss brought in a delicious King cake as is customary in New Orleans during the Carnival Season from Haydel’s Bakery. Apparently I haven’t had a king cake from Haydel’s in a while or just never noticed the small porcelain dolls that come with the tasty treats.

Each inch-and-a-half tall doll comes in a plastic bag. They also each include a historical piece about what each doll represents.

I must interject here to say that I love anything historical related to New Orleans because our city is full of interesting historical morsels. I feel grateful and proud to live in such a unique city.

Anyway, the porcelain doll we got today was the calas lady (vendor of the rice cakes). According to the historical insert the figurine came with, the calas lady was a woman of African or Creole descent who arose early in the morning to peddle her hot rice cakes through the French Quarter streets in the mid to late 1800’s. Most of these women who supported themselves with this skill were trying to save enough money to buy freedom either for herself or her family.

Calas are deep fried rice cakes made of flour, eggs, butter, milk sugar and left over rice and yeast mixed into a batter and then dropped in hot oil to deep fry. Traditionally, the rice cakes were sprinkled with powdered sugar and enjoyed with Café au Lait. These rice cakes can only be found in New Orleans/Creole cuisine recipe books, just another item that is historically ours like po-boys, muffalettas and king cakes.

The word calas (a rice cake or fritter) comes from the African word for rice. It’s just another indicator of how much influence the African culture has had on, and continues to have, on our city to this day. The word was first printed in 1880 but had been in use many years before.

I can almost hear the calas lady’s chant as she walks through the cobbled streets on the French Quarter with her rice cake basket on top of her head, calling out “Belle calas, tout chaud!” (Beautiful calas, still hot!).

I found this piece of history very amusing and will think about it next time I enjoy a piece of Haydel’s king cake with some café au lait.

“Creole is New Orleans city food. Communities were created by the people who wanted to stay and not go back to Spain or France.” --
Paul Prudhomme

Local's Choose Frenchmen Street for Music

So you find yourself in New Orleans and ovewhelmed by all the music options offered in a city rated #1 in Entertainment. The variety of music venues in New Orleans is immense and for such a small city within the United States, it is saturated with sounds from all over the world. You can find Jazz, Blues, Funk, Latin, Reggae,etc in the small pocket of the world located at 30/90 latitude/longitude line. Far away from the neon lights and cover bands of Bourbon street there are some spots that are well known to locals but may evade the knowledge of tourists in an area known as Frenchmen Street.

Most of the venues on this street offer live music 7 nights a week and is host to the city’s biggest Halloween and Mardi Gras street parties outside of Bourbon Street. Music plays year round and depending on your personal preference many different genres of music can caress your ear any day of the week. Some of the best music venues in New Orleans where locals meet, dine and dance the night away are steps away from the sounds of Bourbon Street at the Edge of the French Quarter on Frenchmen Street.

The Neighborhood known as the Marigny plays host to some of the best Music Venues in the entire City known collectively as "Frenchmen Street" This is one of the only streets in the city officially zoned for live music and as such offers a number of clubs for locals and tourist to choose from; giving the ability to listen to jazz, blues, funk, reggae and swing all within one night. The Majority of these music havens are located within the 500 and 600 blocks of the street.

The Blue Nile plays host to many of the city’s livliest, funkiest musicians in New Orleans at 532 Frenchman St. (http://www.bluenilelive.com/main.html) which boasts live music Wednesday through Sunday. The Blue Nile also has an upstairs venue known as Alley Katz and offers a huge balcony overlooking the street. The combination of these 2 music venues within 1 building allow for a variety of music on any given night ranging from Funk and jazz to celebrity DJ’s.

Across from the Blue Nile, you will find one of the street’s newest hip spots, Yuki’s at 532 Frenchmen.This local hang out incorporates Japanese style food tapas with DJ music in the evenings. This Japanese pub offers a variety of beers and Shocho as well as Japanese movies projecting on the walls. During the weekend, the venue is always overflowing with the crowd spilling out into the street dancing to world beats produced from the in-house DJ.



Down the street on the 609 Frenchmen you will find The Apple Barrel, known as Frenchman Street’s best kept secret by many locals. This tiny bar is very inviting as often times the music creeps out into the street as visitors stand in the doorway of this crowded watering hole. The venue’s tiny stage serves as the ground for some soulful Crescent city jams. If you get hungry you can always head upstairs to the intimate setting of Adolfo’s which offers a combination of classic Italian dishes and New Orleans favorites. With the blend of a music bar and a restaurant upstairs, this building at 609 Frenchman offers a full night of entertainment.

Across the Street from the Apple Barrel lies Cafe Negril at 609 Frenchmen known for its Roots,Reggae as well as one of the best open-mic nights in the city on Mondays as you dance the night away to the Bob Marley painted walls. Reggae bands can be heard here every weekend on a regular basis.

D.B.A at 618 Frenchman St. which is also open 7 nights a week (http://www.dbabars.com/dbano/) offers a variety of beers on tap and liquor from all over the world. The window booths alongside the outside wall make it a great spot to people watch those enjoying the pleasures along Frenchmen St. D.B.A offers twice the fun as most nights they offer double bills with bands starting at 6 or 7p.m. and 10p.m.

The Spotted Cat located at 623 Frenchmen St. offers folks a mixture of Jazz and Swing as well as Latin music and has gone through a change in ownership recently but still retains its allure attracting many bohemian types. This venue usually host 2 bands with one beginning around 7 p.m. and the other at 10 p.m.

Across the Street from the Spotted Cat you will find Snug Harbor at 626 Frenchmen St (http://www.snugjazz.com/site/). "Snug" ,as it referred to by locals, is the premier Jazz Club in the city offering Classic, modern and Brass band style music with shows at 8p.m. and 10 p.m. Within the walls of Snug Harbor, you will also find a separate dining room offering salads, sandwiches and New Orleans favorites such as gumbo, BBQ Shrimp and Fried Chicken. Bring the entire famiy to an evening a Snug Harbor b/c well-haved, quiet children are allowed as well.

After a full night of drinking and dancing, the appetite can be supressed by any of food trucks lined up serving anything from Tacos, to Hamburgers to Brownies. A night of music and food can be enjoyed at any one of these establishments. Frenchmen St. is the local’s choice for live music and offers an immense variety suitable for all types. Music afficionados are sure to appreciate this Entertainment street located at the Edge of the French Quarter as an alternatives to Bourbon Street.

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NOLA love in SAN FRAN

You can't fake this music. You might be a great singer or a great musician but, in the need, that's got nothing to do with it. It's how you connect to the songs and to the history behind them. –Etta James

San Francisco and New Orleans are often referred to as sister cities and this is most certainly true in my experience. Last week I spent some time in Northern Cali in San Francisco , Alameda , Oakland , Beautiful Chico and pristine Sausalito . The Bay area calls to me often as I feel a spiritual connection to the people, the energy, the music and the landscape of the same. The people I have come across in California are wonderful, diverse, open minded and love New Orleanians. I went there mostly to visit and enjoy the company of good friends but I also managed to get in some time with my favorite New Orleans band “Juice” who had a 2 day run in San Francisco, Friday the 29th at the Boom Boom Room in Downtown S.F. and Sat the 30th in Sausalito at the foot of the Golden gate Bridge.

Leaving home but always taking it with me, I watched the NFC Championship game last Sunday with my friends in Alameda , CA . My girlfriend Celeste is a New Orleans transplant to the Bay Area and was just as excited for the Saints as anyone back home. As we watched the game from the Sofa in California I wondered what everyone was doing back home in New Orleans and a part of me wished I was there in the midst of it all. I received various text messages and pictures of the French Quarter as everyone exploded onto the street when our beloved team won. The emotion and excitement was felt thousands of miles away because New Orleans is a feeling that’s carried wherever you are. After gushing for a while over the Saint’s victory I made plans to head to Oakland to visit with some other friends.

Music is a main topic of conversation of mine and I was excited to meet some kindred spirits who shared my joy for music. As we relaxed at my girlfriend Amanda’s house in Oakland , we listened to some vinyls from the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall” and Aretha Franklin and made plans for Jazzfest 2010. One thing I love about Oakland is the diversity of it; just chilling at my friend’s house there was an Asian girl, a Greek man, a girl from Louisiana , A Puerto Rican girl, an Italian Man and me a Nicaraguan New Orleanian. Everyone loved chatting up about the scene back home in New Orleans and I reveled in the fact that I will play tourist guide in April/May when my Oakland people drive cross country to experience our Jazzfest.

The middle of my week from Tuesday thru Friday we drove to beautiful Chico , CA about 3 hours north of San Fran where I had the pleasure of hiking thru exquisite Bidwell Park . The music there could be felt in the natural rhythm of nature all around us. The birds chirping, the Chico creek that runs all thru the city. Bidwell state Park is divided into Lower Bidwell and Upper Bidwell . The lower section runs thru the main part of the city and the Upper section is more on a hiking path full of hills and beautiful rock formations as well as pools of natural water. As we walked on our 2 hour hike, I just marveled at the grandiose miracles of nature and breathed in as much fresh air as possible. This place made me feel revived and now I was ready to head back to the city to funk out to some “JUICE” tunes.

The band was scheduled to be the headlining act at the Boom Boom Room in San Francisco a very well known music venue that caters to New Orleans musicians as well as a birthday party in Sausalito . During my year residency in the Bay Area after Hurricane Katrina, the Boom Boom Room provided me with my fix of Crescent City music as many musicians migrated to this area. The scene there was a festive one as the crowd thickened waiting for some New Orleans funk during the set of the first band. It was very comforting to see people in the crowd wearing Saints t-shirts and Jersey ’s. I met a girl in the ladies room who was so excited to talk about anything New Orleans as she had just moved to San Fran from the Uptown area and she was proudly sporting her “Brees” Black and Gold jersey. The Band played from midnite to around 2:30 to a packed house and they sounded awesome. I felt like I had the best of both worlds at my fingertips-Listening to Juice IN San Francisco with good friends around me dancing the night away is pretty close to a perfect evening in my world. The band ended and we walked back to our Hotel, the Kabuki Hotel in Japan Center . Saturday I woke up and went for a walk on Van Ness, grabbed some breakfast and prepared to check out to head with the Band to beautiful Marin County , Sausalito . The gracious folks providing our hotel accommodations are best friends with the band’s Guitar player, Sam Hotchkiss, and the 2nd hotel we stayed at was simply breathtaking. Cavallo Point is a 5 star resort set at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge with a perfect view of the Bay. The Birthday party was to be held at the Presidio Yacht club on the grounds of this place.

The party began right after the Birthday song was sung and candles were blown out. The yacht club was full of friends of the birthday guy from all over the country and all were ready to partay!! The band played all their classic such as “Neighbors”, “ Biggest Lil Shrimp” and a funky funky track titled “Trout”. The party go-ers danced to the point of sweating and a couple of guests accompanied the New Orleans funk band as many of the band’s friends are avid music lovers and were dying for the chance to play with some truly talented musicians. There were also a couple of New Orleans folks there at the party who I also got the chance to meet. The band played the party til about 2:30 a.m. and then an after party ensued in the Band’s suite next door to mine. As for myself, I was exhausted from a whole week of vacationing and called it night around 3 a.m. in preparation for my flight home on Sunday. Thank you to all my California peeps and thank you to Juice for being part of my 9 day vacation. Now on to focus all of our collective energy to the Saints winning the Superbowl!! Who Dat Folks!

“I guess I am rooting a little bit for the Saints as the underdog, partly just because when I think about what’s happened in New Orleans over the last several years and how much that team means to them. You know, I’m pretty sympathetic.”-President Obama