Going Home to the Spiritland

TIME HAS COME TODAY"--Coco Robicheaux

Jerry Moran-New Orleanian Fine Photography

Local Legend and Louisiana Hall of Fame recipient, Coco Robicheaux passed away last night around 6 p.m., November 25, 2011, while talking to friends at his beloved Apple Barrel Bar on Frenchmen Street. Close sources confirmed that Robicheaux collapsed after talking about great times spent with his granddaughter during the Holiday while laughing & smiling and that it was a quick affair. He was rushed by ambulance to Tulane Medical Center but could not be revived while en route.

Facebook went into overload with comments from friends and fans who were shocked and saddened by the loss of this mystical New Orleans figure. His life has touched many and he will be truly missed by all who knew him. Born Curtis Arceneaux he died at age 64 and leaves behind a long list of songs which he often performed at the Apple Barrel during his Saturday night residency at the bar. He was a constant on Frenchmen Street and everyone who knew him was in one way or another mesmerized. He was an entrancing character and one that made you believe in the magic of New Orleans.

A few interested tidbits about Coco Robicheaux are that he was also an artist and sculpted the very well known "FessHead" sculpture (Professor Longhair) at the main entrance of Tipitina's Uptown on Napoleon Ave. I know many visitors have rubbed that FessHead as well as taken pictures with it. As stated on the Tipitina's website:

"Since his (Professor Longhair) passing a beautiful brass bust of Fess was constructed, by local musician and artisan Coco Robicheaux, located near the front door where patrons enter and admire Fess to this day". Simply put, it's the stuff made legends are made of.

New Orleans is full of lovable characters who are celebrated & revered where in other places they might be shunned or ridiculed. Many folks across the world were introduced to Coco through the HBO hit show "Treme" 1 season, 2nd episode where he is interviewed by Davis Mcalary and sings his hit song "Walking with the Spirit".

Robicheaux is also mentioned repeatedly in Dr. John's classic 1967 recording of "I Walk with Guilded Splinters".
In an introduction to music historian Ned Sublette's 2008 interview with Coco he states the following:

"There’s a spot on “I Walk on Guilded Splinters,” the track that put Dr. John on the map in 1967, where you can hear the young Dr. John call out very clearly, chanting in rhythm: Co-co Ro-bi-cheaux. I used to wonder if that “Coco Robicheaux” had been some legendary figure of New Orleans voodoo, like the original Dr. John, the Senegalese charm-maker described by Lafcadio Hearn from whom Mac Rebennack took his stage name. But no, that shouted-out Coco Robicheaux—born Curtis Arceneaux—was the same guy you can hear on Saturdays at the Apple Barrel. When Rebennack cut “Guilded Splinters,” Coco was 20, and already someone to conjure"

Jerry Moran-New Orleanian Fine Photography

Maybe it's the superstitious side of my New Orleans upbringing which leads me to believe the Spirit of Coco Robicheaux will live on at the bar at Apple Barrel reveling and enjoying the company of those he loved so. This city likes to hold onto it's legends and as far as legends go, Robicheaux was in a class of his own. I look forward to feeling his presence up & down Frenchmen St. The Celebration of his life which will surely be of historic proportions reminds me of the Kermit Ruffins song "When I Die -You Better Second Line"

"When I die, you better second line.
When I die, you better monkey shine.
You better put my coffin on top of the bar,
Put the jukebox on “a closer walk”,
When I die, you better second line."-KERMIT RUFFINS

Donna's on Rampart Mardi Gras Line up

"Way down yonder in New Orleans/In the land of dreamy scenes/There's a garden of Eden/You know what I mean.”----Louis Armstrong

"Mardi Gras is the love of life. It is the harmonic convergence of our food, our music, our creativity, our eccentricity, our neighborhoods, and our joy of living. All at once"--Chris Rose

A true New Orleans Staple in the world famous Treme neighborhood the birthplace of Louis Armstrong, Donna's on Rampart located at 800 Rampart Street directly across from the Louis Armstrong park Sign has reopened and open for business. Formerly known as Donna's Bar & Grill, the venue closed its doors last summer with a sign on their door which simply stated "GONE FISHING". Being a New Orleans music institution, it was a matter of time before Donna's reopened and we are glad to have it back. Many New Orleanians can recount joyous times shared at Donna's while listening to New Orleans Brass Bands, Jazz and Funk just to name a few. I have personally heard from various folks how happy they are that the venue has reopened. Holding true to what it was once was, Donna's on Rampart has been hosting a variety of New Orleans sounds such as the Royal Players Brass Band, Joe Krown Trio featuring Walter Wolfman & Russell Batiste, Bo Dollis Jr. and the Wild Magnolia's as well as new up and coming musicians such as Rex Gregory (jazz) and Mario Abney (Jazz/Funk). The venue also has food nightly for those ravenous dancers and musicians alike provided by VJ's Cafe at Congo Square serving up delicious meals such as Red Beans & Rice, George Porter Jr's Fried Chicken (arguably the best chicken in town) and Jambalaya & Potatoe Salad.

This weekend leading up to one of the biggest weekends in our city, Donna's on Rampart is boasting an impressive line up full of talented musicians. Every night offers a different feel so if you are into Brass Band, Funk, Jazz or just simply good music Donna's on Rampart is your late night destination after all the parades have rolled into the convention center. Take a stroll through the French Quarter and down Rampart street to 800 Rampart (corner of St. Anne) for some stellar music, great food and friendly bartenders.

The Mardi Gras 2011 music line up beginning today (March 3, 2011) is as follows:

March 3, 2011 at 10 p.m.-Royal Players Brass Band
March 4, 2011 at 10 p.m.-Soul Project (Funk/New Orleans Blues)
March 5, 2011 at 10 p.m.-Illumnasti Trio with James Singleton, Mike Dillon followed by the Dead Kenny G's with Mike Dillon, Skerik and Brad Houser
March 6, 2011 at 8 p.m.--Bob French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band
March 7, 2011 at 8 p.m.--Kevin O'day and Friends
March 8, 2011---CLOSED, HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!!

Donna's on Rampart can be found on the Internet at http://www.donnasonrampart.com and on Facebook under Donna's on Rampart. For information you can contact the Crew at Donna's at Main Line: 504-304-6340
Concert Line: 504-875-4978.

For Booking information or to leave us your Press Kit please stop by the venue any night Thursday through Sunday and ask for Venessa Williams.

See you at Donna's

Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler!

"Mardi Gras is bars and restaurants changing out all the CD's in their jukeboxes to Professor Longhair and the Neville Brothers, and it is annual front-porch crawfish boils hours before the parades so your stomach and attitude reach a state of grace, and it is returning to the same street corner, year after year, and standing next to the same people, year after year--people whose names you may or may not even know but you've watched their kids grow up in this public tableau and when they're not there, you wonder: Where are those guys this year?"-Chris Rose

"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

Pisces Party 2011 Benefits Haiti's Youth

"Pisces are creative people.Pisces always make great friends and soulmates. Pisces are extremely loyal and caring. Pisces often possess uncanny intuitive or psychic abilities"

"The arts, marketing, music, teaching, drama, healing arts...these are all fields in which Pisces can find expression. Their imagination, attunement to humanity, and remarkable intuition endow them with enviable gifts of insight and creativity."




Many born within this sign tend to gravitate towards the Arts because of our love for beauty and all things spiritual and ethereal which can be best achieved through some medium in the Arts. Famous Pisces folks include: MichaelAngelo, Copernicus, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elizabeth Taylor, Kurt Cobain, Fats Dominoe, Johnny Cash, Quincy Jones,Liza Minelli, Albert Einstein, Queen Latifah, Jack Kerouac, Nat King Cole, Anais Nin, Drew Barrymore and Bruce Willis just to name a few. Not bad company to be included in.

On Tuesday March 1st, 2011 beginning at 8 p.m. at the Blue Nile on Frenchmen Street, all Pisces and Pisces Lover's/Friends are invited to Celebrate the qualities of this last sign of the Horoscope. I am purposely choosing to ignore that new horoscope! This being the First Annual Pisces Party the event will be one not easily forgotten! At only a $5.00 cover charge, the event is sure to leave you satisfied.

The Party includes an all star Pisces Band including Sam Price on Bass (from Honey Island Swamp Band & Otra), Eric Bolivar on Drums (Bonerama, Anders Osborne), Greg Hicks on Trombone (Bonerama), John Bagnato on Guitar (from the N.O. Heritage School of Music), Kristina Morales (Jazz vocals) and Loren Murrell (vocals and Guitar). This is just the core group of musicians not counting many special guests invited to share the stage with this amazingly talented group of artists who are all generously donating their time to a very worthy cause and just because it's sure to be a good time.

Proceeds from the Pisces Party 2011 will go to benefit the Haitian Youth Music Relief (www.haitianyouthmusicrelief.org) Fund led by Haitian Loyola Professor Dr. Jean Montes. This organization was featured on the front cover of the Gambit a few weeks ago and the idea was born to incorporate them into the party. The Haitian Youth Music Relief Fund gathers donations, music instruments, music books and supplies for the youth in Haiti. Due to the devastation caused by the massive Earthquake, Haiti is still trying to recover needing their basic needs met such as housing, food and shelter however there are a few things like the arts which will make all of Haiti feel like Human Beings again. Music always has the power to transform the soul by providing sheer joy in the form of musical notes. In New Orleans we take music very personal realizing all too well exactly what our brothers and sisters in Haiti are going through after struggling to recover from our own natural disaster.

As stated in their website; "A musician's instrument is a means of expression, a tool for connecting with others, and an old friend in times of tragedy. Music is a healing energy like no other and we can join together to provide this type of "medicine" to help heal the children who are suffering in Haiti." Again a sentiment understood best in a city like New Orleans known for making the best out of our worst times with the help of music.

The event will also include food donated by various Pisces folks, games and of course King Cakes since it is after all also Carnival time! Be part of a wonderful party benefitting an even greater cause. Someone once told me that part of our lot in life is to help others as much as we can because we are ALL ultimately connected. I believe in this to my core and what a better to extend a helping way than through music.


"Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion."-- Jack Kerouac

"Reality is something you rise above."-- Liza Minnelli

"Dreams are necessary to life."-- Anais Nin

LATIN MUSIC OF A UNIQUE FLAVOR

In New Orleans one of the our greatest attributes is the variety of cultures that combine to form our musical melting pot. On any given night, one can find Blues, Funk, Jazz, Folk, Latin, Hip-Hop, Soul, and as of recently more modern mixtures like Neo Soul, Indie Rock and Latin Funk just to name a few. This Saturday February 12th, 2011 the band Hola Hi from Florida will be in New Orleans Upstairs at the Blue Nile with an opening acoustic band Courtade (led by Latin rock promoter and Latin Radio DJ Eduardo Courtade) beginning at 10p.m. with the main act performing at 11 p.m. The group comprised of a husband and wife team will soothe your soul and make you want to wiggle in your seat simultaneously to the sounds of Latin Indie Pop Funk, a vibration not heard too often in New Orleans. Although we are saturated with top notch music here in the N-O-L-A,I also believe we are constantly opening the door to new styles and contributions.

Hola Hi belongs to the more non traditional styles of music heard on Frenchman Street and as such are part of an exciting Latin sound which typically is native to States like New York, California, Florida and Texas. Latin music has all the same variations in genres as English dominated music in that we have funk, alternative, rock, reggae, ska, pop, hip-hop, country, as well as the Latin standards like Salsa and Merengue. Hola Hi combines their experiences as a multicultural band bringing in elements from genres of music native to the two forces in the band, Angelina who is Dominicana (Dominican republic) and Paul who is from right here in New Orleans. One tidbit I found Interested was the name of the band, Hola Hi,which is a greeting often heard in South Florida combining English and Spanish into one phrase.

I asked the Band a few questions to help us get to know the Latin Indie Group Hola Hi more intimately, the interview follows below:



Martha Alguera: Can you tell me a little bit about the origins of the band?

Angelina (Hola Hi): The band started in 2009 in south florida although the real start was back in Louisiana where we met. We were both in a band called Palo Viejo, I was the singer and Paul was the guitarist. When we moved to Florida we started to experiment with new sounds and a new project was born, Hola Hi. Going further back, I'm originally from the Dominican Republic and came to the US to study at LSU while Paul is originally from New Orleans a proud graduate of Eleanor McMain High School)

MA: Can you please let our readers know the members of the band.
HH:Angelina is the vocalist, bassist, co-composer, and co-conspirator of the group. Paul is the guitarist, multiinstrumentalist, co-composer and co-conspirator. The rest of the live band is made up of good friends that we have met in our journeys.


MA:Can you describe to me ,in your words, what your style of music is?
HH: We describe our sound as indie pop dumspta funk. We use a lot of backbeats and upbeat rhythms that reference our love of New Orleans brass bands but the vocals are pure unadulterated pop, pulling from Juan Luis Guerra and Stevie Wonder, amongst others.


MA: Who are some of the Band's biggest influences?
HH: The list is long and distinguished but our main influences would have to be Juan Luis Guerra, Stevie Wonder, Rebirth Brass Band, and The Clash




MA: You are releasing an album this coming month in Feb, correct? What is your main goal for this album?
HH: We have worked extremely long and hard on this album so for us just releasing the cd is a victory!!! We hope that the listeners can connect with the stories we tell in our songs and find a little of themselves in our words.




MA: What are your long term goals for this group?
HH: To play for as long as we can and enjoy the journey along the way. To find ways of growing and creating new experiences every day. This is an endeavor of love and hope and it's difficult to look too far into the future with such things. It's been said that in order to be done right, both love and cooking must be done with reckless abandon.

MA:. Can you describe to me the process of the creation of a song in your group? Is there one primordial writer/composer. Do you write the lyrics first and then the music or vice versa.
HH: We've done it both ways. For example, 'Aire de Primavera' was begun by Angelina with a catchy melody and a concept of new love that grows like new sprouts on a dying plant, reviving it once again. The music was written to suit the vibe she was getting at. Conversely, the song 'Viaje al Horizonte' came about as music first and then Angelina composed the melody and lyrics to the concept of hope for impossible dreams to be realized which is what the music inspired in her. Each manner provides unique challenges and outcomes. To your second question, Angelina typically writes the melodies and lyrics and I (Paul) compose the music.



MA: Is your music only in Spanish?
HH: For now, the songs are only recorded in Spanish, however we have all the songs in English and plan on recording them in the spring. At its core that's the concept of the name Hola Hi. Bilingual, bringing our two cultures together under one roof.



MA: You have a show in New Orleans on Feb12th, who will be playing with you then? Any special guests?
HH: We'll have several local musicians sitting in with us, Michael Barr on guitar, Drew Greene on drums, and Josh Harvey on keys and trumpet. We plan to have a few surprise guests dropping by but we can't reveal who right now. We have a special guest opening the show, Courtade a great band and great people you should definitely check out.

MA: How does playing music make you feel? Please describe as best you can
HH : (PAUL) Playing music for me is the creation of harmony and order in a chaotic environment. It is a release and an opiate. It always surprises me with another unexpected twist or turn. And the energy you get from connecting with an audience and you're all there in the moment, it's indescribable.
(ANGELINA): Playing music makes me feel alive and electrified! It's therapy which at times fills my heart with joyous elation and at others helps me reflect on and ease fear and pain.

Hola Hi can be reached for booking at holahi@gmail.com
The Band's website is www.holahi.com