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

Memories....

Throughout our lives we all have markers, reminders that instantly transport us to that one particular moment in time. For many including myself, those markers come in form of a song. My entire life is dotted in red ,sort of like a timeline by certain songs or by certain albums. I also had the pleasure of growing up in Mid City and had the chance to hear the school marching bands from my porch as they got in gear for Mardi Gras. When I was a child and got punished for something, my radio would get taken away and I felt as if I would die because those songs contained all the lyrics to my feelings which I couldn't explain as a little girl.

I remember my first memory of a song at the age of 4 being "SWEET DREAMS" by the Eurythmics as if it was yesterday. My mom and stepfather and I had gone to the grocery store and there was a heavy thunderstorm and we were "stuck" in the car waiting for the rain to pass and THAT song came on. When I was six my favorite cousin ,Maria, had Michael Jackson tapes in her apartment and my love affair with Michael began. At the age of ten I got my first "Tiffany" record and I was in teeny bopper heaven but my favorite song from that album was "I saw him standing there" a remake of the Beatles classic, so Tiffany introduced me to the Beatles. On Sundays was cleaning day at my mom's house and once the Windex and Ajax came out, so did the old 45's which included "Funky Town" by Lipps Inc, "Agua de Beber" by Astrid Gilberto, "Him" by Rupert Holmes, Barbara Streisand and Barry Gibb's "Woman in Love" along with some spanish tunes from bands like "Los Panchos" and "Sonora Matancera" and my mom's favorite "Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine". Our Sunday cleaning sessions were fun ONLY because of those records as I sang along while scrubbing the toilet. So I now say ,"Thanks Mom for the music and the lessons in cleaning a bathroom spotlessly"

During my teenage years, I became enamored with all the music stars I'd see on the latin channel such as Thalia, Fey, Cristian Castro as well as Boys to Men, U2 and Depeche Mode. The latter band was my complete saviour when we moved to Memphis,TN because of a job offer. I hated it there especially after being taken out of my Mid City community and school which I had attended since kindergarten. You can only imagine the angst and gravity of my life at 13 in this situation. I somehow heard Depeche Mode and completely lost myself in "Violator". At the tender ,shallow age of 13 I would lock myself in my room and listen to that CD over and over. "World in my Eyes" and "Personal Jesus" became my teenage mantras.

A few years later at the age of 20 I became pregnant and during my 9 months of waiting to see my baby's face, I would sing Bette Midlers "Baby Mine" to my daughter and stroke my growing belly. My daughter is now 12 and that song is on her playlist on her IPOD. Stevie Wonder's "You are The Sunshine of my Life" is forever attached to my child as well and is now her ringtone on my phone. Now she introduces me to music and she likes country and Teen Heartthrobs like Justin Beiber and the Jonas Brothers but I am also proud to report that my daughter loves Queen, old Cher, Elvis. Etta James and the Eagles. It's in her genes to like good music.


The countless music I've seen in New Orleans is part of my fabric and soul and one of the many reasons I returned here from California. We are now coming up on the 5th anniversary of Katrina (Trageversary, as I like to call it) and it will always remain in our collective memory. The other day, I was talking with a friend about my Katrina experience, I mentioned to him that I took 3 Cd's with me and those 3 Cd's helped me keep it together as I hung out in Fayetteville, AR with some kind strangers way from my family and those same 3 Cd's made their way with me to California. I remember playing those Cd's as I made myself at home in my new Oakland dwellings. Those 3 picked favorites were Etta James greatest hits, Aretha Franklin's Greatest Hits and The Beatles "Hard Day's Night". You know that question, "What records would you take with you to a deserted island" well mine were those three and I am so grateful for them. Thank you Etta, Aretha, John, Paul, Ringo and George and Yes I feel comfortable enough with them to call them by their first name because they were my true friends during a very hard, traumatic time in my life. Just like real friends do, they saw me cry, saw me laugh, saw me dance, they put me to sleep and greeted me with subshine and incredible music.

I honestly think I would wither up inside if it wasn't for music and I believe there is a reason why my family chose to come live in the most musical city in America. The universe knew what it was doing because my life without the beat would be no life at all. Music comforts, uplifts, gives me goosebumps, brings friends together and cleanses our soul. Music makes the soul overflow with laughter. I am happy all my memories are attached to a song and I hope when I pass this life there will be song after song after song played.

"When I die, you better secondline"-Kermit Ruffins

Jermaine Quiz of Jealous Monk New SOLO CD

Jermaine Quiz of New Orleans Favorite Hip Hop Band is a busy man.. He just released a new Jealous Monk Album, is on the brink of releasing his first solo album and is about to start a bi weekly Mashup party(1st and 3rd Saturdays at the Bridge Lounge).

His solo album entitled "Feel the Times" is not a strict hip hop album. Including elements of hip hop, retro soul, funk as well as a heavy Motown influence, Jermaine Quiz has created a timeless piece of music that transcends New Orleans while pushing it to a national and international audiences. Reminiscent of groups such as Toots and the Maytals, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime and Beck, "Feel the times" is the quintessential New Orleans Album but Palatable to the main stream Market. Quiz Says " New Orleans is my home, I want to see its influence spread."

Get the Preview Of the album here:http://jermainequiz.bandcamp.com/
The album is set to release on March 23, 2010. Quiz's 23rd Birthday

The music of Jermaine Quiz is one that undoubtedly remains with you hours after listening to the funk and hip hop laden beats of the album. In addition to performing with his band "Jealous Monk" all over the city, Jermaine Quiz shines as the producer of his first solo album. The sky is the limit for this young talented musician and all- over-musical chameleon who wears many hats on and off the stage as a vocalist, DJ, MC, writer and producer. His many creative attributes are made evident through the creation of this solo album as well as his past recordings with Jealous Monk on their debut album "From Sun Up to Sun Down" and his own"Jermaine Quiz Instrumentals"

The dominant tone of this album is the versatility of the same as Quiz merges classic New Orleans genres such as Funk, Jazz, brass band beats and soul with Hip Hop and DJ beats; indeed "Feeling the Times" as the name of the album suggests. Jermain Quiz is on the right track as this style seems to be the next level of New Orleans music simply because it IS a collaboration of so many appreciated and loved styles widening its appeal to include young and old alike.

Jermaine Quiz has had many musical influences in his life which have led to his musical diversity such as growing up listening to a variety of Latin artists due to his Latino heritage and living in New Jersey where the main attraction was hip hop and beat box style of music. The introduction to New Orleans music began when Quiz was attending Loyola University and began frequenting the myriad of Live music venues the city has to offer. His music speaks volumes of all these influences as he successfully blends all these genres into a funky-fresh, intelligent album.

From the funk heavy first track to the all Instrumental last track the album proves that older genres can be mashed up with modern ones to create a sound that runs a line through 1920-30's Jazz to 1970's Funk beats and ends with modern day hip hop/rap beats. The first track on "Feel the Times" titled "Fine Lil Thing" instantly sets the tone for the album providing danceable beats and featuring an amazing guitar solo towards the end of the song by collaborator Pete Murano ,which along with catchy refrain, set the entire album as the funk-oriented, dance, soulful recording that it is.

Another highlight is the song "Ballad to you" which is just that, a hip hop ballad showcasing the lyrical stylings of Quiz and collaborator MC Intelligence playing tribute to friendship through lyrics like "This is my ballad to you my friend,
ill be by your side til my life ends, you know that i got you back,
and if haters mess with you i'll take a bat then crack."
The last song of the album titled "New Orleans Night" with its looped keys and a mixture of alternating beats as well as distinct Sax parts behind it immediately evokes images of taking a cool relaxed stroll through New Orleans after a night of fun and entertainment.


All the songs on the album provide a fresh and seemingly young,unabashed version of what New Orleans music has to offer now in 2010 all the while celebrating New Orleans more traditional staples such as Jazz and Funk. Jermaine Quiz plays regularly with his band Jealous Monk and can be seen freestyling all over the city whenever he is invited on stage by NOLA legends such as George Porter, Johnny Vidacovich and Kirk Joseph bringing the Hip-hop funk to the masses and invigorating the crowds with his lyrical talent. The name Jermain Quiz will ,without a doubt, grace the cover and stages of National magazines and concerts in the very near future. This will just be yet another tribute to the pool of musical geniuses cultured in our lil funky city!



Jermaine Quiz can also be contacted on the following sites
1.http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jealous-Monk/37225893543/Jealous-Monk/37225893543#!/nicholaspino,
2.http://www.jealousmonkmusic.com/,
3.http://www.twitter.com/jealousmonknola

Indie Rock and Alternative Music this weekend at the Foburg Music Festival

"Rock is so much fun. That's what it's all about -- filling up the chest cavities and empty kneecaps and elbows". -- Jim Hendrix

This weekend, March 12-14 2010, NOIR (New Orleans Indie Rock Collective) will inaugurate the Foburg Music Festival. This indie rock festival aims to showcase indie rock and alternative rock artists who otherwise do not have their own gathering of this kind in a city who is not too well known for its independent rock scene. Although this genre is an ever growing and thriving presence in the city, it is often placed behind more popular New Orleans genres such as jazz and funk. The festival will take place at various locations on Frenchmen Street and features over 70 artists. The admission cost is well worth the number of bands performing all weekend at $25 presale prices and $30 at the festival
.


The concept behind the festival was to give artists a chance to play in New Orleans before heading to the notable SXSW Festival taking place in Austin, TX the following week. Festival organizers and promoters are interested in showing Frenchmen Street and surrounding venues that this progressive rock sound can be profitable if showcased and promoted correctly. The festival includes a myriad of New Orleans based acts as well as national touring bands.

The Frenchmen Street venues hosting this festival will be The Maison; both upstairs and downstairs, Dragon's Den; upstairs and downstairs, Blue Nile: upstairs and downstairs as well, D.B.A., R Bar and Checkpoint Charlie's. With so many acts performing back to back and simultaneously, this festival will surely be full of positive music energy. It is also a great time to host a festival of this sort with spring festival season just upon us. Let's spring towards a unique and incomparable festival season as only New Orleans can!

In weeks past when I first saw the name of the festival in print "Foburg: A Music Festival" I wondered why the word "Foubourg" was spelled incorrectly and I figured it was part of some clever marketing/advertising idea. The webpage for the festival states that they were indeed doing this by playing with the word "Foubourg" in reference to the Foubourg Marigny neighborhood in which the event takes place. "As you know, most indie festivals have silly, but memorable names (IE – Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza) We wanted Foburg to do the same – but with some sort of New Orleans relevance."

Jazz, blues and funk thrill me deeply albeit the idea of listening to different sounds and beats excites me just as much. In speaking about music, I believe change is good and music must mutate and evolve in order to keep audiences interested. Furthermore, New Orleans has historically played a huge roll in rock and roll and it is all but fitting to hold a festival promoting some of the new players in this forever growing genre.

Some of the talented bands showcased in the festival include Rotary Downs, Giant Cloud, Silent Cinema, Big Rock Candy Mountain, MyNameisJohnMichael, Glasgow, Los Po-Boycitos, Mia Borders and Big Blue Marble all from New Orleans. The festival will also feature national acts such as A Million Years and Davey Mooney from New York, BrassBed from Lafayette-LA, Savoir Adoire from Brooklyn, Signals from LA and Hope For Agoldensummer from Athens, GA just to name a few. Just typing all these names makes me more anxious to support this festival with such a huge roster of musicians bringing the rock and alternative scene to Frenchmen Street.

The Frenchmen Street area along with Dragon's Den on Esplanade and R Bar on Royal Street will be saturated with savvy music listeners enjoying the eclectic sounds of indie Rock and alternative music all weekend. Don't miss this first ever Foburg Music Festival beginning this Friday, March 12, to Sunday, March 14. The music will be worth it and might offer some inspiration.

A list of Artist below:

A Living Soundtrack
The Show is the Rainbow
Giant Cloud
The Blue Party
Hope For Agoldensummer
Silent Cinema
Hurray for the Riff Raff
The Bears of Blue River
The Pharmacy
Pumpkin
Caddywhompus
Dr. Manhattan
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Sun Hotel
Givers
The Revivalists
MyNameIsJohnMichael
Signals
Peelander-Z
Savoir Adore
Brass Red
One Man Machine
Dirty Bourbon River Show
Vox and the Hound
Flow Tribe
Smiley with a Knife
Mon Khmer
Yardwork
Chris Rehm
Booty Trove
Luke Winslow-King
The Bellys
Chaz Knapp & The Craft Brothers
High in One Eye
Davy Mooney
Consortium of Genius
Megafauna
A Million Years
Loren Murrell
Alexis Marceaux
We Landed on the Moon
Dinosaur Feathers
Helen Gillet
Rotary Downs
Andrew Duhon
The Happy Talk Band
The Frontier Brothers
Ben Labat and the Happy Devil
Savoy
Big Blue Marble
Wazozo
Mia Borders
Black Taxi
DJ Bees Knees
Wativ
The Other Planets
Drumcart
DJ Pasta
Big Fat & Delicious
The Gills
Jean - Eric
DJ Lefty Parker
The Burroughs
Dummy Dumpster
Sings
Gamma Ringo
Hightide Blues
Steve Eck and the Midnight Stills
Jeff the Brotherhood
Glasgow
Ray Bong
Reno Bo
Mark Weliky Trio
Meg Roussel
Ratty Scurvics Ensemble
Meschiya Lake
New Grass Country Club
Natalie Mae
Hugo
Los Po-Boy-Citos
DJ Alison Fensterstock
Local Skank
King Rey
Zorch
Love Hog
Gris Gris


"You can't stay the same. If you're a musician and a singer, you have to change, that's the way it works."--Van Morrison

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

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!

Aaron Neville and his Quintet at House of Blues

“These songs have always been with me. They have helped me through some rough times. When I felt like I had nothing, I still had these songs.”

-- Aaron Neville

NEW ORLEANS | Sunday Night I rang in the Christmas Season New Orleans Style to the unmistakable sweet delectable voice of Mr. Aaron Neville. This is my idea of a New Orleans Christmas as much as "Mr. Bingle" and "Christmas In the Oaks."

The Aaron Neville Quintet featuring Charles Neville put on a great show on Sunday night at the House of Blues, but what else would expected from a Crescent City music royal family like the Nevilles?

Aaron Neville came onto the R&B scene in 1966 with the now classic "Tell It Like It Is" and has been topping charts since then, both on his own as a solo artist and as part of the Neville Brothers band.

The crowd at House of Blues on Sunday was very mixed, including a lot of older folks in suits and Christmas like attire as well as many young college age fans. I also kept hearing a lot of French being spoken throughout the night. My guess is a convention was in town and the vocal stylings of Mr. Neville are appreciated all over the world.

• Click here to see photos from the show!

The show began promptly at 8:20 with an instrumental, the bass and drums leading in to showcase Charles Neville's sax. The first vocals began as Aaron Neville walked on stage to the refrain of "It's alright, have a good time cuz it's alright." The audience welcomed Aaron, clapping along in time.

"Clap your hands, YOU got soul and everybody knows that it's alright," Aaron Neville pronounced. I must say I thought at that very moment that I'm glad I got soul to enjoy awesome music like this.

The band swung seamlessly into "Voodoo," which is one of my favorite Neville Brothers songs and one of their most popular hits. I sang along loudly as I made my way to the best spot in House of Blues, the right-hand side bar by the stage. You can usually get a pretty good visual on the stage and hear all the sounds very clearly. "You must of put Voodoo on me, you must of cast a spell, the way you got me loving girl...."

This song featured a really great keyboard solo towards the end and flowed right into a cover of The Main Ingredients' "Everybody Plays the Fool," which was a Top 10 hit for Aaron in 1991.

This was the first time during the night I thought about how much I absolutely love Aaron Neville's voice and believe he was put on this Earth to sing and entertain. This thought would cross my mind plenty more times as I marveled at this man's voice but in the meantime I sang along some more "Now you cry but next time around someone cries for you..Everybody plays the fool, Sometimes-- use your heart just like a tool..."

Once again the audience clapped along to the rhythm of the popular love song.

I was just anxious to hear what was next when I looked below me to the floor level. I spotted two dear friends: James "12" Andrews (brother to Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews) and Chief Doucette. I called them over to me and they and joined my one-person party with their entourage.

One of the many reasons I love New Orleans is because I know I can go somewhere alone and always find friends. I must say from that moment on they truly added to my experience, dancing second line style as Chief played his tambourine along to Aaron Neville's music. It was quite a spectacle in the crowd on the right hand side of the stage and I enjoyed being part of it as much as the I enjoyed the music.

The next lyrics I heard were "It's your thang, do whatcha wanna do," which set the group off in a dance frenzy.

The two songs that followed were both classic soul Christmas ballads. A cover of "Please Come Home for Christmas," originally done by Charles Brown in 1960 on the King Label, had the biggest crowd response since the beginning of the night and set the Christmas tone for the show. This led into "Merry Christmas Baby," and I couldn't help but sing along again. "I'm feeling fine, got good music on the radio/I'm all lit up like a Christmas tree." Charles Neville chimed in with his saxophone and delivered an impressive solo in the middle of the song.

A few songs after these soul Christmas tunes, Aaron and his son Jason did a great version of Bill Wither's classic "Ain't No Sunshine." Father and son harmonized beautifully. In midsong, it went into a reggae beat which led to a moving guitar solo.

At one point in the tune Jason Neville took over the lead vocals as Aaron sang falsetto impeccably. The set turned back to Christmas music as Aaron Neville sang a “White Christmas” and “Jingle Bells” medley.

The best Christmas song of the evening was "Go Tell it on the Mountain." I watched the crowd singing and clapping along boisterously. The song started in a doo-wop style that combined the available Neville voices in a beautiful display of tone and control. Charles Neville once again delivered a beautiful sax solo and played a few notes of "When the Saints go Marching In," much to the crowd's delight as every single New Orleanian is cruising through Saints heaven right now. I was sure this would be a pre-cursor to the 'Who Dat" song that without a doubt had to be part of the set list, but it would not come until later.

The two-hour set was filled with Neville classics intermingled with songs of the season, providing a wonderful mixture of music. Aaron's version of Johnny Mathis' "I Can See Cleary Now" is always very fitting to our New Orleans experience as we know all about torrential rains of various hurricanes and smiling through the clouds and looking forward to a "bright, bright, bright sunshiny day"

And then, with the crowd still on a high after the Saints' win over the Washington Redskins hours before, the band kicked into the "Who Dat" song. It started with Aaron's sweet, sweet New Orleans voice filling House of Blues, singing "When the Saints Go Marching In" and leading into the ever-so-popular "Who dat, who dat, who dat say you gonna beat dem Saints!" The energy from the crowd was amazing as we all sang danced and chanted in unity and in honor of our city and our undeafeated football team. Trombone Shorty got on stage at this point, but not with his trombone. Instead, he had asked his older brother James for his trumpet to join the joyful celebration on stage.

After the thrill of "Who Dat," we were brought back to soul mecca with another Bill Wither's classic, "Use Me." This set me off like I was at a karaoke bar as I know every single word. Chief Doucette sang along with me, too. "My brother--he sit right down and he talked to me/He told me that I oughta not let you just walk on me/And I'm sure he meant well but when our talk was thru/I said brother if you only knew, you'd wish that you were in my shoes/Just keep on using me until you use me up."

Aaron Neville's soulful voice definitely did the song justice.

This whole time I was waiting patiently for "Tell It Like It Is" and "Yellow Moon," both of which came towards the end of the night. "Tell It Like It Is" came first, and sounded as beautiful as I'm sure it sounded back in 1966 when Aaron delivered my favorite line from that song, "Life is too short to have sorrow."

"YellowMoon" followed and is, in my opinion, the best of the Neville Brothers' songs. It evokes images of Creole New Orleans ladies and haunting full yellow moons. "Yellow Moon, yellow moon, yellow moon have you seen that Creole woman? You can tell me, Ain't you a friend of mine?" Such an awesome, funky soulful groove! I can't get enough of it.

The last song of the night from the Aaron Neville Quintet was "Amazing Grace." Hearing this song done so masterfully by Aaron Neville is such a beautiful experience. This song posseses a reverent and haunting quality that made everyone in the room just listen and admire the heavenly voice delivering this gospel classic. The show ended and I was thinking I couldn't have asked for a better Sunday night during the holiday season in New Orleans. Thank you, Aaron Neville.

FRITZEL'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 2009

"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

WHO DAT NATION

Imagine the year is 2019 , we will all be 10 yrs older. New Orleans may still have unsecured levees, we may still be the #1 crime city in the nation and we will still have vivid memories of our individual Katrina experience BUT one thing for sure we will all remember fondly will be the Saints 2009 season. At this point our team is riding as high as ever with their 11-0 Victory and the season is far from over. Sports Illustrated named the Saints as their pick for the Big Superbowl win, something that has never happened in the complete history of our Beloved team.

Many Non-Believers have written off the Saints and have showed no faith but they've proven that through hard work, dedication, leadership and teamwork they can rise to the very top. Our New Orleans NFL team can be seen as a metaphor for all that is good in our city and as an example of what can be accomplished with a little faith and insight. Just as the Saints had been written off so has New Orleans due to our Sea level, our levees & our crime but these Swamp Rats will survive no matter what rough seasons we must endure. We are a resiliant wonderful city steeped in historical culture, mystery, culinary wonders and NOW a football team that is on its way to being LEGENDARY. I propose Drew Brees run for mayor, why not lets give a real leader a chance for once.

Throughout the Saints History many songs have been associated with the Team. These songs or anthems keep our hopes and spirit alive. Our infamous chant "Who dat" has a long history as well and will be uniquely ours for many years to come. Our music which is woven into every aspect of a New Orleanian's life forms a link directly to our Saints Loyalty.

The Who dat cheer actually began in Vaudeville acts of the late 1800's/early 1900's and was used as a line in negro minstrel shows. In the 1960's the chant gained popularity as the chant for fan's favorite football teams. In 1983 the Saints adopted the phrase for the team during the Coach Bum Phillips residency. Who dat is now used as the main cheer for the team and has been used in countless songs.

As is fitting for a world reknown Jazz city, the first song associated with our team was "When the Saints go Marching In" an old jazz spiritual standard. I truly believe when anyone from New Orleans hears this song it immediately evokes images of tailgating, second lining and Saints Fever. Of course there have been countless renditions of this song but ,In my humble opinion, the greatest version is the Louis Armstrong interpretation.

Another song that has become part of the Saints Culture is the "Who Dat" song recorded by Steve Monistere, a New Orleans musican and producer recorded the 1983. Aaron Neville sang the lead and the Saints offensive line yelled the chant. It was Monistere's recording that made the phrase an indigenous part of the New Orleans language. The song became popular during the days of Jim Mora as head coach and Bobby Herbert as Quarterback. This song brings me back to being about 10 yrs old watching the games with my stepfather and hearing that "who dat , who dat, who dat say you gonna beat dem Saints!" in the background. Aaron Neville's voice sounds as beautiful as ever in this song as he sings "Oh when the Saints go Marching In....."

The year 2006 brought many grand returns to our city including the hope for the Superbowl. That same year the team acquired coach Sean Payton, Drew Brees as quarteback and Heisman Trophy Winner Reggie Bush.2006 has been the teams most successful year, that is until NOW of course. The Saints return to the dome in 2006 was truly an eventful experience after the chaos that took place there during Katrina. The Dome needed to be cleansed physically not only because it is home for our team but for the spiritual symbolism it meant to a city trying to pick up the pieces after bitter devastation. The season ended with a record 11-7 and many attribute a huge factor in the championship loss to be the unfamiliar wintary conditions present when the Saints played the Chicago Bears.

Inspite of our loss, 2006 brought us another Saints Anthem "The Saints are coming". This song is a cover song originally done by punk group the Skids. U2 and Green day recorded the song to help charitable organization "Music Rising" created by U2's The Edge to bring back music in schools as well as donate instruments. The song was released during the Pregame show of the New Orleans Saints versus Atlanta Falcons game on September 25, 2006. This was the first game played in the dome since Hurricane Katrina. The band for this performance was a 7 piece band and included New Orleans own Rebirth Brass Band. Troy Andrews (aka Trombone Shorty) and Big Sam. U2's Bono and Billie Joe Armstrong of Greenday wowed the massive crowd at the Dome as they personalized lyrics as a testament to our trials and victories since August 2005. Bono sings one lyric that stands out "Lower 9 will rise again above the waters of Lake Ponchartrain" This tune is played now every game prior to the Saints entering the Field.

Another song that has been inspired by our Saints Devotion in 2009 is "Bring Em to the Dome" by New Orleans own Shammar Allen and hip hop artist Dee-1. Shammar and Dee-1 have paired up in other instances and decided to unite their different musical styles in a Saints song. This track is huge mixture of various genres incorporating rock, brass band, jazz and hip hop beats into a successful hit. The song includes lyrics such as
"They wanted me to root for their team
but I don't do that,
Baby I'm a Saints Fan that's why I say Who Dat
That's why I say Who Dat"
The track is currently being played on different radio stations in the city in hopes it will be picked up by the Saints Organization.

No doubt the New Orleans Saints have inspired a list of other songs too many to name and will continue to make musicians produce track after track of Saints anthems for the duration of our team and our City's history. The greatest of Saints songs has yet to be produced surely when we win the Superbowl this year! Who Dat, Go Saints!

"Without Music, life would be a mistake"
------Freidrich Wilhelm Nietzsche