:: Saturday, September 03, 2005 ::

Musical New Orleans lost more than buildings

NEW YORK (Sept. 2)— Filmmaker and New Orleans native Michael Murphy spent the last few years taking cameras through his hometown's most hallowed musical sites, paying tribute to the place where jazz was born, the blues blossomed, zydeco took root and even rap found a new voice.

But as Make It Funky hits theaters this month, Murphy worries that instead of a tribute, the film may stand as an obituary.

"What has made my heart tear apart is that I would hate to think I made a film and the city is no longer there," Murphy said.

Nashville is the Music City. Chicago is world renowned for jazz and blues. New York is one of the world's premier artistic stages. Yet no city is as critical to so many musical genres as New Orleans, where the colorful and complex mix of people, from African to French and Creole to Cajun, has created an international music mecca.

Now, as authorities struggle to determine the extent of Hurricane Katrina's damage, the music community is pondering the future of the places—and people, many of them poor—who make up the Big Easy's creative soul.

B.B. King, a fixture for decades, perhaps inadvertently used the past tense as he discussed the tragedy. "New Orleans had a sound ... that no one has completely captured," he said in a telephone interview from Detroit.

"Obviously, New Orleans, from a musical standpoint, is the melting pot when we talk about America," Wynton Marsalis, whose family of musicians is synonymous with their native city, said from his home in New York.

A special place for music
It's where Louis Armstrong was born and where Jelly Roll Morton became a legend. Fats Domino, who was rescued by boat this week from his flooded home, pioneered rock 'n' roll. Randy Newman may love L.A., but he's from New Orleans, as evidenced by the famous "they're trying to wash us away" flooding chorus from Louisiana 1927. Harry Connick Jr., Dr. John, Mahalia Jackson, Pete Fountain, Terence Blanchard and the Neville Brothers are just a few other talents the Big Easy has produced.

For more than a century, it's been a constant party, from Canal Street to the tiny dives only a native or true aficionado would know.

Mark Samuels, co-founder of Basin Street Records on Canal Street, home to artists such as Kermit Ruffins, Jason Marsalis and Theresa Anderson, talked about the vibrant scene—how greats will pop into a clubs not to listen, but to perform with house acts. How you might catch a musical "battle" on any given night.


New Orleans trumpeteer Kermit Ruffins plays—a resident of Ursuline Street in the Treme area of New Orleans—is one of the Crescent City performers featured in Michael Murphy's film, "Make It Funky." The film hits theaters this month, as Murphy worries that instead of a tribute it may stand as an obituary for the town's musical scene in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.


"Having lived in New York City and San Francisco and Austin and Atlanta, Georgia, New Orleans is at the absolute top of those cities to me," he said, "and I hope one day it will again be."

He talked about an insider's haunt called Vaughn's Lounge. "Kermit Ruffins played there every Thursday night that he was in town for the last 11 years or so, and everyone from Wynton Marsalis to Harry Connick Jr. to Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes would come."

These are the type of performances in Murphy's documentary, which will open in New York and Los Angeles on Sept. 9 (the date was planned before the hurricane) before being released on DVD.

Murphy, who fled his New Orleans home for his Los Angeles rental before the storm hit, is worried about the fate of landmarks such as Preservation Hall, the museum and performance venue that opened its doors in 1961.

"I woke up this morning extremely emotional about an area of town called Treme. Treme is the cradle of jazz within the cradle of jazz," he said. "Treme is that hallowed ground where Louie Armstrong ... and all the greats walked and played their music. It's right outside the French Quarter."

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Crescent City has a musical heritage, but will future musicians have a place to grow?

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Master P, a native who helped fuel the Southern rise in rap, wasn't only concerned about physical places: "We don't know who we lost, we might have lost a lot of great new people for the future."

And for the present.

"So many of the great musicians of New Orleans and so many people of the cultural heart of the city were poor people," said Chuck Taggart, a native who produced last year's historical CD set Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Great Big Ol' Box of New Orleans.

"How do you maintain the character of the city?" he asked. "How can you rebuild it?"

Samuels of Basin Records said most of his artists have the means to rebuild their lives. "There are a lot of people though, a lot of street performers in New Orleans ... who are going to be in absolute dire straits and don't know how to do it any other way."

But Marsalis, who is planning a Sept. 19 fund-raiser at Lincoln Center in New York, where he is artistic director of the jazz center, said the scene will survive.

"Our city is still alive. It's generations of us who are still here, and we'll get our city back together," he vowed.

"There are things that are tragic losses that will never be recovered, but I feel like the most valuable thing is the people, the spirit of the people, the will of the people, the mind and the hearts ... that's not lost. That's not even close to lost."

Source: By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, Associated Press

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Make It Funky



The Film
The beginnings of MAKE IT FUNKY ! started on a hot summer afternoon when New Orleans native, Director/Producer Michael Murphy, and Producer Cilista Eberle stopped by Donna's Bar on Rampart Street A child and his grandfather walked in and crossed over to the jukebox. The grandfather gave his grandson the mouthpiece to a horn, put money in the jukebox, and chose a Louis Armstrong song. The two stood side by side—the child listening and blowing, with the grandfather encouraging him on.

We watched the scene and began to talk about the heritage of music in New Orleans, and how this scene has been played out in one way or another for generations. We then went to Daniel Roth, who shares our passion for the culture and music of the South, and together we decided to tell this story. We wanted to show how people with diverse cultural backgrounds, and musical traditions, had passed knowledge down from generation to generation, create an immense treasure trove of music. We interviewed a wide selection of people whose personal views came together to tell different aspects of the story. We came away with a mixture of differing viewpoints, and singular theme—a shared belief in the need for discipline, to learn the traditional way of playing, to respect each other, to pass their knowledge on to the next generation, and to love the music.

A concert was staged in New Orleans during the spring of 2004. Performers from all walks of music came together to perform in a show that followed the course of New Orleans music. It is history you can dance to—from the traditional rhythm of Mardi Gras Indians, to early New Orleans jazz, rollicking piano renditions and classic rhythm & blues—to contemporary funk. From a concert of 50 songs, 20 were chosen for the film. The performances complement the personal recollections of the life and history of this remarkable city.

The Cast
Featuring: Allen Toussaint, Aaron Neville, Big Sam's Funky Nation, The Dirty Dozen Band, Earl Palmer, funky Meters, Irma Thomas, Irvin Mayfield, Ivan Neville, Jon Cleary, Kermit Ruffins, Lloyd Price, Monk Boudreaux & The Golden Eagles, The Neville Brothers, Snooks Eaglin, Troy Andrews, and Walter 'Wolfman' Washington.

Special guests: Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, and Steve Jordan.

Special commentaries by: Ahmet Ertegun—legendary co-founder of Atlantic Records; Jim Russell—radio promoter; Cosimo Matassa—owner of the renowned J&M studio; Bob French—jazz drummer & the leader of New Orleans' oldest existing traditional jazz band; and Victor Harris—Big Chief of the FiYiYi Mardi Gras Indians.
Archive performances by Professor Longhair and Fats Domino.

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On the Net:
Michael Murphy Productions

:: Les Coles Saturday, September 03, 2005 [+] ::

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Super Chikan at 2005 World Exposition Aichi

Feel a bit embarrassed that this story, which more or less happened on my home turf, slipped through my net—especially seeing as how I met up with Super Chikan in a Mississippi juke joint a couple of years back and had a couple of drinks and a few words with him. My mind must have been on Guam already. Anyhow, better late than never...

CLARKSDALE (Aug. 13)—Bluesman James "Super Chikan" Johnson is already a local celebrity, but now he's also well known in Japan.
Last week, Chikan traveled with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and staff to the 2005 World Expo in Nagoya, Japan.

"We made history," he said. "Even the Japanese newspaper is doing a big write-up."
While in Japan, Chikan wowed the crowds with original songs both new and old including Poor Broke Boy, Tin Top Shack and Down in the Delta.
"I started with Tin Top Shack and that really got them rolling," he said. "They loved that American blues. It was a nice and beautiful trip."

Chikan, though, almost ran into some trouble because the spelling of his name is profanity in Japan.

"I signed a bunch of autographs and had to spell it Chiken instead of Chikan," he said. "The main officials understood the spelling, but didn't think the younger folks would. They thanked me for that."

Chikan said Japan has a unique look and feel, not found in the Mississippi Delta.
"It's definitely different," he said. "I saw a lot of housetops from my hotel room, but it's a clean city. They are a bunch of hardworking people.

"It seems that everything they have is more advanced than what we have," Chikan said. "The scary part was driving on the wrong side of the road."
Chikan is certainly a world traveler with recent excursions to Africa, Norway, Switzerland, Amsterdam and Italy.

Perhaps his greatest honor, however, was representing the United States in Japan.
"I thought I was just representing the state along with the governor, but there was a U.S.A. Pavillion so I wound up representing the country," Chikan said.
Barbour became a fan of Chikan's when the bluesman won the Governor's Award for the Arts last year.

"He became a Chikan fan then so we had no problem in Nagoya," Chikan said. "He recognized me as soon as he walked in the room and yelled 'Chikan.'"
Chikan hit another snag when he traded in just $100 worth of Japanese money.
Though those traveling with him suggested $200, he said he thought he had enough when he was handed ¥10,000.

"I thought I had done hit the jackpot and I didn't go to the casino," he said. "When we got to Japan, I couldn't even get a taxi."

Chikan said his next song will be entitled "Hilton Nagoya" after the experience.
"I planned on getting a limo, but I had to catch the bus," he said. "The rest was an exciting experience. It's a whole different world over there."

Now back stateside, Chikan is remaining busy, having performed Thursday night during Mississippi Public Broadcasting's Native Sons filming.

He will remain busy this weekend with two scheduled performances as part of the Sunflower River Blues Festival.

Chikan will be featured on the Delta Avenue at 5:15 p.m. Saturday and the main stage at 8 p.m.

He will also be part of a panel discussion at noon today at Delta Blues Museum.
The bluesman will also be entertaining the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce at Hopson's tonight.

His new album Chikan Supe is now available at Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art and Delta Blues Museum.

Source: By DAVID OWENS, Clarksdale Press Register

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On the Web:
Super Chikan

:: Les Coles Saturday, September 03, 2005 [+] ::

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Here's one for Mr. Anthony

Blues Brother Bruce R. Rychlik e-mailed me the following inquiry:

Do you recall a compilation from the 80's called Blues Chill - the opening track was something like Memphis Stew - and it spoke of cooking a song with something like a cup of saxophone, etc...

If any Blues Bloggers out there have any info, e-mail me, and I'll pass the message on. The only Blues Chill that comes to my mind is 5:01 Blues/Chill Factor , but that was released by Merle Haggard in 2000, and this:

:: Les Coles Saturday, September 03, 2005 [+] ::

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Katrina: NOLA artists update-The Neville Family, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Patti LaBelle

MEMPHIS (Sept. 3)—Singer Aaron Neville and the entire New Orleans Neville family got out of town on Monday and are currently staying at a hotel in Memphis, reports FoxNews.com's Roger Friedman, however most of the Nevilles' homes are destroyed, according to their niece and "A Current Affair" host, Arthel Neville.

"This isn't like having two feet of water in your basement," she told Friedman upon flying back to her hometown to survey the damage. "Everything is destroyed. I am just so lucky to have been born here and to have had the experience of New Orleans." She also confirmed rumors that there had been dead bodies floating around her Uncle Aaron's house on Wednesday.


Musician/songwriter Allen Toussaint was one of the 25,000 refugees stranded at the New Orleans Superdome hoping to get on a bus for Houston's Astrodome, Fox's Friedman also reported. "I know this because he got a message out to his daughter, who relayed to it through friends," the writer said of Toussaint, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member who wrote Patti LaBelle's hit "Lady Marmalade" and Dr. John's "Right Place, Wrong Time."

New Orleans' own "Queen of Soul" Irma Thomas, the original singer of what became the Rolling Stones' hit, "Time is On My Side," has also not been heard from since the hurricane hit. Her club, The Lion's Den, is now under water. Ironically, most of her 1961-63 recordings for the Minit label were written and produced by Allen Toussaint. While none of these singles hit the national charts, most of them were regional hits.

Philadelphia-born R&B veteran Patti LaBelle has offered her home to a friend affected by the hurricane. "I have spoken to a friend of mine. Actually, she was my background singer and she lives in New Orleans," LaBelle said. "I gave her a home today. I told her to move in with me because everything she ever thought of is gone."

At the World Music Awards held Wednesday, percussionist Sheila E said she hasn't been able to contact relatives in New Orleans. "We have family there so we're still waiting to hear from our family," she said. "We don't know where they are. We don't know if they even got out."

Source: KBAC-FM

:: Les Coles Saturday, September 03, 2005 [+] ::

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LSU QB shares home with Fats Domino
R&B legend's family reunited at Russell's house in Baton Rouge

R&B legend's family reunited at Russell's house in Baton Rouge


LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, left, shakes hands with New Orleans music legend Fats Domino. Domino was reunited with family members at Russell's apartment. The 77-year-old R&B legend had been reported missing.
Stephen B Franz / AP



BATON ROUGE, La. (Sept. 2)—Fats Domino and his family spent two days with LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell after being rescued from the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina.

"I'm not sure where they are headed, but I just feel better knowing that they are OK," an LSU news release quoted Russell as saying.

The 77-year-old R&B singer and his family are friends with the family of Russell's girlfriend, sports information director Michael Bonnette said.

"It was kind of a friend of a friend thing," Bonnette said.

Domino apparently was rescued by boat on Monday. After that, Bonnette said, he was brought to the Superdome, where he eventually was put on a bus to an evacuee triage center in LSU's basketball arena.

Domino, who had checked in under his given name of Antoine Domino, was reunited there with his family. Then he, his family and a dozen other people from New Orleans went to Russell's apartment just off the LSU campus.

Russell was on the lookout for them and finally made contact with them Wednesday night, Bonnette said.

The news release quoted Domino as thanking Russell and saying, "Tell the people of New Orleans that I'm safe. I wish I was able to still be there with them, but I hope to see them soon."

The quarterback told Bonnette that, all told, about 20 people had been staying in the two-bedroom apartment. Russell said he had spent most of the two days helping them with errands that included grocery trips and a 2 a.m. pharmacy run to get medicine for Domino.

Domino and the others had no set destination when they left, Bonnette said.

The news release quoted Domino as thanking Russell and saying, "Tell the people of New Orleans that I'm safe. I wish I was able to still be there with them, but I hope to see them soon."

The quarterback told Bonnette that, all told, about 20 people had been staying in the two-bedroom apartment. Russell said he had spent most of the two days helping them with errands that included grocery trips and a 2 a.m. pharmacy run to get medicine for Domino.

Domino and the others had no set destination when they left, Bonnette said.

Source: The Associated Press.

:: Les Coles Friday, September 02, 2005 [+] ::

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Katrina didn't bypass NOLA musicians

New Orleans (Sept. 2)—New Orleans is home, by birth and adoption, to scores of celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and food. Some maintain homes there; others' ties to the area are mainly friends, families and memories. Here's a status roundup of celebrities with New Orleans ties as of Thursday:

Harry Connick Jr., a native whose father, Harry Sr., was city district attorney for 29 years, said in a posting on his Web site, www.harryconnickjr.com that his immediate family was safe but he hadn't heard from other family and friends. He toured parts of the city Thursday and was scheduled to perform during the hurricane relief concert tonight on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC.

"One thing about New Orleans, these people are freakishly strong and passionate about this city," he said in an interview with the Today show.

The Marsalis Family: Jazz trumpeter Wynton was scheduled to perform at tonight's benefit concert. Drummer Jason was in Japan recording with Marcus Roberts. There was no immediate word on other members of the country's most famous jazz-playing family: patriarch Ellis and sons Branford and Delfayeo. Saxophonist Branford was still scheduled to play Saturday at the Sausalito (Calif.) Art Festival.

The Neville Brothers: Aaron and many family members were safe in a Memphis hotel. But most of their homes in New Orleans were leveled, Arthel Neville, daughter of brother Art and a celebrity TV correspondent, told Foxnews.com. She traveled to New Orleans on Wednesday. "Everything is destroyed. I am just so lucky to have been born here and to have had the experience of New Orleans."

Terence Blanchard. The trumpeter-composer-bandleader and native of New Orleans was safe in Los Angeles after evacuating via Atlanta, his wife and manager, Robin Burgess, said in an e-mail to friends. "Terence arrived in New Orleans from L.A. on Sunday morning at 4 a.m. We left the airport, boarded up my office and our home, and proceeded to evacuate to Atlanta at 8 a.m. When we left New Orleans, we had no idea that it could possibly be forever." Blanchard was scheduled to play Saturday at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival in Colorado.

Dr. John: With his hometown getting storm-rocked, the legendary musician, 64 , was playing boogie-woogie Monday in Minneapolis, the first of a three-night gig. His opening song was an aggressive version of the 1945 instrumental Honeydripper, reported the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "That was the hurricane eye's version," Dr. John said afterward. "Hurricane has infested my brain. So excuse me if my brain stays in hurricane mode. I'll try not to oversell it." Dr. John moved to New York City years ago.
(See post below for more on Dr. John)

Allen Toussaint: The 67-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame producer and writer, whose credits include writing LaBelle's hit Lady Marmalade and Dr. John's Right Place, Wrong Time, was one of the thousands holed up at the Superdome hoping to get on a bus for Houston.

Source: By SHARON FINK, Times Staff Writer

Times staff writers Janet K. Keeler and Chris Sherman, Times correspondent Philip Booth, the Associated Press, USA Today, Foxnews.com and E! Online contributed to this report.

:: Les Coles Friday, September 02, 2005 [+] ::

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Katrina: NOLA artists update-Dr. John, Lower 911 band

Here's a quick post-Katrina update on Dr. John and his band, the Lower 911, which are sceduled to play Tokyo later this month.

As most Blues Bloggers will know, the good doctor himself has actually lived in New York for the past 20 years or so. However, several band members—as the band's name suggest, members living in the city's 11th Ward and Lower 9th Ward (as does the still missing Fats Domino).

Dr. John the Night Tripper, born Mac Rebennac in New Orleans, was not in his native city but safe out on the road when Katrina hit. Dr. John was set to appear Friday night in Frankenmuth at the Blues Bash on the Cass, and on Saturday at the Detroit International Jazz Festival.

Sparky Nielsen, Dr. John's tour manager of 15 years, did a sterling job locating and flying members of Dr. John's band out of hurricane territory and up to Michigan in time for the gigs.

Although the good doctor has a home in New York now; his New Orleans house is occupied by relatives. Nielsen said that one of Dr. John's nephews is confirmed dead, and they were awaiting word on his other relatives.

The band's horn section is unaccounted for, down in New Orleans. The rhythm section made it out of town, but only barely.

"One headed to Montgomery, Alabama, where I flew him out from," Nielsen said. "The drummer and bass player made it up to the shelter in Baton Rouge where I flew them out of this morning. The drummer's house is under 12 feet of water.

Our drum tech, we don't know where he is. We know his house exploded; it was in Gulfport, Miss."

Because the entire band, except for Dr. John, is homeless now, Nielsen will take them back to his house in Colorado to stay after they play Detroit.

Gimme Five appeal
An appeal called "Gimme Five" is be made from the stage, before Dr. John's Saturday show, for Detroit fans of New Orleans music to donate money through the Detroit Blues Society for direct relief to musicians affected by the hurricane. By next week, fans will be able to contribute to "Gimme Five" by going to the Web sites dbsblues.com or bigcityblues mag.com.

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On the Web:
Detroit Blues Society
Big City Blues

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Dr. John Japan Tour



Lineup: Dr. John & The Lower 911
Dr. John: piano, organ, vocals
David Barard: electric bass, vocals
Herman Ernest III: drums, vocals
John Fohl: electric guitar, vocals

Dates/venues
Sept. 15 Tokyo The Original True Store
Sept. 16-21 Tokyo Blue Note (2 Shows per night)

:: Les Coles Friday, September 02, 2005 [+] ::

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Hurricane Katrina--NOLA artists update--BeauSoleil and The Dirty Dozen

BeauSoleil and The Dirty Dozen safe, relocated

This in from the Rosebud Agency:

Along with people across the country and around the world, we at the Rosebud Agency are deeply moved and saddened by the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina and the uncertain future that so many victims now face.




As a response to those who have expressed concern, we are relieved and grateful to advise that BeauSoleil and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who had homes and families in New Orleans and the vicinity, are safe and relocated. Both artists will continue their performance schedules for dates outside of the affected area and, of course, there is no news yet as to what will become of shows planned within the area struck by the hurricane.

Source: Rosebud News

:: Les Coles Friday, September 02, 2005 [+] ::

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NOLA artists speak on state of city

Galactic, Mike Gordon, Dr. John Speak Out About Hurricane Katrina
NEW ORLEANS (Sept. 2)—With eighty percent of New Orleans submerged under up to twenty feet of water in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and thousands of casualties anticipated, the music world is dealing with the emotional impact and trying to imagine the future of one of America's most influential cultural centers.

"I've had, like, an hour's sleep," says New Orleans blues legend Dr. John, on tour in Minneapolis. "All my family is MIA -- I mean, most everybody I know. They might be anywhere. I'm praying hard." Wilco bassist John Stirrat, also New Orleans-born, now on tour in Spain, is struggling to believe in the city's future. "I feel like I've been punched in the stomach for days," he says. "My father's house, which is in the Metairie, is apparently underwater. It's like seeing the death of one of the truly unique cities in America."

Several artists -- like so many other residents of the nearly completely evacuated city -- are coming to terms with losing everything. Susan Cowsill, of roots rockers the Continental Drifters and a New Orleans resident for thirteen years, left most of her possessions behind. "It's just so surreal," she says from Tennessee. "They're telling us we can't go home for three months. I played Nashville the other night, and it was pretty pitiful -- it probably sounded like I was going to cry at any minute. I want to go home and start trying to help people!" Alt-country singer Shannon McNally, who sought refuge with family in Mississippi, says through tears, "I have no idea where many of my friends are. I'm a little numb. The best parts of New Orleans are underwater. And all those people that couldn't get out -- they're New Orleans." Roger Lewis, a founding member of veteran New Orleans legends the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, has lost his house in the Chantilly area and a family home in the Ninth Ward -- and has yet to locate one of his daughters. "I don't know if she's living or dead," he says from Memphis. "This can't be happening."

Most members of hometown roots rockers the Iguanas, who scattered to Houston, Memphis and Birmingham in the evacuation, have also lost their homes. "[On the news,] I saw the water up to the roof of the shopping center a block away from my house," says sax player Joe Cabral. "I definitely lost it at that point." Cabral, who is considering relocating to Austin, Texas, simply cannot believe that life in New Orleans as he knows it is over. "It's, like, I want to go to the coffee shop and say 'hi' to the guy I see everyday," he says. "I want to walk down the street and bump into my friends -- the people, the vibe. New Orleans is a special place, man, and you just can't replace that."

Blues rocker Marc Broussard, currently on tour on the West Coast, grew up outside New Orleans and is awaiting word from family. "My brother called me to say he had to pick up our boat and go fish my cousin out of his house," he says. "He said people are walking around with guns, and it's just like a guerilla war zone down there. I was just shedding more tears than I've shed in a long time. I have no idea what's going to happen. There are already parts of New Orleans that are as bad or worse than Third World countries." Kevin Griffin, frontman of local rock trio Better Than Ezra, says from Nashville, "A major U.S. city is effectively wiped out. We're trying not to think too much about it and just go day to day."

The vibrant club scene that defines much of the feel of New Orleans -- from music landmarks like Preservation Hall, to clubs like Tipitina's and Snug Harbor -- faces an uncertain future, to say the least. But the New Orleans music community is nothing if not determined. "As far as rebuilding and getting back to the city, I haven't talked to anybody who has not wanted to go back," says Rio Hackford, owner of one of the French Quarter's most eccentric venues, indie rock/burlesque haven One Eyed Jacks. "It's starting from scratch and building on what's the fucking backbone of the real, true music scene of fucking America. New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz and always will be. It's gonna be a mess for a long time, but it'll be a mess with some good tunes. The spirit of New Orleans, it runs pretty deep." Renowned producer Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan), who had his Kingsway Studio in the French Quarter from 1988 to 2001, is also optimistic about the scene. "As terrible as this may seem, nothing could ever kill the music of New Orleans," he says. "I have a feeling that the music community there will pull up its pants and get on with things. It's a part of the world that's seen a lot of hardship -- and yet a lot of beautiful music has come out of there."

With an entire city displaced, many musicians are resigning themselves to life on the road for some time to come. "As far as I can tell, my house in the Marigny is underwater," says Galactic bassist Robert Mercurio, who has lived in the city for sixteen years and is currently on tour in Seattle. "And with the looting, I'm worried I'll come back to my house being trashed, even if it's not flooded. The city's never going to be the same, which is amazingly sad. The band has talked, and since we don't have a home, we're planning on picking up some more gigs." McNally is also facing extensive time on the road. "I'm effectively homeless, so I think I'm going on the road. But I'm very lucky in that I have a lot of friends and family and places I can go." The Dirty Dozen Brass Band also plans to keep moving from gig to gig. "You gotta keep on keeping on," says Lewis. "We gotta make money to take care of our families, you know? Roll with the punches, that's all you can do."

Looking ahead, many are trying to remain optimistic. "I would never give up on that town," says Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner, who has lived in New Orleans for eight years with his wife, a native. "I don't think we have any plans if not to try and help the city nurture itself back to what we know and love. It's your city and you love it, and you want to see it rebuilt and you want to be a believer." Says Mercurio, "Maybe the city will get a facelift. New Orleans has bounced back before. New Orleans has a really special place in people's hearts -- besides the people that live there." McNally adds, "It's a very powerful place, and I have to believe that, even if most of it gets displaced, it will bubble to the surface. I hope that the country realizes that it's the coolest city in the world."

Former Phish bassist Mike Gordon, who has played the city numerous times adds, "I'm very passionate about the city -- I've had amazing experiences there. We used to go canoeing on the bayou, go to Mother's Restaurant and see these hip brass bands that no one knows about. New Orleans is such a fuel for the entire country's music. There is such a looseness to the city and the people, a happy-go-lucky quality, throwing caution to the wind. I don't think the pure essence of the place can be wiped away by natural disaster." Pirner agrees, believing that the music that defines the city can now help bring about its return. "The music plays such a big part in what helps people survive adversity, so you can sort of envision street parades once the water's off the streets," he says. "It's very hard to imagine that the city's not going to come back in full color -- and the music's going to help people to come back."

"My heart's always gonna be in New Orleans," says Dr. John, summing up the sentiments of so many musicians tied to the city. "It ain't just the place, it's the whole culture. The music will survive; the people will survive."

Source: By Alex Mar,. Rolling Stone

Additional reporting by David Fricke, Lauren Gitlin, Brian Hiatt, Steve Knopper, Jessica Robertson, Charley Rogulewski and Gillian Telling

:: Les Coles Friday, September 02, 2005 [+] ::

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Fats Domino safe, family says

NEW ORLEANS (Sept. 2)—Fats Domino, the 1950s rock 'n'roll star, has been identified by his family being found by rescuers after fears that he may have perished in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The 77-year-old singer of "Blueberry Hill" and "Ain't That a Shame," lost contact when the flood water swamped the low-lying ninth ward, where he lives with his wife, Rosemary.

But yesterday his daughter Karen Domino White said that the musician was photographed being brought to safety by boat. "We're very relieved," she said after seeing a photo of her father that had been taken by the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

The photo showed Domino, whose real name is Antoine Domino, in jeans and a blue-striped shirt being helped off a boat by rescuers.

Al Embry, the singer's agent, originally reported Domino missing after he lost contact with him after a telephone conversation on Sunday evening.

Source: Times Online

:: Les Coles Friday, September 02, 2005 [+] ::

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Fats Domino Update:
AP reports that Fats is safe.
More to follow

:: Les Coles Friday, September 02, 2005 [+] ::

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Movie, music stars shine for hurricane victims

LOS ANGELES (Sept. 2)—Canadian pop singer Celine Dion on Thursday donated $1 million to lead a growing effort by Hollywood music and film stars to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.

From actors Morgan Freeman and Leonardo DiCaprio to Dion, rap star Usher and rock group Green Day, the entertainment world began rolling out its talent and pocketbooks to raise money for the storm's victims.

Three days after the massive storm left possibly thousands dead and hundreds of thousands homeless along the U.S. Gulf Coast, Hollywood is mobilizing like an army with charity concerts and telethons scheduled for coming weeks.

DiCaprio, star of "Titanic" and "The Aviator," will highlight an NBC concert-telethon Friday night to raise money for the American Red Cross relief operation.

Dion's donation will also go to the Red Cross, her publicist said in a statement from Montreal Thursday.

The show will feature performances by jazz crooner Harry Connick Jr, and country music star Tim McGraw, who both call hurricane-ravaged New Orleans home.

"I haven't slept in days," said Connick, who grew up in the city.

"Although I now finally know that my immediate family in New Orleans is safe, I have not heard from many, many friends and other family members," he said.

"New Orleans is my essence, my soul, my muse, and I can only dream that one day she will recapture her glory. I will do everything within my power to make that happen," Connick said.

McGraw, who was born in Louisiana, said he was heartbroken by the hurricane, which sent a million people fleeing their homes and left New Orleans under water.

"Like so many Americans I am watching the news reports with great sadness. But it's at times like these that each of us must work together to provide lifesaving aid to those in terrible need."

Oscar-winning actor Freeman, who comes from Memphis, Tennessee directly north of New Orleans, will help raise money in a benefit auction Friday organized by the Internet operation charityfolks.com.

Freeman, who starred in the acclaimed 1994 film "The Shawshank Redemption," will auction tickets to see his soon-to-be-released film "An Unfinished Life."

Cable television's popular music channel MTV is meanwhile pulling together top acts like rapper Usher, neo-punk band Green Day and rhythm-and-blues chanteuse Alicia Keys for a fund-raising concert scheduled for Sept 10.

Jerry Lewis, one of Hollywood's most legendary comedians, is also lending his energy to Katrina disaster relief.

Lewis was already planning to hold his annual telethon to raise money to fight muscular dystrophy on Sept 3.

On Wednesday Lewis announced that his organization would divide the money they raise this year between victims of the hurricane-stricken communities and their traditional beneficiaries dealing with muscular dystrophy.

Another New Orleans native, jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, will lead a roster of stars for a concert organized by the BET cable television channel to raise money for victims.

Meanwhile, BET owner Viacom said it was giving $1 million to the Red Cross for relief, and global entertainment giant Walt Disney announced it is donating $2.5 million to support rescue efforts.

"The devastation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is simply heartbreaking and our thoughts are with those struggling in the aftermath of this disaster," Disney president Michael Eisner said in a statement.

Source: Wire reports

:: Les Coles Thursday, September 01, 2005 [+] ::

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Fats Domino, B.B. King, Ellen DeGeneres, other celebrities affected by Katrina

Fats Domino reported missing
NEW ORLEANS(Sept. 1)—Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans is being felt in the world of entertainment.

Many celebrities and performing artists have relatives or other ties to the flooded city and the Gulf Coast, some have been directly affected.

Fats Domino, a native of New Orleans, was reported missing Thursday by his agent, Al Embry. The 77-year-old R&B legend and his family had remained at their home in the city's low-lying 9th ward.

Master P, also a New Orleans native, told The Associated Press that his uncle, father-in-law and sister-in-law, among others, were unaccounted for. His father was missing until recently. The rapper-producer said his houses and those of his family members were under water.

Blues legend B.B. King, a native of Mississippi, said he had loved ones in the area: "I have some friends and family down in New Orleans, and also on the Gulf coast of Mississippi. I've tried to call them several times but I can't get through to them so I don't know where they are."

Harry Connick Jr., who grew up in New Orleans, told NBC's "Today" show the city's residents are "freakishly strong" and would rebuild. Connick developed his music in jazz bands and at clubs in the French Quarter.

His father, Harry Connick Sr., served as the city's district attorney for 29 years before retiring in 2003.

Actress Patricia Clarkson said her mother, New Orleans councilwoman Jackie Clarkson, had stayed at the side of Mayor Ray Nagin while Katrina ravaged the city. "She's all right, otherwise I wouldn't be here," Clarkson said at the Venice Film Festival in Italy, where she was promoting her new movie.

Rapper Juvenile, who left New Orleans before the hurricane hit, lost his home, but counted himself lucky. "I am obviously devastated by my personal loss but thank God that I was able to get my family out to safety while many families were not so fortunate," Juvenile said in a statement. "I have lost some friends and to their families I send my deepest condolences."

Soul Asylum frontman Dave Pirner said he was anxiously watching news reports on television, hoping to see if his house in New Orleans had escaped destruction. "We are, you know, examining our silver lining and being very lucky that we're out of harm's way," said Pirner, who was visiting his hometown of Minneapolis when the hurricane struck.

Ellen DeGeneres, a Louisiana native, said her 82-year-old aunt's home in Pass Christian, Miss., had been destroyed. "She has nothing. She grabbed four pictures out of her house. She's lost her entire life."

Britney Spears, who was raised in Kentwood, La., posted a message on her web site saying her family was safe and that her "thoughts and prayers go out to everyone" on the Gulf Coast.

Morgan Freeman, whose Mississippi Delta home received only rain and high winds, helped organize an online auction to raise funds for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Source: Source: CBC News, Canada

:: Les Coles Thursday, September 01, 2005 [+] ::

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Without Their City, With Their Team

NEW ORLEANS (Sept 1)—The musician and actor Harry Connick Jr. stood on Canal Street in New Orleans yesterday morning, a Saints cap on his head, discussing Hurricane Katrina's devastation of his hometown with Katie Couric of NBC's "Today" show.

Connick praised the strength of the city's people and said he had been asked if he could fathom spending three days in the Superdome, as thousands who did not evacuate the city had done. His reply reflected the decades of suffering that Saints fan have endured: "It can't be any worse than spending three hours in the Superdome watching some of those Saints games we've had in the past. We're tough people. We're diehard."

As the N.F.L. and the Saints contemplate where the team will play its home games this season, and whether New Orleans will be able to support a pro football team again, it is worth noting that the Big Easy was Fox's second-highest-rated market last year with a 23.5, right behind Milwaukee.

That rating is a sign of the passion for the Saints in New Orleans, a city of 462,269 people - smallish by N.F.L. standards - and what makes it even more remarkable is that there were five local television blackouts because the Saints did not sell out the Superdome, their home since 1975.

For the two home games that sold out last season, WVUE-TV, Fox's now inoperable local station, generated a 31.5 rating against San Francisco and a 32.5 against Tampa Bay. In the New Orleans market, each rating point equals only 6,721 TV households.

All that has changed. The city is flooded, looting is widespread and thousands may be dead. The region's economy has been ravaged and could take years to recover.

For now, the state of television viewing in New Orleans is a minor concern, but however many fans are capable of watching will crave the distraction and the bonding experience of watching games, as sports fans did after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"It will be vitally important for people to watch, however widely they are dispersed," said Marc Ganis, a sports-business consultant in Chicago. "It will help them come together, even though they're doing it electronically."

Fox is planning to televise Saints games to more than the 15 to 20 percent of the country that they are usually seen in, when combining the markets aligned with the Saints and their opponents. The Saints' natural turf in Louisiana is New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Monroe; in Mississippi, it is Biloxi and Jackson; and in Alabama, it is Mobile. Sometimes, Memphis is added to the mix.

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"One thing about New Orleans, these people are freakishly strong and passionate about this city," —Harry Connick Jr.

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Now, mindful of the dispersal of New Orleans residents who evacuated, Fox will add the Texas markets of Houston, San Antonio and Beaumont, and parts of Missouri for the Saints' opener on Sept. 11 against Carolina. The Texas cities had been scheduled to see the Bears-Redskins game in Week 1.

Dan Bell, a spokesman for Fox Sports, said, "Given the extraordinary circumstances, we'll try to make this consistent throughout the season."

Another factor that will affect TV viewing will be up to the N.F.L. If the Saints play home games in Baton Rouge, the league will have to lift the blackout to let as many local fans as possible watch. If the Saints eventually return to the Superdome, they are not likely to sell out, given the depleted population, and the stadium would be more of a giant TV studio than a home field.

Greg Aiello, an N.F.L. spokesman, said that until a decision was made on where the Saints would play, he could not discuss the blackout issue.

On CNBC yesterday, Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said that the N.F.L.'s assumption was that it would be "difficult if not impossible to play in New Orleans at all this year." He added that "sport is a small part of life" and that the league would use its visibility "to support the national recovery program."

Where the Saints will play next year is also an open question. The team's owner, Tom Benson, has been perpetually dissatisfied with his lease, and Louisiana is less likely than ever to be able to pay the team an average of $18.6 million a year. The last two years, the Superdome Commission had to borrow to pay Benson what it owed him. The team can escape its lease after this season but would have to pay the state $81 million. The state can get out of the lease after the 2006 season.

The league is trying to build a stadium in Los Angeles or Anaheim before it chooses a team to occupy it or an owner. Benson said recently that he would not sell or move the team from New Orleans, but the city's decimation might force him to alter his plans.

"New Orleans has always been a marginal market for the N.F.L., and this disaster doesn't improve their situation," said John Moag, the investment banker who paved the Cleveland Browns' move to Baltimore.

"Mr. Benson was evaluating whether to stay before this, but he may not have that luxury anymore."

Source: By RICHARD SANDOMIR, New York Times

New Orleans Will Rebuild—Connick
NEW YORK (Sept. 2)—Harry Connick Jr., who grew up in New Orleans, says the city will rebuild and that its residents are "freakishly strong."

In an interview Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, Connick compared the rejuvenating spirit of New Yorkers after the Sept. 11 terror attacks to those in the hurricane-ravaged city.

"One thing about New Orleans, these people are freakishly strong and passionate about this city," the jazz musician said.

Connick was born and raised in New Orleans, developing his music in jazz bands and at clubs in the French Quarter. His father, Harry Connick Sr., served as district attorney of New Orleans for 29 years before retiring in 2003.

"Everything that I have professionally, and so much of what I have personally, is because of this great, fair city," Connick said. "And to see it being drowned like this is almost unbearable."

He will join a televised fundraiser, "A Concert for Hurricane Relief," Friday on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC (8 p.m. ET) that also will include performances by Wynton Marsalis and Tim McGraw.

In a posting on his Web site, Connick said he knew his immediate family was safe, but hadn't yet heard from other family and friends.

"It is hard to sit in silence, to watch one's youth wash away," the statement said. "New Orleans is my essence, my soul, my muse, and I can only dream that one day she will recapture her glory."

Source: Associated Press

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On the Web:
Harry Connick Jr.
New Orleans Saints

:: Les Coles Thursday, September 01, 2005 [+] ::

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R. L. Burnside dies, age 78

R. L. Burnside
November 21, 1926 — September 1, 2005

We at Fat Possum are sad to announce that R.L. Burnside died today at his hospital room in Memphis.


MEMPHIS (Sept.1)—Blues artist R.L. Burnside, who redefined the blues genre by incorporating indie rock acts and hip-hop production, died September 1, 2005, at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Burnside was born November 21, 1926, in Harmontown, Mississippi, and spent most of his life in the north Mississippi hill country, where he worked as a sharecropper and a commercial fisherman and played guitar at weekend house parties.

In 1968, noted folklorist George Mitchell recorded Burnside for the first time. In 1991 Burnside was the first artist signed to then-fledgling Fat Possum Records in Oxford, Mississippi. His debut, Too Bad Jim, was produced by former New York Times pop critic Robert Palmer. Along with his friend, neighbor, and label-mate Junior Kimbrough, Burnside was one of the most popular and important blues musicians to emerge in the last two decades.

He recorded the crossover collaboration A Ass Pocket of Whiskey with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in 1996 and became a cult hero. In 1998, music from Come On In was featured in several movies and television shows, including The Sopranos. Burnside sold hundreds of thousands of records in his lifetime. He is survived by his wife Alice Mae, twelve children, and numerous grandchildren.

Those wishing to help should send donations to:

Freeland & Freeland Trust Account
Burnside Memorial
P. O. Box 269
Oxford, MS 38655
(662)234-3414

All proceeds will go directly to RL's widow, Alice Mae.
Photo by David Raccuglia

:: Les Coles Thursday, September 01, 2005 [+] ::

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BB King and Backbeat Books Celebrate 80 Years of the Blues

Minsk, Russia (Aug. 30) —On September 16, 2005, blues legend B.B. King will celebrate his 80th birthday, and Backbeat Books will mark this milestone with the publication of B.B. King: There Is Always One More Time. The inaugural entry in Backbeat's Lives in Music series, There Is Always One More Time combines biography and discography, charting B.B. King's life from his childhood in rural Mississippi up to his first studio session.

Each album of King's distinguished career is then analyzed and critiqued, with first-hand interviews with producers and key musicians bringing the story of these sessions and recordings to life.

The book contains complete and detailed information for each recording session, including dates, producers, engineers, mastering engineers, studios, musicians, songs, and songwriters.

In There Is Always One More Time, author David McGee shows how B.B. King persevered in his quest to bring the blues to a wider audience, chronicling the studio experiments that led him to broaden his sound and expand the very definition of the blues. The book narrates fascinating career and life events, from the wild fistfight that led King to christen his guitar "Lucille" and his participation in the 1974 Ali-–Foreman match known as the "Rumble in the Jungle," to the recording of his signature song "The Thrill Is Gone" and his relationships with music heavyweights like Doc Pomus, Dr. John, and Eric Clapton.

David McGee, author of Go, Cat, Go: The Life and Times of Carl Perkins, The King of Rockabilly, is senior editor of Pro Sound News and country music editor for barnesandnoble.com. A veteran Rolling Stone contributor and former curator for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, he lives in New York, NY.

Source: Jazz-Quad

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Order now:

:: Les Coles Thursday, September 01, 2005 [+] ::

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Piedmont Blues Preservation Society Calendar

This in from Blues Brother John Amberg over at the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society:

Dear blues friends:

Talk about the blues...our brothers and sisters in the Gulf states sure got 'em right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all. Our new Trustee, Chris Roulhac, is attempting to organize a music event to benefit the hurricane victims. The date she has floated out there is Sunday, September 18. If any musicians are club owners can help, please contact Chris at beadgirl@mindspring.com. Chris did an awesome job organizing the Tsunami relief concerts in January. Hopefully we can all come together and help out our fellow Americans who are truly hurting right now. I know the blues community will step up in a big way.

We're at near capacity for the 19th Annual Blues Challenge, Sept 24-25 at the Lion's Lair, High Point. 17 to 18 bands/solo acts have signed up. Thanks to everyone who has donated or pledged items for our Silent Auction. Keep 'em coming!

Details are still being fleshed out, but I wanted to let you all know about the PBPS 20th Anniversary/Members Appreciation Show coming to the Lion's Lair on Saturday, October 22: we're proud to present legendary Chicago blues harp man Carey Bell! Carey has performed with Muddy Waters and many other luminaries. He's released a string of excellent albums for Alligator and other blues labels. If you're a current PBPS member, you're in for free. Just our way of saying thanks for your support.

We're also celebrating 20 years of the PBPS. Put this on your calendar
and make plans to be there. More details coming soon.

Peace, love and blues to ya,

John

-- BLUES EVENTS OCCURRING WITHIN THE NEXT 7 DAYS --
31-Aug-2005: Open Blues Jam at The Club House, Greensboro

31-Aug-2005: Peter Tork & Shoe Suede Blues at Double Door Inn,
Charlotte
Yep, you better belive it's THAT Peter Tork, aka Peter Tork of The Monkees (whose vocals graced such classics like 'Auntie Grizelda' and a pretty cool song called 'Shades of Gray,'). Wow, Peter Tork in a blues band. Next thing you know Tito Jackson will be doing blues....(hey, wait a minute)

01-Sep-2005: Blues World Order at Alive After 5, Winston-Salem
5-8 pm Corpening Plaza / 1st + Liberty

01-Sep-2005: Open Blues Jam at Plum Krazy, Greensboro 9pm

02-Sep-2005: Abe Reid & The Spikedrivers at Blue Bayou, Hillsborough

02-Sep-2005: Cyril Lance at Double Door, Charlotte
From Cyril's e-mail:
"All profits from the sale of our CD’s purchased from WWW.CDBABY.COM are being donated to the American Red Cross for relief work to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Please go to CDBABY.COM and check out all the artists that are donating their profits and help out. Katrina has been truly devastating beyond words..."

03-Sep-2005: The Mannish Boys at Double Door, Charlotte

06-Sep-2005: Kings & Peaches at Fishers, Greensboro

07-Sep-2005: Open Blues Jam at The Club House, Greensboro

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On the Web:
Piedmont Blues Preservation Society

:: Les Coles Thursday, September 01, 2005 [+] ::

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Howlin' Wolf Blues Museum opens today

WEST POINT, Miss. (Sept. 1)—The Howlin' Wolf Blues Museum officially opens its door to the public today, according to a press release issued Monday. The museum, a joint project of the West Point Community Foundation and the Howlin' Wolf Blues Society, will open Sept. 1 at 2 p.m., which is the Thursday before the Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival. (see "10th Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival").

The grand opening will feature live music by Rev. Slick and Blind Mississippi Morris, West Point Community Foundation Spokesman Jeff Clark said in the news release.

The Howlin' Wolf Museum is located in the Friday House on the corner of East Westbrook and Mill Streets in downtown West Point. The day will be a culmination of the sweat, tears and dedication of many volunteers, Howlin' Wolf Blues Society Programs Director Richard Ramsey said. The opening will also be a big day for West Point and Clay County.

"This is a big day for West Point and we hope that everyone will come out for the dedication of the Howlin' Wolf Museum," Ramsey said. "The legacy of Howlin'

Wolf is a major part of the history of Clay County. The opening of the museum will ensure that this legacy lives on for future generations to discover."

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"Howling Wolf is an American artist, a part of the internationally recognized cavalcade of authentic American genius. He is not just some guy with a band, he helped to change our view of the world and to harden up this new way we have found to express our deepest feelings," Peter Townsend.

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The museum was created around the life famous blues artist Chester "Howlin' Wolf" Burnett, who was born in the White's Station community in 1910. He first recorded his music for the legendary Sam Phillips at his pre-Sun Records studio in Memphis.

"When I heard Howlin' Wolf, I said, 'This is for me. This is where the soul of a man never dies,"' said Phillips of Wolf.

Wolf later moved to Chicago where he became a driving force in the city's legendary blues scene, influencing artists like the Rolling Stones, The Beatles and The Who. The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, who dedicated a custom guitar to the museum, recently said the following about Wolf's influence on his musical career:

"Howling Wolf is an American artist, a part of the internationally recognized cavalcade of authentic American genius. He is not just some guy with a band, he helped to change our view of the world and to harden up this new way we have found to express our deepest feelings," Townsend said.

Wolf also unlocked the gates of musical inhibition that led to the honest music of bands like The Who, Townsend said. He still feels Wolf in his music today. "I am 60 years old as I write this," Townsend said. "As a musician I still feel like an ageless artist. When I listen to Howling Wolf, I hear music that will always speak for the late fifties, the sixties and the years that followed, music that was not designed to sell cokes and popcorn at drive-ins, but was equally uplifting, joyful and accessible. Unlike the radio pop of that period.

Howling Wolf had real teeth; he showed us we could let our music be unapologetically masculine (as much of British rock turned out to be) without being chauvinistic."

Ramsey agrees with Townsend that Wolf's influence crosses years and genres to influence even today's artists. While the music of today is vastly different than the blues Wolf spread across the world, his touch is still present in guitar riffs of today.

"Modern day musicians can not deny the influence of Wolf," Ramsey said. "He is in a small class of blues artists that were highly influential on Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana -- he has been named by Rolling Stone as one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century. Pete (Townshend) recognized this influence and dedicated a guitar personally to the museum as a way to honor Wolf's impact on his life. We a very fortunate to have something of this caliber on display in the museum."

Besides Townsend's guitar, other memorabilia in the museum includes a signed guitar from former Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin, Wolf's guitarist of many years, photos of Wolf and personal effects from his family's private collection.

The collection is a tribute to blues, but also a tribute to Clay County's blues legend, Ramsey said.

"We have some items in the museum that were donated directly by Wolf's family," said Ramsey, who saw Wolf perform in White's Station before his death in 1976.

"Even though he moved to Chicago, he still returned to Clay County to hunt and fish. We have Wolf's personal hunting rifle on display, as well as unpublished photographs and even Wolf's passport from when he toured Europe and the UK.

Basically, we have the museum structured to tell Wolf's story -- from his beginnings in White Station until his death in 1976. It's a tribute to his life."

As a tribute to many musicians from Clay County another exhibit will also open Sept. 1. The "Friends of Note" exhibit will feature memorabilia celebrating the works musicians from the Clay County and Golden Triangle area. The exhibit will feature items from several local artists, including Roger Stevens, Brad Smith of Blind Melon, rapper Doughbelly Stray, and current Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Ean Evans.

The museum opening and all exhibits will be open to the public and free of
admission. -- By Kyle Shelton

What: 10th Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival
When: 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2
Where: West Point Civic Center
Tickets: $15 at Clay County Economic Development Corporation, West Point; DC

Music and Down at Joes, Columbus; and Jack Forbus Insurance, Starkville
Info: (662) 494-5121, www.wpms.net

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On the Web:
www.wpms.net

See post below:
"10th Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival"

:: Les Coles Thursday, September 01, 2005 [+] ::

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Basin Street Records 'Katrina' Newsletter

Hurricane Katrina
New Orleans Needs Your Help
Our Artists Are All Safe

NOLA (Sept. 1)—
A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM MARK SAMUELS, PRESIDENT, BASIN STREET RECORDS
Many of you have contacted us. Thank you for your well wishes. My brother, Will, made it up to New York and my children, my parents, my girlfriend, her dog, and I are waiting in Memphis, Tennessee. We will be heading to St. Louis for a wedding this weekend, and are not sure where we will go after that.

As far as our staff, Jeremy is safe in Connecticut, Emily is in Houston, and Jack is in Atlanta. We don't know where Hal is.

Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield, Ronald Markham(NOJO's CEO), and Theresa Andersson are all safe in Baton Rouge. Bill Summers reports that he is safe. Michael White is safe in Houston. Jon Cleary is safe in California preparing for a tour with Bonnie Raitt. Henry Butler is safe in Monroe and on his way to a private gig today. Jason Marsalis is safe in Japan recording with Marcus Roberts.

We also know that Derrick Freeman and Corey Henry from Kermit's band are safe, but haven't heard from others yet. Please let us know if you are ok out there.

We hope we have homes and businesses to return to and that we can return soon to help rebuild the greatest city that I know: New Orleans.

Please use our message board at
www.BasinStreetRecords.com to send your well wishes to our artists and let them know how they are loved. We can really use your love and support right now.

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On the Web:
Basin Street Records

:: Les Coles Thursday, September 01, 2005 [+] ::

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Katrina silences legendary jazz city

Quick update: I've beard from Blues Brothers George Porter, Jr., John Gross and Joe Krown all saying as how they are safe, but Joe added that it looks like it is going to be a long haul before thins are back to normal.


New Orleans residents walk through chest-deep floodwater after Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana coast on Monday.


NEW ORLEANS (Aug. 31)—When the brilliant Chicago trumpeter Maurice Brown (foreground in above right photo) moved to Louisiana four years ago, he dreamed of becoming a star in the mythic birthplace of jazz: New Orleans.

He quickly achieved that goal, but after fleeing the city at 2 a.m. Sunday he believes he has lost everything but his life.

"It's all gone--I saw on TV where my whole neighborhood is flooded out," said Brown, speaking from the truck of a friend, who was driving him back home to his parents' house in Harvey, Ill.

Hurricane Katrina not only has taken lives and destroyed home and possessions, it has placed in peril the world's most famous jazz city, a town where international tourists clamor to hear jubilant brass bands and where jazz stars such as Nicholas Payton and Ellis Marsalis nightly ignite the music that Louis Armstrong made famous.

From the Technicolor portraits of Jelly Roll Morton and the great Satchmo that greet visitors at Louis Armstrong International Airport to the street musicians who riff "When the Saints Go Marching In" day and night on raucous Bourbon Street, New Orleans has been indelibly bound up with music and revelry for more than a century.



The worned out facade of the Jazz Preservation Hall, where some of the best classical jazz can be heard, French Quarter, New Orleans
Photo: terragalleria.com


"Great jazz and great food are so deeply imbedded into the culture of New Orleans, you just can't imagine the city without them," said Chicago author Timuel Black, whose book "Bridges of Memory" traces the great migration of Southern blacks to Chicago.

Jazz and Creole food
"Jazz goes from one generation to another in New Orleans, passed down from musician to musician," he added, pointing to New Orleans' most famous jazz dynasty, the Marsalises (pianist Ellis is father to trumpeter Wynton, saxophonist Branford, trombonist Delfeayo and drummer Jason).

"Jazz and Creole food," added Black, "are New Orleans."

But the city's cultural identity has been threatened by Hurricane Katrina, the floodwaters silencing world-famous clubs such as Preservation Hall, inside the historic French Quarter, and Snug Harbor, just outside it. The dozens of New Orleans clubs featuring jazz, blues, rock, funk and whatnot--as well as the upscale and down-home restaurants that cater to the music lovers--long have made the French Quarter and the emerging entertainment district on nearby Frenchmen Street tourist draws.

It was certainly the city's thriving cultural scene, as well as its storied musical history, that drew Brown there in the first place.

Although jazz musicians more typically leave New Orleans to take on bigger cities, such as Chicago and New York, Brown--who grew up in Harvey--was smitten by the city's relaxed ambience and musical legacy.

"It's the whole feeling I got here that made me want to stay for a while," Brown, 24, told the Tribune last year between sets at Snug Harbor, the city's top contemporary jazz room.

Last year Brown released a stunning, made-in-New-Orleans debut CD, "Hip to Bop," and two weeks ago he played at the Green Mill Jazz Club, in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood.

It was an indelible moment for a musician who never had taken a private trumpet lesson in his life. Having immersed himself in music by playing in bands at Markham Park Elementary School and Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills, he rapidly became one of Chicago's more talked-about trumpeters while a teenager.

After a brief stint at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, he joined legendary trumpeter Clark Terry on the road, then enrolled in Southern University in Baton Rouge in 2001 and immediately began playing New Orleans' famous clubs. In short order, his picture began appearing on the covers of local music magazines, and he won a coveted, weekly gig at Snug Harbor.

After performing Saturday evening in one of New Orleans' most fabled clubs, Tipitina's, Brown and the rest of the room was hurriedly evacuated.

Brown quickly drove to his home in the Treme neighborhood, grabbed a trumpet, flugelhorn, laptop and "enough clothes for four or five days." He then took his retooled 1989 Cadillac Brougham to a parking garage in suburban Metairie, where he left it for safekeeping, and jumped into his friend's truck to proceed to higher ground in Memphis.

Chicagoan grateful
Though Brown said he's grateful that he got out in time, he nevertheless grieves for what he has left behind.

"My whole recording studio, tons of music, a lot of original scores that I can't ever get back, maybe 50 or 60 tunes I spent years working on--all gone," said Brown.

He estimates the losses, which are uninsured, at $50,000, and he believes that his car has been sunk as well.

Still, Brown realizes he's one of the lucky ones.

"But I'm not sure if I'm ever going to live in New Orleans again--I'm going to build a new foundation for my life," he said.

"I don't know if I'll move back to Chicago or try New York, but it may be over in New Orleans."

Source: By Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune arts critic

:: Les Coles Wednesday, August 31, 2005 [+] ::

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Dr. John touring Japan in September

TOKYO (Sept. 1)—Dr. John, a.k.a. The Night Tripper, a.k.a Mac Rebennack is touring Japan this month.

The dates are:

Thu 09/15/05 Tokyo, JPN Original True Store
Fri 09/16/05 Tokyo, JPN Blue Note
Sat 09/17/05 Tokyo, JPN Blue Note
Sun 09/18/05 Tokyo, JPN Blue Note
Mon 09/19/05 Tokyo, JPN Blue Note
Tue 09/20/05 Tokyo, JPN Blue Note
Wed 09/21/05 Tokyo, JPN Blue Note

Hopefully, I'll be doing an interview with him in the next week or so, for a story I'm doing for The Daily Yomiuri, appearing Thursday, Sept. 15.

Until then, here's a transcript of a chat I had with the good doctor in late May 2002 when he he played to sold-out audiences at Club Quattro in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo backed by his band the Lower 9-11. Although he had to cancel a press conference for health reasons, he granted me an exclusive telephone interview on March 22 from his Nagoya Hotel room and some face time backstage before he went on at Club Quatrro Shibuya on March 23, during which he talked about his critically acclaimed new release Creole Moon, where the ideas for songs come from, the music business in general, and bootleggers in suits.




LC = Les Coles
DJ = Dr. John

LC: How's the tour going?

DJ: John: Fine.

LC: Could you tell me a little about Creole Moon?

DJ: Well, I'm real happy with this record. The band and I just got to do something we felt like doing. Its something I've felt like doing for a while. Its pretty much a picture of New Orleans and a lot of the influences came there from other different parts of the world - came there to make the music what it is.

LC: How would you contrast the difference between James Booker and Professor Longhair and the influence they had on you?

DJ: Well you know, I worked in Professor Longhair's band as a guitarist, and James Booker worked in mine as a keyboard player-both a pianist and an organist.

They had differences on me. I learned a lot about being a sideman and a musician from Professor Longhair; and from Booker I learned a stuff from him about being a frontman for a band.

LC: You said once that you considered Booker to be a genius...

DJ: I still think so.

LC: How?

DJ: Well in a lot of ways. when we were growing up as kids, the fact that he was in college at an age most kids would have still been in high school. He'd go and do his piano lessons--and like this was the early 50s--and then go and do all these great boogies and stuff that we'd hear on the radio. He was so versatile as a teenager. And he just kept blossoming. Unfortunately some of the best stuff he recorded--he made this record for Atlantic Records and the tapes got burned up in a fire. So they didn't release the record...a lot of people never got to see or hear that side of him.

LC: Well you yourself was a very versatile person in your early teens. You were writing and producing for Cosimo.

DJ: You had to do a lot of things to make a living in this business. I think I got hired as a producer (by Cosimo at the age of ) because of the fact I could write and audition talent, and I think that's what got me in. that side of the business more than anything else.

LC: Listening to Creole Moon I was struck by the strength of the lyrics. A lot of them seem to be coming from experience.

DJ: Well I try to pick songs that I can feel. That's one of the criterion O try to use. You know when we do records, I pick up a lot of songs. But when it gets down to it, if I don't feel its right--if I don't get the plot right--I usually don't do it.

LC: What comes first with you for a song. Is it the lyrics or the melody....?

DJ: I really don't have a set pattern. Sometimes I get a piece of a melody, sometimes a piece of a chord progression, sometimes its the lyrics, sometimes its the groove. .lot of times though, I'd just be writing in a corner, something might be playing on the radio And I'll make a counter-groove or something. It leads to something. When the song on the radio stops, I start doing something that leads to something. But I don't have any real set pattern.

LC: What's next after the tour in Japan?

DJ: Well right now, when I get back to the States, I'm producing Shimika Copeland's new record. I try to stay busy, I love to do different things, you know.

LC: You've been in New York for like 20 years now. Do you get back to New Orleans much now?

DJ: Yeah. I was just down there for Mardis Gras and the Super Bowl. I just had 10 days there. It's still like home to me though I don't live there now.

LC: Given that a lot of young kids are interested in Rap, do you think the old style traditional New Orleans' music will continue. Is there still upcoming talent.

---

"I don't have very much good to say about the business—I never have. I don't now what it would take to get me looking at it different."

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DJ: I don't think there's anyway to separate the new and the old. Its all part of New Orleans the way I look at it.

LC: How about the new talent down there? Let me throw a couple of names at you. First, Jon Cleary...

DJ: Yeah, he's great.

LC: As you know, he's a British-but there he is.

DJ: Funny you should mention Jon Cleary. He was on the road with me when I was in England. He was interested in the music and I told him if you want to get into it, it might be an idea just to move there. And he did it you know, I really liked the fact that he did it.

LC: Another name: Davel Crawford.

DJ: He's great. I was trying to get him into the studio to do some stuff while I was just down there. But he had an impacted wisdom tooth. You know I've been friends with his family for so long and he's something special.

LC: Any theories on how come New Orleans has produced so much musical talent?

DJ: Well, whenever you've got a place where there isn't a lot of money, it causes them to go into something they can feel good about.

LC: How about the music industry in general? Do you think its progressing?

DJ: I don't have very much good to say about the business--I never have. I don't now what it would take to get me looking at it different.

LC: Are you happy with your current label (EMI)?

DJ: Yeah. I think that where I'm at, I'm lucky to be there because the people there...because its not everybody who would give me a shot to do a record like I really want to do.

LC: What's your favorite recording you've done?

DJ: What we're getting ready to do is always my favorite. But I would say right now that this one (Creole Moon) that we got out is my favorite.

LC: What's the next projec?

DJ: We're doing a special project, I got to talk to the people. I Don't want to say anything know, because if I do it may jinx the entire deal.

LC: One last thing--I kindda think I know--but why is the band called the Lower 9-11?

DJ: Well, I though of calling the band that a couple of years ago. Some of the guys are from the 9th Ward and the 11th Ward of New Orleans, and 911 is the number you dial when you have an emergency. Now a new meaning has been added to that number, Sept. 11. The Lower Nine is where Fats Domino and Huey Smith and so many other great musicians came from.

LC: Is there any thing you'd like to say in closing. Any Dr. John stories you'd like to dispel or kill?

DJ: Well right now I'm having a personal war against bootleggers. I got about four times as many bootleg records out that keep coming out under different covers. Its become real personal with me. Its stuff like just tapes I made of me on the piano and people just dub in a band and people keep buying them--I mean they (the listening public) don't know. It just gets on my nerves. But there's so many of those kind of things floating around. I keep thinking maybe there's something I can do to change this, but who knows?

LC: Do you think the Internet is helping or making it worse?

DJ: I have no idea. But its shook up some of the record companies and maybe that's not so bad.

LC:Thank you very much for your time

DJ: My pleasure.

---

On the Web:
Dr. John

:: Les Coles Wednesday, August 31, 2005 [+] ::

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Landlord pulls plug on CBGB

NEW YORK (Aug. 31)—As several hundred enthusiastic supporters rallied to keep CBGB's open, the landlord of the venerable punk club announced Wednesday that the lease on the 32-year-old landmark will not be renewed.

The Bowery Residents' Committee, landlord of the building on the Bowery, "believes it is in the best interest of our clients - the homeless and neediest New Yorkers - to sever this relationship," BRC executive director Muzzy Rosenblatt said.

The existing lease was to expire at midnight Wednesday. The statement from Rosenblatt called for CBGB's to "vacate the premises both voluntarily and expeditiously" - a scenario that appeared unlikely, given the promises of Little Steven Van Zandt and others to wage a battle to the end on behalf of the bar that launched punk rock.

"We're not going without a fight," said Van Zandt, who was joined at the rally by "Sopranos" co-stars Tony Sirico and Joe Pantoliano. "If the eviction proceedings start tomorrow, which I hope it doesn't, we'll fight it in the courts."

The rally was aimed at putting public pressure on Rosenblatt. But while Gavin Rossdale was leading his new band, Institute, through a rollicking version of "Machinehead," the decision on booting the club had already been made.

Even the hardy CBGB supporters at the rally, where Public Enemy and Blondie were also scheduled to perform, seemed resigned to the club's demise.

"It doesn't look hopeful," said Lucky Pierre, 26, a New York University student. "But we'll keep the fires burning until the last minute."

An increasingly frustrated Van Zandt blasted Rosenblatt for the inability to reach a new agreement. The E Street Band guitarist, "Sopranos" star and radio show host entered the negotiations about six weeks ago.

The club's owner, Hilly Kristal, also was not backing down.

"We intend to stay," he declared. "This is not a eulogy. There's no reason why we shouldn't come to an understanding."

It was Kristal who started the club in December 1973, creating a space that eventually spawned such acts as the Ramones, Blondie and the Talking Heads. The club eventually gained an international reputation as the birthplace of punk.

Some of the club's supporters at the rally echoed '70s fashion statements, sporting green hair, safety pin earrings and black Ramones T-shirts.

Among them was 45-year-old Rochelle Goldman, who was wearing a "Save CBGB" T-shirt complemented by assorted CBGB's wristbands dangling from both arms. "People say it's a museum, but I'm still going there," she declared. "I'm an old punk."

Rosenblatt's group - an agency that aids the homeless - holds a 45-year lease on the building and houses 250 homeless people above the club. CBGB is its lone commercial tenant; their rent feud dates back five years, when the committee went to court to collect more than $300,000 in back rent from the club.

The current rent is $19,000 a month, although that figure was expected to at least double under any new lease. The club's landlord-tenant woes were reminiscent of the fight over The Bottom Line, the vintage Greenwich Village club that closed in December 2003.

CBGB won a legal decision earlier this month when a Manhattan civil court judge ruled that the club couldn't be evicted for a bookkeeping mistake that left Kristal about $100,000 behind in his rent.

Not even the intervention of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who offered to mediate the dispute, could resolve the problem. Bloomberg said he hoped to find CBGB's a new location in the city.

Source: AP

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On the Web:
CBGB

:: Les Coles Wednesday, August 31, 2005 [+] ::

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10th Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival

Please note, Hurricane Katrina may have put a dent in this festival. You are advised to check out what the situation is before traveling.



WEST POINT, Miss.(Aug. 26)—As the 10th Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival approaches, it's time to get happy about feeling bad.

"We're going to have some unreal talent up on that stage," said Richard Ramsey, program director for the Howlin' Wolf Blues Society, which presents the festival.

The lineup will include Willie King, Blind Mississippi Morris, Willie James Williams, Trenton Ayers, Rory Block, Diunna Greenleaf, Daniel "Slick" Ballinger with The Soul Blues Boyz and other special guests.

The festival is slated to begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, but the West Point blues vibe will be intensified at 2 p.m. the day before with the opening of the Howlin' Wolf Blues Museum at the corner of Westbrook and Mill streets in downtown West Point.

"It's going to be a great one-two punch this year," Ramsey said. "We're going to have a great time."

Big show
The gates of the West Point Civic Center will open for the festival at 4 p.m., then drummer Sam Lay will do his thing.

"Sam Lay is something," Ramsey said. "He played drums for Bob Dylan for a while."

Willie King and the Black Prairie Blues Kings will be up next. The band includes Morris, Slick, Williams and Ayers.

"Willie King is one of the most powerful acts in blues today," Ramsey said. "Mr. King's love for Howlin' Wolf will be evident in his set. He will perform a lot of Wolf's classics."

Next will come Diunna Greenleaf and the Blue Mercy Band from Texas, which will add a bit of heaven to the blues mix.

"Diunna has a wonderful gospel-influenced voice," he said. "It's amazing."

Guitarist Block will be a throwback, of sorts, Ramsey said.

"Her acoustic style is reminiscent of the soulful slapping, thumping and slide-style of Son House, whom she met as a young teenager," Ramsey said. "She is a spokesperson for Martin Guitars, which lets you know how good she is."

Rounding out the show will be Rev. Slick and the Soul Blues Boyz. Slick is a 21-year-old native of North Carolina who's relocated to Como in an effort to connect with the Mississippi blues.

"This guy's exciting. He's the real deal," Ramsey said. "He's been out there touring and making a lot of fans. The festival will be his CD release party."

Special guests
Ramsey recently found out Colin Linden will attend the festival. He worked on the "Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack and the resulting Down from the Mountain tour. There's a chance he'll be talked into joining the show.

The event also has attracted Chris Ethridge, a songwriter, bass player and member of the Flying Burrito Brothers.

"He also played with Willie Nelson," Ramsey said.

The whole package - from museum grand opening to the talent on stage and the fans in the crowd - will provide plenty of reasons to be happy about the blues come September.

"You can't just go to any bar and see guys like these," Ramsey said. "You'll see some of today's best blues artists at the Howlin' Wolf Festival. It's going to be powerful."

What: 10th Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival
When: 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2
Where: West Point Civic Center
Tickets: $15 at Clay County Economic Development Corporation, West Point; DC Music and Down at Joes, Columbus; and Jack Forbus Insurance, Starkville
Info: (662) 494-5121, www.wpms.net
Who: Contact M. Scott Morris at 678-1589 or scott.morris@djournal.com

Source: M. SCOTT MORRIS, Daily Journal

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On the Web:
10th Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival

:: Les Coles Wednesday, August 31, 2005 [+] ::

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'Red Hot Blues & Barbecue' set for Labor Day weekend

Photo shows Four-time W.C. Handy Blues Award recipient for Best Guitarist, Duke Robillard, who brings his rollicking road band to the Yachats Commons for an evening of upbeat swinging blues on Friday, Sept. 2.

Newport, OR. (Aug. 26)—The Village Music Foundation presents "Red Hot Blues & Barbecue," a family event that combines "one of the country's premier blues bands and one of Oregon's finest barbecue chefs," said organizer David Bridson. The evening of gourmet food and rollicking tunes is set for Friday, Sept. 2, at the Yachats Commons. Doors are set to open at 6:30 p.m. for the barbecue, followed by the show at 8 p.m.

Proceeds will benefit the Village Music Foundation's music scholarship program for children.

Chef Jardin of The Black Market Gourmet "promises to bring out his very best brisket and specialty sauces for this event," Bridson said. "Chef Jardin has built up quite a following in Yachats from his yearly appearance at Raindogs on the Fourth of July" during the annual benefit for the Central Coast Humane Society, Bridson added.

The $12 dinner price will include a choice of smoked brisket of beef or grilled chicken along with baked beans, potato salad, and a roll with butter; and a mini cheesecake for dessert.

After attendees have been well fed, Duke Robillard - four-time W.C. Handy Blues Award recipient for Best Guitarist - and his road band will take the stage at the commons "for an evening of upbeat swinging blues," said Bridson. Blues legend B.B. King has described Robillard as "one of the great players," Bridson added.

The Village Music Foundation benefit is Robillard's only scheduled stop in Oregon during his tour in promotion of his recently released album, "Blue Mood, the songs of T-Bone Walker."

Robillard began down the road to the blues while in high school, when he played with his first band. Born in Woonsocket, R.I., he recalls being fascinated by the ways in which jazz, swing, and the blues were linked. In 1967, he formed Roomful of Blues, which went on to accompany two of the band's heroes, blues legends Big Joe Turner and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, on recordings and at live performances.

In 1993, Robillard partnered with Holger Petersen, head of the independent Canadian label Stony Plain, to record a complete album of blues without the rhythm and blues and jazz influences of his previous works. The resulting album, "Duke's Blues," was met with critical acclaim. In the years since, Robillard has released nine recordings with Stony Plain including his latest, "Blue Mood."

More information about Robillard is available online at www.dukerobillard.com.

A beer and wine garden will be open at the commons during the event. Show tickets are $15 in advance, with any remaining tickets available for $20 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased at Raindogs: A People Store in Yachats, Waldport Video, and Ray's Food Place in Waldport and online at ww.villagemusicfoundation.org. Dinner is not included with the concert ticket price.

For more information, contact Bridson at 547-3000. Attendees are advised that photography will not be allowed during the concert, and cell phones and other devices that may be used for recording will also be prohibited.

For more information about "Red Hot Blues & BBQ," sponsored by the Village Music Foundation, contact David Bridson at Raindogs: A People Store in Yachats, 547-3000.

Source: Newport News-Times

:: Les Coles Wednesday, August 31, 2005 [+] ::

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KCK youth jazz lovers to perform at KC Blues and Jazz Fest

Kansas City, Kansas (Aug. 26)—The spotlight will shine of some of Kansas City's youngest jazz musicians at the Kansas City Music Blues & Jazz Festival, Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-4.

These young jazz lovers, grades 6-12, are part of the Kansas City Youth Jazz Program, led by Music Director Leon Brady. The group will open the festival at noon Saturday, Sept. 3, by performing with local musiciana and University of Missouri-Kansas City music professor Bobby Watson.

"Bobby and the kids will perform several selections," said Brady. "And these kids are good! They get up every Saturday morning to start practice at 9 a.m. They're here because they really want to be."

The Kansas City Youth Jazz Program started four years ago with 12 children and two area schools. Today, 100 children represent 50 area schools, including Lawrence, Lansing, Olathe, Raytown, Raymore-Peculiar, Lee's Summit, Blue Valley, Blue Springs, Kansas City, Mo., Independence, Turner, Shawnee Mission and Kansas City, Kan.

The program, which consists of four jazz bands, hosts an annual concert at Unity Temple on the Plaza and is joined by local musical artists Marilyn Maye and the McFadden Brothers.

Their performance at the jazz festival is one of 24 acts featured over two days. Headline acts include such favorites as John Lee Hooker, Jr., Billy Paul and Joanna Connor. They will also be joined by popular blues and jazz musicians like Lonesome Hank, Mama Ray, Chubby Carrier, The Scamps and Sons of Brasil, among others. The festival also recently added Bobby Carson, Bobby Watson, Jimmy Bratcher, Dustin Thomas, Dan Doran and The Rain Dogs to the schedule.

Acts get underway at noon on Saturday Sept. 3 and Sunday Sept. 4. Tickets are $17.50 per day; children under 12 are free with a paid adult. The Woodlands offers concert- goers a covered grandstand with seating for 30,000, free parking and patrolled parking lots.

A portion of the ticket proceeds will go toward helping several local charities, including Midland Hospice, Youth Arts Consortium (YAC), KC Free Health Clinic and PUPS-Without-Partners.org.

Show sponsors include Coldwell Banker Advantage, Famous Dave's BBQ, Tommy Guns Vodka, 75th Street Brewery, Barley's, O'Dowd's Little Dublin, the Blue Moose Bar & Grill, Jerry's Bait Shop, Jazz Louisiana Kitchen, Jostins, EKC Online, BNSF Railway, RawhideDirect.com, and Big Dude's Music City. Media sponsors include Magic 107.3, Hot 103 Jamz, and all the Kansas Cumulus radio stations.

Source: Kansas City Kansan

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On the Web:
Kansas City Music Blues and Jazz Festival

:: Les Coles Wednesday, August 31, 2005 [+] ::

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Teddy Harris Jr. laid to rest

Missed this one while I was on vacation. Sorry for my lateness in reporting this sad news.

Detroit (Aug. 27)—Funeral services for Teddy Harris Jr., one of the linchpins of the local music scene since the 1950s, were to be held at noon today in St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2260 Hunt, at Chene, in Detroit.

Mr. Harris died from cancer on Monday, Aug. 15, 2005, in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Detroit. He was 71.

Mr. Harris' influence spans several generations as a musician and teacher.

He started out in the thriving jazz scene in 1950s Detroit, playing piano on Jackie Wilson's song "Reet Petite," a song written by Mr. Harris' friend Berry Gordy Jr.

He became musical director for the Supremes, forged a jazz-blues fusion with musician Paul Butterfield and mentored innumerable Detroit musicians.

His New Breed Bebop Orchestra showed a new generation what a big band sounded like in full throttle at Baker's Keyboard Lounge.

The son of a jazz pianist, Mr. Harris grew up in Detroit's north end. Lawrence Payton and Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops and Jackie Wilson were neighbors.

Mr. Harris's father taught him to play the piano when he was 5. Later on he picked up other instruments, tending toward saxophone in the '50s but returning to the piano in the '60s.

Mr. Harris, who played in Paris and Africa, returned to Detroit to help Gordy supervise the Supremes' music. Later in the '60s, he teamed up with blues-rock icon Paul Butterfield to forge a new path in music.

Survivors include four daughters, Karla Hall, LaTonya Hall-Hilton, Margo Hall-Callendar and Karolyn Jenning; three grandchildren; two sisters; two brothers; and his father, Teddy Harris Sr.

Source: The Detroit News

:: Les Coles Wednesday, August 31, 2005 [+] ::

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Robert Barclay displays blues photos in Grand Rapids exhibit

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Aug. 19)—Robert Barclay, Central Michigan University's director of photography and videography, will showcase his collection of blues photography from Aug. 27 to Sept. 17 in Grand Rapids.

The exhibit, "Robert Barclay: Blues Photography 1985-2005," will be at Tributary, A Bouck Brothers Studio and Gallery. The event also includes an opening reception featuring live music from Mantra Aug. 27 from 6 p.m. to midnight. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free and open to the public.

"It is great to have this venue and to have my work displayed," said Barclay. "Many people have heard of all the blues greats, and this will be a chance to put the names with faces."

The exhibit features 30 black and white photographs of blues legends Memphis Slim, Hubert Sumlin, Doctor Ross, Johnny Clyde Copeland, Albert Collins, Junior Wells, Johnny Shines, Champion Jack Dupree and Sippie Wallace. The exhibit also includes recent color photographs from digital images.



Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown
as photographed by Robert Barclay


"The people in these photographs are those who have given me musical excitement for the past 30 years," said Barclay. "I love this style of music because people of all ages can find it appealing. It is not something you feel silly listening to when you are 50. It is about life, love and relationships."

Barclay also hosts a weekly radio show on CMU Public Radio called "Blues at the Juke Joint." Since 1985, the "Duke of Juke," as Barclay is known by his listeners, has been bringing the sound of blues to people from St. Johns to Bay City to Sault Ste. Marie and beyond.

For his work on "Juke Joint," Barclay received the "Keeping the Blues Alive" award from the Memphis-based Blues Foundation in 2004. The award honors one person in public radio each year.

"This exhibit also is a great opportunity for me to meet my radio audience and also for my audience to get to see the faces of some of the best blues artists of the past 20 years, some of whom have since passed away," said Barclay.

Barclay has been shooting blues pictures for publications such as The New York Times, Living Blues and Blues Revue since the 1980s. Many of the portrait and performance photographs in his exhibit were taken at the Chicago Blues Fest, while others were shot in his Mount Pleasant studio.

This will be Barclay's first urban photo exhibit and third exhibit overall. His previous two exhibits were both held in Mount Pleasant. The last one was in 1993.

"While other people enjoy fishing or playing golf, photographing blues musicians and producing blues radio are what I enjoy doing," said Barclay. "Both activities dovetail nicely because they bring me in contact with the musicians, and it allows me two mediums that I can share with others.

"It's amazing how my involvement with the blues for the past 20 years has already become a part of blues history," he said.

:: Les Coles Wednesday, August 31, 2005 [+] ::

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7th Ed. of History of Western Music acknowledges existance of rock, jazz for 1st time

A History of Western Music, 7 Ed.


WASHINGTON (Aug. 30)—Jazz and rock — the beat of the masses, yet often spurned in the stuffy black-tie-and-tails world of classical repertory — are at last seizing a page in "serious" music history.

Rooted in rebellion and subversion of established forms, both genres come of age in the new edition of A History of Western Music, which for half a century has been regarded as the bible of musicology for committed scholars.

The tome's six previous versions covered musical style and tradition in a worthy, yet conservative tone, heavily influencing the way music was taught to students.

There was barely a nod to the music to which most people were listening, but that has changed as the Beatles and Duke Ellington take their place alongside Mozart and Beethoven.

"Both jazz and, to some extent, rock have become musics that began as popular music...and move towards becoming art musics in their own right," said Peter Burkholder, editor of the new edition.

"To leave them out of the story is really to distort the history of Western music."

Other new genres getting a look for the first time include salsa, blues, music of the Americas, Canadian music, music by women and music on film. Forty percent of the musical content is new, according to U.S.-based publisher Norton.

But Burkholder's decision to broaden the scope of the weighty volume provoked concern — both in academic circles and among pop music fans.

From the world of serious music, "there was the fear of watering down the canon," said Burkholder, a professor of musicology at Indiana University.

"But the stronger opposition was from those who are really interested in popular music, arguing that— even in 900 pages, you are not going to do justice to rock and jazz.'"

Those who oppose popular music being considered as "art" often contend that the form is too simple both in rhythm and melody, and primarily the product of commercial rather than creative considerations.

But that misses the point on how music has evolved through the centuries, Burkholder said.

"A lot of the music I cover in the whole story, going back to the 16th-century chorales or madrigals and other music through the Baroque, 18th century and 19th century, is, in fact, music that had a popular function as well as becoming connoisseur's music, or art music."

The watershed point when rock set out on the road to art, according to Burkholder, was the 1967 release of the Beatles classic Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, seen by some rock aficionados as the most influential rock album ever.

From that date, rock gathered its own band of aficionados and those who saw the genre as an art worthy of study — a process aided by the explosion of music on records, tapes and, more recently, compact discs, a significant development, as in earlier ages popular music was disseminated only through performance.

And what of the future? How will the "globalisation" of music, and the availability of different genres to any consumer, factor into music's evolution?

When Indian or Japanese "world music," for instance, can influence "popular" and "serious" music in the West, will there even be a concept of Western music? "It would be very difficult to write a book like this in 100 years, because all of those traditions may be so integrated," Burkholder said.

Source: Times Of Oman

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On the Web:
Don't delay--order today...

:: Les Coles Wednesday, August 31, 2005 [+] ::

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The battle of New Orleans

New Orleans residents walk through floodwaters that continue to rise in the Crescent City on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005.
(AP Photo/Bill Haber)


This message was posted on Galactic's web site. It contains important information on how you can help.

Galactic's thoughts and prayers go out to everyone whose lives have been affected by hurricane Katrina. As residents of New Orleans each one of us is terribly saddened by this tragedy. We want to let everyone know that all of the band members, crew and family are safe.

We encourage everyone to contribute to the relief efforts. Below is info on how to help. We will be looking into further ways to assist the community.

Below is information on how to donate or volunteer to help hurricane relief:

Donate cash:
American Red Cross
(800) HELP NOW (435-7669) English
(800) 257-7575 Spanish
Operation Blessing (800) 436-6348
America's Second Harvest (800) 344-8070

To donate cash or volunteer:
Adventist Community Services (800) 381-7171
Convoy of Hope (417) 823-8998
Mennonite Disaster Service (717) 859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response (888) 256-5886
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (800) 872-3283
Salvation Army (800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief (800) 462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief (800) 554-8583

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On the Web:
Galactic

:: Les Coles Wednesday, August 31, 2005 [+] ::

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Bringing It All Back Home--well, some of it

TOKYO (Aug. 31)—Eric Clapton Back Home, his first album of originals in four long years, was released yeaterday/is being released today, depending on what side of the dateline you're on.

Somebody e-mailed me asking why i hadn't reviewed it for the Daily Yomiuri as one of my In Your Ear picks, seeing as how I reviewed the EC cover/tribute to Robert Johnson, Me And Mr Johnson, last year.

The answer can be seen below.





The distributor in Japan--Warner Music I believe--sent out a limited 3-track review copy, What's more, two of the tracks were versions of "Revolution," which is available here on iTines as a sample.

Long story short, I don't review from demos--what are reviewers supposed to do, take the rest as read and invent a review?

:: Les Coles Tuesday, August 30, 2005 [+] ::

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Neil Young reups with Reprise

BURBANK, CA—Neil Young is continuing his four-decade relationship with Reprise Records, with whom he released his first solo album in 1969.

Under the terms of the new long-term recording agreement, Reprise will release multiple new studio albums from the acclaimed singer-songwriter, beginning with Prairie Wind on September 27th. That album is already being hailed as one of Neil Young's masterpieces. Starting in 2006, Reprise will also begin an extensive series of other releases, which will present a treasure trove of archival material recorded over the past four decades. Working together with Young, this series will feature a vast number of unreleased recordings from his entire career, along with long-sought live recordings and other infamous rarities. The different archive sets will offer a comprehensive look at every facet in the musical life of the multiple Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, and create new standards for honoring the artist's history, widely seen as one of the most important and influential in rock & roll.

"I look forward to continuing my partnership with Reprise," Young said. "We've been through a lot together over the years. When you're with a company that long, it's like a family. [Warner Bros. CEO] Tom Whalley really understands musicians and knows how to nurture creativity. He's not afraid to let artists be artists."

Young first signed with Reprise in 1969 after leaving Buffalo Springfield. The label has released the outspoken and iconic artist's most critically and commercially beloved albums, including Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969), After the Gold Rush (1970), Harvest" (1972), Rust Never Sleeps" (1979), Freedom (1989), and "Harvest Moon (1992).

Prairie Wind, was recorded earlier this year in Nashville. In addition to a single compact disc, the release will also be available in a special edition that includes the CD along with a DVD in High Resolution DVD Stereo, with filmed content of the entire recording of the album. The set of songs is being described as the last installment in a trilogy of albums that include Harvest and Harvest Moon, and features the first single, "The Painter," along with "No Wonder," "Falling Off The Face Of The Earth," "Far From Home," "It's A Dream," "Prairie Wind," "Here For You," "This Old Guitar," "He Was The King" and "When God Made Me."

Young is joined on the album by keyboardist Spooner Oldham, pedal-steel guitarist Ben Keith, drummer Chad Cromwell, percussionist Karl Himmel, bassist Rick Rosas and vocalist Emmylou Harris, along with the Fisk University Jubilee Singers and other guests.

Source: MARKET WIRE

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On the Web:
Reprise Records

Advance order:

:: Les Coles Tuesday, August 30, 2005 [+] ::

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Everything's real Jake at the Oregon State Fair

Salem,OR (Aug. 30)—Curtis Salgado, who was the inspiration for John Belushi's "Blues Brothers" character, has been picked to close out this year's Oregon State Fair, which runs Aug. 26 - Sept. 5.

In years past, if you didn't like classic rock or modern country, it was hard to find much in the way of live music at the Oregon State Fair.

This year, in response to declining ticket sales, fair organizers are featuring a Best of Oregon Music Festival, featuring a broader range of free entertainment.

On the blues/jazz front, fairgoers can look forward to:

Patrick Lamb: Lamb and his group are frequent performers at fairs, festivals and wineries across Oregon. The Portland saxophone master has changed up his jazz-heavy sound recently toward a funkier, R&B flavored sound. Performs: 4 and 7 p.m. Monday; 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday

The Paul deLay Band with Duffy Bishop: Portland harmonica ace deLay and his band team up with blues diva Bishop for a set of rockin' roadhouse blues. Expect to hear guitar-heavy rock and jump-swing Chicago-style blues. Performs: 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday; 4 and 7 p.m. Thursday

Curtis Salgado: The last performer at the Oregon State Fair closes the music series with a bang. Salgado, who was the inspiration for John Belushi's "Blues Brothers" character, plays soul and blues music. Performs: 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sept. 5

Country, bluegrass and roots
The Severin Sisters: Fronted by Salem twins Heidi and Amy Severin, this five-piece band plays American roots music with a pop twist. The band recently opened for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at The Oregon Garden and also has shared the stage with Rascal Flatts, Lee Ann Womack and Del McCoury. Performs: 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Monday; 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday

Jennifer Lynn: Portland singer/songwriter Lynn's sound is classic country, rockabilly and folk wrapped into one. Her debut album, Leavin, features 11 original songs and a cover of Loretta Lynn's "Honky Tonk Girl." Performs: 1 and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday

Tracy Grammer: Tracy Grammer and her late partner Dave Carter were one of the fastest-rising acts in folk music before Carter's sudden death in 2002. Carrying on, Tracy found herself the featured soloist while on tour with Joan Baez. Tracy's new CD, Flowers of Avalon, has appeared at the top of the folk music charts every month since it was released in May. Performs: 4 and 7 p.m. Wednesday

Mollybloom: This Salem-based contemporary bluegrass band is known for playing its own original material as well as unusual arrangements of bluegrass classics and standards. Performs: 1 and 2:30 p.m. Thursday

The Trail Band. The Trail Band is an eight-piece ensemble known for its performances that are inspired by 19th century music and stories. The group presents brass and string arrangements of original music and traditional songs from the pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail. Performs: 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday; 4 and 7 p.m. Sept. 5

Joni Harms: In 2003, Joni Harms was named Female Vocalist of the Year and accepted the award for Song of the Year from the Western Music Association. Harms is known for writing country and western songs about the life she leads -- subjects that range from rodeo events to family and working on a ranch. Performs: 4 and 7 p.m. Friday; 5:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday

True North: True North is the rare bluegrass band known more for its original material and covers of songs by Led Zeppelin and Seal than for its traditional tunes. The Salem band has been making a name for itself, playing the Salem Art Fair & Festival as well as the Bite of Salem this year. Performs: 1 and 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Source: Salem Statesman Journal

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On the Web:
Oregon State Fair

:: Les Coles Tuesday, August 30, 2005 [+] ::

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Pamela MacCarthy & the B Naturals @ B Flat

TOKYO (Aug. 30)—Just back from Guam, I trotted down to B-Flat in Asaksa on Monday to feed my jazz jones and see Pamela MacCarthy and the B Naturals.

Man, I was blown away by their performance. It is all too easy to forget how much first-rate talent there is in Tokyo jazzwise.

Take the B Naturals for instance. The boys opened each of the two sets with some instrumental numbers before being joined on stage by vocalist Pamela MacCarthy. This is standard practice when there is a vocalist. What was not so standard was the fact that three of the instrumentals were penned by band members.

Of the three instrumentals performed during the first set, "Nina" was written by Marc Tourain for his baby daughter of the same name, and "Mose's Monk" was scripted by pianist Jonathan Katz.

More originality came in the second set, which was opened with "Lois" (or maybe "Louis 13th") by tenor sax man Andy Wulf.

All three of these pieces were both as enjoyable to listen to as they were innovative and probing of the musical envelope.

As usual in the Tokyo jazz scene, the B Naturals are not a full-time outfit, but an ad hoc collection of core Tokyo musicians who come together as gigs demand. Due to a previous commitment, the lineup Monday night was slightly than when I saw the B Naturals last on June 13 (my birthday), with Mike Resnikoff taking the place of Cecil Monroe on the traps, but otherwise the lineup remained: Jonathan Katz - piano, Mark Tourian - bass, Andy Wulf - tenor, soprano sax, Pat Halloran - trombone. With, breaking tradition putting the lady last--but by no means least--Pamela MacCarthy on vocals.

All are more than worth seeing, so keep an eye on their schedules by visiting their Web sites (listed below).

As for Pamela, she really rocked, presenting a collection of songs that was as well thought-out as it was well-delivered.

Two tunes she has recently added to her performance repitoire really stood out: "I Put A Spell On You," and Phoebe Snow's "Harpo's Blues."

Pamela also included an ole favorite, Lionel Hampton's "Midnight Sun," in memory of Corky Alexander, a name that needs no explanation for Japanese jazzers.

Pamela is always great to see and has fun on the stage, improvising around a Sugerhill Gang rap number for the sheer hell of it in between her opening two songs.

As usual, Pamela and the boys ended the set with Route 66. And as usual, they delivered a different interpretation of it.

The joint was well-packed, so hopefully the owner will make Pamela and the B Naturals a regular fixture on the Tokyo jazz calendar.

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On the Web:
B Flat

Pamela MacCarthy

Jonathan Katz

Mark Tourian

:: Les Coles Tuesday, August 30, 2005 [+] ::

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Releases for August 30, 2005

Apache Indian "Time for Change" (guests: Desmond Dekker, Luciano, Pras; first single: a cover of Dekker's "Israelites"; ) Explorer
Eric Clapton "Back Home" (first album of new original material in nearly five years; includes some cover versions; producers: Clapton, Simon Climie; guests: Steve Winwood, John Mayer, Robert Randolph, Chris Stainton, Stephen Marley, etc.; first single: "Revolution") Duck/Reprise
Herbie Hancock "Possibilities" (guests: Sting, Carlos Santana, Annie Lennox, John Mayer, Christina Aguilera, Damien Rice, Trey Anastasio, etc.) Vector
Wynton Marsalis "Amongst the People: Live at The House of Tribes" (Dec. 15, 2004, performance in New York) Angel
Les Paul "Les Paul & Friends" (Paul's first album since 1978; guests: Eric Clapton, Sting, Buddy Guy, Keith Richards, Steve Miller, Richie Sambora, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Joan Osborne, Joss Stone, etc.) Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing
Various artists "Jamie Oldaker's Mad Dogs & Okies" (compilation album features new songs by Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Peter Frampton, etc.) Concord
Bob Dylan "No Direction Home: The Soundtrack - The Bootleg Series Vol. 7" (2-CD companion piece to Martin Scorsese's documentary on Dylan; to be available in retail stores), "Bob Dylan: Live at the Gaslight 1962" (will be available only at Starbucks stores, issued on the same release date; Read here) Columbia/Legacy
Snooks Eaglin "New Orleans Street Singer" (1959 album) Smithsonian Folkways
Bill Evans Trio "Bill Evans Trio at Shelly's Manne-Hole, Hollywood, California" (1964 album; remastered) Galaxy
Thelonious Monk "Thelonious Alone in San Francisco" (1959 album; remastered) Riverside
Rolling Stones, The "Sticky Fingers [O-Card]" (1971 album; O-Card is a plastic slipcover), "Exile on Main St. [O-Card]" (1972 album), "Goats Head Soup [O-Card]" (1973 album), "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll [O-Card]" (1974 album), "Black & Blue [O-Card]" (1976 album), "Some Girls [O-Card]" (1978 album), "Emotional Rescue [O-Card]" (1980 album),! "Tattoo You [O-Card]" (1981 album), "Flashpoint [O-Card]" (1991 album) Virgin
Sonny Rollins "Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert" (live at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston on Sept. 15, 2001; Rollins was living in a Chambers Street high-rise only six blocks away from the World Trade Center at the time of the 9/11 attacks) Milestone
Earl Scruggs "Earl Scruggs: His Family and Friends" (1972 album) Madacy
Various artists "Austin City Limits Music Festival - Live From Austin, TX 2004" (performances by the Neville Brothers, Pixies, Franz Ferdinand, Dashboard Confessional, Blind Boys of Alabama, etc.; see DVD version below) Rhino
Blues Brothers, The "The Blues Brothers (25th Anniversary Edition) [DVD]" (1980 film) Universal
Smokey Robinson "20th Century Masters: The DVD Collection [DVD]" Universal

:: Les Coles Tuesday, August 30, 2005 [+] ::

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Old School NOLA Funk Y'all

Let me lay some information on old school NOLA (that's New Orleans, LA.) funk on y'all courtesy of Tuff City Records.

Tuff City have a couple of interesting releases out this month, including a new piece of vinyl by that baddest of bad-ass bassman, George Porter, Jr.






Searching for A Joy Ride
by George Porter's Joy Ride
Night Train International
Vinyl: NTI LP 7151 Price: $9.95
(Also Available on CD 7151 Price: $12.99)

Traks
Money Money   
I Get High   
Sunshine In My Night   
Mardi Gras in New Orleans   
Can You See Me Now   
Everybody's Searching (For A Joy Ride)   
Happy Song   
Got to Find A Way   

Samples download as Windows Media Player-format files


New Orleans Rockin' Funk
This album collects the funkiest, most danceable tracks from George Porter's Joy Ride CD (NTI CD 7151). In 1979, the Meters' (now reformed, see: THE METERS REUNITE! [8/10/2005]) legendary bass player George Porter put together a supergroup featuring keyboards by Sam Henry (the leader of Sam and the Soul Machine) and Ricky Sebastian (who has gone on to be renowned in jazz festivals). Joy Ride perfectly splits the difference between rock and funk and is must-listening for any fan of the Meters. The album cover has been redesigned to make it poster-worthy.

Tuff also puts out the Funky Funky New Orleans series, available on CD and vinyl...





DEL CD 0072
Sam & the Soul Machine, Eddie Bo, etc.
Funky Funky New Orleans Vol. 5

Are you ready for this?




DEL CD/LP 0066
The Fantoms, Trick Bag, Brotherhood, etc.
Funky Funky New Orleans Vol. 4



DEL CD/LP 0057
Vol. 3



DEL CD/LP 0018
Vol. 2




DEL CD/LP 0011
Vol. 1

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On the Web:
Tuff City Records

:: Les Coles Monday, August 29, 2005 [+] ::

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Katrina heading for New Orleans

While The Blues Blog, which itself got slightly stormed-lashed while on vacation in Guam, is still officially on holiday, I wanted to post a message of support to all my friends and folks I know in New Orleans who seem to be full in the path of Hurricane Katrina, which is barreling towards the Big Easy packing a wind-speed of 160 mph and a threat of a 28-foot storm surge.

Given that New Orleans is below sea level, Katrina's approach has forced a mandatory evacuation.

Katrina intensified into a Category 5 giant over the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico, reaching top winds of 175 mph before weakening slightly on a path to hit New Orleans around sunrise Monday. That would make it the city's first direct hit in 40 years and the most powerful storm ever to slam the city.

Forecasters warned that Mississippi and Alabama were also in danger because Katrina was such a big storm, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 105 miles from the center. In addition to the winds, the storm packed the potential for a surge of 18 to 28 feet, 30-foot waves and as much as 15 inches of rain.

New Orleans, our prayers are with you.

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"Louisiana"
Randy Newman

What has happened down here is the wind have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through cleard down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangelne

CHORUS
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tyrin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away

President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say, "Little fat man isn't it a shame what the river has done
To this poor crackers land."

CHORUS

Listen to a sample off the Wild Magnolia's excellent 1313 Hoodoo Street album (1996)
Real Audio sample

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On the Web:
National Hurricane Center

:: Les Coles Sunday, August 28, 2005 [+] ::

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