Plainsong: Even as New Orleans was escaping the brunt of Hurricane Gustav, a group of New Orleans musicians -- The All-Star Jambalaya -- conducted a $500-a-ticket fund-raiser to help NOLA rebuild from 2005's devastating  Hurricane Katrina. It was held  Sept. 1 at First Avenue Club, Minneapolis, during the Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities, a repeat of its performance the previous week at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Tab Benoit told the crowd, "One way or the other, we have to do something. We either have to fix it or we have to start moving." (The U.S. TV show This Old House on PBS announced Sept. 11 it was planning a report on the New Orleans Musicians' Village as part of a series on rehabbing NOLA after Katrina. Check local stations for broadcast date and time.)

Benoit's comments prompted me to ask cornetist Charlie DeVore, a Minnesota native and resident but frequent and long-time NOLA visitor and performer, what he would do if he were living in New Orleans. "The music is more than a locale," Charlie responded. "All of my New Orleans heroes are dead now, but that doesn't stop me from trying to honor their memory by trying to stay true to their spirit here in St. Paul. I guess I would clear out of New Orleans, and I am going to recommend that to my friends there and that others do the same." I can imagine how much it hurt Charlie to say that. What are your thoughts about this -- stay or leave NOLA? Send them to editor@mississippirag.com for "The Rag Bag."

Mark your calendar!  Jan. 11, 2009, Minnesota-based pianist Brian Keenan will give a concert at the Woodbury, Minn. Central Amphitheatre including, says Keenan, "rags, marches, waltzes, tangos and more, from the early American sounds of Stephen Foster and Scott Joplin to the rural folk piano styles of today." FFI (651) 714-3515; northstar95@comcast.net.

Ivory and Gold, a ragtime trio composed of pianist Jeff Barnhart; his wife, flutist Anne Barnhart and drummer Danny Coots, will tour the Heartland in November. The schedule includesTulsa, Okla., Nov. 13.  Rod Tillman of Ragtime for Tulsa says, "Ivory and Gold perform not only ragtime but wonderful early jazz and lively tunes from the '20s. Jeff is especially in demand not only as a ragtime performer but as a vocalist and stride pianist. Classically-trained Anne adds real class to the performance and Danny Coots on drums adds a lively beat."

Starting Oct. 4 with vocalist Charmin Michelle and Doug Haining and the Twin Cities Seven, the Hopkins, Minn. Center for the Arts 08-09 music series also includes Latin jazz with Salsabrosa Nov. 15; Minnesota's fabulous Peterson Family in a holiday concert Dec. 13; the Barbary Coast Dixieland Band and Bill Evans' New Orleans Jazz Band Jan. 10; vocalist Bruce Henry Feb. 28; vocalist Arne Fogel April 18 and a return engagement by The Jim Cullum Jazz Band May 9, www.hopkinsartscenter.com

And best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to veteran Minnesota pianist/vocalist/musical family matriarch Jeanne Arland Peterson, recovering from hip surgery. (Now, she's really hip.)

Fox Lake, Wis, native Bunny Berigan recently was added to the Jazz Wall of Fame, Lincoln Center, New York City, by The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Berigan was in good company; other new inductees were lyricist Alan Bergman, Art Blakey, Ron Carter, bassist John Clayton, composers Tadd Dameron and Bill Holman, and Sonny Rollins. ASCAP said the following about Berigan: "Bernard 'Bunny' Berigan, the trumpeter and cornet player from Fox Lake, Wis., is a legend of jazz. Berigan was a musical prodigy who excelled on the violin and trumpet. Louis Armstrong once said, 'The only thing wrong with Bunny Berigan was that he died too young.'"

Berigan died of cirrhosis of the liver at age 33 in 1942. At the induction ceremony, trumpeter Randy Sandke played "I Can't Get Started," Berigan's "greatest hit." The ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame plaque honoring Berigan was sent to the Harriett O'Connell Historical Room at the Fox Lake public library.

October 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

P.O. Box 19068, Minneapolis, MN 55419.