September Columns
Jazz in the Heartland | View from Canada | Jazz in Mountain Time |
Continued: New Orleans Notes
Et al.
Guest artists in residence at this year's annual Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp were pianist George Duke and vocalist Norma "Queen of Swing" Miller. The camp is dedicated to improving the musicianship of selected youth through three weeks of intensive full-day study of jazz and related disciplines necessary to the performance of jazz. The local artistic director is Edward "Kidd" Jordan assisted by a host of local jazz musician-educators.
Congratulations once again to the incomparable Lionel Ferbos, who celebrated his 97th birthday with a performance at Snug Harbor on July 19. Ferbos was joined by his "Louisiana Shakers": Craig Klein, trombone; Steve Pistorius, piano; Otis Bazoon, reeds; Chuck Badie, bass; and Ernie Elly, drums. As local jazz historian Dr. Al Kennedy has put it, "He's what we all want to be if and when we get to that age."
And congratulations, too, to Jan Ramsey, publisher and editor-in-chief of Offbeat magazine, and her long-time companion, Joseph Irrera, the magazine's managing editor. After being together for 12 years, they were married on July 26 at the Norwegian Seamen's Church. This is how Ramsey summarized the significance of it all in her "Mojo Mouth" column in the July issue of the magazine: "1) it's never too late, 2) there's still romance in the world, and 3) love will truly win in the end."
It was a splendid ceremony before a packed house at the church with the music of Tim Laughlin and Tom McDermott contributing to the success of the occasion.
Comings and Goings
Banjoist Don Vappie was featured on the weekly broadcast of American Routes on National Public Radio in July. He discussed how his instrument was used in traditional jazz. Vappie and his Creole Jazz Serenaders flew to France for concerts on August 8-9.
Clarinetist Tom Fischer was part of the CJS junket to France. Almost as soon as he returned home he prepared for a journey to Japan for 10 days of concerts in late August. Fischer had made this trip nine times as a member of the late John Brunious' all-star band, but this was his first as leader of the ensemble. Other band members were trumpeter Mark Braud, trombonist Fred Lonzo, pianist Tom Hook, banjoist Neil Unterseher, bassist Richard Moten, and drummer Gerald French. Singer Yolanda Windsay, Topsy Chapman's daughter, was also a member of the group.
The Deer Isle Jazz Festival in Stonington, Maine took place July 24-27. Its focus was the music and cultural life of post-Katrina New Orleans. Among the participants were saxophonist Donald Harrison, the Hot 8 Brass Band and jazz author Larry Blumenfeld who led a panel discussion on the social, political and economic issues that face post-Katrina New Orleans and the role music and culture play in the healing process.
Clarinetist Evan Christopher and his band Django a la Creole were featured on the BBC program The Ticket in late July. Christopher's reaction to the experience: "Other than being really nervous, barely forming complete sentences, and screwing up beginnings and endings of tunes, I was..brilliant! Groaann."
String player Seva Venet spent time in Greece (Rhodes) being entertained by many relatives. (He is now threatening to take up the lyre.) Upon returning in early July, he took off for Atlanta to perform with the Treme Brass Band.
Parting Shot
In a report issued by the U. S. Census Bureau in early July, New Orleans was shown to be "the fastest-growing large city" (cities with >100,000 people) in the country last year! Between July 1, 2006 and July 1, 2007, the city's population jumped by 13.8% to >239,000. Of course, that is only about half of the pre-Katrina population of the city. The current population is estimated to be about 320,000, so there is a chance of repeating the distinction this year!
Back to you next month. twj@tulane.edu.
September 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag
P.O. Box 19068, Minneapolis, MN 55419.