New Orleans Brass Bands S/D

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Though they don't have to be from New Orleans. Does anyone listen to this music much? Who are your favorites?

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 4 September 2002 01:51 (7 years ago) Permalink

I know very little about the subject, but I wanna see some answers!

― charlie va, Wednesday, 4 September 2002 02:10 (7 years ago) Permalink

Rebirth Brass Band is definitely classic, they were probably the first brass band music I heard (initially on Maceo Parker's record I believe). Lately some friends have hipped me to Soul Rebels (there is no such thing as too many hip-hop brass bands) and New Birth, and I just heard some Treme Brass Band that's are on the more traditional tip.

I can't go without mentioned the (however unlikely) on the level Wisconsin brass band scene, Mama Digdown's and Youngblood. I'm sure I've hyped up Youngblood on other threads, but they really are something these days, the new Def Jux album will be tight. It wasn't until after I started listening to a lot of other brass band music that I realized how unique their sound is, clean and precise instead of greasy and raucous (both are great in their way of course).

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 4 September 2002 02:39 (7 years ago) Permalink

Jordan, you're not supposed to answer your own question! But thanks for the primer. I did hear the last Rebirth Brass Band album, and it was really great. I think our station's copy came with a parental advisory sticker, which was sorta weird, 'cause I can't imagine too many minors buying that album.

― charlie va, Wednesday, 4 September 2002 02:52 (7 years ago) Permalink

I just wanted to get things rolling. :> I think my main intent was to see if anyone else was into this music and hopefully get some recommendations for bands I haven't heard.

Speaking of which, what about brass bands from neither New Orleans nor Wisconsin?

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 4 September 2002 03:17 (7 years ago) Permalink

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band blows the roof off just about every joint they play -- i've only heard a couple of their recordings, but they translate well, too. ¥

― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 4 September 2002 11:44 (7 years ago) Permalink

Hey, Jordan, cool thread. I know nothing about this stuff, but I'm curious as hell now. why are there all these bands from wisconsin? know of any good websites where I can get an overview of brass band stuff? any compilations you'd recommend?

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 4 September 2002 22:29 (7 years ago) Permalink

I'm from Madison, Wisconsin, and I know those bands. You can't find a Southern accent in Madison, but you got all these brass bands and New Orleans restaurants popping up. Youngblood and Mama Digdown's even go down to Mardi Gras and perform, though I don't know how seriously they're taken.

The parallel in Minneapolis (where I live) is the Jack Brass Band. I'm all for this kind of thing, but these groups are to Rebirth what Antibalas is to Fela.

I lived in New Orleans for a year and my favorite Rebirth album is still Take It To the Street. Ex-Rebirth member Kermit Ruffins has his own band which is pretty great, too. I find Dirty Dozen boring on CD and in concert, sorry.

My favorite Rebirth story was seeing the guys perform in the bywater one night when members of the Afghan Whigs were in the audience, then seeing the band again in the Zulu parade the next morning. Turns out Rebirth had literally performed all night and went straight to the parade without rest. A float got stuck on a tree, and Rebirth were still energetic enough to challenge a high school band to a battle while the parade stood still. Guess who won.

― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 4 September 2002 23:50 (7 years ago) Permalink

The Rebirth Brass Band are indeed genuinely great. The Nutley Brass, probably from somewhere like Yorkshire, did at least one punk cover - Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment - that was fun.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 5 September 2002 17:55 (7 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

Saw the Dirty Dozen Brass Band a few years ago and they were superb.

I still listen to 'New Orleans Album' quite regularly, but it's the only one I've got.

I don't suppose anyone's heard the new one (Medicated Magic)?

― James Ball (James Ball), Tuesday, 12 November 2002 17:18 (7 years ago) Permalink

I haven't heard Medicated Magic, but some of the brass band guys I play with weren't too up on it (they would have admittedly picky tastes about this sort of thing). I do wish they would still use a bass drummer and a snare drummer, even though their drummer is great. I'm going to see them here soon, with Youngblood Brass Band is opening up which is cool.

I've been listening non-stop to the New Birth Brass Band record, it is HOT SHIT. Totally on Rebirth's level or more so, and it's probably the most spontaneous, live sounding studio album I've ever heard.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 12 November 2002 22:21 (7 years ago) Permalink

i'm gonna start talking out of my ass because i've never listened to new orleans brass bands nor have i listened to Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy, but wasn't he doing this sortsa stuff. brass interpretations of popular songs like madona and marilyn manson.

or was it not so brass band-y?

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 13 November 2002 00:48 (7 years ago) Permalink

I've only heard one track by Brass Fantasy (on a brass band comp, heh), but it was very brass band-y and very fantastic.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 November 2002 04:42 (7 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

REVIVE!!!

Recommend me some New Orleans funeral jazz, please!

And I know this is rockist of me, but the older and more authentic, the better..

thanx

― Adam Bruneau (oliver8bit), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 11:05 (5 years ago) Permalink

Um, I don't really listen to much of the old stuff, but I've heard it. Get the Eureka Brass Band, the "This is the first authentic recording of a New Orleans Black brass band that was active at the time of recording. Recorded in New Orleans on August 25, 1951 by Alden Ashforth and David Wyckoff. This compact disc is the best example of the music at a jazz funeral and it defines tradtional brass band music." There are older recordings, like the country brass band from the turn of the century that fills out the Baby Dodd's "Talking and Drum Solos" disc, but really, it's shit.

Other than that, just go to Louisiana Music Factory and check out anything by Treme Brass Band (the most well-known band playing in a really trad style that's still around) or Dejan's Olympia Brass Band.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 15:12 (5 years ago) Permalink

I really liked the song that Jess put on his blog, from your Rough Guide, Jordan.

― Sanjay McDougal (jaymc), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 15:31 (5 years ago) Permalink

Thanks, Jay. I put another song from that Rebirth album up here along with a couple of other things for some friends.

I'll send you a mix if you want to e-mail me, I'm always happy to spread the gospel. Also my brass band should be playing at the Green Mill again in the next couple months.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 17:50 (5 years ago) Permalink

i just wanna say that the mix that Jordan sent me is probably one of the most listened cds i've gotten this year

― JaXoN (JasonD), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 17:57 (5 years ago) Permalink

That's great to hear, Jason. I just listened to the Liquid Liquid disc before work today, btw.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 18:07 (5 years ago) Permalink

Just sticking in another vote here for the ReBirth Brass Band album that has the song on Jordan's comp -- it's called Hot Venom, and it's fantastic. It definitely deserves the parental warning sticker, though (many f-bombs; "Pop That Pussy"). Live, at least here in the North, they are much less hip-hoppy, more of an old-school soul party vibe ("Let's Do It Again / One Love" on the album is representative of that).

― Vornado (Vornado), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 19:18 (5 years ago) Permalink

True, they stuck all the street-est stuff on that one album. It also has my favorite production job of any brass band album, not to mention the four 'bone lineup.

I really hope their 20th anniversary show dvd comes out, the show was sort of a mess but Cheeky Blakk came out and did Pop That Pussy for 15 minutes, humping trombone cases, Kabuki riding on her back, etc. :>

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 19:26 (5 years ago) Permalink

I played some trumpet in school but disdained the marching band (late summer, they're getting ready for football season, marching around in the mud in red wool uniforms, ughh). Have long regretted that, but garage soul/preppy-frat rock was good."Soulfinger" and "Grazin' In The Grass" my faves. Buckinghams' "Mercy Mercy" led me back to Adderley & Zawinul's original, yclept "Mercy Mercy Mercy", and from there to other Blue Note (the cliche of jazz and pop parting ways WWII never otm). Much liked (first albums of) Electric Flag, Blood Sweat & Tears (pre Clayton Thomas), and Chicago. Now collect high school marching band records, which is among what ("lab bands, stage bands" also) gets LANGLEY SCHOOLS equiv, except for the acclaim, on SCHOOLHOUSE FUNK, compiled by Motorcycle John (AKA DJ SHADOW). From the 70s. Uneven, but amazing. Something I'd heard and thought it was the Dirty Dozen 'til I got it: David Byrne's MUSIC FOR THE KNEE PLAYS. TKP being a segment of Robert Wilson's intercontinental stage/satellite TV cycle, "the CIVIL warS" (broadcast live in sequence, but the Reagan Admin pulled plug on our part). Turns out this music was "inspired by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band." Involving old pros like Chuck Findley, Ernie Watts, Pete Christlieb, and Fred Wesley, and, even though it's got some of that one-size-fits-all ECM train station echo, here it does fit (boomin' in the gloom, and after all it's about life going on during wartime). Also Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy's AVANT POP and others; even getting to recastings of hiphop and that big parade drum for "Beautiful People, Beau'ful PeePUL" on ODYSSEY OF FUNK AND POPULAR MUSIC, his last album (which I reviewed for villagevoice.com; put your Search subject in quotes if you go there)I've always wondered about Mike Westbrook's settings of Blake, and his Drinking Gasoline review, with singer Kate Westbrook. Were those good? (Regis Brass Band is one from New Orleans I've heard live, but never knew of any records. They were really young and firey when I saw 'em.)

― don, Wednesday, 24 November 2004 07:22 (5 years ago) Permalink

Also my brass band should be playing at the Green Mill again in the next couple months.

Yeah, remind me! I've missed you guys a few times now!

― Sanjay McDougal (jaymc), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 07:36 (5 years ago) Permalink

Wow Don, it sounds like you've heard a lot of stuff on the periphery of/influenced by N.O. brass band. You should jump into the real shit, I bet you'd be into it (NB: I don't really like the Dirty Dozen for the most part, and I haven't heard of Regis) --

New Birth Brass Band, D-Boy
Rebirth Brass Band, Hot Venom
Stooges Brass Band, It's About Time
Soul Rebels Brass Band, No More Parades
Lil' Rascals Brass Band, Buck It Like a Horse

Also a word about Derrick 'Kabuki' Shezbie - he's the main trumpet player for Rebirth, and he was in New Birth as a teenager (he's all over D-Boy). He's SO MUCH LOUDER than any trumpet player I've ever heard, not to mention the fire. His sound is completely wide-open and really sums up the brass band sound for me (he takes the solo on the Rebirth tune I posted above).

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 16:45 (5 years ago) Permalink

What I mean to say is, he can blow eight notes on one note and suddenly every other trumpet player and every tricky run becomes irrelevant.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 16:46 (5 years ago) Permalink

oh yeah, that David Byrne "Music for the Knee Plays" is great

― JaXoN (JasonD), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 17:48 (5 years ago) Permalink

and how great is The Ying Yang Twins new song "Halftime". are brass bands and marching bands at all related?

― JaXoN (JasonD), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 17:49 (5 years ago) Permalink

I shy away from the comparison just because it makes people think of their bad Midwest high school pep band and assume that they know what it's about. I'm also sick to death of people saying "oh, you guys must have been in the UW band" or "what drum corps did you march in?" when no one in the band comes from that background at all.

HOWEVER, yeah, they take marching band pretty seriously down south and a lot of those kids have incredible chops. We were standing outside of Tipatina's during a parade last Mardi Gras and this high school trumpet line came by blowing high F's and we were like WHAT?! I think that a huge majority of New Orleans brass band musicians came up in those bands and always check them out during parade season, etc.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 18:05 (5 years ago) Permalink

jordan -- is that yr actual email addy? (I'll do a trade for a copy of that mix).

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 21:01 (5 years ago) Permalink

Yep (change gmale to gmail obv.). That sounds good Julio, I'm sure you have some stuff I'd love to hear.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 21:05 (5 years ago) Permalink

Jordan is 100% otm re: high school bands. New Orleans has like the Delta Force marching bands--all the best music during Mardi Gras can be heard by avoiding the clubs (most of which are hosting jam bands anyway) and hitting the parades further Uptown (before the kids playing are all worn out).

I am also interested in Jordan's mix.

― adam (adam), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 22:21 (5 years ago) Permalink

by avoiding the clubs

But still go to Donna's and the Maple Leaf and Le Bon Temps and Cafe Brasil!

most of which are hosting jam bands anyway)

Oh god this is so horribly OTM.

I am also interested in Jordan's mix.

Send me your address.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 22:37 (5 years ago) Permalink

Dude, Le Bon Temps has the crunkest quesadillas in the city.

― adam (adam), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 23:32 (5 years ago) Permalink

Yas yas, that's what I like about the South. Alabama's Public TV used to broadcast an annual marching band contest, live from Bessemer High School's football field. That sound, across the stadium (and airwaves), not just horns but the drums, it moves me man. Reminds me that Bessemer is the disembarkation point of Sun Ra (and my father). As far as non-high school, don't forget Mississippi's late (and maybe last of a kind) Othar Turner. And I always suspected that those early N.O. parade bands, "soloing" in different keys simulanteously for *one* thing, were an influence on free jazz (Ornette Coleman had played in proto-R&B bands in his native Texas, and toured in a medicine show band, according to A.B. Spellman, and also lived in New Orleans in 1950 or so, when he could have heard some of those guys live, although there was no revival then, was there? And old guys don't usually have the wind to flip out, I know from my own brass, but his wife Jayne Crotez was known to have a killer collection of 78s.Think also of ASCENSION, esp. the better version, eventually relaesed with the *relatively* tamer, more familiar take. And Gary Giddins said that his Jazz History students hit a wall when they got to Air, etc. but loved Henry Threadgill's JELLY ROLLS, which I think was one of the earliest Free-to-Ur foldovers. And some of them got intoFree per se, with JR as their gateway. I was always fascinated by Archie Shepp & Horace Parlan's albums of spiritual and gospel, and notice elements of these primogen. influences in Ayler (listening to the boxset single-disc promo, for inst). Reminds me: don't know how widespread this trend is, but in the CD store where I was working last year, noticed a jazz X gospel trendette, coming from "Jazz" section *and* from gospel (and of course the latter's had crossover from Blind Boys of Alabama and Robert Randolph and the Family Band, but that's getting away from horns altogether)

― don, Thursday, 25 November 2004 01:06 (5 years ago) Permalink

Erm, that would be Jayne Cortez, not "Crotez." Charlie Haden said that before anybody could borrow one of her records, they had to promise to learn to play the songs on it. (She eventually put out her own albums, like the killer early jazz-rap MAINTAIN CONTROL, with mebers of Prime Time, and Ornette as special guest on "There Are No Simple Answers." Again, off-topic, but great[and o course he does play a horn])

― don, Thursday, 25 November 2004 06:25 (5 years ago) Permalink

Fixed the link above for that Rebirth & Slim tune.

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 26 November 2004 13:56 (5 years ago) Permalink

We have People TV in Atlanta, and last year I spent a lot of time taing random things off it, marshing band videos being one of them. The beats truly were crunk, and the dancing that accompanied them was straight out of the club.

― Adam Bruneau (oliver8bit), Friday, 26 November 2004 17:47 (5 years ago) Permalink

Marching band videos? You mean like single songs, like pop videos? Whole concerts? Never heard of People TV, is that local to Atlanta?

― don, Friday, 26 November 2004 21:34 (5 years ago) Permalink

Thanks for the links, Jordan. Also, on Public Radio's "Beale Street caravan," I just heard NRBQ with horns, live from Coney Island (the one in Cincinnati, not NY). They kept adding extra beats to "swing"; pretty funny. I'd forgotten, they used to have the Whole Wheat Horns, or maybe they're playing horns themselves, like Z Z Top. Reminds me of HIP-BOP-SKA, by the Skatalites, with guests like Lester Bowie and David Murray. Lester does some of this approach on James Carter's COVERSIN' WITH THE ELDERS, which also has Harry Sweets Edison on trumpet, Buddy Tate on clarinet, Hamiett Bluiett on baritone, and JC plays various reed instruments from his storied collection. It ain't Storyville but it ain't bad. Chicka-boom!

― don, Saturday, 27 November 2004 06:43 (5 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

Revive.

In Tower Records I noticed in the new Downbeat magazine a nice article on New Orleans brass bands and more. The Stooges Brass band, Hot 8, and Soul Rebels are all here. I haven't checked to see if the article is online.

As a contributing supporter of afropop.org I get a weekly e-mail thing from them. This week they have a nice photo-essay by Ned Sublette(musician, musicologist and author of that immense book on Cuban music) on New Orleans. Sublette is living there for awhile and studying the Caribbean roots of New Orleans. He's got an interview with Donald Harrison and some others. I think you can check it all out at afropop.org

― steve-k, Saturday, 26 March 2005 17:48 (5 years ago) Permalink

Brass Bands - C/D

― steve-k, Saturday, 26 March 2005 17:53 (5 years ago) Permalink

I wish I had time to go down to Jazzfest at the end of April and into early May and check everybody out. Plus that other fest with swamp pop and Blood Ulmer and more is going on at the rock n bowl.

― steve-k, Saturday, 26 March 2005 20:34 (5 years ago) Permalink

Kermit Ruffins is now on tour...
http://www.basinstreetrecords.com/
http://www.satchmo.com/nolavl/kermit.html

― Pete Scholtes, Sunday, 27 March 2005 02:00 (5 years ago) Permalink

He's got a new cd with Rebirth I believe. I doubt they're together on tour though

― Steve-k (Steve K), Sunday, 27 March 2005 02:34 (5 years ago) Permalink

I downloaded a ton of stuff for free online a while ago. It is great stuff. Can't remember any names, though. I just filled two cds and labelled them New Orleans Jazz 1 and 2. It sounds drunk and it sounds happy and sometimes it stumbles along like a sad drunk but still manages to sound fun. Right after I saw "Wild Man Blues" I decided I should have some of that.

I think one was called Yarl River Blues Band.

― Lemonade Salesman (Eleventy-Twelve), Sunday, 27 March 2005 04:08 (5 years ago) Permalink

http://www.yarl.org/mp3s.htm

― Lemonade Salesman (Eleventy-Twelve), Sunday, 27 March 2005 04:10 (5 years ago) Permalink

Thanks for the heads up Steve! Hot 8 in Downbeat, who knew.

I'll be going down to Jazzfest the first weekend to play with Mama Digdown's and see brass bands, can't wait.

― Jordan (Jordan), Sunday, 27 March 2005 13:07 (5 years ago) Permalink

It should be great.

From the April issue excerpt on Downbeat's website:

Next Generation New Orleans Brass Bands
Brass Beyond The Streets

By Jennifer Odell

Philip Frazier honks his sousaphone on a chilly January Sunday on the corner of Daneel and 3rd streets. Musicians start to shuffle away from the crowd milling outside the Bean Brothers Bar and strap on horns and snare drums, ready to get their roll on. Dancers for the Undefeated Dicas Social Aid and Pleasure Club come around the corner and tubas, sousaphones, saxophones and bass drums fall in line as the Divas belt out The Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There.”

Winding past Mary’s Nightowl Bar, Candlelight Bar, Sandpiper and The New Look, the parading community group hits all of the Uptown neighborhood’s brass band stops. Ostrich plumes fan the air above the Divas in time with Frazier’s non-stop vamps. When the dancers slow down and form a circle, trading moves with kids, the band plays even harder, echoing braay swueals off the projects across the street. This is how brass band music was born.

But it’s growing up. And while playing the second lines and funerals remains important, many of today’s hottest brass players are concentrating more on polishing their CDs and getting national recognition than on stealing the show on Sunday afternoons. The current generation is following the successful business model created by the Dirty Dozen and Rebirth brass bands; updating a traditional sound to make the music relevant to a larger audience. And with each step forward, another cross-breed of the brass band sound is born. Mardi Gras Indian bands like Big Sam’s Funky Nation are based in funk, the Soul Rebels are purveyors of hip-hop and the Hot 8, New Birth and the Stooges hold down the street scene with their bebop-heavy takes on the traditional style.

― Steve-k (Steve K), Sunday, 27 March 2005 16:07 (5 years ago) Permalink

From afropop.org

MARDI GRAS 2005: a photo essay by Ned Sublette
Also Check out Interviews with Joseph Roach, Donald Harrison, and Vicki Mayer by Ned Sublette

― Steve-k (Steve K), Sunday, 27 March 2005 16:14 (5 years ago) Permalink

there was some sorta Folkways record i checked out in Fredericksburg, Texas, and it dirged and dirtied heaving heavier than a mule cry, as syrupy and sun-stroked than just about anything i could think of (though that recent Sub Rosa Tibetan ceremony thing is sorta close). one of those New Orleans series ones. don't know if a single tortoise tune clocked in under eight minutes...

― imbidimts, Sunday, 27 March 2005 16:30 (5 years ago) Permalink

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The main characters in “Treme” aren’t the overburdened cops, spiraling addicts, ruthless dealers, struggling dockworkers, corrupt politicians or compromised journalists of “The Wire.” In their place, for the most part, are musicians, as the show’s title sneakily suggests: “Treme” (pronounced trih-MAY) is the New Orleans neighborhood where jazz was born. And even though it adjoins the French Quarter, few tourists visit Treme, where generations of the city’s musicians have lived.

As much as crime of every kind was central to “The Wire,” music is the focus of “Treme.” New Orleans-born and Juilliard-trained Wendell Pierce (William “Bunk” Moreland in “The Wire”) plays a trombone player looking for any gig he can get; Steve Zahn plays a feckless singer-songwriter with an allergy to paying work. As in “The Wire,” many nonactors, in this case professional musicians, have been cast in “Treme” in leading roles: the violinist Lucia Micarelli plays a street musician; a charismatic local trumpeter, Kermit Ruffins, plays himself; and dozens of other musicians — from Dr. John to Elvis Costello — appear in smaller parts. The cast is different from “The Wire,” however, because a number of more famous actors are part of “Treme.” John Goodman plays an English professor-novelist enraged by federal and municipal post-Katrina intransigence; the Academy Award-nominee Melissa Leo is a civil rights attorney with a soft spot for starving artists; and Clarke Peters, the distinguished stage and screen actor memorable in “The Wire” as the miniature-furniture-making detective Lester Freamon, plays an independent contractor and a Mardi Gras Indian chief.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 24 March 2010 14:45 (5 months ago) Permalink

btw i've heard some of the old-time dudes in treme brass band pronounce it "TREH-mee".

― rinse the lemonade (Jordan), Wednesday, 24 March 2010 15:24 (5 months ago) Permalink

Interesting.

Just saw on Offbeat.com that New Orleans drummer Bunchy Johnson died. He was recently filmed in the opening episode of Treme according to Treme writer David Mills-- see blog post below. Bunchie apparently drummed with Mardi gras Indians and a who's who of old-school New Orleans r'n'b greats.

http://undercoverblackman.blogspot.com/2010/03/bernard-bunchy-johnson.html

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 25 March 2010 13:25 (5 months ago) Permalink

that's too bad, i saw him with leroy jones a bunch of times (both in new orleans and at the ascona festival we played in switzerland). he had a nice light touch.

― rinse the lemonade (Jordan), Thursday, 25 March 2010 16:09 (5 months ago) Permalink

btw i've heard some of the old-time dudes in treme brass band pronounce it "TREH-mee".

I've heard that a bunch, but Kermit Ruffins reverses that: treh-MEE'

― I turn it up when I hear the banjo (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 25 March 2010 16:17 (5 months ago) Permalink

I'm gonna probably go see Hot 8 Saturday at the PG Publick Playhouse in Cheverly, MD outside DC. Might also see Rebirth next Wednesday at the State Theater in Falls Church, VA. Will probably miss New Orleans jazz trumpeter Christian Scott tonight in Reston and tomorrow in Annapolis

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 25 March 2010 18:18 (5 months ago) Permalink

Hot 8 were great. Here's my quickie Washington City Paper blog post I did that includes some e-mail Q & A with tuba player Bennie Pete

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2010/03/26/live-saturday-new-orleans-hot-8-brass-band/

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 28 March 2010 04:44 (5 months ago) Permalink

http://www.nola.com/treme-hbo/index.ssf/2010/03/treme_writer_david_mills_dies.html

I went to the U. of Md with Treme writer and producer David Mills, who just died of a brain aneurism at age 48. I wrote for his fanzine Uncut Funk way back when, and had just e-mailed him about something a few weeks ago.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 16:28 (5 months ago) Permalink

Mills said he approached his New Orleans musical education with a new fan’s
fervor, and spoke enthusiastically about “walking into Louisiana Music
Factory and coming out with $100 of music CDs, almost like letting the
spirits guide you as to which ones to pick,” he said. “There will be no end
to it, it’s so deep.”

Mills wrote two of the series’ 10 episodes -- episode No. 3 by himself and
episode No. 7 with Davis Rogan, a New Orleans musician and former WWOZ-FM DJ
who is a model for one of the series’ characters, played by Steve Zahn.

As co-executive producer and a contributor to the show’s collaborative
writing process, Mills made his craft present in every episode of “Treme,”
which is due to complete first-season production at the end of April.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 18:09 (5 months ago) Permalink

http://www.offbeat.com/2010/04/01/hbos-treme-to-tell-the-truth/

Consulting with Rebirth and others on Treme

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 1 April 2010 15:01 (5 months ago) Permalink

stooges killin' it:

― rinse the lemonade (Jordan), Thursday, 1 April 2010 22:29 (5 months ago) Permalink

So many articles on Treme. Guess I need to get HBO or find someone with it for Sunday. Busboys & Poets, a DC restaurant/lounge is showing it at one of their locations.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 9 April 2010 13:19 (4 months ago) Permalink

http://www.nola.com/treme-hbo/index.ssf/2010/04/treme_meet_treme.html

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 11 April 2010 05:16 (4 months ago) Permalink

Farewell David Mills. David Simon mentioned the brass-band tribute (and the ceremonial tree planting) you received in New Orleans at your University of Maryland chapel funeral ceremony today.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 12 April 2010 19:14 (4 months ago) Permalink

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0410/Republicans_convene_in_New_Orleans_with_no_mention_of_Katrina.html

I'm guessing no brass bands performed at the Republican Southern leadership Conference that was just held in New Orleans

― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 April 2010 13:50 (4 months ago) Permalink

Congo Square at Jazz Fest poster of Uncle Lionel

http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2010/04/new_orleans_jazz_fest_2010_con_1.html

― curmudgeon, Monday, 26 April 2010 01:28 (4 months ago) Permalink

That Stooges footage Jordan posted on the 1st of April is pretty awesome

― curmudgeon, Monday, 26 April 2010 01:32 (4 months ago) Permalink

I'm guessing no brass bands performed at the Republican Southern leadership Conference that was just held in New Orleans

attended a half-assed protesty second line ft stooges. so they were performing AT the republicans rather than performing for the republicans.

which is the least threatening/most republican-friendly brass band? treme?

― adam, Monday, 26 April 2010 13:21 (4 months ago) Permalink

― I turn it up when I hear the banjo (Dan Peterson), Monday, 26 April 2010 17:36 (4 months ago) Permalink

Anybody go to Jazzfest this year? Last weekend or this one?

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 29 April 2010 13:15 (4 months ago) Permalink

April 28 - May 5, 2010
>
> Routes March On: Brass Bands & Cajun Youths
>
> Visit with musicians taking Louisiana roots music forward into the 21st
> century. Brass Bands like Soul Rebels, Rebirth and Hot 8 can be found
> everywhere in the streets and clubs of the Crescent City, mixing rap and
> funk with older traditional numbers. Over in Cajun country, the Pine Leaf
> Boys swap accordions and fiddles for guitars, moving back and forth between
> Cajun and zydeco tunes and new originals.
>
>
> See below for a full playlist, including song title, artist and release.
>
> Click here <http://bit.ly/b4KLs>; to find a list of stations airing American
> Routes.
> Or click here <http://bit.ly/18iwM2>; to listen to this episode.
>

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 29 April 2010 13:16 (4 months ago) Permalink

New Orleans band cd releases so far courtesy of Offbeat magazine's e-mail. Most of these are not brass bands but figured I'd post this here anyway. Jordan or others, heard any of these, or any you think might be good?

Released in April 2010
Shamarr Allen & Paul Sanchez: Bridging the Gap (Threadhead Records)
Theresa Andersson: Live at Le Petit (DVD) (Gata)
Glen David Andrews: Walking Through Heaven's Gate (DVD) (Independent)
Philip H. Anselmo: Compilation Volume 1 (Housecore Records)
Holly Bendtsen & Amasa Miller: Our Songs (Threadhead Records)
Big Daddy 'O': Used Blues (Rabadash Records)
Mia Borders: Magnolia Blue (Blaxican Records and Hypersould Records)
Maurice Brown: The Cycle of Love (Independent)
Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band: Zydeco Junkie (Swampadellic Records)
Big Al Carson with the Blues Masters: 3 Phat Catz and 1 Skinny Dog (Rabadash Records)
Jeff Chaz: Live in New Orleans (JCP Records)
Ceasar Elloie: New Orleans to Paris (Turbine Records)
Grandpa Elliot: Sugar Sweet (Playing for Change/Concord)
Honey Island Swamp Band: Good To You (Independent)
Eric Lindell: Between Motion and Rest (Sparco Records)
Ingrid Lucia: Midnight Rendezvous (Threadhead Records)
Roy McGrath Jazz Trio: Long Shot (Independent)
Stanton Moore: Groove Alchemy (Telarc)
Neville Brothers: From the Beginning - Volume 1 (Independent)
Anders Osborne: American Patchwork (Alligator)
Conun Pappas, Jr. : Oh What A Feeling (Independent)
Margie Perez: Singing for my Supper (Threadhead Records)
Matt Perrine & Sunflower City: Bayou Road Suite (Threadhead Records)
Wardell Quezergue: After the Math - The St. Agnes Sessions (Jazz Foundation of America)
John Rankin, Tommy Sancton & Tom Fischer: The Classic Jazz Trio (Rankomatic Music)
Dan Rivers: Acoustic Sunlight (Independent)
Paul Sanchez: Live at Papa Roux - Red Beans & Ricely Yours (Threadhead Records)
Frans Schuman: Live in New Orleans (Independent)
Mark Stone: Trickeration & Rascality (Threadhead Records)
The Swip: Ugly Animals (Independent)
Amy Trail: Lonesome Man (Independent)
Trombone Shorty: Backatown (Verve Forecast)
Seva Venet: Seva Venet Presents the Storyville Stringband of New Orleans (Independent)
Ernie Vincent & the Top Notes: Party on the Bayou: Live at d.b.a. (Rollo Records)

Released in March 2010
Benjy Davis Project: Lost Souls Like Us (Rock Ridge)
Big Sam's Funky Nation: King of the Party (Independent)
JJ Muggler Band: Hard Luck Town (Independent)
The Local Skank: Songs for a Bromance (Independent)
The Nerostotles: Arson & Logic (Independent)
New Orleans Moonshiners : I'm Comin' Home (Independent)
Cale Pellick: In the Loop (Independent)
Rotary Downs: Crooked Maps and Blue Reports (Rockery)
Christian Scott: Yesterday You Said Tomorrow (Concord)
Seva Venet : Seva Venet Presents the Storyville Stringband of New Orleans (Independent)
Washboard Rodeo : Washboard Rodeo (Independent)

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 May 2010 14:40 (3 months ago) Permalink

Paul Sanchez used to be in Cowboy Mouth, who I never had much use for, but I saw him a couple times on my last visit to N.O., and I like the singer-songwritery stuff he's doing now quite a bit.

Your appreciation of Ingrid Lucia might depend on your tolerance for her EXTREMELY Billie Holiday-influenced vocals, but I like her a lot too.

Haven't heard either of these recent releases, which are funded by Threadhead Records. The Threadheads are Jazzfest messageboard forum fans who have begun pooling donations as loans to help with recording and pressing costs for acts they like. They also volunteer shifts in one of the beer tents at Jazzfest, where proceeds/tips go to community development projects. Pretty cool deal, really.

http://www.threadheadrecords.com/who-we-are/

― I turn it up when I hear the banjo (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:39 (3 months ago) Permalink

Shamarr Allen who Sanchez is working with used to be in a brass band. Jordan can probably school us on him.

Glen David Andrews has performed with the Treme Brass band is related to James Andrews and Trombone Shorty Andrews. His gospel brass cd from last year on Threadhead got good reviews but I only heard a song or two and samples.

Jazz trumpet player Christian Scott has been touring the US and getting great reviews.

Wardell Quezergue did the arrangements for lots of old-school classic New Orleans releases. I don't know what this release is.

I bet Stanton Moore has lots of great New Orleans guests on his cd, but alas, Moore is a jambander and that doesn't interest me.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 May 2010 16:44 (3 months ago) Permalink

Anyone going to Rebirth tonight in Minneapolis at the Cabooze?

― Pete Scholtes, Friday, 14 May 2010 22:45 (3 months ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

Nope, and I missed their most recent W. DC show. Plus, how did I not know that various United House of Prayer brass bands march on Memorial Day Weekend in W. DC every year?!

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2010/05/29/uhop-parade-2010/

― curmudgeon, Monday, 31 May 2010 15:18 (3 months ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

police start enforcing no-music curfew after 8 pm:

― emotional radiohead whatever (Jordan), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 22:44 (2 months ago) Permalink

Ugh. Just saw in the Offbeat e-mail about new rules restricting music in the French Quarter.

Plus Offbeat had this sad news:

Just before dawn on Saturday, May 29, a tragedy occurred. Verti Marte, the neighborhood grocery whose massive sandwiches and po-boys were staples in the diets of many New Orleanians, burned. As is custom in our city, neighbors come together to help neighbors in their time of need. On Monday, join the community to support the employees of Verti Marte at the Dragon's Den (435 Esplanade Ave) for the Verti Marte Benefit Show which starts at 4 p.m. The event will include an art auction, raffle, door prizes and All That Jazz Po'Boys.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 June 2010 13:18 (2 months ago) Permalink

From the Offbeat magazine blog:

According to Serpas and 8th District Commander Major Edwin Hosli, the NOPD has received “numerous complaints from the residents of the Quarter” via NOMPAC concerning street musicians. Kevin Allman of Gambit has kept up with the news with several posts on this, and I’m upset and ashamed to tell you that it’s the same-old, same-old.

Apparently the To Be Continued Brass Band was being videoed last night on the corner of Canal and Bourbon Street, when the NOPD stopped the activity because of the “noise ordinance” which says that it is unlawful for anyone to perform any street entertainment on the street or sidewalk of Bourbon Street from the uptown side of Canal Street to the downtown side of St. Ann Street between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. Can someone please tell me why it’s not OK to have street musicians playing during these hours on Bourbon Street, for pity’s sake? It’s not like there’s not a huge amount of noise—and I don’t mean music—on Bourbon Street during these hours. If you choose to live on or near Bourbon Street, and don’t expect to hear some music or noise, then you really should move to the suburbs. Please.

Oh yeah, it’s also illegal for persons to play musical instruments on public rights-of-way between the hours of 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. anywhere in the city.

What kind of idiocy are the people who complain about street music going to pull next? Why haven’t they cracked down on the non-live “music” on Bourbon Street?

This is an ordinance that is patently unfair to local musicians. It’s unfair to the people who come to New Orleans who expect to experience real music here. It’s destructive to our musical culture and the role the French Quarter plays in our musical heritage

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 June 2010 13:30 (2 months ago) Permalink

The next NOMPAC a community meeting will be held on July 8, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Maison Dupuy Hotel, 1001 Toulouse Street. If you’re a musician or a New Orleans music lover, and you’re not at this meeting to protest this, then shame on you.

more from that Offbeat editor's blogpost

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 June 2010 13:39 (2 months ago) Permalink

I wonder what's changed in the Quarter, a lot of new residents? Who apparently moved to a street lined with bars without bar times for a little peace and quiet?

― Pete Scholtes, Friday, 18 June 2010 16:57 (2 months ago) Permalink

New residents plus new Police chief who all seem clueless

― curmudgeon, Friday, 18 June 2010 17:17 (2 months ago) Permalink

More news from Offbeat Magazine:

The End of an Era: The Mother-In-Law Lounge Closes

Sadly the Mother-In-Law Lounge, named after the Allen Toussaint-penned song that was performed by the late Ernie K-Doe, will soon close its doors.

K-Doe passed away in July 2001, and his widow Antoinette kept the bar as a tribute to her late husband and a quirky barroom that not only hosted R&B acts, but young performers, such as Quintron and many more. It was a gathering place for many a New Orleans music cognescenti, and was even included in a recent episode of HBO's Treme as the meeting place for the captains of the Krewe du Vieux.

Antoinette K-Doe died on Mardi Gras day in 2009, and it was hoped that the legacy of the bar would be continued by Mrs. K-Doe's family. But that was not to be. Betty Fox, Antoinette's daughter, has not been able to keep the bar operating, and she's closing it, according to recent Times-Picayune report.

Perhaps the Mother-In-Law should be added as one of those historic spots in New Orleans musical lore. Historic Landmarks Commission...get busy!

The brouhaha about citing street musicians who play after hours has subsided somewhat, as the protest from music lovers--both locally and outside New Orleans--was deafening. But the battle's not over year; it will resurface again unless we make a change in an overly broad ordinance and demand that our musical culture be given a chance to be enjoyed.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 24 June 2010 13:02 (2 months ago) Permalink

http://www.truthdig.com/arts_culture/item/joyful_noises_and_joyless_ordinances_in_new_orleans_20100702/

more re the restrictions on brass bands

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 3 July 2010 20:48 (2 months ago) Permalink

Trumpet player Lionel Ferbos is the coolest, and he's turning 99. See Offbeat e-mail thing below-

This week we celebrate the birthdays of trumpet player Lionel Ferbos (pictured) and guitarist Little Freddie King. On Saturday, Ferbos will celebrate his 99th birthday, cementing his role as the oldest active jazz musician in New Orleans. Not one to take a night off, he will be performing that evening with the Palm Court Jazz Band at the Palm Court Jazz Café at 8 p.m. Come out to celebrate and honor the beloved musician, who will be presented with awards from City Councilmember-at-large Jackie Clarkson and state representative Juan LaFonta. Monday marks the 70th birthday of Little Freddie King, but we can't wait that long to celebrate - we've already waited 70 years, and we're impatient. Tomorrow night, BJ's Lounge will host King's birthday bash at 10:30 p.m.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 15 July 2010 15:28 (1 month ago) Permalink

From Offbeat Editor Jan Ramsey's blog more on the battles between residents near and in commercial areas who are getting the police to use noise ordinaces to stop brass bands from performing on street corners:

One thing that stuck in my mind was that the residents at the meeting last week did not seem to comprehend that musicians make a living by playing on the street. I perceived a sort of elitist attitude from some of the residents at the meeting. To hear someone protest that the musicians are driving business away from the Quarter is patently absurd. A person who owns property on Frenchmen Street was the first person to speak at the event and said that two of her long-time tenants who live on Frenchmen near Chartres were leaving because of the noise of the brass band that occasionally plays on that corner. I don’t believe the band plays there every single evening, so this was sort of a lame excuse. And it also harks back to the fact that Frenchmen Street is a commercial entertainment area. If living almost inside an entertainment area bothers you, then you need to be living elsewhere.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 15 July 2010 15:37 (1 month ago) Permalink

Happy birthday Lionel Ferbos! For the past I don't know how many years he's been on my "don't miss" list at Jazzfest. He's usually on first thing in the morning in Economy Hall and it's such a heartwarming way to start the day!

― All 10 songs permeate the organs (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 15 July 2010 15:52 (1 month ago) Permalink

Somebody should buy the Mother-in-Law Lounge. They were just putting up new murals outside when I last visited there, in 2008.

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 15 July 2010 16:06 (1 month ago) Permalink

Quintron should buy it. Is his Spellcaster Lodge still in operation?

― All 10 songs permeate the organs (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 15 July 2010 16:16 (1 month ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Don't know.

RIP jazz photographer Herman Leonard, who had been living in New Orleans until Katrina wiped out his photo archive and home there (his negatives were elsewhere and were saved)

http://www.nola.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2010/08/herman_leonard_photgrapher_of.html

http://www.google.com/images?q=herman+leonard&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7RNTN_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=extoTKWvB8P38AbWzJG0BA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CEoQsAQwAw&biw=1345&bih=516

― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 August 2010 17:51 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

5 years anniversary of Katrina coming up

― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 August 2010 17:52 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

From Offbeat:

At the Mahalia Jackson Theatre on Tuesday, August 17, Spike Lee premiered If God Is Willing and da Creek Don’t Rise, his new documentary about the five years of rebuilding in New Orleans post-Katrina and the effects of the BP Oil Spill. Mayor Mitch Landrieu, U.S. Representative Anh “Joseph” Cao, director Spike Lee, actors Wendell Pierce and Phyllis Montana Leblanc, musician Terrence Blanchard, and others who appear in the documentary were present for the red carpet premiere.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 19 August 2010 15:02 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

Airing Monday, wish I had HBO, looks fantastic...

http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/if-god-is-willing-and-da-creek-dont-rise/

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 19 August 2010 17:41 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

New Orleans is 5th on a list of America's 10 Dead Cities

Faster growing southern cities like Atlanta became more important financial centers as their populations grew. One of the industries that began to offset the faltering trade and financial sectors was tourism which rose throughout the second half of the last century. But the city suffered from its location, part of it below sea level, and several hurricanes that hit the city, particularly Hurricane Betsy in 1965. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina dealt the city a nearly fatal blow. In the year after that, the population dropped to just above 250,000, down from 627,000 in 1960. The BP oil crisis has already begun to damage what might have been a nascent recovery, post Katrina.

Read more: America’s Ten Dead Cities: From Detroit To New Orleans - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2010/08/23/americas-ten-dead-cities-from-detroit-to-new-orleans/2/#ixzz0xcxnEgxJ

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 August 2010 14:26 (1 week ago) Permalink

So sad that such a culturally rich city is fading away. I don't think I've enjoyed visiting any city as much as I enjoy New Orleans.

― 'ello govna, Wednesday, 25 August 2010 15:55 (1 week ago) Permalink

Me too. I've made so many trips there since the '80s I think of it as a second home. I was just there last year (first time post-Katrina) and saw encouraging remodeling and construction happening.

― All 10 songs permeate the organs (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 25 August 2010 16:16 (1 week ago) Permalink

I wanna go to the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans September 25th. I haven't been since 2006 (or was it 2007?). Jordan still makes it there pretty regularly (I think).

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 August 2010 16:25 (1 week ago) Permalink

Those P-Stomp lineups are so amazing, and recent Jazzfest lineups so uninspiring by comparison. I've got to get to another Stomp.

― All 10 songs permeate the organs (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 25 August 2010 16:42 (1 week ago) Permalink

Ponderosa has also now added rarely seen movie docs and panel interviews as a daytime portion to go along with the evening Stomp. http://www.ponderosastomp.com/clandestine_celluloid_film_series.php

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 August 2010 17:33 (1 week ago) Permalink

Yeah, I'm on their e-mail list, although I haven't been to one since the very first. I'm on Bumbershoot's list too, and haven't been to Seattle since 2004. I just like to torture myself looking at festivals I can't attend, I guess...

― All 10 songs permeate the organs (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 25 August 2010 17:44 (1 week ago) Permalink

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