NolaFunk Lagniappe

New Orleans Musicians on New Orleans...





All Things Considered presents Library of Congress: Saving New Orleans Music

The Library of Congress has rescued New Orleans public radio station WWOZ's extensive live broadcast collection. The collection, which was almost lost in Hurricane Katrina, includes great recordings by many New Orleans musicians, including Deacon John, Beau Jocque, and the late James Booker. It's a rare historical testament to the city's roots music.

Listen to the audio documentary HERE, and a related article HERE.



George Matters! LISTEN to George Porter on the WBAI 99.5FM "Morning Dew" program.
Dave Nolan says:

"He spoke for over half an hour about New Orleans, its recovery, and public perceptions that the Neville Brothers had abandoned their home town. Some of the best radio I have heard in ages. We just tried to shut up and get out of George's way and let him talk about his take on the whole situation down there - from his home in the Carrolton/Uptown area that was under 4 feet of water, to the lower 9th ward where friends of his including some of the Nevilles were under 14 feet of water and more..."

The 60-Second Interview: Davell Crawford

There is a debate here, at times, as to whether the New Orleans music scene, post-Katrina, is dead, or whether it is more vibrant than it ever was before. I have my own views on the matter, but I'd like to hear yours.

I don't think dead -- ever. That's impossible, considering all the music that has come from our great city throughout the years and throughout American history. I don't think it's any more popular than ever, but it is being well-received. Young people around the country and around the world are now interested in roots music, which not only includes New Orleans music, but Louisiana music as a whole, including zydeco and Cajun, and I think that's a wonderful thing.

Read NO Notes' BLOG POST about Joe's Cozy Corner, the infamous New Orleans landmark.



Watch OK Go & Bonerama on David Letterman:





Preservation Hall's John Brunious dead at 67

Trumpeter John Brunious, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's leader and senior member, died Tuesday in Orlando, Fla., after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 67.

Mr. Brunious joined Preservation Hall around 1987, after substituting for longtime trumpeter Percy Humphrey. With his shock of white hair and the traditional white shirt and black pants of old-school New Orleans jazz bands, Mr. Brunious tutored rapt tourists on jazz funerals, second-lines and dirges before launching into "Just a Closer Walk With Thee."

Watch Eric Lindell perform on Late Night with Conan O'Brien:





Check out Home of the Groove's "Random Reviews Of 2007 Releases + Cool Boogaloo", which highlights lots of recent New Orleans album releases.








The Empress is Alright

A pall was cast over Mardi Gras morning in the Treme when Antoinette K-Doe, widow of the legendary R&B character Ernie-K-Doe, was taken to Tulane University hospital early in the day complaining of chest pain. After surgical procedures to address heart and renal problems, the Empress of the Universe spent the weekend resting, and returned home yesterday to convalesce. Friends of K-Doe emphasize that the Mother-in-Law Lounge is not open until further notice, and that she is not receiving visitors. Supporters, fans, and well-wishers are encouraged to send correspondence to her at 1500 N. Claiborne Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116.

His Darling New Orleans

"In August 2005, Legacy producer Leo Sacks was sitting in a pizza parlor in midtown Manhattan, watching the surging floodwaters swallow New Orleans. As the extent of the calamity became clear, Leo told his friend Andy Kowalczyk: “We need to start the healing; we need to make a record right away. Their favorite street paraders, piano ticklers, trumpeters, rhythm-and-blues singers, Mardi Gras Indians and funkateers were scattered to the four winds. “I felt helpless to care for the people and the city that I love,” Leo says today.

And the Grammy goes to ... TERRANCE SIMIEN

Simien and Zydeco Experience grabbed the first Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album Grammy on Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Live! Worldwide, the band's Grammy winner, features live recordings done across the globe over the past 25 years of Simien's career. The victory is the peak of a seven-year effort by Simien, along with his wife and manager Cynthia, to establish a Grammy category for zydeco and Cajun musicians.