Second Line Social's Mardi Gras feature on Brass BandsAs promised, and in celebration of Mardi Gras, here is my secret little treasure. I have been on the hunt for Brass Band 45s for several years now. Needless to say, there aren't very many. There is a far more extensive library on LP, but even then, it is hard to find the really good stuff. I was first exposed to this music in the mid-90's by a roommate who had the Dirty Dozen Brass Band's Voodoo LP (which by the way has a fantastic version of Bobby Wommack's "It's all over now" w/ Dr. John on the vocals). The initial pull for me was the instrumental brass sound of Dixieland jazz basically "funked" up. The modern Brass Band style has come to incorporate the groovier elements of soul, funk and blues musics, while staying rooted in the early jazz traditions. It is not uncommon nowadays to hear a Brass Band do a cover of a Gap Band song, followed by a gospel traditional, like "I'll fly away". It wasn't until the late 70s and throughout the 80's that Brass Bands adapted to modern music like this. As far as my research has taught me, there is really only 1 band who were the pioneers and trendsetters in this area. That band was Harold Dejan's Olympia Brass Band. To this day, there is no Brass Band who has been so influential to not only Brass Bands, but to New Orleans' jazzy, soulful history.
Dejan's Olympia Brass Band -
Mardi Gras In New Orleans
Dejan's Olympia Brass Band -
It Ain't My Fault
It Ain't My Fault
Chris Rose talks about Mardi Gras with Zulu's 'Mr. Big Stuff'
He is best known as a high-profile lawyer around town -- civil and criminal courts. Stephen Rue is also a budding filmmaker, having worked three years so far on a Hurricane Katrina documentary set for release in time to commemorate the fifth anniversary.
The 48-year-old Metairie native is the former King of the Knights of Jayson (2006) and he rode in Endymion for 13 years. But now he is in for the ride of his life: Rue is Mr. Big Stuff for the 100th anniversary Zulu parade on Fat Tuesday.
Facing down fate, forging a destiny: The Hot 8's Terrell 'Burger' Batiste
It is beyond question that in the New Orleans music community, The Hot 8 Brass Band has suffered more than its fair share of tragedy. In the 14 years that they've been together, they have lost four members by way of violent killings - one member was killed by the NOPD in broad daylight in full view of a crowd. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flooding devastated the city, swallowing up their worldly possessions and dispersing throughout the country the tight-knit community that anchors and inspires their creative expression.
On Mardi Gras, a new big chief will hit the streets in 7th Ward 
The city's newest big chief stapled sky-blue, custom-dyed quills onto the right side of his crown from a package labeled "right." Then he moved to the other side, using a bag labeled "left," which held quills from a bird's left side.
For the center, he chose an even quill that bent neither right nor left. Then he gently broke its curve, so that it stood erect at the crown's top.
It takes years to learn how to get a crown just right. Especially a big chief's crown like this, which Jermaine Cooper Bossier plans to debut on Mardi Gras morning with his new Mardi Gras Indian tribe, the 7th Ward Creole Hunters.
Rob Wagner Trio, Snug Harbor, 2/14/09 
Following a set from jazz great Ellis Marsalis (whose weekly Snug shows are a must for anyone visiting the Big Easy), saxophonist Rob Wagner joined by drummer Simon Lott and bassist Jesse Morrow took to the stage, began warming up, and, without much notice, set off on a far reaching journey.
Henry Butler - PiaNOLA Live
The eight-time WC Handy Piano Player of the Year, Henry Butler returns to the wax in a soaring tribute to his home city of New Orleans. In his first purely solo performance, this live set is a collection of eleven live recordings over recent years. Covering pop, R&B, soul, blues, and jazz; Butler searches for answers and questions about the Hurricane Katrina tragedy from every perspective. This is a resounding tribute to the musical spirit of the Crescent City and Butler is surely ranked amongst its legendary purveyors.Probably a little hard to access for some because of both the length and the arching textures and rolls and flourishes that Butler takes liberty to demonstrate on such classics as "Basin St. Blues," Ernie K-Doe's "Mother-in-Law," Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," "Somethin' You Got," "You Are My Sunshine," "Tipitina," Billy Preston's "Will It Go 'Round In Circles," and "Ol' Man River." As you can see, this is mostly a covers record but their subject matter purely encompass Butler's vision of his home and also have enough spacing in them for Butler to demonstrate his virtuosity.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band Cuts New Album!
That's right, ladies and gentlemen. A brand-new Preservation Hall Jazz Band CD is in the works. Here in New Orleans, we've had the pleasure of enjoying performances from the full touring lineup of our world-famous group for several weekends running while they put down the tracks for this exciting new album. Recorded right here in the performance space at Preservation Hall, this album is shaping up to be a beautiful representation of our amazing new lineup at their finest. We can't tell you what songs will appear on the finished product yet, but we can tell you who's playing them!
Long Live The [Morning 40] Federation! 
Ladies and Gentlemen, if you hadn't heard, this past Friday marked the final show of downtown New Orleans beloved Morning 40 Federation. They were our friends. They were our family. AND THEY ALWAYS WILL BE!!! Ten long years of debauched entertainment later, they're going on indefinite hiatus. Have we seen the last of The Bywater's Best? Unlikely. But until we meet again...
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