Interview with Reggie Scanlan of The Radiators (Part 2)
Last Tuesday, I posted Part 1 of my interview with Reggie Scanlan, bassist for New Orleans' beloved rock band The Radiators (www.theradiators.org). Among other things, we discussed the roots of New Orleans music; Wild & Free, the CD celebrating the band's 30th anniversary, and the impact and importance of Hurricane Katrina to the New Orleans music scene. We went on to discuss the longevity of the Radiators, why New Orleans musicians are such terrific guest performers, and life on the road.
Dr. John's Prognosis:The blues and rock musician shares stories of his wild past and his concerns for the future.
Mac Rebennack, better known as the musician Dr. John, has been impressing audiences since the 1960s with a stage show deeply rooted in the culture of his native New Orleans. In his heyday, Rebennack would appear on stage in a puff of smoke, decorated in Mardi Gras plumes, bones and amulets, reciting voodoo chants while spreading glitter into the audience. But he is also a highly regarded blues, rock and jazz artist considered a solid songwriter and session musician. In his most recent album, "The City that Care Forgot," he criticizes the government's response to Hurricane Katrina and plays with Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson and Ani Difranco. Rebennack, 68, spoke recently with Kenneth Fletcher about his wild past and concerns about the future
Changing lanes: Workers on pins and needles getting Rock 'n' Bowl's new home ready for Jazz Fest
An oversize Helm paint can and a sign advertising "Dollar and Beauty Supply Store: 100 percent Human Hair, Wigs, African Ceramics" stand outside 8126 Earhart Blvd..
But those businesses are long gone. A mural on the warehouse's South Carrollton Avenue side announces its future purpose: home of a new Mid-City Lanes Rock n' Bowl.
Inside, a bowling alley emerges from a construction site.
Tootin' his own horn at Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse
Just considering all of the musical, educational, political, community and business activities that Irvin Mayfield has going on is pretty mind-boggling. The trumpeter adds club owner to that list when he, in partnership with the Royal Sonesta Hotel, opens "Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse," on Thursday, March 19, 2009. The resume of the New Orleans, Grammy-nominated, jazz mover and shaker also recently grew to include radio talk show host. He can now be heard every Monday on WGSO at 5 p.m. (re-aired on Sundays at 5 p.m.) on his own hour-long program, "The Life and Times of Irvin Mayfield." This week's guest is actor Wendell Pierce.
Big Sam's Funky Nation | 03.07.09 | S.F.
Boom Boom Room :: San Francisco, CA
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From the first notes of the evening, it was clear that all the band asked of the audience was for us to shake our thangs. This was unapologetic party music, designed to help us leave any worries at the door and focus on the more pressing matter of getting down. With Big Sam Williams at the helm, fueling the fire with vocals and huge blasts of trombone, the Funky Nation hit us with their blend of boisterous funk rock.
Billy Delle returns to the WWOZ airwaves
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The New Orleans Moonshiners at Donna's on Rampart Street Donna's Bar and Grill on Rampart Street is a magical place for brass band jazz in New Orleans. Established fifteen years ago as a venue for brass bands by Donna and Charlie Sims, Donna's is what its owners call "a real joint"—a fair-sized room lit mostly in strands of Christmas lights with a large bar, a small stage and a kitchen in the back where chef-owner Charlie Sims cooks up some great New Orleans and soul-food dishes learned on his many years as a railroad cook on the New Orleans-Chicago line. A coat of paint would only ruin its well-worn interior decorated with large photos of brass bands of days-gone-by.
Mondays are special at Donna's when Charlie brings out a batch of his red beans and rice and barbecue chicken served free during the first break. When Charlie comes out of the back, the place comes alive as the regulars pay homage to the beret-bearing chef, who gladly makes the rounds to talk to familiar faces and new patrons alike. Donna, a long-time science educator, is one of the friendliest people you might ever meet and is a great friend to the many brass bands in the city for her support of their swinging, upbeat music. Donna's is a raucous, entertaining place seven nights a week with a variety of bands playing and dancers dancing.
(Big) Easy on the ear: Legend Allen Toussaint brings the music of New Orleans to the world
-This feels like history,” Allen Toussaint said last month, just before receiving his Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award at an invitation-only ceremony.
The New Orleans rock, funk and R&B legend was referring to his fellow Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. They included Motown vocal greats The Four Tops, jazz piano icon Hanks Jones, 100-year-old classical music composer Elliot Carter and singer Brenda Lee, along with posthumous honorees Gene Autry, Dean Martin and electric guitar innovator Clarence “Leo” Fender.
Terence Blanchard records new album Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard honed his musical gift in his hometown of New Orleans and received music's highest honor for an album about the city's darkest hour — Hurricane Katrina.
But in Blanchard's career spanning nearly three decades, which includes roughly 50 film scores and more than a dozen albums, he never once recorded an album here.
That is until now.
The Radiators - Recommendation of the monthA couple of weeks ago Dan Phillips recommended The Radiators to me. He runs the Home of the Groove blog, which is all about the New Orleans Groove. I had never heard of The Radiators, but I love New Orleans music like Dr. John and The Meters. So I was interested. Then I got a message from Jay Rosenberg of Radz Records, who does publicity (among other things) for The Radiators, telling me I would probably like their latest release, "Wild & Free". Lucky me got sent a copy, and for sure: me like it lots! Now I don't mean this blog to be a platform for advertising, but if it's good, it's good and I will recommend it. And this is. Listening to it first time around I was reminded of The Meters, Willy DeVille, and Los Lobos, but with plenty Southern rocking going on and enough accent on instrumental excursions. I am allowed to post two tracks, so check out "Like Dreamers Do" and "Suck The Head". I found this video of "I Don't Speak Love" on YouTube, where there is lots more Radiators stuff to be found. But for easy access, start here:
Live Reviews: Juice, George Porter Jr., Groovesect, Gravity A and more
All I cared about was that George Porter Jr. was hanging out near the tents, as was Billy Iuso, both of whom were on the bill to play that night. A little while later the sounds and songs of Mardi Gras called me inside where I found New Orleans jammers Juice playing a set with George Porter Jr. on bass, Joe Krown sitting in on keys, and Billy Iuso adding guitar to the mix. There were also some guest percussionists and there was even a conga player in the audience – though I couldn’t tell if it was played by an audience member or an invited musician. With the lines between floor and stage-crowd and musician properly blurred, it quickly became clear that Mardi Gras was upon us and everyone there would lend a hand in letting the good times roll.
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