Friday, September 25, 2009

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

NolaFunk Lagniappe

Dr. John: Iko Iko


Albumcoverdrjohnsgumbo


Sugar Boy and the Cane Cutters recorded this song in the early 1950s, with Professor Longhair holding down the piano chair. But Dr. John staked his own claim to ownership of "Iko Iko" at the Van Nuys session for his 1972 release Dr. John's Gumbo, where he delivered a modern-day classic of New Orleans music. The good doctor brings out all of the contradictions submerged in this style of performance. "Iko Iko" is loose and tight at the same time, on the beat and off, hot and cool—and, most important of all, has "Party" written all over it with a capital P. But before you get out on the dance floor, check out the ingredients here—in particular the drum part, which demonstrates how an old-school march beat can morph into a tasty funk groove. You don't really need to know what "Iko Iko" means to enjoy it, but a grad student could spend a month deciphering the Creole patois and the song's various significations. The tune was originally recorded under the name "Jock-A-Mo"— which means jester. A "spy dog" is a lookout. Marraine is a godmother, etc. But even the composer claims he was just imitating phrases he had picked up from Mardi Gras Indians, and didn't really know what they meant. He thought it was some sort of victory chant. Works for me. Next time you come up on the winning side—in the office football pool, with pocket aces in a hand of Texas hold 'em, with a lottery ticket from the convenience store—try it out: Jockomo feena nay.


Yeah, You Right: Kirk Joseph
This week's guest is sousaphonist extraordinaire and Dirty Dozen Brass Band co-founder Kirk Joseph. The 7th Ward native helped establish the modern brass band sound in New Orleans and pushed the boundaries of playing big brass. His band, Backyard Groove, plays all over town at clubs like Le Bon Temps Roulé and d.b.a.

Q: Crystal or Louisiana Hot Sauce?
A: Crystal.

Q: Zapp’s or Tater Tots?
A: With a meal, Tater Tots. But for a snack, gimme Zapp's.



It took a lot of effort for trumpeters Jeremy Davenport and Kermit Ruffins to make 'Mr. New Orleans' sound so effortless

Jazz trumpeter and vocalist Jeremy Davenport recently released "We'll Dance 'Til Dawn," his first studio album in more than a decade, on Basin Street Records. Reviews have praised the album's seemingly effortless grace and polished sense of style.

But the behind-the-scenes story of its creation is not as tidy.


Video: Jeremy Davenport and Kermit Ruffins record a song






Dave Bartholomew: My Ding-a-Ling

Albumcoverrisquebluesdavebartholomew
Dave Bartholomew ranks among the most important individuals in the history of New Orleans music, but his name never became widely known among the general public, and most of his influence was exerted behind the scenes. He was a songwriter, talent scout, arranger and general man-about-town, whose greatest successes came via his partnership with Fats Domino, which resulted in some 40 hit songs. Yet Bartholomew also recorded his own material, as he demonstrates on this 1952 track. "My Ding-a-Ling" became a huge hit, but for another rock legend—Chuck Berry, in this instance, who brought it to the top of the charts in 1972. In fact, this was the only number one hit in Berry's career. Bartholomew might have grumbled that he deserved the big success, but he would only be foolin' himself. In 1972, many deejays refused to play Berry's version because of its thinly-disguised double meaning, and there are still lots of oldies stations that won't touch it even today. And Berry (unlike Bartholomew) added the explanation that he was simply singing about "silver bells upon a string"—a clarification that did little to stop the calls for censorship. So Bartholomew could hardly have had high expectations back in '52, when it was little short of a miracle that this tune was even recorded.

Grayson Capps and the Stumpknockers - 8.9.09 - Live at the World Cafe







NOMRF ReDefines 8/29 on the 4th Katrina Anniversary


It's almost impossible to think about the city of New Orleans without its trademark and historical music community. The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, Inc. has provided housing, furniture, transportation, instruments and anything else it can to assist those still struggling to rebuild their lives post Katrina. The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, Inc., a grass roots certified 501c(3) non-profit was founded in Internet cafes and FEMA rooms by musician Jeff Beninato and his wife Karen and is supported by volunteer graphic designers, publicists, video producers and friends of New Orleans music including Wilco, REM, Dr John and Ian Hunter.




Jango Song Of The Day-Robert Parker


The 1966 top ten hit Barefootin' was New Orleans R & B singer Robert Parker's only chart hit. So thechnically he's a one hit wonder but he's been a fixture in the New Orleans music scene since the late 40s and was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame in 2007. He was born Oct. 14, 1930 in New Orleans. He started out as a sax player for Professor Longhair and played on his 1949 hit Mardi Gras In New Orleans. He played sessions in the 50s with Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew, Ernie K-Doe, Irma Thomas and many others. He signed as a solo act with Ace Records in 1958. In 1959, he had some regional success with the instrumental All Night Long on Ron Records. But Parker's big break came when he signed with Wardell Quezerque's Nola label in 1965. Barefootin' was the first single and it reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. Parker recorded some more singles and an album but was unable to repeat the success of Barefootin'. All his recordings with Nola are on this comp. Parker was actually more popular in England and toured there in the late 60s. He recorded for Shelby Singleton's SSS International in 1969 but other than a rerecording of Barefootin' in 1984 for the Charly label, he hasn't recorded in years though he continues to perform regularly in New Orleans clubs. Robert Parker was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame in 2007 and here's his performance of Barefootin' at his induction ceremony.






Allen Toussaint rides new wave of inspiration








Live Music Dominates New Orleans Nightlife




Live NolaFunk NYC Download:

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk from Celebrate Brooklyn @ Prospect
Park 7/30/09



Upcoming: the subdudes @ BB King's / Sept. 24

Subdude-090509

The Subdudes are back and are about to make their 429 Records debut with a their first new recording in five years, Flower Petals. From their charmed beginning as the Tipitina's bar band in 1987, the group has built upon the instant musical chemistry they encountered all those years back and remained a much loved musical entity despite a roller coaster ride of fortunes both good and bad.

Purchase 1/2 Price Tickets HERE



Big Sam webcast on WWOZ today.

About Big Sam's Funky Nation









WWOZ 90.7 FM TODAY @ 2PM
(Eastern Time)
tune in to WWOZ 90.7 fm!
Big Sam's Funky Nation
will be ON AIR with George Ingmire
on the New Orleans Music Show.
You don't need to be in NOLA to hear it! Tune in online @ wwoz.org









Thursday, September 10, 2009

Levee.org Opens a New York Chapter

c/o New Orleans Ladder









Levees.org, a New Orleans-based non-profit formed after Katrina with a mission of raising awareness about the nation's levee systems, today announced the opening of its sixth chapter. The New York chapter joins existing chapters in Louisiana, Florida, California, Illinois and Oregon, boasting in total over 24,000 supporters.

"Forty three percent of the American population lives in counties protected by levees," said Sandy Rosenthal, Founder and Executive Director of Levees.org. "The failures that occurred during Katrina could happen elsewhere. With over 300 supporters in New York, a chapter there, which is vulnerable to storm surge, has been a priority since our inception in 2005."


Levees.org's Board of Directors has appointed Brian H. Schaffer as Director of its New York Chapter. Schaffer brings with him over ten years of corporate communications experience, encompassing a wide range of communications disciplines. He has worked on behalf of not-for-profit, publicly traded and private clients, designing and implementing comprehensive and award-winning communications programs. Schaffer's counsel and leadership will be instrumental in helping levees.org increase its national presence and educational outreach efforts.


"The opening of a New York chapter will be critical in helping us to raise awareness that the flooding caused to the New Orleans metro area during Hurricane Katrina was not merely the result of the hurricane itself, but the worst civil engineering failure in our nation's history," said Schaffer.


The Board of Directors of Levees.org has also appointed Gabrielle Foss to the position of Assistant Director who will aide Schaffer in both recruitment of new membership supporters and the establishment of an infrastructure for the new chapter. Foss is a New Orleans native and her experiences after the levees failed will lend a unique perspective on the issues of levee protection.


www.levees.org


Upcoming: Jambalaya Brass Band @ BB King's (FREE!) tomorrow night.

THE JAMBALAYA BRASS BAND

NYC's Ultimate New Orleans Party Band


2009-09-11
Friday (9/11) @ Midnight

Doors @ 11:30PM


CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP ON THE GUEST LIST (I.E. FREEBIE) FOR THIS SHOW

On This Date (September 10, 1999) Beau Jocque / Acclaimed Zydeco Performer

c/o themusicsover


Beau Jocque (Born Andrus Espree)
November 1, 1953 – September 10, 1999



Beau Jocque was a Zydeco singer and accordion player who came to prominence in Louisiana during the ’90s. With his band, the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, Jocque injected rock and funk into the Zydeco sound, endearing him to fans throughout the local clubs. A big man, standing 6′ 6″ and weighing in at nearly 275 pounds, Jocque died of a fatal heart attack at the age of 46.



On This Date (September 10, 2005) Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown

c/o themusicsover

Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown

April 18, 1924 – September 10, 2005


Although Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown is typically categorized as a blues artist, his music included elements of jazz, country, R&B and Cajun. Besides being a singer and songwriter, Brown was adept at several instruments – the guitar, harmonica, fiddle, drums and viola. Brown got his big break in 1947 when he attended a T-Bone Walker concert in Houston, Texas. When he learned that Walker became sick and could not go on, Brown grabbed a guitar and hopped up on the stage where he proceeded to dazzle the crowd with “Gatemouth Boogie.” That performance sparked a career that spanned almost 60 years. Over the years, Brown performed as many as 300 shows a year and recorded for some of the most respected labels in the business, a list that included Aladdin, Peacock, Verve, Rounder, and Alligator. In 1983, he won the Best Traditional Blues Album Grammy for Alright Again!. Suffering from lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease, Brown was living just outide of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005. His house destroyed, he was moved to his childhood hometown of Orange, Texas where he passed away less than two weeks later. He was 81 years old. Sadly, when Hurricane Rita hit in 2008, Brown’s bronze casket was unearthed and floated away. It was properly re-buried later.





Monday, September 7, 2009

In Pictures: Groovesect feat. Houseman & Wild Magnolias, & Honey Island Swamp Band @ Sullivan Hall

By Dino Perrucci Photography


Houseman - Sullivan Hall, NYC 8/28/09




Wild Magnolia's w/Groovesect - Sullivan Hall, NYC 8/28/09


Wild Magnolia's w/Groovesect - Sullivan Hall, NYC 8/28/09


Honey Island Swamp Band - Sullivan Hall, NYC 8/28/09


Honey Island Swamp Band - Sullivan Hall, NYC 8/28/09



Thursday, September 3, 2009

GULF COAST'S GLASS STILL A BIT EMPTY

c/o Headcount


As we remembered the victims of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, the fourth anniversary of the disaster, the devastated cities hit by the hurricane are still working hard to recover. While much of the world has moved on to focus on the next disaster, HeadCount is tackling Gulf Coast Recovery as one of six issues in our "What's Your Issue?" campaign. Why? Because if the music community doesn't keep this issue on people's minds, then who will? So every six weeks you will find the latest developments in Gulf Coast Recovery right here in your inbox.


  • The latest struggle relates how to get the necessary funding to New Orleans and its communities given its current population situation. Some estimates show that about 75% of New Orleans pre-Katrina population has returned to the area. People return every day. However, that still leaves a quarter of the pre-Katrina population not living in the city. With the 2010 census only a year away, leaders from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and Mayor Ray Nagin are working hard to get a count of residents who may return to the area and make sure they are represented in the census. This would enable more federal funds and larger congressional representation. Opponents of the idea state that it could hurt the areas where those residents currently live and give the nation an inaccurate count of where people are actually located.


  • Two prominent Louisiana lawyers and professors compiled a list of statistics about where Louisiana stands in 2009. While you can read all the statistics for yourself, there are a couple that are worth mentioning here: Only 52% of federal money allocated for Gulf Coast recovery has actually been received. New Orleans ranks number one in the nation when it comes to vacant residences.

  • If it seems like no one cares about Gulf Coast Recovery any more, you can take some solace knowing that many musicians do. Check out this interview on the HeadCount blog with Zach Velmer of Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) regarding the release of "Peaceblaster: The New Orleans Make it Right Remix." It's an album where all the proceeds go toward building a house in New Orleans through the Make It Right Foundation. Musicians in New Orleans are also the subject of "Treme," a new HBO series in development from David Simon, producer of "The Wire."

While some of the recent statistics are grim, there is much that can be done to turn things around. Follow HeadCount on Twitter or check out our Gulf Coast Recovery Issue Page to get daily updates. Want to go a step further? Write to Congress and tell your election officials how you feel about Gulf Coast Recovery. Or speak to your peers by writing for our blog. Make Your Voice Heard.



Wednesday, September 2, 2009