WWOZ's 9th Annual Salute to the Mardi Gras Indians

Big Chief Darryl Montana of the Yellow Pocahontas

On Tuesday Feb 17th from 11 am to 2 pm (central) there will be a special three hour show dedicated to the Mardi Gras Indians. Joining show host Tom Morgan, will be author, poet and former WWOZ show host, John Sinclair. The show will include rare late fifties recordings of the "Red, White and Blue," a taped interview with Big Chief Tootie Montana, Jelly Roll Morton's Library of Congress recordings with him talking about Indian culture at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Stopping by will be Big Chief Juan of the Golden Comanches and David Montana of the Yellow Pochanotas. John Driver will also stop by to talk about the Mardi Gras Indian event his is producing for Mardi Gras afternoon in the Marigny.

Also included will be recordings made last year from the Mardi Gras Indian practice at Handa Wanda's and rare and new recordings from Tom and John's collection. This year we hope to have visits from Indian gangs during the show and much more. That's a very special Tuesday New Orleans Music Show on Feb. 17th. Tune in and learn more about the Mardi Gras Indians and their historical place in New Orleans Carnival.

Health Wanted: Snooks Eaglin (c/o Weekly Beat)

We've been worried about the health of beloved guitarist and singer Snooks Eaglin (pictured), who is being treated for prostate cancer. Recently, a call went out for blood because he had been hospitalized. He's out now and seems to be in recovery. Those who wish to help the Eaglins can contact his daughter Stacy Hunter at PO Box 10871, New Orleans, LA 70181 to see how to do so.

Here's a slightly outdated profile written by John Sinclair:

Human Jukebox: Snooks offers a gift for the wretched

Snooks Eaglin is the Crescent City's secret weapon, a blind bombardier of the electric guitar who plays, nearing age 60, with more intensity, taste, mastery, and musical command than most anyone you can think of. And the kicker is, he gets better all the time.

The past 10 years -- since Snooks signed with BlackTop Records -- have been good to Eaglin's fans, giving us many hours of musical enjoyment by way of his albums (Baby, You Can Get Your Gun, Out of Nowhere, Teasin' You, and Soul's Edge), his exhilarating performances at JazzFest and around New Orleans, and some rare personal appearances outside Louisiana. His early work as a street singer is available on several CDs; his great R&B sides of 1960-'63, produced by Dave Bartholomew, were reissued by Capitol in 1995 as The Complete Imperial Recordings.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

NolaFunk Lagniappe

Radiators rarities surface on new "Wild & Free" compilation

Malone, singer/pianist Ed Volker, guitarist Camile Baudoin, bassist Reggie Scanlan and drummer Frank Bua have gotten through 30 years and counting. As evidenced by the three decades of audio odds and ends collected on "Wild & Free" (Radz Records), the Radiators have remained remarkably true to their unique identity as a Big Easy Little Feat.

They have issued nearly as many live albums as studio albums, indicative of their priorities. The stage is where they shine. They've supplied the soundtrack for everything from hometown Mardi Gras bacchanals to funky throwdowns in such un-funky locales as the St. Paul, Minn., theater where Garrison Keillor broadcasts "Prairie Home Companion."

I Love a Parade

The Storyville Stompers is a brass band that plays traditional New Orleans music, the kind that jazz and Dixieland are based on. They are known for their performances at Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, The French Quarter Festival and numerous other national and international celebrations.

When they are around, everything else stops.

The band parades on foot through the streets of the city with a drum major leading as only a New Orleans drum major can, with a lively step and the waving parasol that that has become a legendry part of the New Orleans tradition.

Through the Storms: Not even Hurricane Katrina or the murder of a member could keep the Hot 8 Brass Band from making music

For decades, the bands have renewed their sound in tandem with changes in popular culture. In the 1970s, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band shepherded funk and soul sounds into the tradition. The Rebirth Brass Band followed in the 1980s, and then the New Birth Brass Band, to name just the most prominent.

When Pete helped found the Hot 8 in 1995, a new generational change was afoot. New Orleans is a strong hip-hop city, with its own local "bounce" style, and the home to artists like Master P and Lil' Wayne; the Hot 8 sound makes room for rapped segments and staccato hip-hop beats, while sticking to classic brass-band instrumentation.

John Sinclair Archives #108

The original cast of the John Sinclair Radio Show was reunited at last on a bright Saturday afternoon at The Dolphins coffeeshop, and we celebrated with a program of terrific music, most of it from New Orleans, by Rockin’ Jake, Cyril Neville, Ivan Neville, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Rockie Charles, Guitar Slim Jr., Ironing Board Sam, Little Freddie King, Coco Robicheaux, Shannon McNally, and Bobby Charles.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Own Hollywood!

His trombone playing was powerful and amazing as always, but man, something about his trumpet solos last night. 80+ years of trumpet playing, from Louis to Wynton, burst from Troy's horn in small, but brilliant, doses.

Photo of the Day 7/21/08

By Dino Perrucci Photography

Rebirth Brass Band - BB King's, NYC 7/10/08

Theresa Andersson Album/Tour

Fans have another chance to be dazzled by Theresa Andersson's live show this summer. After wrapping up a tour in Sweden, she will return this August for an extensive U.S. tour. With her toes turning knobs, as her hands strum guitar or bow a violin, and she sings with a charismatic smile that belies her intense concentration, Theresa Andersson's performances are little masterpieces of functional choreography.

2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Photo Gallery

I have photographed the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, both casually and on assignment, for over 20 years and it’s always a joy. These photos reflect my tastes (and this year, some weather conditions), which always run to the blues, jazz and roots end of the spectrum.

420 New Orleans Music Show #24