Sunday, March 25, 2007
A Touch of the Old Life
Oh yeah - got a "new" truck. (I have a strange fascination with orange trucks)
That's it sitting in front of my new digs in a much safer part of town.
My truck's Italian cousin from down the street:
That's it sitting in front of my new digs in a much safer part of town.
My truck's Italian cousin from down the street:
STILL LIFE (though it might not seem so)
Musician's Village New Orleans
Put in a day at Habitat For Humanity here in New Orleans lower 9th ward, one of the worst areas hit by Katrina and sadly, I found it pretty disappointing viewing the organization from the prospect of joining on a managerial level (project manager).
(click on photos to enlarge)
I ran into someone last night who's been with them for the past year who described the essence of the problem. Apparently it's real, and solvable, but it will be difficult to bring about change without the threat of disclosure. We'll see what happens in the next couple of months.
But the efforts of the volunteers were tremendous. Beautiful, caring people building cute, simple homes.
Here are some pics of both:
(click on photos to enlarge)
I ran into someone last night who's been with them for the past year who described the essence of the problem. Apparently it's real, and solvable, but it will be difficult to bring about change without the threat of disclosure. We'll see what happens in the next couple of months.
But the efforts of the volunteers were tremendous. Beautiful, caring people building cute, simple homes.
Here are some pics of both:
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Serendipity
Went down to a local coffee house a coupla nights ago and was expecting pretty much nothing more than some local talent since it was free - and so there was. A brother/brother team from what seemed like the college down the street playing jazz from the 20's quite lamely. I became engrossed in a conversation with a guy who'd studied flamenco guitar in spain for a year (he's been playing for 45 years) and missed the intro of the next act (they have 4 or 5 acts a night) 
Well as my new friend bolted out to a neighborhood meeting, I became aware of the stunning talent that was beaming from the stage - far from what I had expected. The star of the show turned out to be a singer from asheville, so carolina or somewhere - she and the band (stephanie's id) were touring and somehow ended up there for the night. She had a bjorkish/fiona apple style of singing but very personally her self - not an imitatation - and it was very expressive. The hometown crowd loved it. She made percussion noises like a drum with her mouth - like I used to do, when I drove Nicky crazy doing it as I listened to music in the car. I told her she should meet nicky :)
The next night, about 4 blocks from my new place is a mansion called the Columns Hotel and every Tuesday they have a bonafide New Orleans jazz guitar player who the flamenco guy (Bill) told me not to miss. So I shoot over at 730 and he and a clarinet player start out the show and they're singin and jammin and this goes on for about an hour or so and the place is starting to fill up.
Nice people - wealthy artistic New Orleanians with good political awareness judging from the laughter in response to the "Chocolate City" song - referring to Mayor Nagin and the lack of progress here in NOLA. Well after they start cookin with some N'Awlins groove tunes all of a sudden from the back of the room comes this loud but sweet trumpet just jumpin in the jam - and playing so melodically and phrasing with such profound feeling, that I was blown away. Turns out it's Jack Fine, a 75 year old guy who has obviously been around more than a few blocks here in the Crescent City. I offered up a Louis Armstong tune I have loved for 35 years when they asked for requests, and always have affiliated with New Orleans: I Want a little Girl.
Well the joy that brought and the beauty of that horn blowin sweet in the night is a true testament of the special value that New Orleans has potentially to offer every night - a thing o' beauty to a music lover like me.
Well as my new friend bolted out to a neighborhood meeting, I became aware of the stunning talent that was beaming from the stage - far from what I had expected. The star of the show turned out to be a singer from asheville, so carolina or somewhere - she and the band (stephanie's id) were touring and somehow ended up there for the night. She had a bjorkish/fiona apple style of singing but very personally her self - not an imitatation - and it was very expressive. The hometown crowd loved it. She made percussion noises like a drum with her mouth - like I used to do, when I drove Nicky crazy doing it as I listened to music in the car. I told her she should meet nicky :)The next night, about 4 blocks from my new place is a mansion called the Columns Hotel and every Tuesday they have a bonafide New Orleans jazz guitar player who the flamenco guy (Bill) told me not to miss. So I shoot over at 730 and he and a clarinet player start out the show and they're singin and jammin and this goes on for about an hour or so and the place is starting to fill up.
Nice people - wealthy artistic New Orleanians with good political awareness judging from the laughter in response to the "Chocolate City" song - referring to Mayor Nagin and the lack of progress here in NOLA. Well after they start cookin with some N'Awlins groove tunes all of a sudden from the back of the room comes this loud but sweet trumpet just jumpin in the jam - and playing so melodically and phrasing with such profound feeling, that I was blown away. Turns out it's Jack Fine, a 75 year old guy who has obviously been around more than a few blocks here in the Crescent City. I offered up a Louis Armstong tune I have loved for 35 years when they asked for requests, and always have affiliated with New Orleans: I Want a little Girl.Well the joy that brought and the beauty of that horn blowin sweet in the night is a true testament of the special value that New Orleans has potentially to offer every night - a thing o' beauty to a music lover like me.
