New Orleans ?

[groovesax]

I'm headed down to the Big Easy this week on a business trip. Definitely looking to check out some jazz during my down time. Time will be limited so if you have any suggestions as to the best place to see some NO jazz that would be great. Also entertaining the idea of bringing my axe so anywhere that you might suggest that would be hospitable to walk-ons?

[groovesax]

actually, i realize now that this same topic came up about a year ago but if anything new to add, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

[Mark R]

Groovesax, I personally would skip thinking about trying to sit-in unless you have a playing buddy already in NOLA that will let you jam with them on their gig. Not because of the musicians but the clubowners most times have their entertainment booked with the tourist traffic in mind and don't have jams on their agenda but the New Orleans themed music like Dixieland, Brass Band or established New Orleans bands that have been playing around town for years. As far as places to go, the premier jazz club is Snug Harbor. Also can't remember the name of the club 504..or something like that...features saxophonist Gary Brown...he plays well and has a good band. There are quite a few other good sax players....ones to watch for are Tony Dagradi with "Astral Project", Rebecca Barry, Clarence Johnson III. Both of the clubs mentioned are in the French Quarter area.....There is certain to be plenty of other great players I've not heard playing around town too. Some of the street players are great players as well.

[groovesax]

Right and I can respect that. Afterall, our band has acquiesed to letting people "perform" with us only to regret it (although the guy that fell off of the stage mic stand and all while singing "Get Ready 'Cause Here I Come" was entertaining albeit pathetic). Just thought that there might be some open mic kinda places down there. On the other hand, I'm just as content with the prospect of listening to some people who can cook so thanks for the leads.

[Nitetimer]

If you're still in town Friday night try to make it to The Dock out by the lake front. I'll be playing with a 9 piece band called The Distractions. It's not jazz but more like TOP & EWF. We start @ 10PM. ...& bring your horn.

[groovesax]

Nitetimer, sorry I wasn't able to see your post till after I'm came back. Unfortunately, I had to beat it out of town before Friday night since I had to play with my own band back in Philly, Anyway, I'll remember to check in with you the next time I get the opportunity to go to NO. As it was, I really didn't have much free time to do anything outside of meander on Bourbin St. and given that it was my first time there, it was an eye opening experience.

Would have liked to have the opportunity to get more of a musical experience, but the whole astmosphere of Bourbin St certainly needed to be absorbed, even if it is a touristy thing to do! Shades Charles Ives going from place to place where the sound of zeidico would be overtaken by blues then r&b then dixieland. Defintely was inspiring to absorb all that energy and then come back to Philly and impart my impressions of NO.

[Bloo Dog]

This is a response to another question in another thread about new Orleans. I think that this is a more appropriate place to post it. Please bear with me.

Hey Bloo Dog,

Did you ever play at Bennie's at Camp and Valance? That place alone gives me several stories to tell, but I won;t do that right now.

I'm in KY these days, but I heard Bennie's is shut down too.

The first time I ever played in a West Bank Mardi Gras parade was a real eye opener. There's a lot to see (and not to see) from Westwego to Algiers!

I found myself on a lot of really bizarre gigs in New Orleans. I played out two or three times with a band called Dogtooth. They sought me out after hearing me play with an originals band I was with. They wanted a saxophonist that could make horrible, even unnatural sounds with the horn. I was flattered up to the point where they explained that they heard me on a gig at Jimmy's and knew I was their guy.

Playing with Dogtooth was indeed the worst music of my life but they had really, really cool t-shirts.

My last gig in New Orleans was 1987, when something like 1,000 people were leaving the city every month. Though the Louisiana Exposition and World Fair was supposed to be a shot in the arm to the N.O. economy, I found myself competing with my high school band teacher for in-town jobs beginning about 1984. Jed's closed and reopened in different reincarnations; Jimmy's on Oak Street had problems; Huck's was, well, Huck's. The Boot on Napoleon didn't pay very well. Tipitina's was always a good gig where I never got scrod. The Dream Palace on Frenchman and Snug Harbor was good, but i got to play there on a Monday only. The Big Guns dominated the scene at Snug's: Jim Singleton, Johnny Vidacovich (probably the most conversationalist drummer ever) Ellis Marsalis, Tony DaGradi.

Tyler's stayed pretty busy too as I remember it.

Bennie's on Camp and Valance? I can't place it. I remember a place opening up near Camp and the upramp to the Bridge going to the Westbank. It was the Gator-something.

I remember Rosie's on Valance. I played there ONCE. Rosie was the heiress to Brown and Root which was eventually bought out by Haliburton. She had a thing for Gato Barbieri, and she'd book him even when he didn't have a tour in the states. I think Gato got stiffed by her a few times and quit coming. I remember being booked for a Thursday through Saturday gig at Rosies, not knowing that we were a replacement for no-show Gato. I was told to wear a hat and shades by their "booking agent."

Okay. We were a Latin/Salsa band, so i didn't question it.

It turned out that about a dozen people didn't get the message that Gato had canceled, we weren't told that we were a replacement for Gato.

You can take it from there. It was NOT pretty, especially after the trombonist and I found out that we would be paid not in money but in wacky dust in the dressing room. After two forty-five minute sets of being heckled by disappointed patrons, neither I nor the trombonist were happy about the pay arrangement. It was horrible. The trombonist and I quit the band right then because we had bills to pay and families to support.

And the 544 on Bourbon Street! I wonder if Monroe is still the manager and gary Brown is still playing there. I was real young and playing the early sets before Gary and his band feelings played. I was pretty much nowhere as a musician, but Gary was really cool. It was always, "Hey little brother." How can you NOT like a guy like that? (The 504 was on the other end of the street which was owned by an aging singer whose name escapes me at the moment. Her picture was bigger-than-life, and it never seemed to change. She was a pretty old babe).

I am trying to remember Bennie's though. It actually sounds familiar, but if it was after 1985, by then I was working out of town jobs because of the slim pickins . I played a lot of zydeco gigs with bands whose members were all named Fontaineaux, Thibodeaux, Landry, and Perez. This was WAAAAY out in the sticks. Places like lovely Bogalousa; Bunkie; Belle Chasse, Port Sulfur; Diamond.

One of the very last in-town set of gigs was at Charlie Brown's near the airport. It was with Ernie K-Doe one night, Frankie Brent the next, and I forget who we backed the next night. Frankie Brent didn't like me or my playing. I got REAL tired of playing "That's Amoure' ". Ah, and the Big Wheel on Claiborne Ave. I heard that Ernie K-doe's widow was trying to keep the place open before Katrina.

Then there was the Viking's Den down St. Bernard Hwy (I think it was the highway. It has been awhile). Lou and Charlie's on Rampart...The Jupiter Lounge and Small Arms Firing Range on whatever North Rampart turned into near the Desire housing project. (Now known as Katrina Ground Zero, I believe).

Whoa, and all of the honky tonks on Fourth Street upriver on the Westbank. FUN STUFF complete with real-life floozies who bought musicians drinks.

Wow. What a rush. I think I'll actually start practicing in earnest. Who knows? Maybe I'll be a hit when i reach my seventies (Which is a few decades away).

Bennie's. I need to get a New Orleans map.

Whoa. The memories of an amnesiac...

Ah... I remember the Dew Drop in on... Washington Ave was it?

Who was in Dog tooth? I might have known some of them. Bands changed their names overnight.

Anybody from New Orleans of the 70's through the 80's?

[Bloo Dog]

Nitetimer, sorry I wasn't able to see your post till after I'm came back. Unfortunately, I had to beat it out of town before Friday night since I had to play with my own band back in Philly, Anyway, I'll remember to check in with you the next time I get the opportunity to go to NO. As it was, I really didn't have much free time to do anything outside of meander on Bourbin St. and given that it was my first time there, it was an eye opening experience.

Would have liked to have the opportunity to get more of a musical experience, but the whole astmosphere of Bourbin St certainly needed to be absorbed, even if it is a touristy thing to do! Shades Charles Ives going from place to place where the sound of zeidico would be overtaken by blues then r&b then dixieland. Defintely was inspiring to absorb all that energy and then come back to Philly and impart my impressions of NO.

Before Katrina, Bourbon Street wasn't a touristy thing to do if you worked there. If you Stuck around you'd meet some strange characters, some old washed-up legends, and some of the strangest public entertainment to be had since Berlin, ca 1935.

[calisax]

I'm very envious. I've wanted to venture out that way to check out some local jazz clubs and what have you. Have fun!!!