Invitation - Blues Symposium at the Manship

I just received info about Tabby's Hoodoo Party and 21st Century Blues Symposium . I'm especially interested in checking out "New Orleans Music in Exile" by filmmaker Robert Mugge.

Check out a video of the opening of the film.



Check out this clip featuring the Iguanas. This was my introduction to the band, and I definitely want to check out more of their groove. Very cool.

3rd Anniversary - The Saints are Coming and Music Rising

3 years ago, on Sept. 25, 2006, the Superdome reopened and Music Rising raised NOLA's voice high. It was such an awesome event and outreach! It was an honor to be there on the field that night celebrating New Orleans' rebirth, strength and courage. Thanks to everyone involved, and to those who continue to care about NOLA's music culture.

NYTimes corrects reporter's "Katrina Shorthand"

Read about the NYTimes correction, and I encourage you to read John Mcquaid's write up as well. Especially tune into the follow-up comments posted by New Orleanians.

Please do it. Speak of the disaster factually, get your mind out of that crazy blame game towards the NOLA citizens, and help shift understanding towards the truth.

New York Times issues correction to reporter’s description of New Orleans’ flooding

The New York Times has issued a correction to one of its reporters’ rendition of what happened in metro New Orleans on August 29, 2005.

This is important because a prominent news source like the New York Times has much influence over what America understands about New Orleans.

It seems that on August 13, reporter Timothy Egan employed some overly brief, thus inaccurate wording to describe what caused the 2005 flooding. Such shorthand can lead many to believe New Orleans was simply overwhelmed by a natural disaster rather than the truth – that metro New Orleanians were mainly victims of structural engineering failures.

So the next day, the New York Times editorial board received a massive batch of letters from Levees.org supporters pointing out the unethical and harmful use of “Katrina shorthand.”

And two days later, noted author John McQuaid, co-author of Path of Destruction , joined in the rollicking discussion. “This is not a minor semantic point,” he correctly observed.

The NYTimes’ book review section’s editor issued a correction on September 6.

The correction was satisfactory. And it was significant.

And we hope this is the first of many such corrections to be issued by major news sources all across the country.

Because to say Katrina flooded New Orleans is like saying traffic wrecked the Minneapolis bridge.

Both revealed structural flaws. Both revealed blatant civil engineering incompetence.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue performs in Vancouver

A photographer friend of mine who lives in Canada got to check out Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue at a music festival this past August. Not only did she attend two performances, she also interviewed and photographed them. It's a wonderful connection since she's been so supportive of New Orleans recovery. She did a great job projecting the energy of the band. Thank you, Donna!

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

by ThePortal on Aug.23, 2009, under Concert Reviews

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, BC

August 15+16, 2009

by Donna Mair

I first heard of Trombone Shorty from my New Orleans friend Irene, who volunteered much of her time doing cleanup after Hurricane Katrina. As a volunteer she was invited to participate in the Half-time show for the re-opening of the Superdome where she met Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews). She was so smitten with his performance and personality, that she made me promise to go listen at his Myspace. I did and I was just as smitten.

Flash forward four years later, and I hear that Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue are coming to Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Fest, and I’m so excited; I can hardly believe it!

So… what was the show like? What is Trombone Shorty like? Incredible. Amazing. Hip. Stunning. Professional. Young!

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue performed early Saturday evening on the Main Stage to a packed out audience, and as the music permeated the Fair Grounds, more and more people wandered over to find out where the party was. The music was snappy; Jazz, New Orleans style, but with a youthful Rock/Funk exuberance to it that attracted many people that might not otherwise appreciate Jazz. Instrumentals are combined with lyrics in some songs, improptu Scat singing in others to create a style of music unique to this band.

It’s not just about the music though; it’s a complete performance. When I spoke with the band later that evening, Trombone Shorty explained that they often go out on stage with only a few definite songs in mind, and fill in the setlist as they perform- gauging the audience’s reaction to know which direction to take and what sort of performance to gift them with.Each audience is unique; why should each performance be the same, is their philosophy.

Our show included a very cool ‘duel’ between Peter ‘Rabbit’ Murano on guitar and Mike ‘Bass’ Ballard on bass, which ended with Mike flat on his back (still playing exceptionally, I might add), and Trombone Shorty and Trixzey (Clarence Slaughter/sax) in the background in stitches. Drummer JoJo (Joey Peebles) got into the action by standing up to watch the exchange, pounding the kit to maintain a perfect backbeat for the two to work off of. It was an unexpected finale that left me (and the crowd) wanting more.

I was fortunate enough to catch two Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue shows at the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues festival - the band played Sunday afternoon on the Blues Stage - and just as they had stated the night before; the setlist was not the same, nor was the performance of the band - how could it be? The audience vibe and reactions were completely different than the evening before! This time, the show was brass heavier, with Trombone Shorty switching easily between trombone and trumpet, and more sax by Trixzey with the band at one point all dancing the same moves and Trombone Shorty easily getting the audience to it’s feet to join in the dance moves. The show culminated with a New Orleans style procession of brass - Trombone Shorty and Trixzey jumped out into the audience to wind their way through the crowd, picking up followers along the way, then jumped back on stage to finish it off as only they could - each band member traded his instrument with someone else - Trombone Shorty on drums, drummer Jojo on lead guitar, Peter ‘Rabbit’ moving to saxiphone, Trixzey giving up his sax in favor of bass guitar and Mike hitting the trombone - and the amazing thing is they sounded ‘almost’ as good!

This band has been together since 2000, since high school. They play together, jam together, travel together, and you can cleary see they enjoy being on stage with each other. This was their third time in Canada in less than three months; on average, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue play 100-160 shows a year nationwide.

Jojo, Peter 'Rabbit', Trixzey, Trombone Shorty, Mike

You can find more info about Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue at the links listed below. And you can listen (for free) on their Myspace so be sure to check them out.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue website

Trombone Shorty Myspace

:Salmon Arm Roots Blues Fest, Trombone Shorty, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave

New Orleans Thanks You

This is a golden find out of the Crescent City. http://www.neworleansthanksyou.com/Thank_You.html

As a volunteer, I had always felt the need to thank those we were working with for returning to the devastation to rebuild their lives. It takes a lot of courage, faith, and trust to do so, and it's not to be underestimated. The appreciation is truly mutual.