JazzFest

The 1st of May saw us at the New Orleans Jazz Festival... Opened at the Fais Do Do (Cajun dance party) stage with The Creole Zydeco Farmers... You can see a film of them right here



...don't know if it does anything for you but it got us up and dancing.

Next we saw the Carolina Chocolate Drops; a group of young black musicians who play Bluegrass music (guitar, harmonica, jug and lots of banjos)... A form which is associated with the poor, white, Celtic immigrants in Appalachia, and has at times seemed to be the music of the racist south. But the Chocolate Drops are evangelical in their desire to explain that in the nineteenth century this music was played and enjoyed by all... Their 50 minutes saw them move from academic oddity to the breakthrough hit of the festival, standing ovation from a packed Blues Tent.

We finished with native son Randy Newman who spent 90 minutes reminding us that the American people are not well represented by this administration... Wise, self-deprecating, funny and packed with irony.

Jake and the Missus in New Orleans

Lizzy discovers that Beignets (deep-fried, free-form chewy waffles) from the Cafe du Monde go down a treat with a cup of milky coffee...

Jake rides the deliciously titled "Zydeco Express" Streetcar.

Ponderosa Stomp

New Orleans began with the two-night Ponderosa Stomp... An event which began with a wedding where the groom tried to recreate his jukebox live; it was so successful that the Stomp is now in its seventh year and the groom has developed a reputation for persuading artists who rarely if ever appear to play.

One building, two nights, three stages and a multiplicity of choices.. Some of the notable acts we caught were Tammy Lynn, Ronnie Spector, Roky Erickson & The Explosives, Lazy Lester, Syl Johnson with the Hi Rhythm Section, the Mighty Hannibal, James "Sugarboy" Crawford (now selling God but still fine), Wiley and the Checkmates, Dr. John. It was absolutely wonderful.

Treasure Island

Here on a barrier island off Tampa for a bit of acclimatisation with the missus before heading off on the two-day haul to New Orleans...

Looks like we will be driving through a belt of thunder storms, which might slow us down a bit but means that the air on the other side will be fresh and sweet for a few days.

The hotel is comfortable, the food delicious (especially the Middle Grounds Grills...

http://www.middlegroundsgrill.com/

lemon infused crab cakes), weather is perfect, beach big and the company wonderful but it seems that I only need a couple of days in one spot to get itchy feet...

Wonderful Town

New York, my port of entry, manages to keep up its rate of constant change... Great holes in the ground where old, that's 20 year old buildings have been torn down; the glossy edifice that replaces them goes straight on to the architectural death row with a 20 year reprieve.

Saw three exhibitions, Dargarism at the American Folk Art Museum

http://www.folkartmuseum.org/default.asp?id=1895

OK show with some marvellous work (Henry Dargar, Paula Rego and Grayson Perry) diluted by some that was not so good.

R. B. Kitaj Little Pictures at Marlborough 57th Street

http://www.marlboroughgallery.com/artists/kitaj/artwork.html

A terrific show of quick, urgent work which, on occasion, speaks to you like great literature... Below the radar, straight to the soul.

The Paula Rego show at Marlborough Chelsea

http://marlboroughgallery.com/artists/rego/artwork.html

A show that appears relaxed... Plenty of pictures on the walls (no reverential minimalism here) and Rego's mannequin/puppets scattered about like weird security staff
but all the tension lies in the work, specific, lively and not a wasted square inch.

Then in the evening on to "Curtains" on Broadway,

http://www.curtainsthemusical.com/home.php

David Hyde Pierce as a stage struck detective in this musical within a musical, noire, comedy whodunit... Which gives a clue to the problem, the scatter gun pot shots at a bewildering variety of targets lack focus; but Hyde Pierce and Debra Monk are worth the 150 minutes.

Now it's on to La Guardia to head South and start the journey proper.

Jon Cleary

Warmed up tonight at the 100 club

http://www.the100club.co.uk/

by catching Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen

http://www.joncleary.com/

Jon Cleary returns to his London roots with his salty-sweet voice and masterful piano skills. He migrated to New Orleans aged 17; now, some 20 years later Jon is renowned for carrying on the indigenous sounds - Professor Longhair, Dr John, The Meters, etc - with a contemporary vision. The Absolute Monster Gentleman spin out wicked syncopated rhythms, sweet gospel harmonies and funky blues. OFFBEAT Magazine says: 'Quite possibly the tightest, funkiest band in New Orleans.'

Trying not to sound too much like Swiss Tony... Smooth, dirty and tight... Wonderful band so laid back and self-effacing. An amuse-bouche for New Orleans.

The Big Easy

For those who enjoy anticipation almost as much as the event itself, the plan for New Orleans is looking like this...

29th & 30th April tickets have been secured for The Ponderosa Stomp

http://www.ponderosastomp.com/

and on the 1st May the day should be spent at JazzFest

http://www.nojazzfest.com/

and the evening at the Rock 'n Bowl

http://www.rockandbowl.com/Historypage/history.html

to see The Legends of Zydeco including Buckwheat Zydeco and C.J. Chenier...

I don't believe it myself yet.