Festin’ With No Restin’!

The few days between the weekends offer a quieter respite with afternoon jam sessions at Fritzel’s and casual evening performances while welcoming the various international musicians arriving for the weekends. Rob Pearce (tb) made it back from the UK and dozens of other talented musicians were getting ready to perform at Fest.

The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park offers free afternoon lectures and performances and the first one we attended had Catie Rodgers (tp/v) with Park Rangers Jade Perdue (p), Kerry Lewis (bs), Hunter Miles Davis (dr), Matt Hampsey (gtr) and Saskia Walker (v). This is the only National Park that is dedicated to music, specifically the New Orleans traditional genre, and most of the Rangers are musicians themselves.

The following week we had an hour with the piano stylings of Joe Kennedy and then a later afternoon with the Park Ranger musicians and Christien Bold (v) with Tim Brown on vibes. The convenient location makes the visits fun and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon on a lazy mid-Fest day! During the second week of Fest, Steve Pistorius (p) had his Porch Pals with Norbert Susemihl (tp), Tyler Tompson (bs) and Ellis Dyson (bj). Steve is one of the first musicians I met back in 1989 and always a perennial favorite. Norbert visits from Denmark/Germany several times each year and is in literally dozens of bands as a sideman always eager and ready to blow!!

Of course, Fritzel’s has live music every day from about 12:30 pm to midnight so we are there often. Multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling from Sweden and California had a three night gig at Fritzel’s and she is always a treat. Seeing her play a trombone, then grab a trumpet while tap dancing then playing a slide whistle – well, you have to be there! Her various Carling Family bands are known all over Europe and she has a lot of videos on social media with her relatives and friends in the bands. Kevin Ray Clark (tp) manages a great front line with her too!

Maison Bourbon is always a good stop on the way back to the hotel and Danny Rubio (p/tuba) and his Catahoula Music Company, featuring Jeff Kreis or Jack Pritchett on trumpet, Ryan Burrage (reeds), Josh “Jams” Marotta (dr), Joe Cea, Leslie Martin or Zach Wiggins on piano, Dylan James (bs) or Spencer Knapp or LG Sullivan (dr) with Pam Murphy on vocals performs four nights a week until midnight and sometimes later. Maison has different musicians the other three nights and sometimes an earlier set on the weekends.

Mahogany Jazz Hall on Chartres has excellent music nightly and many of the same musicians rotate throughout the clubs. Co-owner Kate Wimmer Fulton makes everyone feel welcome!

The first weekend of Jazz Fest in Economy Hall (our tent for traditional jazz) opens with Kid Simmons and his Local International Allstars. Norbert had the next set with his Allstars and Kerry Lewis (bs), Shaye Cohn (p), Craig Klein (tb), Gregory Agid (cl) and Jason Marsalis (dr). Next local icon Gregg Stafford (tp) and his Jazz Hounds filled the stage. Gregg took over the leadership of this band after Danny Barker’s death in 1994. Lena Prima did wonderful tributes to her dad, Louie, that had the audience rocking and Aurora Nealand’s Royal Roses with James Evans and Rex Gregory had some unique arrangements on various reed instruments. Favorite Jamil Sharif (tp) closed the set for the day and the various audiences left the stages with incredible smiles after the first day of Fest!!

Another visit to Fritzel’s to catch Gunhild Carling again and a few other stops before calling it a perfect day! Day Two started out with Mark Brooks (bs) beaming with his son Marlon on drums while next up was Tim Laughlin (cl) who is always well received with Duke Heitger (tp), Charlie Halloran (tb), David Boeddinghaus (p) and Hal Smith (dr), also a prolific contributor to this publication and a wealth of historical early jazz knowledge. Wendell (tp) and Caroline (cl) Brunious were up next with their band including nephew Andrew Le Duff as Grand Marshall for the rousing second line in the tent. Locals Tom McDermott and David Boeddinghaus were joined by New York’s celebrated composer/arranger Terry Waldo for a tribute to Ragtime Piano Legends. With some introductions and explanations, the tunes became an entry into the world of Ragtime, that preceded the Jazz Era in the 20’s. Now it was time for some marching and the Treme Brass Band led the audience around the tent. Bassist John Joyce’s Smoking Time Jazz Club with our pal Jory Woodis on clarinet is a fantastic younger group of talented professionals.

Banjoist Hunter Bergamy’s Garden of Joy is another group of young musicians with lots of energy and with Zach Lange (tp) and Colin Myers (tb), favored the many older tunes. Fifth generation New Orleans musician and clarinetist Louis Ford and his Flairs had a terrific set with Richard Scott (p) and Jamil Sharif (tp) right before Preservation Hall and its ten member Brass Band filled the stage with trumpets, sousaphones, various saxes, trombones and drums!

Trombonist Craig Klein presented a tribute to Waldren “Frog” Joseph, a New Orleans trombone legend who passed away in 2004. With several family members on stage, and multiple trombones, Craig gave a brief history of Frog’s contributions to the genre. Japanese native Haruka Kikuchi who has lived in New Orleans quite some time now, first heard “Frog” in her high school and was smitten then. Now an extremely accomplished trombonist, it was an honor for her to appear in this tribute.

Don Vappie (bj/gtr) and his Creole Jazz Serenaders took us a bit south to Cuba and the islands. Don and his seven other band members included Mark Braud and Jamil Sharif (tp) with Doug Belote (dr), Tom Fischer and Alonzo Bowens (reeds), Mike Esnow (p) and Richard Moten (bs), the Caribbean got a little closer!

Lars Edegran (p) and his Ragtime Orchestra took us back to that era and Dr. Michael White’s Original Liberty Jazz Band gave us a chance to hear his new composition Ghosts of Congo Square. Vocalist Thais Clark sang my all-time favorite Hornman Blues in her very own inimitable style.

New York songbird Catherine Russell had her own trio with her and special guest Wendell Brunious reminisced about another famous “Louis” – her dad Luis Russell whose orchestra often backed Louis Armstrong. As a noted arranger, Mr. Russell was well known in the 20’s-40’s era of jazz. Catherine is an extraordinary entertainer and her set was magical! And her bass player was a pirate!

Now known internationally Tuba Skinny had a wonderful set and Shaye Cohn (cnt/p) and her band are always worth watching and hearing! With trombonist Barnabus Jones and Craig Flory (cl), the rest of the band swings as Robin Rapuzzi plays that washboard while jumping and tapping – a fun group and noted for their interest in lesser known compositions of the early era.

Although the Palm Court closed two years ago, Kevin Louis (tp) is keeping the spirit together with his Friday Night Jazz Band featuring Yolanda Robinson (v). Tom Fischer (cl), Connor Stewart (reeds), James Singleton (bs), Mari Watanabe (p), Craig Klein (tb) and Glen Finister Andrews (dr) remind us all how much we miss that venue.

A pleasant end to the first weekend had us again at the Jazz Playhouse for the evening with Richard Scott (p), Ryan Burrage (cl), Ted Long (bs) and Kyle Sharamitaro (dr) after a wonderful day!

The second weekend brought the New Orleans Rug Cutters to the first set with Ellis Seiberling (tb) and another amazing younger group of musicians. Clive Wilson (tp) and his New Orleans Serenaders had Hal Smith (dr), Kris Tokarski (p), Tom Saunders (bs), Seva Venet (bj), Charlie Halloran (tb) and Paris-based Tommy Sancton (cl) back for a set. Then the Hot Club with Matt Rhody (vln), Nobu Ozaki (bs), John Rodli (gtr), Russell Welch (gtr) and Christopher Kohl (cl) entertained us with some Django Reinhardt style classics.

This was the first of two days that the festival grounds were shut down at 4:00 pm because of lightning threats. As it turned out we were going to Snug Harbor after the rain stopped that evening to see Thais Clark and the Jazz Foundation of America sponsored 15+ member band with arrangers Christian Winther and Rod Paulin both on reeds while Andrew Baham (tp) assisted in the charts and preparations. It was truly a fun evening with Thais at her best and being highlighted with such a terrific band was a dream. Lots of friends in the audience made it a special evening for visits and hugs!

The following day, beloved reed player Charlie Gabriel led his band with Preservation Hall veterans Ben Jaffe (sousa), Craig Klein (tb), Kevin Louis (tp), cousin Louis Ford (reeds), Freddie Lonzo (tb), Joshua Gouzy (bs), Kyle Roussel (p) and Shannon Powell (dr). Louis’ wife Sharron always manages to get to the sets when he is playing and we save a special seat for her, she is an enthusiastic audience member!

Lars Edegran arranged a tribute to Early Blues Singers highlighting Lizzie Miles, Ann Cook, Blue Lu Barker and Billie Pierce. With Herlin Riley (dr), Kerry Lewis (bs), Freddie Lonzo (b), Don Vappie (bj) and James Evans (cl), the vocalists Kiki Chapman and Thais Clark had a blast recreating some of the more famous blues numbers – with any double entendre included!

Drummer Gerald French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band with Rod Paulin (reeds), Paul Longstreth (p), Richard Moten (bs), Andrew Baham (tp), Detroit Brooks (gtr) and Haruka Kikuchi (tb) set the pace for vocalist Yolanda Robinson at center stage. More than half of this band showcased multi-generational New Orleans musicians on stage – “trad” history right before your eyes!

The next two days were perfect weather and the Paulin Brothers Brass Band were more than ready! Trombonist Dwayne Paulin stated “without the past, there is no future” and explained some of the traditions of the brass bands. I remember when his father led the band and had each of his nine kids play a different instrument. Doc Paulin was the epitome of a “brass band dad” and the boys always had white shirts, black pants and black ties – crisp and clean!

Mark Braud’s Jazz Giants had a special treat for me. When Mark entered the stage and waved at us in the front row, he decided to change his set list and started off with the tune I always requested he play at Palm Court – Sugar Blues! No one plays it like he does with a special intro and ending and I was more than honored to be verbally acknowledged in his set – it was a special moment!

Dr. Michael White did a tribute to Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers and acknowledged Shaye Cohn (tp) as a true leader in the early jazz revival groups with her band, Tuba Skinny. Steve Pistorius (p), Tyler Tompson (bs), Freddie Lonzo (tb), James Alsanders (dr), Jamil Sharif (tp) and Seva Venet (bj/gtr) recreated a fantastic Black Bottom Stomp and other Morton favorites from 100 years ago!

Leroy Jones (tp) and his Finest with Katja Toivola (tb), Jason Stewart (bs), Brett Gallo (dr), Mike Clement (gtr) and Paul Longstreth (p) were in fine form followed by the Twisty River Band with Richard Scott (p), Ryan Burrage (cl), Bryan Besse (dr), Ben Fox (bs), Seva Venet (bj) and Catie Rodgers (tp). Another shout out from Richard with his original tune – A Minute of New Orleans – dedicated that one to me too! With the lyrics “I don’t want to miss a minute of New Orleans” I was in proverbial seventh heaven!

The last day of Fest had more-than-perfect weather and a day of saying goodbye to international artists and friends from all over the world! The New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra manages to get all 20+ members on that stage with their many instruments. They go back even earlier with their repertoire from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s – think of music played on passenger ships crossing the Atlantic ocean and they are always very entertaining.

Tommy Sancton’s (cl) Legacy Band had Clive Wilson (tp), Freddie Lonzo (tb), Richard Moten (bs), Lars Edegran (p), and Walter Harris (dr) with many standards followed by Gregg Stafford (tp) and his Young Tuxedo Brass Band with Daniel Farrow (sx), Michael White (cl), Dwayne Burns (tp), Joey Lastie (dr), and a few others got everyone ready for the N’awlins D’awlins Baby Dolls and various Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs marching and strutting groups throughout the tent. Encouraging audience members to “get up” and dance with them, it is always a fun addition to the festivities.

Vocalist and Traditional Jazz Camp co-founder, Banu Gibson, also had a treat for us, a fleur-de-lis shaped award for supporting the camp throughout its sixteen year history! Another shout-out on a near perfect day! Banu’s band had Stephan Tenney (tb), Catie Rodgers (tp), Kerry Lewis (bs), Hal Smith (dr), Charlie Halloran (tb), Tom Fischer (cl) and David Boeddinghaus (p) backing her vocals on memorable jazz tunes.

Another local icon and now internationally known clarinetist, Doreen Ketchens has a tremendous following and with her daughter Dorian (dr) and a photo of her late husband Lawrence on stage, she belted out several classic tunes with Stephen Walker (tb) and a few others by her side.

That evening took us back to the Jazz Playhouse for a nightcap to the second weekend of Fest. With Richard Scott (p) and his Twisty River Band, a relaxing evening had Catie Rodgers (tp), Ted Long (bs) and Kyle Sharamitaro (dr) in a lovely setting at the Royal Sonesta.

The very last day of our visit took us to Fritzel’s and Maison Bourbon to bid a farewell to many musicians and friends in the French Quarter. We will be seeing many of them again in October, which can’t come too soon!