Celebrate the special Cultures of Black Indians and great music
18th March 2019 · 0 Comments
By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer
Tuesday, March 19 is St. Joseph’s Day and as the sun goes down the Mardi Gras Indians come out, as is the tradition, to roam both the uptown and downtown streets of New Orleans.
When the custom of the Black Indians “masking” on St. Joseph’s night began remains a mystery. The late Mardi Gras Indian Council Chief of Chiefs Robbe once recalled Indians out on the holiday when he first started masking in 1929. He also said he knew Indians who hit the streets on St. Joseph’s night before World War I.
Most Mardi Gras Indians concur that the custom originated because throughout this predominately Catholic city, which boasts a large Italian population, people enthusiastically observe St. Joseph’s Day. Years ago, the streets would be active with folks visiting food-laden altars constructed in the saint’s honor at churches, private homes and Italian-owned grocery stores. The Black Indians saw it as an opportunity to again don their suits and, in their own way, take part in the dynamics.
Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, who has said he no longer comes out for the holiday, once fondly remembered the nights back in the 1960s and 1970s when the gangs would stop by various houses and eat and drink and then go to the next home. “Mostly we went to different tribes’ houses and we went to the I.L.A. Hall (on South Claiborne Avenue) because they used to have (competitive) trophy giveaways there.”
In some ways, the Indians’ St. Joseph night activities resemble those on Carnival Day. Unlike Super Sunday procession, in which the Black Indians travel parade-like on a designated route and at a designated time, on St. Joseph’s the gangs arbitrarily meet each other on the streets and ritually “face-off” dancing and chanting.
The best places to catch the Mardi Gras Indians this night in the uptown area is at Second and Dryades streets and A.L. Davis Park. The streets between and leading to and from those locales are often filled with Indians. Downtown, St. Bernard Avenue has become an increasingly popular destination for the Black Indian tribes as well as North Claiborne Ave. Many of the downtown tribes, who initially come out in those areas, often head uptown later for the large gathering.
To see the Mardi Gras Indians’ beautiful suits during the day is always stunning. To experience the Indians on St. Joseph’s night holds its own certain magic and mystery.
Wednesdays at the Square Kicks Off Funkified
Spotting a guy doin’ some sharp steppin’ across a stage wielding a trombone, you can bet you’ve encountered Big Sam Williams. He knows how to roll and has been rollin’ across the nation leading his Big Sam’s Funky Nation. The band, which has been touring in support of its latest release, Songs in the Key of Funk Vol. I, lands back home and specifically in Lafayette Square on Wednesday, March 20 to kick off the Wednesday at the Square free concert series.
On the album, the band with trombonist and vocalist Big Sam, drummer Alfred Jordan, bassist Jerry Henderson, trumpeter and vocalist Drew Baham, guitarist Keenan McRae and keyboardist Kendrick Marshall, gets right down to the business of horn-filled funk that rages and bounces throughout the disc of original material. Wisely, Big Sam and the crew take some detours including its old-school New Orleans rhythm and blues take on “Gonna Help Brother Go Forth,” that boasts that special Crescent City sway. While there’s a slice of contemporary R&B on “Apple Pie,” Big Sam’s energy funkin’ it up is at the core of the album and certainly the upcoming show. Big Sam’s Funky Nation hits the stage at 6:30 p.m. with Rumple-STEELskin, led by steel guitar player Ed Williams who is a member of the on-the-rise group the Revivalists, opening at 5 pm.
Roger Lewis Debuts at Nickel-A-Dance
“We’re going to play music that makes people get up and shake something,” declares Roger Lewis. The noted saxophonist, who is making his Nickel-A-Dance debut at this week’s edition, Sunday, March 24, definitely has the right attitude for the dance happy crowd at Frenchmen Street’s Maison club for the free, early evening events.
Lewis is renowned for his inspired, free stylin’ baritone sax playing with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and boasts his position as an original member. When he’s not on the road with the Dozen, Lewis can be found blowin’ with the Treme Brass Band with whom he’s played with since the late 1960s. His creds include performing with the horn section of Fats Domino’s talent-filled band, joining the legendary pianist and vocalist in 1971. A graduate of SUNO where he studied with Edward “Kidd” Jordan, the baritonist hit the road traveling the chitlin circuit with the uniquely wonderful pianist/vocalist Eddie Bo back in 1962.
An extremely versatile musician, Lewis will lead his band with trumpeter Kevin Lewis, pianist Mari Watanabe, drummer Gerald French and bassist Kerry Lewis on two sets covering a variety of styles. Showtime is 4 p.m.
“I always like to think I play for the mind, body and soul,” Lewis has said.
And he always does.
This article originally published in the March 18, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
