Live music in Crescent City makes ‘hump day’ much more bearable
8th June 2015 · 0 Comments
By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer
There have been an increasing number of locale-oriented, day-oriented music events that keep mid-week in New Orleans lively. Wednesdays at the Square, presented in the Central Business District’s Lafayette Square closes out its schedule next week with the always-groovin’, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, led by trombonist, vocalist and dancin’ man Sam Williams kicking on June 10th.
That same evening, Wednesdays on the Point begins its weekly series along the Mississippi River in Algiers. This year, the neighborhood festival that invites all of those across the Big Muddy to come join them, presents a particularly impressive line-up of artists with the mighty, mighty, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band headlining on June 10, 2015. The group, formed back in 1983, won the coveted award for its 2011 album, Rebirth of New Orleans and came back equally strong with the release of 2014’s Move Your Body. Can a band be super sophisticated and funky at the same time? On this CD, Rebirth says, “Yes, we can!” As Marlon Brando might have said, “It shoulda been a contenda!” – for a Grammy.
The Wednesdays on the Point festival boasts some of New Orleans and Louisiana’s finest musicians. On June 17, harmonica player/accordionist/vocalist Johnny Sansone will be joined by the oh-so-soulful Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, the chief of the Golden Eagles and long-time friend and musical associate of the late Big Chief Bo Dollis. The performances run through July 29 with such strong acts as zydeco man Chubby Carrier (June 24), the keeper of the New Orleans style piano flame Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen with guest guitarist Walter “Wolfman” Washington (July 1) and more. Now that’s a strong schedule..
The free concerts at the lovely site near the Ferry landing begin at 5:30 p.m. with DJ Rik Ducci warming things up each evening. The shows are over at 8:30 offering plenty of time to catch the ferry — last boat at 9:30 pm — across the river.
The Creole Tomato Festival celebrates its 29th anniversary this weekend, Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, in and around the French Market. Two stages, one at the Old U.S. Mint and the other further upriver at the performance venue in Dutch Alley, will present live music all day beginning at 10 a.m. A stroll from one to the other offers lots of delicious temptations centered around the star of the show, the Creole tomato. As you leave, be sure to take some home and create your own delectable delights like fresh tomato sauce with basil and garlic over the pasta of your choice or just a great BLT.
Saturday’s highlights include trumpeter Leroy Jones at the performance tent at 3:30 p.m. Renowned in traditional jazz, he’s got some bebop goin’ on too and whatever the tune, his notes and spirit always ring true.
Sunday’s line-up has back-to-back sets by Cleary at 1 pm followed by the wonderful vocalist Stephanie Jordan at 3 p.m. Coming from the very musical and talented Jordan family, Stephanie puts her heart into material that ranges from straight-ahead jazz to New Orleans rhythm and blues. Though she’s been performing locally more often, she remains one of New Orleans’ best kept secret weapons.
Afro-Caribbean Party
Various Artists
(Putumayo Word Music)
The Putumayo World Music label is renowned for its theme-based compilations of music from around the globe as well as its colorful illustrated cover art. It travels to the islands of the Caribbean for this lively release and in doing so, finds their musical and cultural commonalities.
The journey begins in Martinique a country, a part of the African diaspora, that shares many musical and instrumental qualities with New Orleans. The tune, “La Grev Bare Mwen,” a beguine by native Kali features the banjo and clarinet as its main instruments. It’s clear that we share a brotherhood with this small island nation due to the mutual African influences and — because of its relationship with France – a jazz heritage.
The music journeys around the Caribbean to Haiti and Jamaica and makes port in Cuba for a trumpet-driven, traditionally based though modern influenced group Asere. A highlight of the album comes from guitarist Fred Ferguson, a former member of the Baha Men (“Who Let the Dogs Out”) and his band Graffiti. It’s a short but sweet tribute to a fellow Bahamian, folk singer and guitarist Joseph Spence.
Perhaps that’s what this album and many of Putumayo’s releases do best. They introduce listeners to artists and those who influenced them that they may have otherwise overlooked.
Afro-Caribbean Party is just that. The call and response of the multi-talented Jan Sebon, who teaches drumming and has performed with greats like jazz trumpeter Don Cherry and percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, reminds us of the importance of call-and-response that is central to music throughout the diaspora. Central too is rhythm. This is, after all, a dance party, and as we like to say around here, everybody’s having fun.
This article originally published in the June 8, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
