"My name is Laurence Fishburne, I am an actor and I reside at 14---, Dolphin Street, NEW ORLEANS"
said the man we shall no longer call by the name of Morpheus because sleep-inducing he certainly was not.
Sleep wasn't a concern on the night of Jazz at Lincoln center's Higher ground benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, despite the 5hours-long program (no intermissions) and the perspective of an after-hours party at Dizzy's which eventually sent us all to bed at 4 am. Nor was hunger, if not that for soul nourishment, and that we got, a full supply to last for a lifetime. Blessed were the notes and the words, ripe was the entertainment provided both on and off stage. I felt satiated as never before and forever will I be grateful to the ones who made it happen.
I hereby formally thank, in random order and mentally taking a bow:
- Norman for wearing a pair of croc-shaped cufflinks he thought would be a tad too flamboyant, that is until he got there and caught a glimpse - an atomic glitter more like - of our neighbour's attire (picture a mummy wrapped in tinfoil, I mean, in a white nylon cum silver sequins overall, and cap)
- Murphy and his Law because if it hadn't been for them me and Pookalu wouldn't have sneaked out during TWO SEMINAL moments of the performance - Bill Cosby and Robin Williams. But since there is justice in the world, we got to catch up with Robin Williams at Diz, basking in the sweat pouring down his forehead and in the spit of his flow (Red Beans Condoleeza Rice): we were due the second chance, after all we did get a choc chip cookie for the atomic glitter mummy, who by the way didn't deserve it as she had bashed me for my hollering. "If you yell in my ear ONE MORE TIME", she said delivering one of those LOOKS, i almost felt my heels clicking and my voice go "yes m'am!"
- Laurence Fishburne, Harry Belafonte, Denny Glover, Tony Morrison: for being AR-TI-CU-LA-TE. For showing that criticism and protest and even outrage are better delivered in the company of such rare creatures as history, literature, a cutting yet polite wit, a voice born to subdue audiences, the elegance of a black dress floating on Sophie (Meryl Streep) who made the choice to be one of the best actresses alive, the elegance of a cane improvising Nureyev's figures in the air. Ain't no shame in checking the spelling of your fuck yous. I loved those men and women so pissed, so commanding, so supreme. I love them all.
- I loved Paquito D'Rivera teasing us with the riff from Salt Peanuts, playing it and then waiting for us to recognize it and go "Salt Peanuts! Salt Peanuts!". I'm a nerd, I know. Pookalu couldn't understand why I had suddenly gotten SO excited.
- I loved the music. I loved the music. I loved the music. I would have waited EIGHT hours, not FIVE, to hear Cassandra Wilson sing Come Sunday and Moody's Septet do the Majesty of the Blues. I mean, c'mon! If y'all have read my blog before you KNOW I am OBSESSED with the goddammned, I mean, GODBLESSED MOTB. My only regret, as we were all standing and bobbing heads and clapping hands and swinging hips and singing along, we missed RV's final shout (again, check out one of my prev postings, that shout has been praised on these pages before) - CRESCENT CITEEEEEEY!!! What, did I holler along? Of course!
- I loved those who made it possible. I loved LCJO and ALJO and all the guys in them, my all time favourites and the others too, cuz YumYum is right, they're unique on their own, but they're a force of nature and nurture and rapture when united. Insipration made them whole, wholesome fantabulous. My goosebumps wouldn't go away, and NO that's not my cellulite, in case you were wondering.
- I love Yum Yum for making it happen (for me and Pookalu). I love Moody for making it happen (for everybody). I love jazz for making me happen. And God bless the people of New Orleans.
*(for sake of clarity, everytime I say "New Orleans" I mean the whole Gulf coast - I on the contrary of someone else on K street am well aware that the disaster struck New Orleans and BEYOND)
Monday, September 19, 2005
Friday, September 09, 2005
Discovering hot water
Fema Director recalled to DC... Good news, together with the rumors suggesting a number of casualties far smaller than what was feared. The more I read the more I'm convinced that huge societal fault was at the very core of this disaster, and by that I don't mean the federal government's only and by that I don't mean the Republicans' only. Mother Jones: "Louisiana's mostly Democratic congressional delegation funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to questionable Army Corps of Engineers projects, while important hurricane protection measures went unfunded". And I have issues also with the way Mayor Nagin has handled the situation (also, his resume is about as crystal clear as Brown's). Who should we believe, who should we trust? Nicholas Lemann's on The New Yorker, Sept 12 2005:
"When, after Katrina passed, the levees broke and the pumps failed, another essential part of at least this New Orleanian’s mind was activated: the part devoted to doubt about our competence to operate the purely human aspects of our society. New Orleans is, and for a long time has been, the opposite of a city that works. It perennially ranks near the bottom on practically every basic measure of civic health. It’s true that the Bush Administration has repeatedly proposed cutting the budget of the Army Corps of Engineers, and that for years there has been a list of widely agreed-upon hurricane-protection measures that the federal government has chosen not to fund, with now horrific consequences. But it’s also true that, after the levees broke, we watched every single system associated with the life of a city fail: the electric grid, the water system, the sewer system, the transportation system, the telephone system, the police force, the fire department, the hospitals, even the system for disposing of corpses. Perhaps it is all the fault of the force of the storm; I suspect that, as we move into the yearned-for realm of reliable information, we will find out that society and nature were co-conspirators in the tragedy. And the societal fault won’t all have been the federal government’s.
...
It seems like a million years ago that President Bush had admirers who saw in him a Churchillian ability to rally a nation in crisis; last week, as both the President and Michael Brown, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offered bland, undignified, and ill-timed restatements of the obvious about the direness of the situation, you could practically see them thinking, I’m not getting blamed for this! But they were positively helpful next to Louisiana’s governor, who cried and said that we should all pray, and New Orleans’ mayor, who told citizens they should evacuate but didn’t say how, predicted a second major flood, which didn’t materialize, sniped at the federal authorities, and kept reminding everyone that the situation was desperate".
Bottom line, the big guys sitting by Churchill lamps in leather armchairs - almost all of them - screwed up and the "poveri cristi" (the helpless derelicts) paid the price. Nice. I guess as we say in Italy, "I just discovered hot water" - that is, nothing new.
"When, after Katrina passed, the levees broke and the pumps failed, another essential part of at least this New Orleanian’s mind was activated: the part devoted to doubt about our competence to operate the purely human aspects of our society. New Orleans is, and for a long time has been, the opposite of a city that works. It perennially ranks near the bottom on practically every basic measure of civic health. It’s true that the Bush Administration has repeatedly proposed cutting the budget of the Army Corps of Engineers, and that for years there has been a list of widely agreed-upon hurricane-protection measures that the federal government has chosen not to fund, with now horrific consequences. But it’s also true that, after the levees broke, we watched every single system associated with the life of a city fail: the electric grid, the water system, the sewer system, the transportation system, the telephone system, the police force, the fire department, the hospitals, even the system for disposing of corpses. Perhaps it is all the fault of the force of the storm; I suspect that, as we move into the yearned-for realm of reliable information, we will find out that society and nature were co-conspirators in the tragedy. And the societal fault won’t all have been the federal government’s.
...
It seems like a million years ago that President Bush had admirers who saw in him a Churchillian ability to rally a nation in crisis; last week, as both the President and Michael Brown, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offered bland, undignified, and ill-timed restatements of the obvious about the direness of the situation, you could practically see them thinking, I’m not getting blamed for this! But they were positively helpful next to Louisiana’s governor, who cried and said that we should all pray, and New Orleans’ mayor, who told citizens they should evacuate but didn’t say how, predicted a second major flood, which didn’t materialize, sniped at the federal authorities, and kept reminding everyone that the situation was desperate".
Bottom line, the big guys sitting by Churchill lamps in leather armchairs - almost all of them - screwed up and the "poveri cristi" (the helpless derelicts) paid the price. Nice. I guess as we say in Italy, "I just discovered hot water" - that is, nothing new.
Look who we got here, the new Leninist
For all of us who donated:
CNNRedCross
Not to mention the scammers, already active with fake donation sites, many of which tied to white supremacists groups.
Last night, Dateline was speaking also of this one supertrained medical emergency team being sent from Georgia a week ago and only treating one small cut so far cuz they keep on being relocated. And of hundreds of trailers, which had been requested, and have been shipped, but now sit motionless in some huge lot some hundreds of miles away.
I understand not having the time and enough manpower to take care of all (=failed organization, and whose fault is it?) and of course I know how media operate, I mean now that it's "in" to bash the Administration - AND NOTE I'M ALL UP FOR THE BASHING - they will dig til they find the tiniest piece of dirt. Come think of it is this improvised active journalistic dissent from networks and papers otherwise Bush-friendly that I find a bit disturbing. I mean, I thought Italy was the only country where whipping the First Man's ass (Berlusconi's) is the favorite national sport, after soccer of course. I mean, even his party, his people, "his" media partake. If nothing else, mine is a left wing publication, at least I never felt incoherent.
Anyway, I wish this criticism were due to a collective coming to senses. But I'm afraid it's just a sign of the old blame game and of the ever present love for Nielsen ratings. Times like this, I wish I could retire to my fantasy villa in Umbria and devote body and soul to the writing of my books.
CNNRedCross
Not to mention the scammers, already active with fake donation sites, many of which tied to white supremacists groups.
Last night, Dateline was speaking also of this one supertrained medical emergency team being sent from Georgia a week ago and only treating one small cut so far cuz they keep on being relocated. And of hundreds of trailers, which had been requested, and have been shipped, but now sit motionless in some huge lot some hundreds of miles away.
I understand not having the time and enough manpower to take care of all (=failed organization, and whose fault is it?) and of course I know how media operate, I mean now that it's "in" to bash the Administration - AND NOTE I'M ALL UP FOR THE BASHING - they will dig til they find the tiniest piece of dirt. Come think of it is this improvised active journalistic dissent from networks and papers otherwise Bush-friendly that I find a bit disturbing. I mean, I thought Italy was the only country where whipping the First Man's ass (Berlusconi's) is the favorite national sport, after soccer of course. I mean, even his party, his people, "his" media partake. If nothing else, mine is a left wing publication, at least I never felt incoherent.
Anyway, I wish this criticism were due to a collective coming to senses. But I'm afraid it's just a sign of the old blame game and of the ever present love for Nielsen ratings. Times like this, I wish I could retire to my fantasy villa in Umbria and devote body and soul to the writing of my books.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
on a happy NOTE (literally)
From the New York Times, Sept, 6th 2005
Many Helping Hands Offered to Louisiana Orchestra's Players
"From spare harp strings to violin repairs to a place to live and practice, offers of help from around the country are pouring in to the musicians of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Other orchestras, mostly regional ensembles where the pool of available musicians is small, are lending a hand, too. Many have offered temporary jobs or the prospect of auditions to the Philharmonic's 66 players, who have scattered around the country. All but one of the musicians had safely left the city or were already elsewhere for summer engagements, members of the orchestra said yesterday. The remaining player, Burton Callahan, a violinist, had been preparing to board an evacuation bus over the Labor Day weekend...
Yesterday the orchestra management was trying to set up shop in Baton Rouge, the state capital, and was posting information on another Web site, Adaptistration"
New Orleans' music is not only jazz. It's opera (first two titles of the season have been cancelled, the rest is on hold as of today) and classical (see above, Philarmonic's musicians are scattered all over the country, but keeping in touch) too. Look, the triumvirate will be back. Maybe with a "transgender" commission?
Many Helping Hands Offered to Louisiana Orchestra's Players
"From spare harp strings to violin repairs to a place to live and practice, offers of help from around the country are pouring in to the musicians of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Other orchestras, mostly regional ensembles where the pool of available musicians is small, are lending a hand, too. Many have offered temporary jobs or the prospect of auditions to the Philharmonic's 66 players, who have scattered around the country. All but one of the musicians had safely left the city or were already elsewhere for summer engagements, members of the orchestra said yesterday. The remaining player, Burton Callahan, a violinist, had been preparing to board an evacuation bus over the Labor Day weekend...
Yesterday the orchestra management was trying to set up shop in Baton Rouge, the state capital, and was posting information on another Web site, Adaptistration"
New Orleans' music is not only jazz. It's opera (first two titles of the season have been cancelled, the rest is on hold as of today) and classical (see above, Philarmonic's musicians are scattered all over the country, but keeping in touch) too. Look, the triumvirate will be back. Maybe with a "transgender" commission?
where to send those toothbrushes (and $$$)
(From eJazznews.com)
Monetary donations can be sent to these outlets, which we have confirmed are
REALLY delivering services to folks in need........
BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund
PO Box 803209
Dallas, TX 75240
OR you can make an online donation by going to
BlackAmerica
This fund has been set up by nationally syndicated radio personality TOM
JOYNER
Hurricane Housing:
HurricaneHousing
NAACP Disaster Relief Efforts
The NAACP is setting up command centers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama as part of its disaster relief efforts. NAACP units across the
nation have begun collecting resources that will be placed on trucks and
sent directly into the disaster areas. Also, the NAACP has established a
disaster relief fund to accept monetary donations to aid in the relief
effort.
Checks can be sent to the NAACP payable to
NAACP Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore, MD 21215
Donations can also be made online at NAACPHurricaneKatrina
FYI, the NAACP, founded in 1909, is America's oldest civil rights
organization
You can mail or ship non perishable items to these following locations,
which we have confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need....
Center for LIFE Outreach Center
121 Saint Landry Street
Lafayette, LA 70506
atten.: Minister Pamela Robinson
337-504-5374
Mohammad Mosque 65
2600 Plank Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70805
atten.: Minister Andrew Muhammad
225-923-1400
225-357-3079
Lewis Temple CME Church
272 Medgar Evers Street
Grambling, LA 71245
atten.: Rev. Dr. Ricky Helton
318-247-3793
St. Luke Community United Methodist Church
c/o Hurricane Katrina Victims
5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway
Dallas, TX 75223
atten.: Pastor Tom Waitschies
214-821-2970
S.H.A.P.E. Community Center
3815 Live Oak
Houston, Texas 77004
atten.: Deloyd Parker
713-521-0641
Monetary donations can be sent to these outlets, which we have confirmed are
REALLY delivering services to folks in need........
BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund
PO Box 803209
Dallas, TX 75240
OR you can make an online donation by going to
BlackAmerica
This fund has been set up by nationally syndicated radio personality TOM
JOYNER
Hurricane Housing:
HurricaneHousing
NAACP Disaster Relief Efforts
The NAACP is setting up command centers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama as part of its disaster relief efforts. NAACP units across the
nation have begun collecting resources that will be placed on trucks and
sent directly into the disaster areas. Also, the NAACP has established a
disaster relief fund to accept monetary donations to aid in the relief
effort.
Checks can be sent to the NAACP payable to
NAACP Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore, MD 21215
Donations can also be made online at NAACPHurricaneKatrina
FYI, the NAACP, founded in 1909, is America's oldest civil rights
organization
You can mail or ship non perishable items to these following locations,
which we have confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need....
Center for LIFE Outreach Center
121 Saint Landry Street
Lafayette, LA 70506
atten.: Minister Pamela Robinson
337-504-5374
Mohammad Mosque 65
2600 Plank Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70805
atten.: Minister Andrew Muhammad
225-923-1400
225-357-3079
Lewis Temple CME Church
272 Medgar Evers Street
Grambling, LA 71245
atten.: Rev. Dr. Ricky Helton
318-247-3793
St. Luke Community United Methodist Church
c/o Hurricane Katrina Victims
5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway
Dallas, TX 75223
atten.: Pastor Tom Waitschies
214-821-2970
S.H.A.P.E. Community Center
3815 Live Oak
Houston, Texas 77004
atten.: Deloyd Parker
713-521-0641
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Take five ($) ...
... and give them to the needy ones.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=7084
It's the initiative "When the saints go marching in": a bunch of NYC jazz joints will donate portion of their sales to the Red Cross relief fund, starting Sept, 11th thru the 18th. If you can't give up your nightly jazz - completely understandable if you ask me - at least make it work for a greater cause: pay the music cover, get a 5$ drink. Or buy a tix to Jazz at Lincoln center Higher ground benefit concert (on sale Thursday, Sept 8th - www.jalc.org). It would be nice if you could do that AND something else too, say, donate directly to the Red Cross or use on of the many links posted by Pookalu on her malamorian.blogspot.com.
Courtsey of eJazzNews, a list of New Orleans' musicians confirmed as safe:
Steve Allen, Kevin Allman, Theresa Andersson, James "Satchmo of the Ghetto"
Andrews, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Johnny Angel, Christine Balfa,
Marcia Ball, Lucien Barbarin, Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, Mike Barras, Rebecca
Barry, Harold Battiste, Jamal Battiste, Russell Batiste, Doug Belote, Tab
Benoit, Better Than Ezra, Terrance Blanchard, Eddie Bo (plus sister Veronica
and his band), Bonerama, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, John Boutté, Lillian
Boutté, Tanya Boutté, Tricia "Sista Teedy" Boutté, Alonzo Bowens, Russ
Broussard, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Jody Brown, Maurice Brown, George and
Nina Buck, Henry Butler, Grayson Capps, Big Al Carson, Ricki Castrillo,
Topsy Chapman, Evan Christopher, Jon Cleary, Cowboy Mouth, Susan Cowsill,
Davell Crawford, Jack Cruz, Dash Rip Rock, Jeremy Davenport, Theryl
"Houseman" DeClouet, Roger Dickerson (in San Antone, then New Mexico), Dirty
Dozen Brass Band, The Dixie Cups (alive but lost everything), Big Chief Bo
Dollis and the Wild Magnolias, Michael Domenici, Fats Domino, Michael Doucet
and all of BeauSoleil, Dr. John, Snooks Eaglin (and family of 12, now
homeless),
Lars Edegran, Nancy Edwards, Charlie Fardela, Jack Fine (of the
Palmetto Bug Stompers), Pat Flory, John Fohl, Andy Forrest, Gina Forsyth,
Pete Fountain, Derrick Freeman, Jonathan Freilich (N.O. Klezmer All-Stars),
Bob French, Gerald French, Peter Fuller, funky Meters, Galactic, Katrina
Geenen (WWOZ DJ), Banu Gibson, Victor Goines, Steve Goodson, Tim Green, John
"Papa" Gros (and the whole Papa Grows Funk band), James Hall, Corey Harris,
Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Corey Henry, Andi
Hoffman, Peter Holsapple, The Hot Club of New Orleans, The Iguanas, Burke
Ingraffia, Benny Jones Sr., Leroy Jones, Kirk Joseph, Antoinette K-Doe
(supposedly okay), Joe Krown, Julia LaShae, Tim Laughlin, Washboard Chaz
Leary, Bryan Lee, David Leonard & Roselyn Lionheart (David & Roselyn),
Herman Leonard, Lil' Rascals Brass Band, Lil' Stooges Brass Band, Eric
Lindell, A.J. Loria, Jeremy Lyons, Ronald Markham, Ellis Marsalis, Jason
Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Steve Masakowski, Irvin Mayfield, Tom McDermott,
Humberto "Pupi" Menez (and aunt Caridad Delatorre), Charles Louie Moore,
Deacon John Moore (although band members unknown), Bill Morgan, Tom Morgan,
Chris Mule, Kenny Neal, The Neville Brothers (Aaron, Art, Charles, Cyril),
Charmaine Neville, Ivan Neville, Carlo Nuccio (post-storm okay, post-flood
unknown), Anders Osborne, Stevenson Palfi, Panorama Jazz Band, Joshua
Paxton, Michael Pearce, Dave Pirner, Pocketfoxx, George Porter Jr., Dirk
Powell, Shannon Powell and family, The Radiators, Jan V. Ramsey & most of
OffBeat Magazine staff), Rebirth Brass Band (all members), Marcus Roberts,
Coco Robicheaux, John Rodli (N.O. Jazz Vipers), Biff Rose, Wanda Rouzan,
Dixie Rubin, Kermit Ruffins, Scott Saltzman, Mark Samuels (Pres., Basin
Street Records), Will Samuels, Ben Sandmel, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Marc and
Ann Savoy and family, Alexandra Scott, Mem Shannon and the Membership, Derek
Shezbie, James Singleton, Johnny Sketch, Michael Skinkus, Robert Snow (N.O.
Jazz Vipers), Brian Stoltz, Marc Stone, Bill Summers, Ken Swartz, Irma
Thomas, David Torkanowsky, Allen Toussaint, Rick Trolsen, Don Vappie (Milly
too, presumably), Johnny Vidacovich, Rob Wagner, Mark Walton, Melissa Weber,
Mike West, Dr. Michael White, Marva Wright, Linnzi Zaorski.
More food for happy thoughts: a mural on Canal Street - Jazz fest, May 2005, final bars - Sidney Bechet's church, in Treme'
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=7084
It's the initiative "When the saints go marching in": a bunch of NYC jazz joints will donate portion of their sales to the Red Cross relief fund, starting Sept, 11th thru the 18th. If you can't give up your nightly jazz - completely understandable if you ask me - at least make it work for a greater cause: pay the music cover, get a 5$ drink. Or buy a tix to Jazz at Lincoln center Higher ground benefit concert (on sale Thursday, Sept 8th - www.jalc.org). It would be nice if you could do that AND something else too, say, donate directly to the Red Cross or use on of the many links posted by Pookalu on her malamorian.blogspot.com.
Courtsey of eJazzNews, a list of New Orleans' musicians confirmed as safe:
Steve Allen, Kevin Allman, Theresa Andersson, James "Satchmo of the Ghetto"
Andrews, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Johnny Angel, Christine Balfa,
Marcia Ball, Lucien Barbarin, Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, Mike Barras, Rebecca
Barry, Harold Battiste, Jamal Battiste, Russell Batiste, Doug Belote, Tab
Benoit, Better Than Ezra, Terrance Blanchard, Eddie Bo (plus sister Veronica
and his band), Bonerama, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, John Boutté, Lillian
Boutté, Tanya Boutté, Tricia "Sista Teedy" Boutté, Alonzo Bowens, Russ
Broussard, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Jody Brown, Maurice Brown, George and
Nina Buck, Henry Butler, Grayson Capps, Big Al Carson, Ricki Castrillo,
Topsy Chapman, Evan Christopher, Jon Cleary, Cowboy Mouth, Susan Cowsill,
Davell Crawford, Jack Cruz, Dash Rip Rock, Jeremy Davenport, Theryl
"Houseman" DeClouet, Roger Dickerson (in San Antone, then New Mexico), Dirty
Dozen Brass Band, The Dixie Cups (alive but lost everything), Big Chief Bo
Dollis and the Wild Magnolias, Michael Domenici, Fats Domino, Michael Doucet
and all of BeauSoleil, Dr. John, Snooks Eaglin (and family of 12, now
homeless),
Lars Edegran, Nancy Edwards, Charlie Fardela, Jack Fine (of the
Palmetto Bug Stompers), Pat Flory, John Fohl, Andy Forrest, Gina Forsyth,
Pete Fountain, Derrick Freeman, Jonathan Freilich (N.O. Klezmer All-Stars),
Bob French, Gerald French, Peter Fuller, funky Meters, Galactic, Katrina
Geenen (WWOZ DJ), Banu Gibson, Victor Goines, Steve Goodson, Tim Green, John
"Papa" Gros (and the whole Papa Grows Funk band), James Hall, Corey Harris,
Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Corey Henry, Andi
Hoffman, Peter Holsapple, The Hot Club of New Orleans, The Iguanas, Burke
Ingraffia, Benny Jones Sr., Leroy Jones, Kirk Joseph, Antoinette K-Doe
(supposedly okay), Joe Krown, Julia LaShae, Tim Laughlin, Washboard Chaz
Leary, Bryan Lee, David Leonard & Roselyn Lionheart (David & Roselyn),
Herman Leonard, Lil' Rascals Brass Band, Lil' Stooges Brass Band, Eric
Lindell, A.J. Loria, Jeremy Lyons, Ronald Markham, Ellis Marsalis, Jason
Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Steve Masakowski, Irvin Mayfield, Tom McDermott,
Humberto "Pupi" Menez (and aunt Caridad Delatorre), Charles Louie Moore,
Deacon John Moore (although band members unknown), Bill Morgan, Tom Morgan,
Chris Mule, Kenny Neal, The Neville Brothers (Aaron, Art, Charles, Cyril),
Charmaine Neville, Ivan Neville, Carlo Nuccio (post-storm okay, post-flood
unknown), Anders Osborne, Stevenson Palfi, Panorama Jazz Band, Joshua
Paxton, Michael Pearce, Dave Pirner, Pocketfoxx, George Porter Jr., Dirk
Powell, Shannon Powell and family, The Radiators, Jan V. Ramsey & most of
OffBeat Magazine staff), Rebirth Brass Band (all members), Marcus Roberts,
Coco Robicheaux, John Rodli (N.O. Jazz Vipers), Biff Rose, Wanda Rouzan,
Dixie Rubin, Kermit Ruffins, Scott Saltzman, Mark Samuels (Pres., Basin
Street Records), Will Samuels, Ben Sandmel, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Marc and
Ann Savoy and family, Alexandra Scott, Mem Shannon and the Membership, Derek
Shezbie, James Singleton, Johnny Sketch, Michael Skinkus, Robert Snow (N.O.
Jazz Vipers), Brian Stoltz, Marc Stone, Bill Summers, Ken Swartz, Irma
Thomas, David Torkanowsky, Allen Toussaint, Rick Trolsen, Don Vappie (Milly
too, presumably), Johnny Vidacovich, Rob Wagner, Mark Walton, Melissa Weber,
Mike West, Dr. Michael White, Marva Wright, Linnzi Zaorski.
More food for happy thoughts: a mural on Canal Street - Jazz fest, May 2005, final bars - Sidney Bechet's church, in Treme'
Saturday, September 03, 2005
I was wrong about Anderson Cooper
...and I'm sorry for all the times I pointed out CNN's incoherence for appointing the skinniest man on Earth as its First Man of Hurricanes coverage. I mean, have you seen his videos from wind-water battered zones? One wonders how he managed not to be swiped away. I guess it's that Vanderbilt blood. Or his past experience as war correspondent (or as a model!). All of which must have prompted him to let off some steam on air. Please see below and notice: it is CNN's own transcript. Cooper's voice was shaking and his face spoke of repressed anger and the desire to ring someone's neck.
COOPER: Joining me from Baton Rouge is Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu. Senator, appreciate you joining us tonight. Does the federal government bear responsibility for what is happening now? Should they apologize for what is happening now?
SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D), LOUISIANA: Anderson, there will be plenty of time to discuss all of those issues, about why, and how, and what, and if. But, Anderson, as you understand, and all of the producers and directors of CNN, and the news networks, this situation is very serious and it's going to demand all of our full attention through the hours, through the nights, through the days.
Let me just say a few things. Thank President Clinton and former President Bush for their strong statements of support and comfort today. I thank all the leaders that are coming to Louisiana, and Mississippi, and Alabama to our help and rescue.
We are grateful for the military assets that are being brought to bear. I want to thank Senator Frist and Senator Reid for their extraordinary efforts.
Anderson, tonight, I don't know if you've heard -- maybe you all have announced it -- but Congress is going to an unprecedented session to pass a $10 billion supplemental bill tonight to keep FEMA and the Red Cross up and operating.
COOPER: Excuse me, Senator, I'm sorry for interrupting. I haven't heard that, because, for the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated.
And when they hear politicians slap -- you know, thanking one another, it just, you know, it kind of cuts them the wrong way right now, because literally there was a body on the streets of this town yesterday being eaten by rats because this woman had been laying in the street for 48 hours. And there's not enough facilities to take her up.
Do you get the anger that is out here?
COOPER: Joining me from Baton Rouge is Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu. Senator, appreciate you joining us tonight. Does the federal government bear responsibility for what is happening now? Should they apologize for what is happening now?
SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D), LOUISIANA: Anderson, there will be plenty of time to discuss all of those issues, about why, and how, and what, and if. But, Anderson, as you understand, and all of the producers and directors of CNN, and the news networks, this situation is very serious and it's going to demand all of our full attention through the hours, through the nights, through the days.
Let me just say a few things. Thank President Clinton and former President Bush for their strong statements of support and comfort today. I thank all the leaders that are coming to Louisiana, and Mississippi, and Alabama to our help and rescue.
We are grateful for the military assets that are being brought to bear. I want to thank Senator Frist and Senator Reid for their extraordinary efforts.
Anderson, tonight, I don't know if you've heard -- maybe you all have announced it -- but Congress is going to an unprecedented session to pass a $10 billion supplemental bill tonight to keep FEMA and the Red Cross up and operating.
COOPER: Excuse me, Senator, I'm sorry for interrupting. I haven't heard that, because, for the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated.
And when they hear politicians slap -- you know, thanking one another, it just, you know, it kind of cuts them the wrong way right now, because literally there was a body on the streets of this town yesterday being eaten by rats because this woman had been laying in the street for 48 hours. And there's not enough facilities to take her up.
Do you get the anger that is out here?
Friday, September 02, 2005
I owe you an explanation
... As to why I haven't been posting in a while. It has to do with holidays (mental more than actual, I've been physically out of town for just a handful of days), with the resetting of my priorities (I've started working on a new project - yes, a jazz project, yes I will write more about it - and those hours I once spent entertaining my 33 readers will have to be sprinkled on more that one potatoe field) and last but not least, with my latest posting on these frequencies.
Let's put it this way: I've found myself in a Crossfire situation, CNN style, issue at stake - again, and again, and again - the validation of jazz criticism in absence of proper musical education and hands-on experience. I've been bashed, bruised and battered by Mr Seas, who had a point ("should I stand up and clap my hands at any sorry attempt to play jazz just because some jazz historian says we need all the aficionados we can get in the face of a lack of recognition/attention?"), I've been seriously challenged by legendary journalist-author HB's talk at the local Jazz museum, an equally convincing discussion of how nepotism and purism affect healthy ideological confrontation, business and overall artistic progress.
I've also had a heart-to-heart with a well known lady of jazz, a big band leader and award-winning composer, who talked at length and sans pruderie about life - death - and love in the world of notes, she-style.
Too much to say, I guess, hence the hiatus.
No more.
In the wake of the tragedy descended on Jazz's Horn of Africa - New Orleans, the Big Bang (and Band) that originated all that swings, bops and thirdstreams - I had to contribute a line (a second, first, third and all that will be).
I feel ashamed for my colleagues who endorse and enable strategies of de-ce-ption, in order to divert attention from the lack of a prompt and effective intervention in the area; I feel ashamed for people who don't understand the simple truth Mr. Moody learnt the hard way - and Yum Yum so beautifully explained in her blog - that is, Neworleanians are blues people, resilient people, and their resiliance is a baby with a name whe may not like or understand (acts of defence and protest and survival and release, yes, violent acts too) yet a baby indeed, in essence the germ of a NEW LIFE. What "The City that care forgot" (my god, the irony now of that historic nickname!) will soon find. In itself.
She is NOT a Thirld World City. She is a whore and a lady and a beggar and the Chief of all Humanitarian organizations. All in one. And we all love her very much, probably, hopefully because in her we recognize ourselves.
Please, help if you can. My lovely, dearest, hot friend Pookalu has a list of links and initiatives for those who would like to but don't know how. I, the ever dumb blogger, have yet to discover the art of posting links. You'll have to kindly copy and paste on your toolbar her url: malamorian.blogspot.com.
For those who felt like and already did, just think happy thoughts - ah, Peter Pan, master of escapism from harsh realities - and summon happy images of New Orleans. I'll provide visual aid, posting some of my pics from last May's Jazz Fest.
For everybody, remember RV's shout, topping off the majesty of WM's Majesty of the blues: CRESCENT CITEEEEEEEEY !!!
Stay on higher ground. (And buy a ticket to Jazz at Lincoln center's Higher ground benefit concert).
Let's put it this way: I've found myself in a Crossfire situation, CNN style, issue at stake - again, and again, and again - the validation of jazz criticism in absence of proper musical education and hands-on experience. I've been bashed, bruised and battered by Mr Seas, who had a point ("should I stand up and clap my hands at any sorry attempt to play jazz just because some jazz historian says we need all the aficionados we can get in the face of a lack of recognition/attention?"), I've been seriously challenged by legendary journalist-author HB's talk at the local Jazz museum, an equally convincing discussion of how nepotism and purism affect healthy ideological confrontation, business and overall artistic progress.
I've also had a heart-to-heart with a well known lady of jazz, a big band leader and award-winning composer, who talked at length and sans pruderie about life - death - and love in the world of notes, she-style.
Too much to say, I guess, hence the hiatus.
No more.
In the wake of the tragedy descended on Jazz's Horn of Africa - New Orleans, the Big Bang (and Band) that originated all that swings, bops and thirdstreams - I had to contribute a line (a second, first, third and all that will be).
I feel ashamed for my colleagues who endorse and enable strategies of de-ce-ption, in order to divert attention from the lack of a prompt and effective intervention in the area; I feel ashamed for people who don't understand the simple truth Mr. Moody learnt the hard way - and Yum Yum so beautifully explained in her blog - that is, Neworleanians are blues people, resilient people, and their resiliance is a baby with a name whe may not like or understand (acts of defence and protest and survival and release, yes, violent acts too) yet a baby indeed, in essence the germ of a NEW LIFE. What "The City that care forgot" (my god, the irony now of that historic nickname!) will soon find. In itself.
She is NOT a Thirld World City. She is a whore and a lady and a beggar and the Chief of all Humanitarian organizations. All in one. And we all love her very much, probably, hopefully because in her we recognize ourselves.
Please, help if you can. My lovely, dearest, hot friend Pookalu has a list of links and initiatives for those who would like to but don't know how. I, the ever dumb blogger, have yet to discover the art of posting links. You'll have to kindly copy and paste on your toolbar her url: malamorian.blogspot.com.
For those who felt like and already did, just think happy thoughts - ah, Peter Pan, master of escapism from harsh realities - and summon happy images of New Orleans. I'll provide visual aid, posting some of my pics from last May's Jazz Fest.
For everybody, remember RV's shout, topping off the majesty of WM's Majesty of the blues: CRESCENT CITEEEEEEEEY !!!
Stay on higher ground. (And buy a ticket to Jazz at Lincoln center's Higher ground benefit concert).
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