[Dixielandjazz] From

[Ed Danielson]

Sent to me by Juanita Greenwood

Message: Just found this on the internet. Juanita

New Orleans culture 'drowning'

Sep 06 2005 03:07:00:000PM
Gretel Johnston

http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Abroad/0,,2-1225-1243_1765497,00.html

Historians are trying to account for musical treasures and wondering whether 
New Orleans will regain its place as the city of jazz.

Washington - As the floodwaters recede from New Orleans and the city takes 
up the sad task of counting the dead, historians are trying to account for 
musical treasures and contemplating whether New Orleans will regain its 
place as America's pre-eminent city for jazz.

Museum directors are still struggling to calculate the extent of losses. One 
of the biggest concerns is the state of the collection that was housed at 
the Old US Mint in the French Quarter.

The building's roof was torn off when Hurricane Katrina lashed the city on 
August 29. The collection includes musical instruments, film, posters and 
photographs, news reports said.

But there also was some good news for New Orleans jazz fans when it was 
announced on Sunday that the legendary Preservation Hall in the French 
Quarter was not affected by the flood.

Other historic locations that sustained damage in the storm and the ensuing 
flood that resulted from levee and floodwall breaks include the Louis 
Armstrong House, the archives of the Jean Lafitte Museum and the National 
Cemetery, final resting place for soldiers who served in the Civil War.

'History is literally drowning'

"History is literally drowning," Chris Lee of the rock band Supagroup told 
the Dallas Morning News. New Orleans has been "a musician's paradise", he 
said, but he worries that the vibrant scene might be gone if musicians start 
to leave.

Centuries-old objects belonging to New Orleans' musical culture might have 
been lost forever in the disaster.

There is some hope, however, that some items can be saved or relocated. 
Specialists from the museum division of the US National Park Service have 
been sent to the city equipped with special gear.

They are working as quickly as possible to locate items because the longer 
items such as instruments, pages of music and furniture remain under the 
flood waters, the more difficult it will be to restore them.

Also relatively unscathed by the hurricane was the Hogan Jazz Archive at 
Tulane University, according to its curator, Bruce Raeburn.

The archive contains a large collection related to the development of jazz.

Jazz singer and pianist Harry Connick Jun said it has been especially 
difficult to come to terms with the damage done to so many places that 
played a significant role in his musical upbringing.

"Everything that I have professionally, and so much of what I have 
personally, is because of this great, fair city," Connick said. "And to see 
it being drowned like this is almost unbearable."

Another famous musician who made his home in the city is also concerned 
about its future.

"I'm worried about all the people in New Orleans," said American blues 
legend Fats Domino, 77, who had to be rescued from his flooded apartment.

Domino, best known for his 1950s hits Ain't That a Shame and Blueberry Hill, 
lost all his belongings in the storm and as of Friday had no idea where he 
was going next, he told the Washington Post.


Ed Danielson