[Dixielandjazz] Female clarinet player on New Orleans' streets

[TBW504 at aol.com]

Marcel also collaborates with Jempi de Donder in producing the excellent  web 
magazine JazzGazette. Highly recommended, at _http://www.thejazzgazette.be/_ 
(http://www.thejazzgazette.be/) 
 
The Ketchens are an interesting couple I've heard many times:
KETCHENS,  Doreen      Clarinet
c1965?: New Orleans
A street  performer in New Orleans specially during festival time, usually 
with her  husband, Lawrence, on tuba. Initially classically trained both she and 
her  husband were unable to get work when the local symphony orchestra 
folded. She  has also had stints sitting in at the Palm Court Café. She is reported 
as  sometimes leading her own group in various venues around the city. She 
played on  the Kermit Ruffin’s 1992 release, “World On A String", alongside 
Ellis Marsalis,  Shannon Powell, Walter Payton, Danny Barker and Tuba Fats. I’m 
informed by Mick  Burns that Joe Torregano, a member of the NOPD, tells him 
(late May, 2003) that  Lawrence shot and killed a number of people in Jackson 
Square after an  altercation. This, however, turns out to be something of an 
exaggeration as Oct.  2003 news has it that Doreen leads a band performing 
sponsored Friday evening  concerts in the French Market along with Jack Fine (c) 
Ronell Johnson (tb) Marie  Watanabe (p) Walter Harris (d) and our Lawrence on tuba. 
Out on parole, perhaps?  But the truth will out (Jan. 2003 report in the T-P 
transcribed in my  words):  A jury accepted the self-defence claim of Lawrence 
Ketchens, 43, a  tuba player with Doreen's Jazz New Orleans band, who shot 
Rebirth Brass Band  drummer Derrick Tabb, 31, during a dispute that began 
earlier at a funeral.  Ketchens testified he was merely protecting himself and his 
wife, Doreen  Ketchens, whom Tabb had beat to the ground with an umbrella 
during the skirmish.  The fight on May 20, 2003, quickly turned into gunplay. 
Ketchens pulled a  handgun while a friend of Tabb's, Walter Kimble, produced a 
firearm and blasted  at Ketchens in defence of Tabb. Ketchens rolled underneath a 
parked pickup  truck, then drove off in his van. Both sides were injured: 
Ketchens suffered a  gunshot wound to the thigh and Tabb had two wounds in his 
upper shoulder.  However, only Ketchens was arrested, for attempted murder of 
Tabb and his  mother, Vana Acker, who was also caught up in the violence, but 
Kimble was never  charged. At the trial Ketchens said he feared for his wife's 
life when Tabb  attacked her.  Defence attorney for Ketchens said Tabb was a 6 
foot 4 inch,  250 pound man who attacked Doreen Ketchens before her husband 
stepped to her  defence. “He ought to thank Lawrence Ketchens for showing 
restraint,” the  attorney said of Tabb. “Sure, it got out of hand. Derrick Tabb got 
out of hand  and beat a woman to the ground.” 
 
Brian Wood - TSfM