[Dixielandjazz] New Orleans Adult Jazz Camp and Music Scene

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

I just posted the below on the 1000 plus member fourstring list so it has a 
 banjo emphasis.  If you're having a slow day read it anyhow, you might 
find  one or two things of interest.   

Hi Fellow Strummers,
 
This may be way too long.  But before you delete, scroll down and read  my 
final lines on how I am forever changed.
 
Sit back, breathe and read if you like lots of details.  I know, I  know, 
"Shut up and play."  Well, I also did my fair share  of playing from July 31 
through August 7.  ( I do think, however, that  listmate Phil W. played even 
more!   :?)
 
Three HUGE CHEERS and HUGE HUGS for the women who pulled off a hugely  
successful first adult traditional jazz camp in New Orleans.  I'll try to  hit a 
few highlights of the camp first in a somewhat linear order and  then add 
some personal highlights.  Banu Gibson, Executive Director;  Leslie Cooper, 
Production Director; and Anita Hemeter, Associate Director were  assisted 
throughout by 8 faculty and 4 adjunct faculty -- all highly  experienced in New 
Orleans Trad Jazz.  Four guest speakers for  breakfast lectures.  A 
squadron of volunteers who were the face of a  friendly and welcoming city.  My 
special nod goes to volunteer, Courtney,  who spontaneously gifted me with a 
souvenir I was admiring.
 
Welcome party on Sunday evening complete with trad jazz  music.  More than 
five dozen campers, at least five from other  nations.  All of us assigned 
each day to an "band for the day", each  day with a different faculty member 
who kept every "rehearsal" educational  and experiential by emphasizing 
different skills and understandings that enrich  performance.  On Friday we got 
a final band assignment or two and  faculty to assist with rehearsal to 
prepare for a public concert that  evening.  Programs printed for that concert.  
Concert well marketed to  the public and was well attended.  Husband, Don, 
who came to NOLA with me  said this concert was really worth attending and 
one of the things he most  enjoyed.
 
All campers had been sent lead sheets and CDs of the music we would be  
working on about a month ahead of camp.  We had plenty of advance  information 
on everything from schedules to what to pack.
 
Wednesday, mid-day was a Natchez cruise complete with a calliope concert, a 
 chance for any who wanted to perform in ensemble during a boat concert,  
lunch if you wanted.  Wednesday night there was a private Louis Armstrong  
birthday party for us in Preservation Hall.  Cake and beverages.  An  
opportunity for all who wanted to perform in Preservation Hall.  (Not open  to 
public and regular band off on Wednesdays.)
 
It was a record hot and humid week in New Orleans and official walking  
tours had to be canceled; native New Orleans tour guides were canceling the  
tours.  That did not seem to slow down the hearty and determined among  us.  
Without even trying, I saw some one or more of us joining  the street 
musicians somewhere every day.  There were also jam sessions  three evenings across 
the street at Fritzels from 6 - 8, in the Bourbon OH  lounge of the hotel 
from 7 - 10, and sometimes in other hotel meeting rooms  or the ballroom.  
Banu joked that if campers did not quit sitting-in  soon we were going to have 
to join the union.  By the way, all musicians  whom I asked who were 
delivering services or music to the campers  were paid.    
 
General highlights for me were: 1) Observing how well the three directors  
were organizing and looking after things, how friendly and approachable.   
2) Getting to learn from and talk with the faculty.  They were around and  
accessible all during the camp, breakfasts, lunches, jams, offering individual 
 time.  Each day was fresh while you got at least a snapshot of that 
faculty  member's take on New Orleans trad jazz.
Their feedback was always instructive and constructive.  3) Getting to  
revisit with some old friends from JazzSea Cruises.  4) Getting to make  some 
new friends especially discovering other female  instrumentalists.  In fact a 
favorite session for me was an all-female band  rehearsal and performing 
"our number" at the Friday concert.
 
 
Thanks, Katie Cavera, for coming to NOLA, for being who you are.  You  get 
my "fourth" huge hug and huge cheer.
 

On Saturday, any who wanted could perform as a Jazz Band Camper on one  of 
the three stages at the annual Satchmo Summerfest.
 
Obviously they have to balance ensembles into configurations that  resemble 
traditional jazz.  No doubt, most, if not all who were there would  like to 
return for a second year.  So watch for announcements of next year  and 
make your reservations quickly.  Plenty of campers were there because  they do 
not get any other opportunity to play with a full band.  Every  level of 
camper was there from masters of their instrument to  near-beginners.  You do 
need to know (in general) your instrument's role in  trad jazz.  Banjoists, 
pianists, bass instruments need to know how to  translate chord symbols into 
accompanying rhythms.  I believe the faculty  provided lead sheets for Bb 
instruments, maybe for Eb instruments, and I  believe, bass notation melodies.
 
It certainly was not all about camp for me.  I loved soaking up,  
literally, given the humidity, a week of residing in the French Quarter.   The 
streets were full of tourists, especially once the sun began to set.   (I was very 
surprised by the number of tourists -- some speculated that beach  
vacations had been rearranged as NOLA vacations as a result of the oil  spill.)
 
Some personal "non-camp" highlights.  Jeff Riddick made it possible  for he 
and I to do a sit-in with Uncle Wayne at K-Joes on Sat. evening before  the 
camping week even opened.  Uncle Wayne is a terrific  pianist and funny, 
crazy man.  Thanks again, Jeff!
 
On Sunday before camp started, Don and I went to a brunch at the Court of  
Two Sisters.  There was both an inside and an outside jazz trio performing  
so we lucked into a jazz trio with Amy Sharpe on plectrum tuning, clarinet 
and  string bass.  My first time to meet Amy who is a very comfortable  
talent.  They were also just as comfortable with ballads that make for nice  
brunch sounds as they were with the stereotypical jazz banjo rep.
 
Sunday night was the Palm Court Jazz Cafe.  Got to hear Wendall  Bruneis on 
trumpet, Lucien Barbarin, trombone, Tom Fischer, Clarinet, Steve  
Pistorius, Piano,
two of our faculty, Kerry Lewis on bass and Gerald French on  drums.  Also 
got to hear Roselyn Lionhart sit-in for a couple of fun  vocals.
 
Monday night jammed in the Bourbon OH lounge then crossed the street to  
hear Tim Loughlin, cl, Katie Cavera, gtr, David Sagar (faculty) tbn, Dave  
Boeddinghaus, pn,
Terry Walsh, sb.
 
Friday night went to hear Banu Gibson at the Bombay Club plus faculty,  
David, Dave, and Terry.  Great of course -- intricate vocals that  you may 
never hear live unless Banu does them for you. 
 
Sat. brunch: Hear the Some Like It Hot band at The Market Cafe.  
_http://www.somelikeithotband.com/musiciansphotoalbum.html_ 
(http://www.somelikeithotband.com/musiciansphotoalbum.html)    This is a really good band with women 
on trombone, drums, string bass, and  leader, Kaye Caldwell on trumpet.  
Great set of numbers, multiple  vocalists.  Guitar tuned Rod Kennedy does their 
banjo, fine solos, great  right hand.  They invited me to sit-in at a couple 
of their spots so  I'm definitely taking a rain check.
 
In the unbelievable heat of Saturday afternoon we found Lee Floyd getting  
friction burns doing an outdoor venue with a trio at Cafe Beignet.  I  was 
partially responsible for the "heat" as I requested Limehouse Blues -- love,  
love, love, to hear Lee play that.  Then I was nicer with a request for  
Slow Boat to China.  During break I got a bit of a face to face visit with  
Lee for the first time since 1895.
 
Saturday night we went to hear Don Vappie's new quartet at Irvin Mayfield's 
 Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta Hotel.  Great way to end the week as  
Don charms and cajoles the audience into a musical journey of the tunes that 
 make him dance -- tenor banjo, guitar, vocals, working with a monster 
pianist,  string bass, and drums.
The place was packed, more young than old, the attentiveness was great, yes 
 there was dancing, the music, trad, Latin, contemporary jazz -- all in the 
same  set.  Terrific to get better acquainted with Don.  Visualize your  
music.  Dance.  Porky Pig.  Maybe he'll be faculty again next  year and you'll 
learn what I'm just sayin'.
 
Final message:  There were young people all over the NOLA  streets 
listening to "our music".  In addition, some of the best  trad jazz I heard this 
week was coming from campers in their 20's (barely that  old).
 
The missing factor is US listening to their music.  So I'm going to  shut 
up and try listening to their music some also.  Are you grown-up  enough to 
join me?  :?)
Ginny