[Dixielandjazz] New Orleans Adult Jazz Camp and Music Scene

[lrg4003 at aol.com]

I want to quickly echo Ginny's comments on the Jazz Camp this week which I also attended.  First rate staff (including Connie Jones, trumpeter these days with Pete Fountain) and reed player Otis Bazoon, former Dukes of Dixieland band member who continues to play everywhere around New Orleans.
All of the pro's were extremely generous with their time and support.

There were also some excellent opportunities to jam.  On one set I was playing at Frtzel's (along with Maison Bourbon one of the last true jazz joints left standing on Bourbon St.), Don Vappie popped over to join us.  Banu Gibson sat in for a bit at a jam at the Bourbon Oh and Tim Laughlin hosted an
impromptu jam session one night.  Also had a chance to march with the Treme Brass Band in a Second Line parade, play a little at Preservation Hall and be part of a group that opened the SatchmoJazzFest on the Red Beans and Ricely stage.  Top it off with all of the great music at the festival (Kermit Ruffian among others and a superb set featuring Connie Jones, Tim Laughlin and Otis Bazoon, among others there's no sign trad jazz is missing in 
action in New Orleans.  And, along with some of the younger performers in camp, the audience, at least at Fritzel's covered a very wide age range.

Next year's camp is schedule to begin July 31.    

KC Clarinet


-----Original Message-----
From: Gluetje1 at aol.com
To: Larry Garrett <lrg4003 at aol.com>
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Mon, Aug 9, 2010 2:37 pm
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] New Orleans Adult Jazz Camp and Music Scene


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 
ind  one or two things of interest.   
Hi Fellow Strummers,

his may be way too long.  But before you delete, scroll down and read  my 
inal lines on how I am forever changed.

it 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 
hrough August 7.  ( I do think, however, that  listmate Phil W. played even 
ore!   :?)

hree HUGE CHEERS and HUGE HUGS for the women who pulled off a hugely  
uccessful 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 
ome personal highlights.  Banu Gibson, Executive Director;  Leslie Cooper, 
roduction Director; and Anita Hemeter, Associate Director were  assisted 
hroughout by 8 faculty and 4 adjunct faculty -- all highly  experienced in New 
rleans Trad Jazz.  Four guest speakers for  breakfast lectures.  A 
quadron of volunteers who were the face of a  friendly and welcoming city.  My 
pecial nod goes to volunteer, Courtney,  who spontaneously gifted me with a 
ouvenir I was admiring.

elcome party on Sunday evening complete with trad jazz  music.  More than 
ive dozen campers, at least five from other  nations.  All of us assigned 
ach day to an "band for the day", each  day with a different faculty member 
ho kept every "rehearsal" educational  and experiential by emphasizing 
ifferent skills and understandings that enrich  performance.  On Friday we got 
 final band assignment or two and  faculty to assist with rehearsal to 
repare for a public concert that  evening.  Programs printed for that concert.  
Concert well marketed to  the public and was well attended.  Husband, Don, 
ho came to NOLA with me  said this concert was really worth attending and 
ne of the things he most  enjoyed.

ll campers had been sent lead sheets and CDs of the music we would be  
orking on about a month ahead of camp.  We had plenty of advance  information 
n everything from schedules to what to pack.

ednesday, 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,  
unch if you wanted.  Wednesday night there was a private Louis Armstrong  
irthday party for us in Preservation Hall.  Cake and beverages.  An  
pportunity for all who wanted to perform in Preservation Hall.  (Not open  to 
ublic and regular band off on Wednesdays.)

t was a record hot and humid week in New Orleans and official walking  
ours had to be canceled; native New Orleans tour guides were canceling the  
ours.  That did not seem to slow down the hearty and determined among  us.  
ithout even trying, I saw some one or more of us joining  the street 
usicians somewhere every day.  There were also jam sessions  three evenings 
cross 
he street at Fritzels from 6 - 8, in the Bourbon OH  lounge of the hotel 
rom 7 - 10, and sometimes in other hotel meeting rooms  or the ballroom.  
anu joked that if campers did not quit sitting-in  soon we were going to have 
o join the union.  By the way, all musicians  whom I asked who were 
elivering services or music to the campers  were paid.    

eneral highlights for me were: 1) Observing how well the three directors  
ere organizing and looking after things, how friendly and approachable.   
) Getting to learn from and talk with the faculty.  They were around and  
ccessible all during the camp, breakfasts, lunches, jams, offering individual 
time.  Each day was fresh while you got at least a snapshot of that 
aculty  member's take on New Orleans trad jazz.
heir feedback was always instructive and constructive.  3) Getting to  
evisit with some old friends from JazzSea Cruises.  4) Getting to make  some 
ew friends especially discovering other female  instrumentalists.  In fact a 
avorite session for me was an all-female band  rehearsal and performing 
our number" at the Friday concert.


hanks, Katie Cavera, for coming to NOLA, for being who you are.  You  get 
y "fourth" huge hug and huge cheer.

On Saturday, any who wanted could perform as a Jazz Band Camper on one  of 
he three stages at the annual Satchmo Summerfest.

bviously they have to balance ensembles into configurations that  resemble 
raditional jazz.  No doubt, most, if not all who were there would  like to 
eturn for a second year.  So watch for announcements of next year  and 
ake your reservations quickly.  Plenty of campers were there because  they do 
ot get any other opportunity to play with a full band.  Every  level of 
amper was there from masters of their instrument to  near-beginners.  You do 
eed to know (in general) your instrument's role in  trad jazz.  Banjoists, 
ianists, bass instruments need to know how to  translate chord symbols into 
ccompanying rhythms.  I believe the faculty  provided lead sheets for Bb 
nstruments, maybe for Eb instruments, and I  believe, bass notation melodies.

t certainly was not all about camp for me.  I loved soaking up,  
iterally, given the humidity, a week of residing in the French Quarter.   The 
treets were full of tourists, especially once the sun began to set.   (I was 
ery 
urprised by the number of tourists -- some speculated that beach  
acations had been rearranged as NOLA vacations as a result of the oil  spill.)

ome personal "non-camp" highlights.  Jeff Riddick made it possible  for he 
nd I to do a sit-in with Uncle Wayne at K-Joes on Sat. evening before  the 
amping week even opened.  Uncle Wayne is a terrific  pianist and funny, 
razy man.  Thanks again, Jeff!

n Sunday before camp started, Don and I went to a brunch at the Court of  
wo Sisters.  There was both an inside and an outside jazz trio performing  
o we lucked into a jazz trio with Amy Sharpe on plectrum tuning, clarinet 
nd  string bass.  My first time to meet Amy who is a very comfortable  
alent.  They were also just as comfortable with ballads that make for nice  
runch sounds as they were with the stereotypical jazz banjo rep.

unday night was the Palm Court Jazz Cafe.  Got to hear Wendall  Bruneis on 
rumpet, Lucien Barbarin, trombone, Tom Fischer, Clarinet, Steve  
istorius, Piano,
wo of our faculty, Kerry Lewis on bass and Gerald French on  drums.  Also 
ot to hear Roselyn Lionhart sit-in for a couple of fun  vocals.

onday night jammed in the Bourbon OH lounge then crossed the street to  
ear Tim Loughlin, cl, Katie Cavera, gtr, David Sagar (faculty) tbn, Dave  
oeddinghaus, pn,
erry Walsh, sb.

riday night went to hear Banu Gibson at the Bombay Club plus faculty,  
avid, Dave, and Terry.  Great of course -- intricate vocals that  you may 
ever hear live unless Banu does them for you. 

at. 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 
ood band with women 
n trombone, drums, string bass, and  leader, Kaye Caldwell on trumpet.  
reat set of numbers, multiple  vocalists.  Guitar tuned Rod Kennedy does their 
anjo, fine solos, great  right hand.  They invited me to sit-in at a couple 
f their spots so  I'm definitely taking a rain check.

n the unbelievable heat of Saturday afternoon we found Lee Floyd getting  
riction burns doing an outdoor venue with a trio at Cafe Beignet.  I  was 
artially responsible for the "heat" as I requested Limehouse Blues -- love,  
ove, love, to hear Lee play that.  Then I was nicer with a request for  
low Boat to China.  During break I got a bit of a face to face visit with  
ee for the first time since 1895.

aturday 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  
on charms and cajoles the audience into a musical journey of the tunes that 
make him dance -- tenor banjo, guitar, vocals, working with a monster 
ianist,  string bass, and drums.
he place was packed, more young than old, the attentiveness was great, yes 
there was dancing, the music, trad, Latin, contemporary jazz -- all in the 
ame  set.  Terrific to get better acquainted with Don.  Visualize your  
usic.  Dance.  Porky Pig.  Maybe he'll be faculty again next  year and you'll 
earn what I'm just sayin'.

inal message:  There were young people all over the NOLA  streets 
istening 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).

he missing factor is US listening to their music.  So I'm going to  shut 
p and try listening to their music some also.  Are you grown-up  enough to 
oin me?  :?)
inny


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