On the Music Scene in the Big Easy

         

                                                              

New Orleans is a city where you can 'live' music anytime you want and for very little money. I  have been trying to get my groove back, so I have going out more often. After Hurricane Katrina dumped 8 feet on water in my house and two weeks late Hurricane Rita dumped f5 feet, it has been a struggle to get back to my old routine .

My old routine included going to any free ;live' music anywhere in New Orleans-uptown, downtown. back of town, Treme, French Quarters,Trinity Episcopal music series, Lafayette Square, Odgen Museum-but after being displaced in Alabama and Texas, I rebuilt my home in New Orleans, but it took something out of my character. You know how  it is when your Momma die and a void- a hole is left in your life that can't be filled- that is how it is with my life in New Orleans. I am trying to get my 'groove back'. Before Katrina, I was out every Sunday for the Social and Pleasure Clubs Second-line; taking pictures and dancing in the street.

I was raised in Pontchartrain Park and we didn't know anything about second lines, but once my children were grown and gone and I met these musicians who taught at the same school with me Jeffery "Herb" Herbert and Roderick Paulin-it was ON!

I would go to all the night spot, meet musicians, take pictures, write letters to them and began their biggest fan.

Well, Hurricane Katrina slowed me down, I self published two books that depicted my joys of the music and musicians of the city. One book was a photo book titled The Last Walk which showed Jazz Funerals in the city from 1997 to 2004. The second book was, This is My New Orleans and it showed photos and text of Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras Indians, Jazz Fest, Satchmo Fest and Social and Pleasure Clubs Second lines.

Now as the city gets dangerous, my music adventures are limited to day time activities and small crowds, But my memories linger fresh and joyous. Some of my memories are in an ebook on Amazon Kindle The Last Walk a collection  stories and photos of Jazz Funerals in New Orleans from 1997-2007.