French Quarter Festival 2009

We're back from New Orleans and will be sharing some pix and vids of the proceedings for the next little while. So let's start with the beginning; our home away from home, the Villa Convento, where we managed to get a room after much whining and begging


At Fritzel's on Bourbon St., we ran across Toronto's Happy Pals blowing up a storm for the masses. Do you suppose they wipe down the tables after a cornet player stomps across your dining area?


And here's a short clip of how they sounded as they passed the Tip Jar;




After that it's time to totally totalize the total tips.

Then the real musicians' magic happens as the filthy lucre is transformed miraculously into liquor, or donated to worthy charities, whichever seems most appropriate at the time.

Mick Collins 1938-2009

Here's a link to the Hot Five Jazzmakers' tribute to our friend Mick Collins:

http://hotfivejazz.tripod.com/mickcollins/

Mick also shared these pix with us of his younger days. He was blessed with many interests and a wicked sense of humour.


We will all miss this man.

The nature of governments ...

I just thought I'd save the link to this rather persuasive article on the nature of those who would govern us peasants. Don't bother reading this, the knowledge accrued might be upsetting.

http://c4ss.org/content/329

... and furthermore, here's a look at the nature of banks that explains a lot of the recent tremors in our financial landscape:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/04/13

Anticipation ...

Where else can you get all this for FREE!!!!

http://www.fqfi.org/frenchquarterfest/itinerary/

From our last visit in 2005, Leroy Jones and Craig Klein on Bourbon St., playing for the fun-seekers.

The state of our universe, 21st century update

WARNING!! Thinkiness again.

Those who find such activity painful & difficult should not click on this link:

http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/04/06/goodbye-bill-of-rights/

For those of you basking in Obama's magnificence, you can see that he has a few trivial items to work on in his spare time.

And here's the latest trick for your enslavement:

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/136610

Here'a an answer to the previous post: ... BECAUSE (!!?)

At least the American gov't is discussing the dope issue. See http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/03/because-americas-new-justification-for-prohibition/

And distinguished pseudo-curmudgeon Jack Cafferty has some thoughts on it as well. Check out http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/31/cafferty.legal.drugs/index.html

Another analysis for your consideration: http://original.antiwar.com/henderson/2009/03/30/reduce-violence-end-the-drug-war/

I guess I should stop trying to impose thoughtiness on you Dear Readers, so I'll shut up about real stuff for a while.

Something serious to think about

Maybe I'm shouting in the dark, but I think that the recent shootings in BC indicate it's time to seriously consider a solution like that found in Portugal, as outlined here:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/03/14/portugal/index.html

The new King of St. Patrick's Day - D'Arcy!

Waiting patiently for the partying to start.

PLANTZILLA!!!!

Monster plant just keeps getting bigger and bigger every morning. Soon, it'll want steak for breakfast.

Edmundston NB, Blues & Jazz Festival 2006

Derek Robertson's Jazz Band blasting away in a supermarket to promote the Edmundston Blues & Jazz Fest. Pik re-discovered while pouring thru the archives.

Remember that little bird from San Diego?

He showed up again in DisneyWorld! Still nagging about the Delbert cruise next January.


It's a good thing he's persistent since www.delbert.com claims that the cruise is already sold out! At least we got our name in before the cutoff.

Look what we found in the dining room!

Carol gave Anna a bulb last November, and look what finally appeared. Wow!!

Disneyworld

Here's the Canadian Section at Epcot, being checked out by a concerned citizen:



... and here's Canada's own Off Kilter entertaining the masses


.... les oreilles d'élégance sported by Anna for most of the trip


... and the world famous DaVine had Bob entranced (look closely at the tall plant).


... and, of course, the star of the show was everywhere, Mr. M. Mouse

... and here's a clip of the finale of the nightly fireworks show at Epcot, including the "big one" that somebody asked for, ...

National Aviation Museum

I played a joint concert with the Grey Jazz Big Band and the Centralaires Concert band at the National Aviation Museum Sunday. I finally was able to place my trombone among metal stuff that was older than it is.

Next January ...

I was recently visited by a little bird that I met in San Diego in January 2008, and she reminded me that it was time to get my name in for the final Delbert McClinton cruise leaving from Florida in January of 2010 ( see www.delbert.com ).

Also check out http://www.myspace.com/jaycurlee to see some clips of the music on the cruise.


We really am ready for some more of this sort of thing:



and this (Jo-El Sonnier and Charlie Rich Jr. in a night concert on the quarterdeck, Jan 2008)

Cold night? ...

No problemo! ....

View from the Souper Jazz bandstand

The Swing Dynamite crowd at their dance opening the "Shag Explosion" weekend, Jan 9-11.

Sad economic and artistic news ...

Waterford Crystal in Kilkenny, Ireland has just gone into receivership. Anna picked up this little chunk last September.

Most recent publicity stills of our boyz

In their favourite cold-weather hangouts. In chronological order of their joining our colony, we have:

Paikwa:



Keegan: (he just doesn't do winter)


and D'Arcy:

New Year's 2009!!!!

Here is my first performance of the New Year!

Turn up the sound! Enjoy!