mayday

I’ve had such little time in “La-La Land” these days, so i’ll seize the moment to share the highlights of my hustling bustle.

Last Friday, I designed and led a workshop called “world of rhythm” at the Audubon Zoo’s “Zoo-to-Do Kids” event, in which I introduced rhythms from around the world with my personal collection of percussion instruments. I really enjoyed leading my first drum circle with the children at the event, and am looking forward to bringing this workshop back again later in the summer.

Afterwards I was joined by my friend and former Werlien’s music teacher & senior Guitar Center instructor, Mr. Rick Marcell, for a small impromptu stage show next to the iconic “elephant fountain” at the gates of the zoo.

I cherish so many fond memories of my childhood both in Werlien’s music store, and next to that fountain at the zoo! We decided to do a food-themed tribute to Disney’s Princess Tiana & “Creole Cuisine Queen” Leah Chase in a sing-a-long style performance of “Almost There” & “Jambalaya on the Bayou”.

Something I find particularly lovely, is that the restauranteur pioneer who brought us the famous “Dookie Chase”, also has a daughter (also named, Leah Chase) who happens to be a formidable leading lady of jazz vocals here in New Orleans! I was truly thrilled to have so many beautifully diverse families stop to join in, sing along, and give a round of applause for our local royalty of food & song. We even had a surprise finale. One of my former (piano) students, now currently a student of Mr. Rick, jumped up on stage to shake the Maracas to some Santana-style grooves with us!

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The following day, at high noon, I hosted the first official “Songwriter Showdown” for Guitar Center New Orleans. The winners were invited to muse our recital audience with their original song in a showcase the following day…and such a glorious day it was!

So many words of thanks go to the New Orleans Jazz Museum, my team of instructors, and all the participating families involved. It was the largest recital our studio has produced in many years, and I am thrilled to be involved with it while looking forward to many more to come! I feel honored to be a part of keeping our musical culture and jazz heritage alive and thriving with new musicians of all ages, and especially endeared to be guiding the next generation of players and teachers to represent my beloved home.

I wanted to honor my “marraine” Debra “Dawn” Griffin during the Sunday performances, by wearing a very special Sunday second-line hat that she’s entrusted me with. I wanted a part of her to be present at my daughter’s first drum recital. There were so many special moments and performances I will remember for years to come, and I was so excited to share it with my father and my beloved friends like Paula Magnum, Dhani Adomaitis, and Ana de Ferreira!

Above all, I couldn’t possibly be more impressed and proud of my daughter. Under the instruction of her formidable instructor Adam Coolsaet, and through her own independent practice, she’s mastered one of my favorite Beatles songs and gave a great performance to close out the evening. I was honored to share a stage with her for the first time…which i’m certain won’t be the last!

I love you, my Rhapsadie.

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The first day of May, was also a significantly beautiful day…and a quite enchanting evening. Interestingly enough with a very strong French theme, and including an array of a few outstanding trombone players. I especially enjoy meeting musicians who travel here from abroad. Because the language we speak is universal, and also because I love the romantic languages.

Festival season has been fantastic, even for those who (like myself) don’t go the actual festivals. The music is perennial here in every nook and cranny of the city.…it’s in the rhythm of our heart’s beating, singing the song of our soul. For a moment in time, my heart syncopated in a blissful way…on the first day of May.

Merci pour le musique, et Lazzies le Bonne Temps Rouler A’ Jamais!