More and more, I have this feeling, every time I get off the plane in Kenner, that step-by-step I'm headed for theGulf of Mexico! Oh, Yes, my shuttle receipt reads Place d' on St. Ann in the Quarter, from where I'll be scouting Bourbon Street and the very musical Royal Street; but I've already pushed past the edge of The French Quarter at Esplanade, into the Marigny, with it's Frenchmen Street, then, just beyond to Mimi's at Franklin and Royal!!
But now those delightfulTUBA SKINNY~kins have stretched me to 'the very edge of 'The Bywater' with their appearance at The Bacchanal, on Poland Street; where the dining crowd was large and spirited, out in it's romantically lit garden. I could hear the music, but could see the band only as shadowy figures, ~off in the distance. And so the music stopped~with the entire band:Todd, Erika, Shaye, Barnabus and Robin~(The Haretwas 'back home' for a family visit) ~seeing me lost in the crowd; they were standing, to wave me on toward the stage.. What a great night it was, seeing them after months of separation! ~~I was surprised by their vocalist, Erika, wearing (and thumping) a large drum, in the style of a marching band! "I've found my instrument", she proudly proclaimed. Could it be that sharing vocals with some of their male members was freeing her up for broader horizons? Ok, Erika, but don't stop singing!! Not being sure of where I would be headed, by cab, for the Bacchanal event that night, ~the previous night, when I was out on The Natchez,~I had my trip plotted out for me, via the Captain's narration and the piano player of The Dukes of Dixieland', Scott Obenschain, picking it up on his cell phone map.I was inThe Bywater,and right across a stretch of water, was the next neighborhood,Holy Cross.Where word is, that it is, ~where the Tuba Skinny's latest CD "RAG BAND" was produced.. I thought it was done INthat old school building the Captain points out during the tour. That would have been too good a story, to be True! ~And it wasn't (TRUE)~SORRY… But here's one that is true. On my last night there, the boat's ticket takerrefused to take my ticket!! until the Captain reached us, wanting to offer me a free ride for the next night! ~~Great surprises have a way of coming my way on 'last nights' in town! The offer is still open for when I return. So I boarded the Natchezfor a last look and listen toThe Dukes of Dixieland. Kevin, their leader, is striving to keep their SOUND, sound.. My Agent has left the drum slot, being replaced by an almost carbon copy,Paul~whose wife is 'expecting' (with child).. As is Anita, wife of 'pianist beyond compare'Scott..Long-time 'T-bone'Ben is splitting time with newcomer, Colin. Ryan on Reedsis still giving us the 'best of Bechet' (Sidney).. And that other newcomer,Alan Broome is proceeding to ignore my advice about doing an impersonation of Louis Armstrong, which is, "DON'T,it's bad for your throat, etc..".. So I left him a bunch of Ricola throat drops, and advice to gargle! I'd rather he just keeping slappin' his up-right bass, but his Sachmo Sound So Pleases the audience, I know they will keep it in the chart. By the time You Guys, get to read this, there will be new babies, ~maybe new musicians, ~but, NO MATTER, that Ole Man River (Mississippi) will keep on rollin' along!~~ AND, I will continue~to be interested, ~and, at times, amazed at the ebb and flow, of it all!!!
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