WALTER PAYTON
Regarding the letter from Barry Wratten published in the January 2011 issue. The correct name of the city is Bonn.
I remember the N.O.R.O. concert very well. Not only because I was the organizer, but also for the following: the band played the city’s Market Place in front of a movie theater, showing The Sting, the famous movie with the famous soundtrack “The Entertainer.” I asked Lars Edegran to play Joplin’s composition in the very moment the movie audience was leaving the theatre. The people went crazy. They stayed in front of the bandstand asking for more and more.
—Hans W. Ewert, Cologne, Germany
SLEAZE STREET
Well thank goodness, an article about Bourbon Street! I wonder how the epicenter of jazz became the American Main Street of Sleaze and blaring decibel-busting music. As a tour guide and musician, I talk to many visitors to our beautiful city, and they all say the same thing: “Bourbon Street is awful.” There is nothing wrong with the songs “Sweet Home Alabama” or “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” but these songs can be heard in any bar in the U.S.A. and they don’t really highlight the virtues of New Orleans’ music.
Many of our visitors come to New Orleans to eat our wonderful food, bask in our fabulous architecture, learn about our interesting history, and to hear New Orleans music. The music is often hard to find on Bourbon Street. I give them a list of the few places in and around Bourbon Street, as well as the street musicians on Royal Street, where you can find traditional jazz, the music that was born here and the music many want to hear. Then, I direct them to Frenchmen Street to experience New Orleans music and musicians.
I can only hope that the city and club owners on Bourbon Street will recognize the trend, and individually and collectively do their part to make one of the most famous streets in the world a more accommodating and musical experience for our visitors to enjoy the music that sprang from the roots of jazz. Perhaps Mayor Landrieu can provide an economic stimulus reward to those clubs who promote Louisiana’s cultural economy and thus support local musicians and local music.
—Nita Hemeter, New Orleans, LA
HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH
I just got an email from my one of my best friends who last year put his money where his heart is by buying a second home in the Bywater. [The email] bemoans the cruel fact that we sit in the Mid-Atlantic in sub-freezing temperatures while it is 75 degrees in New Orleans and Vaughan’s (whose owner grew up in our childhood neighborhood in Baltimore) will be alive tonight with Kermit.
Knowing that our wives would not put their stamps of approval for hopping a flight, I turned to today’s [Weekly Beat] from you for some solace. Thanks for your continued devotion to what we refer to as the “happiest place on earth” and its culture; it is the next best thing to being there. And for the monthly OffBeat, one of several magazines that I read cover to cover.
—Tim Gilbert, Whaleyville, MD
THANKS RADIATORS
From a guy that grew up in Minnesota and now resides in the Northern California Wine Country, the New Orleans music scene remains to be inspirational to musicians and fans across the world. It is something that the city should cherish and be deeply proud of. I will truly miss one of your special products, the Radiators, after this year. The boys gave me so many wonderful and memorable nights over the last twenty years from Farms in Wisconsin, backyards in Northern California, the great City by the Bay, many great shows in their home town, and of course they always heated-up Minneapolis. Thank you Radiators and thank you New Orleans. Also, thank you Dad for taking me to New Orleans for my 21st birthday those 20 years ago and sharing a town that we spoke of often and had such passion for. I miss you old man.
—Dave Ready, Jr., Healdsburg, CA
BATTISTE POSTER
In response to Jan Ramsey’s blog on Harold Battiste, Jr.: As my wife, who was the secretary for the UNO music department for 13 years says, Harold is one of the most photogenic jazz musicians ever. I hope we might see him on a Jazz Fest poster soon.
—Kurt Nicewander, Lincoln RI
