I met Bob French at WWOZ and mentioned that I have a son, Mike, who is a young trumpet player. He looked at me and said, “Bring him to Donna’s and I’ll let him play with ma band.” Mike was about 12 years old at the time. Well, my wife and I brought him over and he was there, his brother George, Davell Crawford, Kid Chocolate and some others. Bob came over and introduced himself to us and whispered to Mike, “We’re gonna play two or three songs and then I’m gonna call you up.” He called Mike up and asked him what he wanted to play, to which he replied, “My Little Suede Shoes” [Charlie Parker]. I also heard Bob say, “Ah, you wanna get hip on me, my band can handle it.” They played and Mike took the solo—I noticed that Kid Chocolate left the stage when Mike started soloing. So, he was on his own and handled it well. That was the kinda lesson you don’t get in school. Mike currently plays electric bass guitar with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
—Harry Ballard, New Orleans, LA
25 YEARS
Just finished the 25th Anniversary issue and had to write and thank you for all you do to keep New Orleans alive and alive in my heart.
It’s always a holiday when the OffBeat arrives in the post. I put on the red beans and rice and a stack of New Orleans music on the box and read the magazine cover to cover. I even published a story once about cooking like this when my boy and a bunch of his little pals showed up after school. That son turned out to be a pretty good chef/restaurant owner, and I’ll bet some of those boys love New Orleans as much as me and my boys. It’s contagious like that. I’ve been returning to New Orleans as often as time and budget allow, and in between OffBeat keeps me sane and happy. That lifetime subscription was the best investment I ever made. Here’s to another 25 years!
—Joseph Blake, Victoria, B.C., Canada
Just noticed that you completed 25 years of publication in December—congratulations! I do go back a fair part of that way with you. I first visited New Orleans in April 1992, for Jazz Fest. At the time I was coming up to 48, and, whisper it low, was flying for the first time in my life! Nine hours from London to New Orleans via Atlanta. I remember looking down on the Crescent City as we flew into the airport, and thinking how marvelous it all looked. Seems crazy when I think about it now, but we flew in on the last Saturday of Jazz Fest, went to the Fairgrounds on the Sunday, saw, amongst others, Dr. John and Irma Thomas, and of course picked up my first copy of OffBeat! The following week we also went to the original Tipitina’s to see the Nevilles, saw, heard and met Kermit Ruffins and the Rebirth Brass Band in the old, smaller Louisiana Music Factory. Even caught what I believe was one of the final Dew Drop Inn Revisited nights at one of the major hotels—all unforgettable experiences whose memory abides.
Of course we were hooked. From ’93 to ’04, I returned seven more times, the earlier ones with my wife, and from 2001 with my new partner. All for much longer than our original three days, the later ones taking in both weekends. New Orleans is now a huge part of my musical life (listening, I can’t play a note)—such great memories.
And the part OffBeat played during those visits was major. Always the right information about where to go and who to see displayed in an easy-to-read style. Perhaps even more so, when back home in London, the monthly arrival of the latest news and reviews made this displaced Jazz-Fester feel considerably nearer N’awlins and all its magic. Except of course for Katrina. Watching from afar, and under a different set of political masters, and social welfare systems, it seemed inconceivable that the nation which thinks it leads the world could spurn the urgent needs of its inhabitants with such arrogant disdain. But OffBeat re-emerged even after all that nature and George W. Bush could throw at it, and to this day provides this particular reader, and I’m sure all its other readers too, with all the news we can use about the music, the characters, the places, the food and the glory of our favourite city.
Well done, OffBeat! Here’s to the next 25!
—Patrick Stroudley, Surrey, United Kingdom
I picked up the Jazz Fest issue in May 1989. I’ve been along ever since. My first thought was, “They will never compete with Wavelength.” Just one example of my many insightful predictions that have come true. Ha!
No one has done more to promote New Orleans music than you [Jan Ramsey]. The articles, the listings, the advocacy have all been impressive. I salute you, Joseph and the whole krewe. May you have 25 more. And may OffBeat’s golden anniversary party be celebrated by all the Quarter residents dancing to music in the streets. Real music. New Orleans music. Yeah, you right!
—Al Dunn, Salisbury, NC
It’s wonderful to know OffBeat is still kicking after 25 years. I look forward to my hard copy and being in New Orleans next weekend and for the Women’s Final Four basketball next April.
Many thanks for having the music listings for next weekend up so that I can kind of plan my nighttime activities. Seeing the Pinettes live will be great.
Y’all are still the best publication around.
—Sandy Kuehl, Houston, TX
INSPIRING
The new OffBeat issue arrived this week celebrating your 25 years. A big congratulations are in order to acknowledge all of your efforts that have kept the New Orleans music scene vital.
In addition, I read the interview with you and was really emotionally moved by your story. I’ve been experiencing a number of consecutively horrible weeks, and reading your story helped snap things into perspective… in a good way. Your drive, motivation and spirit are inspiring, to the point that I felt compelled to tell you in this manner. We are blessed.
—Larry Bole, Concord Music Group, Cleveland, OH
JIMMY’S
The most transcendent vocal performance ever was at Jimmy’s back in ‘88 or so when I heard Joan Baez and Aaron Neville sing “Ave Maria.”
—Andy Kleven, Dallas, TX
DEW DROP
I went to a night at the Dew Drop during Jazz Fest (1997, I think) and it was such a great night. It was a thrill to be inside the famous Dew Drop Inn.
At first we couldn’t get a cab to take us there. One driver stopped his cab and asked us to get out! We then got a non-native driver to take us but he had a helluva time finding the place.
The entertainment was brilliant—Wolfman, one of the Indian Tribes (can’t remember which), female impersonators, the lot. At the end, there was a scramble for cabs to get home and away from the large crowd watching us from the projects on the other side of the street.
I really hope y’all manage to get that fine establishment back up and running.
—Gavin Paterson, Glasgow, Scotland
BRUBECK’S SMILE
My memory of Dave Brubeck is of him [at] at least four Jazz Fests with our Key West contingent. Passing on other venues, Dave religiously played the Economy Tent, the place where the old school music people would go. He was into his eighties at that time. Admirers would street parade to his music in a big circle that they (we) used. Brubeck’s music was always backed by precise musicians in perfect sync. Each time I would walk up to him, less than 15 feet away, I would just smile, taking it all in. He always smiled back.
—Rob Kunkel, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
