The biggest news we can possibly proffer here is the veto of the record labeling law in Louisiana. Thank God for progressive government! You “outsiders” who read this mag—please don’t believe that all the politicians in this state are worthless. At least we have a governor who’s got guts. Good for Buddy Roemer!

News on the scene…Bourbon Street Gospel and Blues is now called Rhythms and will probably feature blues performers beginning in the fall. The club’s still open, but is going through changes. Ian Hardcastle, who owns the Bourbon Street facility has said that he’s moving the club to another location off Bourbon Street. We hope so. The early evening gospel format did seem to work.

Hotel Meridien’s lobby jazz club is now called the Louis Armstrong Foundation Jazz Club and is a veritable museum of old photos and home of Jacques Gauthe’s Yerba Buena Creole Rice Jazz Band. A comfortable and convenient place to hear traditional New Orleans jazz.

The Palm Court will be closed during the latter part of August, according to Nina Buck. But in the meantime, on August 7, Live the Jazz, a documentary presentation of NOVAC and Louisiana Video For and About Elders. The documentary’s intent is to honor elder musicians and to examine the importance of music in maintaining vitality as we age. Featured are the late Louis Nelson, Chester Zardis, Pud Brown, Fred Federico and Danny and “Blue” Lu Barker, all regulars at the Palm Court.

Kilimanjaro, New Orleans’ only reggae and world beat club, celebrates its grand opening on August 9 and 10 with a special appearance by Sam Fan Thomas with his Makassi Band and dancers from Cameroon. This guy’s hot stuff in his native Africa. Check him out.

Other news of note: Direct Box Enterprises conducts songwriters’ workshops every Monday evening at their Mid-City location and has planned “artist development” workshops. Call 482-0193 for more info on times and places…Percussion Inc. and Free Men of Color conduct drum and percussion workshops every week in Congo Square on Sunday at 12 noon and 2 p.m….the new Neville Brothers album Brother’s Keeper will be out on August 7 (see review, this issue)…the Brothers will join Linda Ronstadt in concert at UNO Kiefer Arena on August 13. Tickets are at Ticketmaster…New York’s New Music Seminar was quite a success for participants, reports David Eidler, head of the New Orleans Music Convention Association. The New Orleans booth was jammed and the hospitality suite was filled with Louisiana music lovers.

Rebirth Jazz Band has been hitting the streets lately and will be at various fairs and fests throughout the country, including the Newport Folk Festival, San Diego Street Scene, Ojai Bowlful of Jazz and the San Francisco Jazz Fest…Southlake Studio and Paul DeCorte Productions announced that two videos they produced for rap artists Gregory D and DJ Mannie Fresh will soon be aired on MTV…ex-Animals and War vocalist Eric Burdon was in town recently jamming at Madigan’s with local Tip’s emcee Ricky Castrillo and catching up with old friend and War drummer Harold Brown.

The latest on the Armstrong Park controversy: Senator J. Bennett Johnston has introduced a bill to study the feasibility of establishing a unit of the National Park System to “interpret and commemorate the origins of jazz in the United States.” A field hearing was just held in Armstrong Park’s Theatre for the Performing Arts. Maybe this time something will happen …we wish it would, and soon!

The summer heat’s a killer, but if you’re in the mood for food (and who in N’Awlins ain’t all the time?), check out the newly opened Cafe Istanbul at 534 Frenchmen Street, the old Dream Palace. We had heard that the legendary ceiling had been torn out, but to our relief we’ve found it’s still there, as cosmic as ever. The cuisine is Middle Eastern—Turkish to be exact—at the Cafe. It’s a breath of fresh air for us ethnic food lovers in the city. The decor is spare but lush (figure that one out), the food is delicious, and the prices are very reasonable (entrees start at $7.50).

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Bayona, Susan Spicer’s restaurant at 430 Dauphine Street. A recent trip there with a professional chef friend of ours in town for the recent Culinary Foundation convention sent both of us into ecstasy. Spicer’s ways with sweetbreads have always been legendary, and the salmon carpaccio was perfect. Susan scores again with this restaurant.

OffBeat‘s Louisiana Music Directory is now out. The Directory is a comprehensive listing of music businesses and musical groups throughout the state. If you haven’t received your copy yet, give us a call. Copies are available from OffBeat for $4 (including postage).