Opening Politicians’ Eyes
This is in response to Jan Ramsey’s blog post, “How to Make Music a City Priority,” wherein she advocates that musicians, music businesses and music fans get organized.
— Ed.
Politicians respond to voters. Agreed. I also agree that a central organization to represent the music people is needed. However, businesses respond to consumers. There are millions and millions of dollars that flow into New Orleans because of its music culture. I suggest that either this organization [Music Swings Votes] or OffBeat and Jazz Fest promote to their mail list and other data bases they may be able to access a petition to change some of these onerous laws/regulations that are hurting the New Orleans music scene. I think you would be able to get tens of thousands of signatures of both voters and, very important, consumers that send money in the city. This may help to open the city politicians’ and businesses’ eyes.
— John Ariatti, Hendersonville, NC
A Life Changed
Upon my return from Jazz Fest I picked up the April issue of OffBeat and read a review of the musical score CD of Nine Lives. I purchased the book first, then the music. Working a Katrina catastrophe team in 2005, the people of New Orleans stole my heart. HBO’s Treme and Jazz Fest captured my soul, then Nine Lives has truly changed my life. I just saw the production at Tulane last week. Fabulous!
— Bonnie Cochran, Orlando, FL
Sincere Thanks
Just wanted to express my sincere thanks for the review of my album, Later, On Decatur. It was very gratifying to me that you [John Swenson] “got it,” and your conveyance to your readership in a few paragraphs, of so much of what it took me many years to say with the record and graphics, is a true testament to your journalistic talent.
I have spent most of my career publishing national magazines in marketing, advertising and editorial functions, and feel that I am qualified to compliment you on the way you crafted and presented this review, and the others you have written, which I have read with regularity.
All of us who contributed to Later, On Decatur are proud of the result, and now we are that much prouder! Thank you so much for the time, effort, and sincerity you put into this review.
— Dave Ferrato, New Orleans, LA
Super Potluck
I just received the “super potluck” box and could not be more pleased.
Unbelievably, my wife and I have always been music fans but somehow never made it to New Orleans until April of 2005 (I’m 60, she’s 53) and then with two kids in tow. We loved it then, but couldn’t enjoy the adult music scene with the kids.
Katrina affected us so much more for having just been there (our kids saw the park they played in underwater and it hit home for them as well).
Our kids are now in their mid-teens, and over the last couple years, we’ve been able to “farm” them out and come on down a few times each year. Each time we come, we love it more. A couple years ago, I discovered both your magazine and WWOZ. This last visit in July, we were fortunate enough to join the Uncle Lionel second line on July 13 and went to the benefit that night at Sweet Lorraine’s. How nice that that when I opened the box just now, the first issue I saw had Uncle Lionel on the cover! (August 2002) At this point it’s our plan to move to New Orleans when we retire in a few years.
We’ve had a mailed subscription to OffBeat since July 2011 and I read it cover to cover! I can’t wait to delve into the trove of back issues I just received.
— Gerry Puchalski, Stony Brook, NY
