Times are tough, almost everybody’s poorer than they were last year, and by the time this issue hits the street, we could be at war in the Middle East.
So what’s good to be thankful for? If you have your health; if your family is together, well and happy; if you’ve got a roof over your head; if you’re not hungry; if someone loves you (and you love somebody); if your children are safe; if you’re still breathing; if you live in a city like New Orleans (which, though not perfect, is a pretty good place to live)…then thank the supreme being!
THE HOLIDAY PARTIES KICK IN…
The House of Blues gives thanks with a ten-year anniversary “House Party” celebration featuring the legendary B.B. King plus the Zion Harmonizers on Thursday, December 5. Although the New Orleans venue will be celebrate its ninth year in January 2003, the B.B. King show will usher in the 10th Anniversary celebration of the birth of its parent company, HOB Entertainment, Inc. the Los Angeles-based global entertainment company.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. The “House Party” will be held in the Music Hall, and restaurant will feature an open bar, complimentary hors d’euvres and the incomparable B.B. King. Tickets are $125 all-inclusive, and can be purchased at House of Blues Box Office, via www.hob.com and at all Ticketmaster outlets. House of Blues will also hosts a special VIP celebration for Foundation Room members in the Parish from 6:30 pm to 8:30 p.m.
Headliner Henry Butler will be joined on stage by musicians Dr. Michael White and Papa Henry and the Steamin’ Syncopators with Wendell Brunious, Tom Fischer, Bill Huntington, Freddy Lonzo, Shannon Powell and Don Vappie at the “Eyes On You” Jazz Gala, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 12, 2002 at Muriel’s Restaurant, 801 Chartres St. The Gala will be a unique event with only 250 tickets available.
The Gala, sponsored by the University of New Orleans Training, Resource & Assistive-technology Center (TRAC) will benefit the TRAC Creative Music and Jazz Camp for Visually Impaired Teen Musicians, scheduled to begin in August of 2003. Butler will serve as creative director for the Creative Music and Jazz Camp, a ten-day residential program to be offered at the TRAC facility on the UNO Lakefront Campus. “We will be giving teens an experience that builds self-esteem and a sense of mastery—an experience that has the potential to measurably enhance the rest of their lives,” Butler said.
The attire is “elegant with your favorite sunglasses.” The Gala will feature a silent auction with sunglasses designed, decorated and created by 35 well-known artists and celebrities, and more.
Gala tickets are $75 each. Patron tickets, that include a pre-party with the stars and special auction items, are $125. A limited number of $35 student tickets are also available. Tickets can be purchased by calling (504) 280-5700 or online at www.virtuous.com. For information call UNO at 504-280-5700 or e-mail: [email protected].
There’s a party at ArtEgg Studios (if you’re a creative type and need studio or rehearsal space, you should definitely check ArtEgg out) on Saturday, December 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. ArtEgg is the brainchild of Dr. Esther Dyer, who came to New Orleans 10 years ago and fell in love with the city. She bought the former American Beauty Egg Building at 1001 South Broad with came to New Orleans 10 years ago and fell in love with the City. Dyer bought the former American Beauty Egg Building with fostering local creative talent as her goal. For more information on ArtEgg and the party, which will feature wine and music, call (504) 822-4002.
MO’ TUNES
The City Music Office’s Mo’ Tunes series of concerts, to be held at House of Blues Parish begins on Tuesday December 3 at 9 p.m. All shows will have a $10 cover. The schedule for the first six shows in the Mo’ Tunes concert series is as follows: December 3: Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen and Bleu Orleans; December 10: Leroy Jones Quintet and Little Rascals Brass Band; December 17: Catch Velvet and World Leader Pretend; January 7: The Revealers and Iris May Tango;
January 14: Kelly Love Jones and Myself; January 28: Joe Krown Organ Combo and Troi Bechet.
Mo’ Tunes is sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, House of Blues, Hibernia National Bank and the Abita Brewing Company.
LOUISIANA MUSIC DIRECTORY
If you’re a Louisiana musician or have a music business, the latest edition of the “LMD” should hit your mailbox during the first week in December. It’ll also include the nominating ballots for this year’s Best of The Beat Awards, which will be on February 7, 2003 at Generations Hall. Vote for your favorite….and don’t bitch if they don’t win because you didn’t vote.
The Louisiana Music Directory is also available by subscription online for $35 (which includes a print version of the LMD and online access to the updated information for a full year. If you would like online access, call OffBeat to subscribe, (504) 944-4300, or go online to offbeat.com.
HOLIDAY HAIKU
Steve Goodson, the one and only Sax Gourmet, sent me these musical haikus, which I think are a hoot….enjoy, and have a great Christmas and Bayou Classic:
Jam session bassist / Observes fourteen soloists / Contemplates murder.
Say, do you guys know / “Wedding Song” by Kenny G? / Buy the damn record.
Riffing on “Rudolph” / Musicians in red and green / Learn humility.
Best man pays sideman / Revealing greed of leader / Rebellion ensues.
I’m sending a sub / But don’t worry, he’ll be fine / He’s fresh from rehab.
Solo pianist / Freed from all constraints of form / Heedlessly mangles.
Jazz nymphs crowd bandstand / Offering carnal delights / My alarm clock rings.
Double-timing bone / Sounds like somebody chewing / On a rubber band.
Forty-two straight gigs / With no requests for “Take Five” / Time to call Guinness.
Free jazz temptation / Strikes during the bride’s first dance / What Would Wynton Do?
New Years revelers / Here’s hoping the stroke of twelve / Sends you the hell home.
Checking out women / High stages and low necklines / Great combination.
A new world’s record / For choruses on “A Train” / My band hates me now.
That plate of hors d’oeuvres / Cost more than we’re getting paid / Think we underbid?
Break time is over / Rest of band is returning / Now for that phone call.
Rock drummer, lounge keys / Classically trained singer / Welcome to sub hell.
God bless trust fund gigs / Only have to eat ramen / For a few more weeks.
My drummer helped me / Count the syllables in this / Haiku.
