We have an abundance of good things in New Orleans and Louisiana: great music and food; a unique culture and deep traditions; warm people and a history that’s rooted in our consciousness and customs. Music is at the heart of New Orleans’ culture—it’s been called “the language of New Orleans,” and I think that’s truer here than any place else in the world.

Therefore, we at OffBeat feel that it’s our duty and privilege not only to educate our readers on what’s happening in our vibrant music scene today, but to continue to demonstrate why our musicians are great. That’s why we started our “Masters of Louisiana Music” series in the 2000 Jazz Fest issue. The first musician so honored as a Master was the inimitable Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. We felt that he—both in spirit and in the music he created—embodied the heart and soul of New Orleans music.

In August 2000, we also began a series called “What DoesLouis Armstrong Mean?”—an ongoing feature that highlights not what Armstrong did while he was alive, but how his music and persona have permeated and influenced countless musicians, writers, composers and men on the street throughout the years. In this issue, we’ve consolidated most of the comments made this year, and present a paean to Louis Armstrong, the legend. We’re proud to be associated with the Satchmo SummerFest, with an issue basically devoted to Satchmo’s memory.

This has been Armstrong’s year: the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival devoted a major part of its festivities to him and his influences on musicians worldwide; there are numerous celebrations of his 100th birthday, and the SatchmoFest will highlight his accomplishments on the centennial of his birth. We salute the Louisiana Office of Culture, Recreation and Tourism’s backing of this event, French Quarter Festivals, Inc. for organizing the event, and the University of New Orleans for organizing the definitive conference on Armstrong. If you have the opportunity to attend this conference, you will come away with an appreciation of Louis that even Ken Burns would envy!

The official Satchmo SummerFest poster (on our cover and shown in its entirety on page 51) was created by local artist Richard Thomas, whose 1997 mural adorns the newly-renamed Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Thomas’s mural celebrates the musicians of New Orleans, especially Louis Armstrong. His 20th Anniversary Jazz Fest poster of Fats Domino was one of the best-selling posters in Jazz Fest history. Thomas is presently wrapping up another series of jazz murals that will be installed this summer at the airport. Like his first mural, these works highlight some 140+ New Orleans jazz, gospel and R&B artists from Bunk Johnson to Kermit Ruffins to the Neville Brothers. To cap this list of recent achievements, Thomas also enjoyed a successful Mardi Gras season as publisher of the official Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club Mardi Gras prints.

Richard Thomas is a local treasure: he’s a visual artist who’s been successful and who consistently gives back to the community. He has a strong belief in the African-American culture and believes in educating and encouraging young people in that culture. He practices his beliefs through being an art educator for the past 21 years in the New Orleans Public Schools system and through Pieces of Power (POP), a non-profit fine arts youth organization founded by Thomas in 1991.

As founder of POP, Thomas continues to work tirelessly as art activist for young artists by helping to develop programs and art activities. POP Foundation was created for the purpose of providing scholarships for young people and assisting them gain access to the many art programs and universities throughout the country.

Oh yeah, and he aspires to play the trumpet like his idol, Louis Armstrong.

K-DOE

Just after July’s issue hit the streets, we unfortunately lost another legendary New Orleans musician: Ernie K-Doe, who passed away on July 5.

Like every other music freak who grew up in New Orleans, K-Doe was a person I grew up listening to on my little transistor radio, late at night, when I was too young to go out (but not too young to be listening to local music). I suppose the words of “Mother-In-Law,” with K-Doe’s clear complaining tenor and Benny Spellman’s booming bass refrain are pretty much etched in my brain forever. Almost everyone by now knows the story of K-Doe’s rise and fall, and rise again, and that he was fantastic musician and performer (there won’t be his like again). His wake and funeral was one of the most incredible things New Orleans has seen in a long, long time…too bad our other great musicians don’t get that kind of respect from local citizens.

But K-Doe was not only a beloved musician, he was a real New Orleans character, and a real New Orleans legend. Briefly, I’d like to publicly thank Miss Antoinette, Ernie’s wife for the last few years of his life, for giving Ernie back to his fans. Clearly, in his life, he had problems with drink, and was down-and-out for a while. Without Antoinette, Ernie would have been in his grave long before July 5. Thank you, Antoinette, for being there for Ernie, demanding and getting the respect that he deserved, promoting him tirelessly, and for letting us enjoy the legendary Emperor for a few more years. Antoinette, you’re truly the Empress of the Universe and a legend in your own right! Let’s make the Mother-In-Law Lounge a shrine not only to K-Doe, but to R&B musicians everywhere. If anyone can do it, Antoinette can.

MORE LOUIS

Local PBS affiliate WYES celebrates Louis Armstrong’s 100th birthday on August 4 with Satchmo In New Orleans, the 1989 award-winning documentary produced by Peggy Scott Laborde that takes a look at Armstrong’s formative years spent in New Orleans. From his birth in 1901 to his departure to Chicago in 1922, the hour-long special focuses on his experiences in New Orleans which shaped his personality and music into what became known as the “Armstrong style.” Charmaine Neville hosts the program.

A rich compilation of archival stills, footage, a 1960 interview with Armstrong himself and recordings from the period offer a rare glimpse of early 20th-century New Orleans. Additional segments include Armstrong’s 1931 summer engagement at the Suburban Gardens Nightclub in Jefferson Parish and his exhilarating return to New Orleans in 1949 as King of the Zulu parade.

The New Orleans African American Museum, in conjunction with French Quarter Festivals, Inc. present a special exhibit of photos, paints, sculpture and stories of “Sweet Emma” Barrett coinciding with the Satchmo SummerFest.

“Sweet Emma” was an outstanding pianist who played traditional jazz with such great luminaries of New Orleans music as Ernest Trepagnier, Willie and Percy Humphrey, Barney Bigard, Cié Frazier, Ernest and Baby Dodds, Chester Zardis and, most importantly, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. Exhibit will be in the Villere Street Gallery on the Museum complex.

The museum will also feature the paintings of local artist Frank Lewis to be exhibited in the Villere House of the complex. Mr. Lewis has amassed a collection of works depicting several of Louisiana’s music greats and will fill the house with his dynamic works through the end of 2001.

A double reception will take place on Friday, August 3, 2001 from 6-9 p.m. and is open to the public. The museum is located in the historic Faubourg Tremé at 1418 Gov. Nicholls St. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday and Saturdays by appointment only. For more information, call (504) 565-7497, or log on to www.noaam.org.

MAYFIELD HONORED IN ARIZONA

Irvin Mayfield will be honored at the First Annual Irvin Mayfield Golf Jam to be held at the Sheraton San Marcos Golf Resort in Chandler, Arizona, on Saturday September 15, 2001. This will be Irvin’s sixth visit to Chandler, and continues his commitment to supporting Jazz in Az, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping jazz alive.

Irvin’s past visits to Chandler, located just 20 minutes from Phoenix, have included performing with the Irvin Mayfield Quintet and Los Hombres Calientes. In addition to participating in three jazz festivals in Chandler, he has conducted free clinics involving over 600 students at local schools. The kids can relate to Irvin, only 23-years-old, who, through hard work, discipline, and goal-setting, is already achieving major success. Mayfield also serves as the Artistic Director of the annual Motorola Chandler Jazz Festival that featured the Irvin Mayfield Quintet and the Terence Blanchard Quintet last April.

The Golf Jam involves a four-person golf “scramble” tournament, a VIP Cocktail hour followed by a dinner jazz concert in the San Marcos ballroom. Raffles, a silent auction, and contests on the golf course will raise funds to support youth clinics and major jazz events in the Phoenix Valley. For further information on the golf jam, contact Jazz in Arizona at (480) 786-4424.