The first show at Snug Harbor since Katrina had that sense of reunion for so many old friends that came. The place was packed and the show was free. And that sense of reunion was with the band as well. Leader/Saxophonist Ed Petersen hadn’t had the opportunity to play his music since the city went dark so his performance definitely made up for lost time. Every one in the group had, until recently, been traveling around the country either with their families or on band tours. Guitarist Steve Masakowski, for example, had first evacuated New Orleans to Galveston, then had to evacuate his family from there to escape Rita while on tour with Astral Project. Other evacuees in the band were drummer Ricky Sebastian (formerly of Los Hombres Calientes and Dr. John) and bassist/singer Don Vappie (formerly with Preservation Hall Jazz Band). Ed’s band had been named the Test previously to Katrina so as a tribute to the times, the October 14th band became the Ultimate Test.