On stage with the Rebirth Brass Band!!

All it took was Chadrick Honore inviting 'all the ladies in the house' on stage, and the stream of women started through the side stage door.  I scooted in last after a good nudge from my awesome friend, "You've got to go..." I've been on stage briefly to take a few shots when Rebirth has played Chelsea's and once at Bogie's, but never at the Varsity Theater.

I took a spot right by snare drummer, Derrick Tabb, and tuba player, Phil Frazier.  I'm guessing that there were 20-30 happy, dancing women who were completely into it with up there with me.  Watch the video and see how only a few pulled out their cellphone to take a picture or two.  Other than that, they were truly embracing the moment.

I'm not sure how I did not dance at all for 10 minutes.  Usually, I'm movin' a bit in between my shots, but this time around I suppose I took the self-assigned video job very seriously. ;)

Thank you very much, Rebirth!!! Always excellent to have you in town.

#RebirthBrassBand #RootsofMusic #VarsityTheater #OnStage #Video #NewOrleans #LOVE

Memories in green

Years ago, in 1995, I spent some time in a rainforest region of Ecuador.  I had been selected as a Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation teacher grant recipient to visit through Earthwatch. My mission as a team member was to assist scientist, Durrell Kapan, collect field data for his study of evolutionary processes in butterflies.

Today I was reminded of one of my personal transformations in the rainforest while staring into a large palm plant.  First, the burst of green attracted my eye, then the many gradients of color in the light and shade revealed themselves.  As I got deeper into the leaves, I smiled remembering the softness of the earth below my feet and the surrounding space of layers and layers of rainforest lushness.  Just like today, the greens introduced themselves as one entity, and with more time walking and being in the forest. shades stood out with their own identity. It was a beyond precious and invaluable experience twenty years ago, and how wonderful that a moment of light and a local green plant intermingled with those memories.

(Time to search for the summary report I wrote for the G.  In it a poem about green is included.)