A peek into Preservation Hall

One of my favorite things to do while in New Orleans is swing by its historic Preservation Hall.  Even when it's off hours, there's something very magical about peeking into its space through the smallest of openings and imagining the musical creations born there.

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

Fest family appreciation 2015

I love New Orleans Jazz Fest and Heritage Festival for its music, food and culture, yes.  Every year, I also volunteer at the Zulu Krewe Diamoncutters beverage tent via the heartfelt outreach of The Threadheads, and I feel myself becoming more and more attached and happy to see the good people working with me, and stopping by to visit, too.  I'm more than fortunate to share in their Fest spirit of friendship, fun and goodness!

Breaking in tradition of presenting images in time order, I'll share a mix of photos from the different days worked at Fest this year.  I'm so prompted to dig into past years for images of friends, too.  Enjoy meeting and reading about my Fest friends who make the experience all more awesome!!

*More friends to be posted*

Givin' thanks Rebirth style!

Kicked off Thanksgiving Break with the Rebirth Brass Band at Baton Rouge's Bogies.  It was my first time there and didn't know what to expect from this college bar scene.  After shocking the young man at the door checking IDs by my birth date year 30 years older than all others (he had been looking down when viewing), I stepped right in and had a fun time.  Rebirth ALWAYS puts on a great show and treat the crowd right.  The full band was there minus co-founder Keith Frazier on the Bass Drum, and Terrence Andrews performed in his place.  I really enjoyed meeting him and seeing all of the band members in Baton Rouge once again.


A special thanks to Rebirth, co-founder Phil Frazier, Tuba, and Derrick Tabb, Snare, and Terrence Andrews for letting me step into their rear stage space for a different perspective of the show.  I'm more than appreciative of the opportunity and experience.  (I took some nice photos of their instuments during the set break which I'll share in an album, too.) All of these shots were taken with my husband's iPhone 6.  I'm very impressed by how it handled the low light situation and more than psyeched to have grabbed a good set.

Be sure to check out the Rebirth Brass Band back in Baton Rouge on December 20 at Chelsea's!

(Creative Commons Irene Kato)

The Lagniappe Brass Band at The Maison

I was completely surprised by four of my former students from 20 years ago in New Orleans on Friday night who trekked all the way from Chicago, NJ, and DC to visit me.  We shared a great dinner at NOLA, great conversation, then head out into the New Orleans scene.

For our first stop on Frenchmen Street, we jumped into the Maison because of the crowd trying to get in. It was packed with people enjoying the brass sounds of the Lagniappe Brass Band. It was my first time checking them out, and the word that I kept feeling was 'passion'. These players worked it so well with one another and the crowd, and were very intense in each song played. As more musicians checked in at the door, they made room for them to perform and have their moment. It was a great first impression of the band, and I'll definitely check them out again. I couldn't have asked for anything better to start off our music adventure.

I love this photo set.  No matter how minimal the light source, go for it to grab what you can to tell your story.

Sand mandala by Tibetan monks in Dalai Lama's honor

This sand mandala was created by Tibetan monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery in honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to New Orleans.  I was with my ten year old daughter's class on a field trip to the Audobon Zoo, and we scooted out early to take a look and experience the mandala's dismantling ceremony.  The sands had been blessed by His Holiness upon its completion earlier that day, making the creation very sacred and special.  Following its deconstruction ceremony, we walked with a thousand other people and the monks to the Mississippi River where they were dispersed for world healing.  

A few moments made me smile more than others.  First of all, my daughter's interest in the creation itself and then the ceremony really touched me.  The photo of the mountain like structures above is shared because she was captivated by their presence in the midst of the intricacies.  She had spotted them before me, and I was very appreciated of her eyes and view.  The monks' chants and playing of instruments swelled my person and transported me.  As I watched and listened, I was moved to wonder.   I giggled out loud when the kind woman coordinating and announcing to the large crowd explained how we were to move to the river with the monks.  I'm not sure if she was concerned that we would kick into Second Line mode dancing and pulling out white handkerchiefs to wave in the air, or just didn't know that New Orleanians know quite well how to proceed through the streets following a group of musicians.  I found subtle similarities, and really appreciate the ritualistic intersections.  Finally, it was quite the visual juxtaposition with the monks wearing their high, golden arched hats walking in front of and through the Mardi Gras World warehouse to get to the river.  I really soaked it up, and wished that I was one of the credentialed photographers right there in front with them to capture it all.  My minds eye has keeper set of images.

Also to note that I've written this entry on May 27 following the week of this same group of monks visiting Baton Rouge and pouring the sands of another mandala into the Mississippi River again.  Looking back at these photos and now knowing them a bit more, I truly appreciate the newness of this experience.  How fortunate to witness it two times over a one week period.

http://dalailamanola.com/resources/mandala 

http://dalailamanola.com/resources/drepung-loseling-monks 

The Imagination Movers rock the Pontchartrain Center

It was a great show with the Imagination Movers back in their home stomping ground! In their usual high energy, fan connected ways, they rocked the Pontchartrain Center with fan favorites and a couple of great covers, too. After the show they were kind enough to spend time with fans talking it up, signing shirts and taking pictures. Thank you, Movers, for being such giving people and keeping it real!!

The people I meet

July 25, 2013:  I owe it to these guys to share their photos publicly as it was over a year ago I crossed paths with each of them in New Orleans.  After completing a photo assignment, I had given myself some time walk and enjoy the city.  There's usually themes that emerge while I'm there, and on this given day it was the people I met and the time they shared with me no matter how brief.

It wouldn't be a visit to New Orleans without my spicy Bloody Mary and half-dozen raw oysters.  I stopped into Royal Street for my treat, and really enjoyed my time with the bartender/server and fellow bar stool mates.  One woman was celebrating her birthday with a small bottle of champagne and she insisted on sharing with me.  The Bloody Mary/Champagne/Oyster combo was perfect!

"Look me up!  I'm famous!"
Sidewalk Saint Tim, New Orleans Street Performer

Following a photo assignment in New Orleans, I stopped to watch a street performer painted in gold doing tricks with his golden basketball.  He came up to me, held my hand, introduced himself as Tim, then said, "Look me up!  I'm famous!"  I was very taken by his close contact and spirit, and took his photo before he returned to work.  Sure enough, he's one of New Orleans' 'Sidewalk Saints', performers known for their artistry on the streets of the city.  Famous or not, the pleasure was all mine!

Wesley, creator of his own Mardi Gras Indian costume

 Byron

Golden dancer

Julia, rose vendor

Jackson Square sitter

I don't usually take pictures like this, and after I did, this man jumped up and at me, putting his face near the middle of my legs, and screamed something obscene.  I had been squatting to grab the shot, wearing a skirt, no less. Needless to say, he taught me a valuable lesson about appropriate clothes and positioning when heading into the city with my camera.  No more crotch shots!!

Trombone Shorty and Charlie Gabriel - Jazz Fest

The best concert moments don't have to be when the musicians are singing or playing their instruments. Here are two New Orleans greats on stage for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's 50th Anniversary Set at Jazz Fest 2012. Brass player Trombone Shorty, 26 years old, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band's clarinetist Charlie Gabriel, 80 years old, shared some good times together during the performance. For me their pure joy and cross generational connection was tops. :)

Happy Girl II - Jazz Fest

Photo taken by Andrew Whitehead
Jazz Fest, April 29, 2012

This is my happiness.  Being in New Orleans, attending Jazz Fest, and special times with good friends.  There was a huge crowd for the Acura Stage - Johnny Sansone with Anders Osborne, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Dr. John, and Bruce Springsteen.  We didn't move from there except for a bathroom visit and drink run, and it was all good.  Loved it all!!

Here's my set of images from the day. In it are the people and times, as well as my growing wish to one day attend Fest with a press pass hanging around my neck. Either that or a beautiful Grand Marshal pass to give you access front and center to the stages. :)

Remember A Dose of Happy with the Rebirth Brass Band here in town?

Fest4Kidz - the great Jazz Fest ticket giveaway for young NOLA musicians!

I just returned from an evening with the Silence is Violence music clinic teachers, children and parents. Tonight was the night that the Threadheads, the greatest and most giving of New Orleans Jazz Fest fans, distributed t-shirts, spending money, and Jazz Fest tickets to all clinic participants. It really was a wonderful and moving experience. More exciting is the fact that a large group of the kids will be performing on the Gentilly Stage this Saturday at Jazz Fest! Wow. I got to hear a preview of what they will play and they sounded fantastic. I really couldn't listen without tears in my eyes. It's so powerful to see how far these children have come with effort, caring instructors, involved families, and this growing program. Visit silenceisviolence.org for more information about the program and how to support their efforts. If you're someone out there that is already involved, please know that you're making a big difference in the lives of these children and the community. Thank you.

A closer look

Yesterday while in Whole Foods, I was treated to live music being performed by musicians from New Orleans. When the bass player, Matt Perrine, put down his bass during a break I couldn't help but check it out. I loved its mix of textures, shapes, and worn look. It wasn't until I pulled up its image later on that I really saw the delicate flower engravings. What a sweet surprise.

Reflections in brass

 

When I see a brass band, I can't help but see the reflections in brass.  I love this one because it captures the band, the crowd, and the elements of Jackson Square.  And if you can believe it, this is the same band, the Young Fellaz Brass Band, that I crossed paths with the week before on Bourbon.

A dose of happy

9.17.11:
A nice reminder of the little things in life that bring me joy. A great New Orleans brass band, being out with my husband and friends, and playing photographer (while sitting on the front speakers, of course).

Young Fellaz Brass Band, New Orleans, 3.22.11

If you haven't danced in the streets of New Orleans with a brass band, then you really haven't danced.  It's such a release of self and connection to the others around you.  It's one of those things that feeds me now and then, and it's a gift to cross paths with brass players when I do visit the city. 


This is my favorite form of photography.  Years back it was very challenging for me to photograph people, especially those that I didn't know.  I still remember nearly hiding behind a telephone pole just to take a photograph of people sitting on a bench waiting for a bus.  I was so unsure and nervous, and that probably showed in the photos.  It would be interesting to find that set of pictures, and think about how they might look different if I took them today.

Harvest the Music w/ The Treme Band, Doctor John and the Lower 911 - 10.6.10

Mid City Lanes Rock N' Bowl Bar

Mid City Lanes Rock N' Bowl Bar

"Icons of Music II" benefiting Music Rising

I was fortunate to attend, with my husband,  Juliens Auctions "Icons of Music II" at the Hard Rock Cafe in NYC. It was a successful night for Music Rising, and we really appreciated our time with fellow New Orleans supporters. :)

Thank you Music Rising! http://musicrising.org.  //

Check out the auction results http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2008-music-rising/results.html

Second Line with Trombone Shorty and the Hot 8 Brass Band

My daughter and I jumped into the French Quarter for some beignets after visiting our friends doing volunteer work. We were behind Cafe Du Monde walking back to our car when I heard the brass coming from the street. We jumped, and I grabbed her hand and ran out to find Trombone Shorty and the Hot 8 Brass Band. I called to him like he was a friend, and scooted Grace right into the Second Line to meet him.  Holding his trombone with his left, he reached back with his right to squeeze hers while we all moved along.  It was such a quick, sweet gesture, and we then ran back along the curb with the crowd.    We somehow managed to keep pace in my 6 month pregnant body, and I was able to take a couple of photos that I like.  Second lines are a beautiful thing, and remembering the surprise of this one gets my heart going once again.