New Orleans - the MUSIC
"down in the Treme
just me and my baby
were all going crazy
while jamming an' a havin fun...."
(full version)
some would say I should have started with the music and not the houses
but the house were so obvious
and the music not so much
we went to the French Quarter
where we heard some good live music in the restaurant near Latrobe Park
near the french market
we sat in the park - loved the statues
then we had to have coffee and beignets
down the street at the Cafe du Monde
the man loves good coffee
of course it was packed with tourists
but we heard some of the best jazz there
didn't feel comfortable taking pictures of the band....
that night Willie went to Frenchman's St
and said he heard some good music
(they start after I go to bed........)
next night - even on Frenchman's not much music
riding our bikes trying to get to the river
we pass the Euclid - holy crap
the place where these guys recorded!
hanging out where the greats walked
just across the street was this huge bridge over the tracks
the only way across the river
I was like no way am I going over that
the pictures - and I knew they wouldn't -
just could not show the perspective of how high and scary this was
the only saving grace and what made it possible was that you could not see over the sides....
of course I did it and it was wonderful to see
the Mississippi River in all her glory on the other side
these are not great photos as it was overcast and getting dark
the mighty Mississippi River
I had heard about it all my life - I saw it up north when I was younger and it was smaller
to see how new orleans was the river and the river was new orleans
to see it here in all is glory was somehow transforming
still in search of music we did some research
we went to Mimi's on a saturday night
and guess what - right - no music
great tapas though.....
Mimi's in the Marigny
well that explains why it is such a wonderful, interesting and happy part of town
we did have a great lunch in a little bar we went into in the Treme
running in to escape an afternoon downpour and the crowds
but no music
the last night we were in new orleans
we went to the Hi-Ho Lounge to hear some Latin jazz
we saw a play bill on the wall at Mimi's
and cuban food was advertised
perfect
when we get to the bar, it is dead and we almost left
then we think to ask about the food
- oh yeah, through that side door out back....
it was like alice in wonderland
the little door opened into a narrow walkway and onto a small back patio
that was not dead at all
very interesting people, many in costumes, great looking food going by
good canned music
the food was awesome
new chef in different locations hoping to get his own restaurant
a really nice young man came and hung out with us
but of course the Latin band was not showing
and so a punk rock band was showing up instead
walking home later that night
we did hear a lovely singer being accompanied on the piano as we walked by a house
and we stood under the window for awhile
and a guy quietly strumming a guitar on a balcony somewhere on royal street
and later a lone trombone
next time (if you can stand anymore) - the food and most important - the people
of new orleans
