do you know what it means to miss new orleans

Oh New Orleans... I love you. I have missed you even though it's only been a few short months... 

Just as I was getting ready to leave for The Dakota last night... I received an email confirming our participation in the Satchmo Summerfest in August... http://www.fqfi.org/satchmosummerfest/ We're donating another one of a kind trumpet this year... auctioning it off on ebay this time around and donating all proceeds to the French Quarter Festivals Incorporated. The email I received from Marci... started out... "Hey Friends".... yes, that is why I love New Orleans... everyone there seems like they want to be your friend... not in a weird way... just in a hey... we're all here on this planet together... lets have a good time kinda way...  it's hard to describe unless you've been there... and once you have it's sort of addictive... more than one time I have been walking down the streets of the city only to have a stranger flash me a smile and say... smile darlin' it's a beautiful day... no, i am not joking... it's happened several times.... everyone says hello... everyone dances... everyone sings... it's a really happy place... well.... last night The Rebirth Brass Band brought a little slice of that happy place right here to Minneapolis... I have been to The Dakota many many times... I have seen a lot of very talented musicians on that stage.... but, I HAVE NEVER EVER SEEN ANYONE DANCING THERE... last night... people just couldn't contain themselves... at one point i saw a woman with a parasol start a mini second line... a man whirling his napkin above his head just as i've seen paraders do in NOLA.... they were pulling people on stage to dance... the floor was literally moving beneath us... and for a second I wondered if The Dakota had planned for this type of merriment... were the floors designed to hold dancers? or just sitters? IT WAS AWESOME! 

I remember talking to members of The Pocket Aces brass band the first time I went to New Orleans a few years ago... I was so blown away... I told them people would eat that music up in Minneapolis... we don't get straight ahead New Orleans Brass Bands here! And based on last night, I would say, there's a severe need for it. Just imagine us nordic shut ins going to a brass band dance party in mid January... someone please open a dance club like that here... anyway... it was quite a night... and loads of fun... also there's something amazing about watching that many brass players belt out music at full volume... INTO A MICROPHONE... a trumpet at full volume is so loud already it could render you senseless... multiply that by 8 and then mic it... hahah.... wall of sound... 

Can't wait to get back to New Orleans in August :)