i cover the waterfront... and everywhere else too

i am in love with the city of new orleans... there's really not any other way to put it. it is a magical place... a true storyville... and like candy to this music/art/food lover... there is something new to see, smell, touch or taste around every corner... and the soundtrack to the city is never ending... i am going to try to cover a bit of our trip to the crescent city... but bear in mind... that my rough accounts are no where near complete... there was not a moment of pause... and we like it that way... new orleans welcomes us and our instruments with open arms... and says come on in... stay a while... and like a guy i passed on the street offered up in true new orleans style... a couple short days ago.... "it's a beautiful day... smile sweetheart" ... 

it took us 2 days to drive from mpls to nola... i don't mind long road trips... in fact i rather like them... but you can imagine how exhausted we were when we arrived in town at hotel monteleone... we didn't have long to get dressed up for the opening reception which was thankfully held right in our hotel. the food was delicious and the keynote speech was heartwarming ... we ran into Leroy Jones and had the chance to meet him in person finally... he got us tickets to his gig at Preservation Hall that same weekend and we thanked him for that and told him how much we were looking forward to it... 

yes, we were exhausted... but we had appointments! so off to Fat Cats we went to meet with Brian Murray... so on break he tried out our horns right there on Bourbon St... 

Jamil Sharif @ Maison Bourbon St.

then down Bourbon St... to stop in for Jamil Sharif at MAISON... this has become my all time favorite spot in NoLA... and Jamil is always so uplifting to watch... he played both the Bravura S and the Summit One on his set... and we promised we'd be back for more later in the week... but we had to go to sleep... early morning appointments with clients

Friday morning was breakfast at our hotel with Brian Graber and Dennis DeBruler... we caught up over our eggs... I had fried green tomatoes ... the Tchoupitoulas Breakfast... I asked the waitress to pronounce it for me... and when i got up to leave she told me it means "River People" in Chocktaw... I bought a couple of history books... because I love that stuff... and she's right :)

just enough time to play test and talk shop before the presentation at the mint... 

it was wonderful to see so many of our friends and clients in attendance... Brian Graber, Dennis DeBruler, Larry Foyen and Judy, Dan Ireland and friends, Chuck Ciorba all the way from Oklahoma, Brian Murray and countless others... we were very honored to be there this year. I do have video of the entire presentation and hope to have that edited and up online soon...  after the presentation we spent time catching up with old and new friends... and Brian Murray tried horns outside the Mint... 

jason took a little time giving this kid a lesson after the presentation as well. it was fun for everyone. 
then dinner at Mr B's just Jason and I to regroup and discuss the day... and plot the rest of the trip... 

We met up with Dennis and Sandy at Preservation Hall! to see Leroy Jones... what a treat! I felt like I was watching a legend perform in a legendary place... for legendary people... like Yoshio for instance... who was standing right next to me... 

then down to Frenchman to see Dana Abbot at BMC... and followed that up with the Soul Rebels at DBA... and was pleasantly surprised to see that Marcus Hubbard is playing on one of our modified 909 trumpets... they were really great! 

another amazing night in NOLA...!
Saturday morning was breakfast with Chuck Ciorba who came all the way from Oklahoma for the presentation and to meet with Jason. We are in the early stages of planning a southern tour with the main focus being in Oklahoma City and he's invited us to do a master class and meet and greet there... which will likely take place in January!

not a moment to spare we dashed off to the festival for a lecture and to see John Michael-Bradford winner of the Satchmo youth contest perform on the Red Beans stage... I personally loved his singing on What a Wonderful World... what a talent... 

the Satchmo Horn went into a display case on the 3rd floor of the Mint and people had a lot of questions... 

Jason met up with Omar Ramirez in the green room and let him try out the horns... and then out to hear more music and catch up with Shamarr Allen... 

as you can see... this festival can be exhausting :) but so much fun!

this guy had the right idea...

dinner on royal street... at an oyster house... and then back to see chuck bee at my bar... on bourbon

and no trip to nola is complete without the required cheesy bourbon milk crate photo... i think this cost me $3

and that's just the beginning... then on to snug harbor! to see Lionel Ferbos... he just turned 101~ and finish off the night with a stop at the spotted cat... sigh... i love new orleans

hehe... this guy is way cool

can you believe it's sunday already? me neither... so after not much sleep... and an emergency royale croissant from cafe beignet... we were off to the change of command ceremony courtesy of Dan Ireland... 

the military ceremony was awesome. i have really never seen anything like it before in my life... we also were able to tour the repair shop... i guess the marines are the only branch of the military that repairs their own instruments... so that's cool... and THEN! we got to watch two helicopters take off... right in front of us... a super cobra which is stealth and silent from 100 yards... which trust me... is totally mind blowing to witness in real life... and an apache.... so cool!

then we were starving! so we ate here in the french quarter... and our chef had all gold teeth... :)

back at the festival i spotted these fun things... 

you always meet the best people back stage waiting for the trumpet tribute... and this year was no exception... 

yoshio toyama

john michael-bradford

yes... that's kermit ruffins on the drums :)

kid merv

yes... that was another long day... but then we went back to maison to meet with jamil again.... and then on to vaso to see the pocket aces brass band! we have two clients in that band jimmie reamey and matthew theirrot ... they put on a stellar show! as always and jason sat in for the second set! 

monday we headed home... exhausted and invigorated... happy and overwhelmed with memories... thank you to everyone old friends and new for making this another amazing experience in new orleans. we cannot express what it means to be a part of your music and your city... 

and lastly... if i have neglected to mention you in this entry... it doesn't mean you don't have a spot in my heart... it just means... that i am so overwhelmed by the experiences i have had in the last week... that i simply cannot sort them out in any logical manner... after some rest... and some more photo and video editing... i will get to you... thank you new orleans... thank you fqfi and louis armstrong... but mostly... thank you to all the musicians out there... making the music... that moves us... you are what this is all about