In just a few weeks, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be in full swing and for the first time in 11 years, I will not be in the middle of it all. I will not use this space to lament my absence. (Those interested in hearing me lament, please contact me privately.) I'll just say this--remember when they killed off McLean Stevenson on M*A*S*H? This is worse.
For 10 years straight, I walked through the Festival gates on the first day, purchased a giant iced coffee and made a bee line to the Gospel Tent. That was my "I am here" ritual. If you've never been, no amount of passion-soaked prose, or words, however clever and colorful, could ever explain the feeling of being on that early morning line, headed for that tent, on those fairgrounds, in that city.
Maybe some music will help.
TRACKLIST
Gospel Music - Bob Dylan
This Old World Is Going Down - Modulations
Mighty Wind - Brother Will Hairston
The New Walk - Reverend Reuben Willingham
Nail Print - The Dixie Nightingales
Lazarus - O.V. Wright
Never Turn Back - Thomas A. Dorsey
Let's Get Together - Cassietta George & The Cassettes
Why? - Jackson Quartette
Gospel Train - The Trumpeteers
Keep On Trusting In The Lord - Crownseekers
I Made It Over - The Sunset Travelers w/O.V. Wright
Lord, Bring Me Down - The Consolers
Hammer & Nails - The Staple Singers
Jacob's Ladder - Voices Of The Clouds
His Eyes Are On the Sparrow- Marvin Gaye
Now I'm Ready- The Original Gospel Harmonettes Feat. Dorothy Love Coates
As Bob Dylan says at the top of this Weekend Mix, "You don't have to be a junkie to enjoy Heroin by The Velvet Underground."
I'm not sure I agree, but you get the point.
ZIP FILE
8 comments:
I guess I'm fortunate that I've never gone, in a way, as I don't know what I'm missing.
Condolences on that and also on the death of Henry Blake, Sal. He was a good man. And thorough.
Goodbye, Larry.
You know, Steve Simels lost his grandmother this week too..she was 143. Sad times.
I guess I'll go do some horse and put on the VU.
I feel your pain. I do have to say that being there for only one day (as I have been the last several years) out of 6 or 7 is almost as much torture. Just a taste is not enough! I also don't really get the time to take in the full vibe, as I am always working when there. Still, I love running into friends from all over who may have only Jazzfest in common, but that is more than enough. I'll miss seeing you my one day there this year.
It's a shame you won't be going there this year, i remember going to your store and hearing about your trip to New Orleans, keep your chin up Sal and maybe next year?
Shemmy Eisenberg
Hey Sal, why aren't you going this year? I hope it's because your super busy and not something health related or anything like that.........
Wishing you well, pal!
ROy Bivins
Thanks Roy. My health is fine, but my pockets are empty.
. . . which follows the Community Coffee ritual, which is hot on the heels of whatever happens in the privacy of one's suite at Villa Convento!
Let 'er rip maestro!
the modulations rule.
good one mr wood
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