Friday, April 20, 2012

"Fest Companion 2012" : THE WEEKEND MIX



The 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is just a week away and sadly, for the second time in three years, I will not be attending, after a run of 10 straight years. This is making me just slightly more miserable than usual, though admittedly, I'm missing the city of New Orleans, not necessarily the Festival itself, which this year, looks more like Bonnaroo or Coachella, and not what once was "the greatest music festival of all time."

A friend told me that the new Jazz Fest app for the iPad (does that sound right?) has full clips of Tom Petty and The Eagles, with a 30 second snippet at the end of a New Orleans brass band. Nothing screams New Orleans culture like "Lyin' Eyes." Fess, Booker, Eddie and Snooks, boy do we need you now!

Still, I'd rather be there than not be there. Maybe next year.



About a week or so before each Festival, I would put together a CD, the "Fest Companion," and distribute it to all my friends who would be attending. It was a compilation of Crescent City faves, including a sample of some of the artists we'd be seeing. It was a great way to start the excursion. After 3-4 years, it became a tradition. Some friends questioned whether I would continue the tradition, the first year I couldn't make the trip after 10 straight. That was 2010. Of course, I did. It was bittersweet, but it felt good that they had been looking forward to it. I'm pretty sure those friends rarely, if ever stop by Burning Wood.  But if they happen to be reading now, this mix is for you.

And...for all of you, too!

Anf of course...for Levon.



Don't have too much fun without me.


TRACKLIST

Black Minute Waltz- James Booker
Josephine (Live In The WWOZ Studio)- David Torkanowsky, George Porter Jr., and Herman Ernst
It Ain't My Fault (Pt. 1)- Smokey Johnson
Wish Someone Would Care- Irma Thomas
Get Low Down (Pt. 1)- Curley Moore
Soul Machine- The Meters
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?- Pete Fountain
Sinking Ship- Johnny Sansone
She's Good To Me- Jimmy Beasely
It's All Over Now- Dirty Dozen Brass Band w/ Dr. John
Brickyard Blues- Jon Cleary
Hold On Tight- Lil' Band O'Gold
Dog Hill- Boozoo Chavis
A Certain Girl- Ernie K. Doe
A Song For George Lewis- Dr. Michael White
Someday You'll Want Me- Uncle Lionel
Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette)- Benny Spellman
Before I Grow Too Old- Tommy McClain
True- James Booker
Bourbon Street Parade- Bob French

Hoo-Na-Nay





18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so very sorry you can't go this year. I imagine it must feel like a kick in the throat.

Robin said...

Sorry you can't be there...

Levon :( Words can't express what he (that voice!) and The Band mean to my musical world...

Bob Dylan: "He was my bosom buddy friend to the end, one of the last true great spirits of my or any other generation. This is just so sad to talk about. I still can remember the first day I met him and the last day I saw him. We go back pretty far and had been through some trials together. I'm going to miss him, as I'm sure a whole lot of others will too."

A great fest companion that seems very fitting, thank you.

allen vella said...

As you know Sal, my second year after 20 awesome magical Jazz Fest trips...so I'm right there miserable wit cha. On the other hand, grateful I got to go during the years I was able to, some things and people are gone forever, but my memory of them burns strong....thanks for the mix..will be listening and remembering.

big bad wolf said...

when they changed the fess stage to the [your sponsor here] stage is when the end began. at least on the big stages. the fais do do stage and the gospel tent still delight

buzzbabyjesus said...

We differ as often as not but one thing we agree on is New Orleans and the sounds coming out of there.
This mix looks great. Not a single song by Rush.

jeff k said...

bopping at my desk

Sal Nunziato said...

@Buzz

"Not a single song by Rush."

HEH!

@ Big Bad Wolf

Last year, it was The Decemberists who were given the honor of closing Fais Do Do and NOT one of the hundreds of brilliant homegrown, Cajun/Zydeco/Bluegrass bands. Sad.

Anonymous said...

Sal, don't be too sad...like most people, I've NEVER been to NO. But I do have the Weekend Mix, so life is good. Thank you!

A walk in the woods said...

I am similarly slightly bummed to be missing Jazz Fest this year after attending 5 times total. Bummed to miss it this year, but can't wait to hear your mix. Thanks man.

Anonymous said...

Hey Sal. Not apropos of New Orleans, but a shout out to NYCD...

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/04/record-store-day-new-york

Bruce H

Sal Nunziato said...

Nice Bruce! Did I make you buy the Lonnie Donegan 2 CD anthology? (Hope not.)

Anonymous said...

Great mix Sal, thanks!
So sorry that you won't be there - I couldn't begin to afford it myself if I hadn't been given a trip for my b-day. Some year, we shall meet on Frenchmen St., and your money's no good, son...
As for The Eagles (and last year Bon Jovi - shudder...) question, it's a valid point, and locals that I know have been complaining about it for years. OTOH, I do appreciate how these kind of acts draw all of the knuckleheads who aren't there for the music, (largely) leaving me and my little friends in peace in the tents and at the smaller stages. (Same thing w. Bourbon St. vs. Frenchmen.)-bill buckner

Leon said...

Sal - the cut "Josephine" here, is potentially the funkiest thing I've ever heard. Stunning!

Elizabeth said...

Maybe, in the not too distant future your time and money will allow you to organize a trip to the fest with burning wood acolytes in tow. Each day you would have prepared suggestions of who to hear and some local shops/ restaurants we shouldn't miss. And then you cut us free. Maybe,our time and money would allow us to come. A little too stuck on the "everything dies, baby, that's a fact" portion of the refrain these days.
p.s. dick clark's death reminded me oh how important afternoons where, my older sister rushing in to turn the tv one. Aside from wondering if you'd ever be able dance & look that good, you got to see the voices that came over the transitor. You do something similar, rounding up artists and bringing the excitement of new or rediscovered music into our homes.
so, while I'm working this weekend,I'll fire up the hard drive and catch up on my burning wood fest.

iggy said...

Thanks for the tunes, Sal. I, too, was at a record show yesterday, this one in Canby, Oregon. It's amazing how similar our show was to yours. I sold enough to pay for the things I bought, and for me that's "break even" every day. There's nothing quite like finding just one extremely rare jewel for which you've searched for many years. In my case, it was a 78 album with spectacular Jim Flora cover! Made my day. Wish you could have been here; I know you would have been treated kindly by one and all. Best wishes,

Iggy

Anonymous said...

Thanks Sal - I look forward to this every year. And yes, your friends read Burning Wood. You'll be there at the Fest in our hearts.....
PKK

Kodak Ghost said...

Your mix for this time of year to celebrate the Festival never fails to impress and sustain. Many thanks.

big bad wolf said...

oh sal, the decemberists! that's awful.