“Musical Elders”
Diana started Monday as usual with pickling. Then a new feature, regular workouts with Sandi at Franco’s gym – seem to be going well. That was followed by more pickling and then a quick shower/change before our evening activity. We drove over to the Jazz and Heritage Center, straddling the boundary of the French Quarter and Treme.
Here’s the description from the Jazz and Heritage Foundation:
“Go on a musical journey with Herlin Riley and Lula Elzy as they talk with Ms. Germaine Bazzle and Lawrence Cotton about music & New Orleans.
Jazz Generations Initiative New Orleans, in partnership with Lula Elzy and co-sponsored by the Jazz and Heritage Foundation Wein Center invites you to Live Music in Conversation: An Oral History Program co-hosted by Lula Elzy and Herlin Riley, featuring the “First Lady of Jazz” vocalist Germaine Bazzle and American R&B and jazz pianist Lawrence Cotton.
Riley and Elzy will take audiences on musical journeys chronicling the lives, musical influences, joys and challenges of these legendary New Orleans jazz artists while they tell their stories in their own words. The program will also feature a live set with Derek Douget, Oscar Rossignoli, Peter Harris, and Herlin Riley.”
Herlin Riley is New Orleans musical royalty. His resume is very long and very impressive, having helped Wynton Marsalis establish the Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra, and playing with Ahmad Jamal for many years.
Some details on Riley’s accomplishments:
Riley interviewed the pianist, Lawrence Cotton (right), who was quick to let everyone know that he would be 100 in 6 months. Wow.
The band played a couple of tunes before the interview with Germaine Bazzle took place. Anytime that I can see Herlin Riley and Oscar Rossignoli playing together, I’m there. Oscar seems to get more impressive every time.
The emcee’s didn’t have to work as hard in their conversation with Germaine Bazzle – she’s only 94. And then they gave her a microphone – amazing.
I’m really glad we took the time to attend this show.
I heard quite a bit of chatter during the week about beeping from the dishwasher. It’s frustrating because I can’t hear it. It’s a Maytag and I assume they didn’t think old people would ever need to hear their alarm beeps and put them at a suitably high frequency to miss me. Don’t worry – a repair guy is coming tomorrow.
We watched a movie called “Don’t Say Good Luck” on Monday evening – the benefit of a 5:30pm start on the Legends show. Diana thanked me for picking another tear jerker – I really didn’t know, it was at the top of the Netflix new list. Adam Sandler’s daughter stars as a theater-kid navigating performing in the big school play while also supporting her mother in fighting cancer.
It it’s Tuesday, there’s likely a pickling clinic to attend – and there was.
We had a visit to the NOAC for a workout on Wednesday afternoon and then I invited McD to Happy Hour at the Bower in the Lower Garden District. They made an excellent special Manhattan with some kind of Amore. We always love their cacio e pepe – enough for us to share and always such fresh pasta. It’s almost as good a deal as Cafe Degas during Happy Hour and certainly a shorter drive (or walk when it’s not 115 heat index.)
We had a short visit from Kenny and Kara in the evening, just back from their trip to Colorado.
Thursday – more pickling with an open play recreational group. Diana attended an event at Martin Wines about Italian wines and cheeses in the evening. Neither of us know much about them and so it was good that she could gain a little knowledge – making good notes during the program.
Friday morning – pickling and another workout with Sandi.
I organized the gang for a Friday evening outing to Revel to check their “COOLinary” menu. Many restaurants (well over a hundred this year) put together a special menu during August that is designed to entice locals out during the heat. They offer 2 course lunches for $28 or less and 3 course dinners for around $55 or less. The highlight of the Revel menu is their “award winning burger.”
Thom and I split the menu, more than enough that way.
We migrated from Revel to Twelve Mile Limit for pool and ultimately to Verret’s for karaoke. There was a once in a lifetime performance of “I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)” from me with help from Kenny.
Sunday brought a visit to the NOAC, followed by a Trader Joe’s shopping spree. I’m now scrolling through a little bit of the pre-season NFL games while finishing up the newspaper and this posting.
My quest for an enjoyable read that I could sink my teeth into continued this week. “Mothers and Sons” by Adam Haslet showed moments of promise but became too much of what I call “kitchen sinky” – each situation needs to have one of every type of person suffering from all the usual current traumas and challenges. That became too much and I stopped after 100 pages. Here’s an online summary:
“Mothers and Sons is a 2025 novel by Adam Haslett. It explores the long estrangement between a 40-year-old New York City asylum lawyer named Peter and his mother, Ann, who runs a women’s retreat in Vermont. As Peter handles a compelling new asylum case, past trauma and a 20-year-old act of violence force both mother and son to confront the secrets that drove them apart.”
I think I might have found what I need with the latest from Andrew Sean Greer – I loved his “Less” several years ago. It’s a little too early to confirm, but I think I will see this one all the way through. Here’s a summary:- Coco (Baronessa Lisabetta): A wealthy, flamboyant, and unpredictable 92-year-old aristocrat who upends the narrator’s rigidity.
- The Narrator: A rigid, idealistic recent college graduate who has sworn off romance, only to stumble into a complicated affair.
- The Ensemble: An eclectic mix of visiting princesses, bohemian painters, and local handlers populating the estate”
There is an EXCELLENT new album out from Jon Batiste – “Black Mozart”.
The musical creativity is huge. Batiste’s mind is a very busy place. And the touch – like Glenn Gould adding some Dr. John syncopation and James Booker frills. This is on heavy rotation on Washington Avenue.