Spring cannot be far behind when listeners find a seat at Salem-South Lyon District Library to enjoy Mardi Gras jazz music with the
RJ Spangler Trio and John (Tbone) Paxton. The group opened with
Professor Longhair's ode to New Orleans and Mardi Gras. Next up, Art Neville's
Mardi Gras Mambo. The link is Charmaine Neville's take. I love the growling baritone sax and the cover art, too. Art Neville just announced
his retirement in December 2018.
This concert appearance is always a welcome musical experience that also delivers an education. Before performing Canjun Country, Tbone shared a history of New Orleans and its music. An organic convergence of
French Acadians who were expelled from Canada in the 18th century, with West African, Congolese musicology.
Congo Square was a gathering place for drumming and music in New Orleans (restricted and banned except on Sundays until the 1920s.)
We know Hank Williams (Cajun Baby,
Jambalaya) and I'm going to introduce you to
D. L. Menard's The Back Door, too. D.L. said he was asked to write about the Front Door, but he's got trouble with the hinges so he hasn't gotten around to it. Not quite jazz, but Acadiana, and New Orleans flavored for sure.
Hoagie Carmichael's
New Orleans was our next treat. Quoting the link comments section here: "This is from the 1956 album "Hoagy Sings Carmichael with The Pacific
Jazzmen" (Art Pepper on alto sax, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Don Fagerquist, Jimmy Zito,
Irv Cottler, Nick Fatool, Al Hendrickson and Jimmy Rowles), arranged
and conducted by Johnny Mandel.
RJ told us that
Bix Beiderbecke played with Hoagy Carmichael. Before 1930, Bix was with the
Jean Goldkette Orchestra. Goldkette was the music director of the DAC for over 20 years, and also co-owner of the Graystone Ballroom. Beiderbecke was born in Davenport, Iowa, and undoubtedly heard jazz music wafting off the Mississippi River. Goldkette married Lee McQuillen, a newspaperwoman, and I can't find a thing about her. What newspaper? Inquiring minds want to know.
Iko Iko is a story about Mardi Gras Angels, African-American/Native American influencers, performers who used to fight and now dance. TJ mentioned
Rumble, a PBS documentary about Native American contributions to music.
And if you want to sing some more,
Jock-a-mo-fee-na-ney. Next on the list was
Eh La Bas Danny Barker, composer. This is one of our favorite audience participation tunes.
Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? You won't want to miss this video of
Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday. If you don't check any of the links before this one, do listen here. Don't know who the blonde is, but looks enough like my Mom to make this song even more bittersweet.
My li'l bro and I listening. I'm missing New Orleans in this photo. We both still miss both our folks, who shared music with us all their lives.
RJ and Tbone speak often about the responsibiliy - and beauty - of sharing their decades of experience with storytelling alongside performing music. We have watched young talented musicians sharing the stage with these venerable musicologists.
Jeff Cuny, bass.
Jake Schwandt, guitar. RJ Spangler, percussion. Tbone Paxton, trombone and vocals. And whistling - that man can whistle.
Check the schedule on the
RJ Spangler website to find where you can hear more jazz music, blues, Planet D Nonet.
Appreciation, as always, to Salem-South Lyon District Library for bringing music, art, knowledge to our fortunate community. Watch the
SSLDL events calendar for more of this bounty.
