After an intense and satisfying week of teaching and learning jazz, Friday night beckoned and the group stepped into its arms of the Steamboat Natchez, cruising up the lazy river literally while the boat band played Hoagy Carmichael’s song Lazy River. Nice to just be carried along by the music, the river and the convivial company. Post-cruise, searching in the French Quarter for music or a friendly bar, gave it up and went to Frenchman Street where a brass band on the corner welcomed us. Yeah!
Today was a short field trip to Louis Armstrong Park, the perfect setting for my little lecture about this remarkable American’s life. On to Congo Square, past Preservation Jazz Hall, arrive at the Jazz Museum and though it was optional for the group to stay together, about five of us enjoyed the excellent exhibit—one of which was about Louis Armstrong and one about Congo Square! I learned some intriguing new details to add to my Jazz History knowledge and in company with my fellow museum-goers, walked on to Café du Monde for some lunch and the required “beignet.” Followed by a bad-idea-ice-cream-cone, both because I was already full and a single small scoop cost $9.00!!!
That’s when it started to rain, the first of the trip, but we were able to head back to the car through the covered market and that was another grand pleasure, walking past all the things I will never buy and mostly couldn’t care less about, but the energy and setting reminding me of all the similar markets I’ve strolled through in Ghana or Cuba or Bangkok or Spain and it just felt good. Back to my room for the luxury of an afternoon nap and a free evening to just hang and chill (not easy in the 90 degree weather!) and a Sunday tomorrow to just take care of business— laundry, e-mails, class plans, record a Podcast, maybe write a letter (gasp!) and such. No pressure to search out music or restaurants or socialize.
That’s the report from your man in New Orleans.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.