New Orleans Jazz is Alive in 2000 CD

Listen to Sound Samples Below!

An historical event quite without parallel occurred in Mandeville on the afternoon of Tuesday April 1 8th, 2000. The old dance hall named "The Dew Drop Social & Benevolent Society Hall" once again resounded to the music of a traditional New Orleans Jazz Band, after laying fallow for a period of close to seventy years.

The Dew Drop is an old weatherbeaten wooden structure built in 1895 that in its heyday housed the resident band of the Fritz Brothers. Isidore Fritz was the inspiration for world renowned clarinetist, George Lewis. Bunk Johnson also played there in Fritz's band on a semi-regular basis. Also known to have played, at least the regular Monday night dances, was the Buddy Petit Band with clarinetist Edmond Hall and bassist Chester Zardis. Likely as not, several of the Mandeville musicians such as Andy Anderson, Ernie and Klebert Cagnolatti and drummer Earl Foster held forth at this sedate old hall nestled among the pines on Lamarque Street. That was long ago in the 1920 and 30s. Since then musical needs and styles changed and the old hall fell on hard times, both for use and subsequently repair. Today it stands as a monument to times gone by; almost a dinosaur, but at least still standing. The Hopes Hall in Algiers fell to the wrecker's ball. The old San Jacinto Hall was burned down and the Artisan Hall on North Derbigny has long since disappeared. The Dew Drop seemed destined for the same fate.

The Dew Drop (Photo by Steve Teeter)

Through a series of events and partnership this was averted. The owner, Jinx Vidrine, together with The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, a unit of The National Park System, The GHB Jazz Foundation and the City of Mandeville stepped in and a dance was held in the Dew Drop from 2pm til 6pm Tuesday, April 1 8th 2000. This CD is a compilation of some of the music from that dance.

Photo by Kari Kramer.

The orchestra had no leader, no rehearsal and, more importantly, no nods to any musical performance not indigenous to New Orleans. This is the old style. . . ensemble playing all the way. No "Racehorse" tempos. These musicians play together the way they do simply because they love it. All of them have their separate careers but love of the old style brought them together. That and the spiritual feeling of performing in this grand Old Dance Hall. That was the catalyst...the hall itself. This was, however, not a re-creation of a dance...this was a dance. People came from the surrounding blocks and from all over the world. All nationalities, all races...they came for the occasion. They came, they danced, they "second lined," they listened. All had one thing in mind. To enjoy the afternoon.

The orchestra of Greg Stafford (tpt) Michael White (clt) Wendell Eugene (tbn) Bill Huntington (bjo) Gerry Adam (sbs) and Barry Martyn (drs) rose to the occasion with verve and spirit. This is good time, old style, New Orleans Jazz. Of this there is no doubt.

The event was filmed and together with this CD from the Dew Drop, will appear on video later this summer. The songs herein are all different from the ones to be featured on the up-coming video. These two issues and a third, the music of traditional New Orleans Brass Bands played by the Society Brass Band will appear this year as a trio sponsored by the GHB Jazz Foundation and The National Park Service under the heading, "New Orleans Jazz Is Alive in 2000."

Barry Martyn, May 2000

Samples from the CD
(click here to download a media player for the media below)

Tracks:

1.) Introduction by Superintendent Gayle Hazelwood

2.) Sheik of Araby

3.) Independence Blues

4.) History of Hall: Some Words from Barry Martin

5.) Over the Waves

6.) Dr. Jazz

7.) Who's Sorry Now

8.) Panama

9.) Red Wing

10.) Some of these Days

11.) Saints Go Marchin' In

Superintendent of the Park Gayle Hazelwood dancing with a fan of Traditional Jazz.
Photo by Steve Teeter.