The New Orleans Blues, the Spirit and All That Jazz
[New Orleans, July 29, 2008] At the turn of the twentieth century as the palatial plantations up and down the Mississippi River became only a memory, thousands of former workers migrated to New Orleans as did immigrants, seamen, trappers, gamblers, hustlers, scholars and musicians. This convergence with the native population set the stage that birthed the free spirit of Jazz and opened a new frontier.
The Eagle Saloon, built in 1875 and known as the 'delivery room' of Jazz, had its roof blown off during The Storm of 2005. The second and third floors were ruined, but the original tin tile ceiling and Spanish tiled floors survived and the blues, the spirit and all that jazz re-ignites every Tuesday night lit by the New Orleans Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Blues and Jazz Band, featuring Guitar Slim, Jr., a showman extradonaire.
The son of Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones, Jr.'s first release earned him a Grammy nomination. Last Tuesday night, Jr., along with Blues Boy George on lead guitar, Anthony on bass and Milton on drums, received multiple standing ovations during their three-and-a-half hour nonstop renditions of BB King, Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ray Charles, Motown, Marvin Gaye, Prince, gospel and more, during a private party at the Eagle which was arranged as a thanksgiving service by Pastor John E. Pierre, of the Living Witness Church of God in Christ on Oretha C. Haley Blvd, a three minute drive to the Eagle Saloon at 201 South Rampart Street.
Pastor Pierre and many in the heart of the Central City neighborhood, once a haven for drug dealers and prostitutes, demonstrated their gratitude and love for two teams of volunteers who had come to work in the heat of July alongside recovering addicts to demolish the old so as to bring in new opportunities for the formerly homeless men who commit to a year long residential boot camp known as the Nehemiah Restoration Project, just one of many community outreach programs provided by Living Witness.
The teams of committed Christians came on their own dime from the Crossings Church in Clermont, Florida and Cedar Brook of Wisconsin. It was the first mission trip for the newly established Crossings, but some from Wisconsin were on their sixth and eighth work pilgrimage of service to a community that The Storm of 2005 wrecked havoc upon. The volunteers all work alongside the men in recovery who are now building a barbershop and beauty parlor next door to the Living Witness Church of God.
The regal and patient Pastor Pierre informed me, "The bottom line for us is getting families back together and in strengthening the family. We have found that the effects of Hurricane Katrina have become a unifying source. The churches in this neighborhood came together when this area became a ghost town. My family had been evacuated to Houston and it wasn't until October 2005 that my Deacon and I were able to return through the back door; by coming through the West Bank, [the area was still under Marshall Law and no freedom of movement was allowed]. It was stinking smelly all over the block; our roof had been torn apart when a tree fell upon it. There was phone and electricity, but still no water.
"I received a call from the Federal Government Health and Human Services Department and was informed that a pre-Katrina grant for Compassionate Capitol had been granted. I had forgotten all about it!
"Half of our church membership has been displaced and decent and affordable housing is still not up to speed. Then there is that double edged sword of the tourism and convention concerns claiming New Orleans is back for they paint a false picture. The French Quarter and St. Charles areas where the tourists go, didn't receive much damage, but where the people live, the community that is New Orleans is stuck in a time warp. Our Government did not keep its promises."
After the levees broke and President Bush spoke in Jackson Square, it was lit up by a generator, and when he was through; boom, boom, out went the lights again!
Ask NOT what our Government will do for the under served people who are the spirit of New Orleans, but what we the people of these United States can do to help heal them.
To have a great time and book a gig with the New Orleans Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Blues and Jazz Band, call Popagee at 504-861-2675 or 504-301-7088 and learn more:
http://www.nomhf.org/
To offer hands, feet and hearts to those who struggle with addictions and learn more about the program that has serviced over 900 men:
http://lwcss.org
Related Tags: music, florida, christianity, prince, addicts, activism, gospel, new orleans, jazz, wisconsin, hurricane katrina, blues, ray charles, motown, marvin gaye, stevie ray vaughn, bb king, hendrix, substance abusers, federal government failures
Eileen Fleming, Reporter and Editor WAWA:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/
Author "Keep Hope Alive" and "Memoirs of a Nice Irish American 'Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory"
Producer "30 Minutes With Vanunu" and "13 Minutes with Vanunu"
Recent articles in this category:
- The Unused Power
Ever wondered what would have already been accomplished on this earth if only a handful of people ha - How Horoscope / Astrology Does Affect A Person's Happiness
When we speak about happiness, it reflects on two variations. One as an emotion like being happy or - Using The Internet For God
Do you have a Christian product, service or message that you would like to inexpensively advertise a - Get The Latest Catholic Church Mass Times Now On The Internet
Get to know the Catholic Church Mass Times through the Internet. It is generally obligatory to atten - Horoscope Compatibility For Libra, Capricorn, Sagittarius
According to psychic readings, people under this horoscope signs are somewhat different and somewhat - Know Your Life Through Psychic And Clairvoyance!
Having psychic and clairvoyant readings done from professionals is the best way to know the flaws th - Astrology/horoscopes: Why People Love Astrology
Astrology/horoscopes is the study of celestial body movement. Astrologers believe that the movement - Benny Hinn: India Healing Crusade
Benny Hinn recently conducted a healing crusade in India that drew one of the largest crowds ever. P - Sun, Moon, Ascendants Sign In Birth Chart Wheel
The Ascendant signs or the rising sign - is the zodiacal sign and degree that was ascending on the e - Zodiac Sign Gemini And Its Houses Description
Understanding Zodiac is not that difficult at all, determining your reading for the said subject doe
Most viewed articles in this category:
- No Sign in the Prayer Test
The recent release of the Richard Dawkins book, "The God Delusion", has brought renewed accusations - Bible Versus Quran Versus Sciences Array (2) the Bees
Before dealing with the topic of the Bees in Quran versus Bible versus sciences, it is mandatory to - Understanding the Heart
(If you wish to more benefit from this article, please read first our "The Alems" titled article. - Christian Dating vs Courtship
Over the past decade, or so, It's become popular in modern churches to use the concept of courtship - Bible Versus Quran Versus Sciences, Array (19) the Birds
The issues concerning the Birds in the Bible are:1) The Birds are Detestable and intolerable, 2) The - Starting the Wealth Process
Luke 6:38 KJV Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken togethe - Dissolving the Illusion of Fear
Webster defines fear as unpleasant emotions cause by expectation or awareness of danger. However, - Crossing Paths with a Whistleblower
Mordechai Vanunu grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home but abandoned the faith by his mid teens. He bec - Conspiracy Madness
In connection with the WTC disaster there are conspiracy theories that have been proposed. Such as t - How You Dream Your World Into Existence
Reality is not real. It is a dream. This is not a metaphorical statement. On the quantum level of