Donald Perry 1927—2003

VOLUME LIII (53) 2003 — 2009, SPRING 2009 DONALD PERRY 1927—2003 T HE SECOND LINE, SPRING 2009 1 Elsewhere in this issue of The Second Editor’s Comment Line, you will find a memorial to Donald Perry, my good friend for almost 70 years Flood, Fire, Famine… and a tribute to Frances Fernandez, who After retirement, I began tour guiding nurtured the club to its highest existence in my beloved city of New Orleans. during a 60 year history. There's also our There's an introductory speech given to traditional reports of jazz activities from tourists unfamiliar with New Orleans his- Helen Arlt, Bobby McIntyre, Don Mar- tory that points out how we have gone quis, Steve Steinberg and Clint Bolton, through good times and bad — usually and a history of The Dukes of Dixieland. with the descriptive phrase of "flood, fire I have added a number of photos from my and famine". The New Orleans Jazz Club 25 years of documenting the Jazz Club and is no exception, for we have had our "ups New Orleans activities. and downs" as well, just like our parent I have to give a lot of credit to my son, city. Heath, who helped this sometimes forget- We have been struck by two catastro- ful octogenarian plow through a new pro- phic events, the death of Donald Perry, one fession of magazine publishing. Hope- of the club's founding members and Fran- fully, we can revive THE SECOND LINE ces Fernandez, the tireless, wonderful, lady publication back to its previous glory and that kept the Jazz Club afloat during some keep the physical second line marching of those "flood, fire, famine" times that 'round the room! threatened to destroy us. Fred Hatfield Editor 2 THE SECOND LINE, SPRING 2009 Bring your Axe... The NOJC continues outstanding jam sessions the last Sunday of each month at Mo’s Chalet in Metairie. Lots of good music and opportunity to listen, chat, and dance. Come on out! Bring a friend! Bring your in- ® is published by the strument too, and play along! For NEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUB more information contact Fran Jean- Volume LIII (53) sonne: (504) 231-0293. 2003-2009, SPRING 2009 © 2009 by N.O. Jazz Club Looking for a Bargain? Reproduction cannot be done without permission Advertise in THE SECOND LINE. We OFFICERS have very reasonable rates for space William Farrell, Jr. President ranging from Business Card size at Deano Assunto 1st Vice President Arnold Johnson 2nd Vice President $40 to $150 for a full page. It helps Frank Wagner 3rd Vice President us underwrite expenses, and it is a Sharon Anderson Treasurer great way of showing your support. Fran Jeansonne Secretary Contact the editor. THE SECOND LINE Fred Hatfield Executive Editor Have you something to say Heath Hatfield Associate Editor about New Orleans Jazz? Contributors: Gene Hyden, Lee Schnell, Bobby McIntyre, Keith Spera, William Far- Contributions for The Second Line rell Jr., Helen Arlt, Don Marquis, Steve are solicited and will be given all Steinberg, Deano Assunto consideration for publication — but BOARD MEMBERS no monetary recompense is given for Gus Anderson, Gaston DelaBretonne, Joan these. Contact the editor. Informa- Pizzolato, Marshall Ryals, Edmond Schmidt, Jr., Lee Schnell tion about jazz activities anywhere in the world is welcomed. ADVISORY BOARD Helen Arlt, Duke Darnell, Fred Hatfield, Don Marquis How to Contact the editor... .♫.♫.♫ Email: [email protected] THE SECOND LINE is the official organ of Mail: PO Box 52466, NOLA 71052 the New Orleans Jazz Club. There is no subscription to this magazine; it is given as a bonus to members. Address corre- spondence to The Second Line, P.O. Box 52466, New Orleans, LA 70152. MEMEBERSHIP INFORMATION Active Family $35 Active (solo) $20 Junior (through 17th year) $10 THE SECOND LINE is printed by: A. Deano Assunto Printing THE SECOND LINE, SPRING 2009 3 Frances Fernandez Jazz Club President By Keith Spera Saturday June 07, 2003 Frances McKinnie "Memaw" Fernan- dez, the longtime president of the New Or- leans Jazz Club and a tireless advocate of traditional jazz, died Wednesday, June 4, 2003 of cancer at East Jefferson General Hospital. She was 79. Born in Bolivar, Tenn., Ms. Fernandez developed a love for traditional jazz at an early age. In the 1940s, she and her husband moved to Edgard, Louisiana. After her husband's death in the 1960s, she moved to New Orleans and plunged head- Connick Jr. "The Jazz Club took me in long into the jazz community. and supported me," Laughlin said. "(Ms. In 1978, she joined the board of the Fernandez) was like a second mom to me." New Orleans Jazz Club and logged 16 The Jazz Club's phone rang at Ms. Fer- years as its president. Founded in 1948, the nandez's home. She was an invaluable re- New Orleans Jazz Club, among the oldest source for both out-of-town promoters jazz societies in the country, seeks to pre- looking for New Orleans jazz musicians serve and promote traditional jazz. and local bandleaders seeking musicians. Though its public profile has declined in In the summer of 2001, Ms. Fernandez rec- recent decades, Ms. Fernandez kept the ommended Laughlin to a promoter in Para- organization active. It still boasted more guay, leading to what may have been the than 1,000 members worldwide when it first-ever tour of that South American celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1998. To country by a New Orleans jazz band. mark the milestone, Ms. Fernandez helped "Wherever there was jazz music, there recruit famed artist George Rodrigue to was Frances," Laughlin said. "She would create a Blue Dog silk-screen print. She do anything to help promote younger musi- also spearheaded the creation of the vener- cians, and she truly loved the music." able institution's first Web site. For many years the Jazz Club has spon- sored a jazz jam session on the last Sunday of every month at the Landmark Hotel in Metairie, in part to give amateur musicians the opportunity to interact with more ex- perienced players. Tim Laughlin, considered one of the city's finest traditional jazz clarinetists, Fred Hatfield Collection first attended a Jazz Club jam session 20 A young Tim Laughlin marches with NOJC years ago at the outset of his professional William Farrell, Jr., and Harold DeJean career. At one such Landmark session, Ms. Fernandez introduced him to a promising 16-year-old piano player named Harry (Continued on page 6) 4 THE SECOND LINE, SPRING 2009 Moose Zanco By Bobby McIntyre On the evening of October 19, 2008, one of New Orleans’ quintessential cornet players went to that heavenly jazz kingdom where Buddy Bolden, Joe “King” Oliver, Freddie Keppard, Louis Armstrong, Papa Celestin and all the other great New Or- leans horn men, no doubt, warmly greeted him. Moose, the only name by which most everyone knew Manuel Zanco, was born -Photo by Gene Hyden on February 12, 1929 and has been pleas- ing people ever since. His youth was spent Band, THE LAST STRAWS. Subsequently in Metairie doing the things most kids do, banjoist John Chaffe began discussing jazz including many sports at Metairie High over a haircut with his Tulane barber Bris and Fortier. Into the 50’s the US Army Jones, a clarinet player. Information called him and he served his country on the quickly went from Bris to his friend, front in Korea. In 1951, he married Patsy Moose, and in rapid succession to two Shaw Zanco. They brought two daughters other musicians. Thus was added four, into the world, Terri Zanco Signorelli and blue collar, downtowners. An amazing Robyn “Bunny” Zanco. They were further amalgamation grew before the blink of our blessed with six grandchildren and two eyes. A reminiscence of the turn-of-the- great grandchildren. century New Orleans musicians when Most people have but one passion. I downtown Creoles of color and uptown think Moose had two. The first was the plantation hands joined hands to help cre- way he earned his living. He became a ate the jazz we love to this day. New Orleans Firefighter, rising from the Of the original four uptowners, three ranks of the humble to that of Captain. still play: Bobby McIntyre on drums, Bob Skillfully trained by a former Fire Chief, Ice, bass, and Frank DelaHoussaye, piano. he appropriately became the Head of And of the original four downtowners NOFD Training. Though he had long Briss Jones plays the clarinet, and Bill Lee since retired, there are ever so many men plays the soprano sax. The chairs of de- today that bear Moose’s seal of approval, ceased John Chaffe and Nick Gagliardi are including several who told me so at his filled by “youngsters” Walter Chamberlain funeral. on banjo, and Darryl Barnes on trombone Moose had a clear sense of history and Most musicians play with multiple graphic talent. Sketching, writing and bands though their years. Not so with THE speaking about traditional jazz are part of LAST STRAWS. They are an inseparable his biography. But his true second passion institution. Moose’s entire career was is what he so audibly and indelibly passes spent playing lead for The Straws. A few on: HIS MUSIC! Inspired by the great musicians did cross our path during the ones, he took up the cornet -- that wonder- “Bourbon Street Years” at the Paddock, ful, raspy “trumpet” of yesteryear played Sho Bar, Maison Bourbon, Famous Door by all the “giants” mentioned above. and others, and of course many times when During 1957 a group of four white- The Straws played with the maestro, Pete collar uptowners gave birth to a Dixieland (Continued on page 6) THE SECOND LINE, SPRING 2009 5 (Frances Fernandez, Continued from page 4) many people enjoy.

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