University of New Orleans ScholarWorks@UNO
Wavelength Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies
3-1981
Wavelength (March 1981)
Connie Atkinson University of New Orleans
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NEW ORLEANS POPS PRESENTS
*starring * CHARLIE DANIELS KANSAS BAND MOLLY DELBERT HATCHET McCLINTON HANK WILLIAMS, JR.
PLUS "THE CELEBRITY PARADE" UNDAY with KING "BUM" PHILLIPS MARCH 1 (Parade rolls at 8 p.m.) 5 P.M. - DOORS OPEN 4 P.M. MIDNIGHT TICKETS ARE $12 (Limited Advance) AND $15 On sale now at all ticketmaster outlets; D.H. Holmes, Louisiana Superdome, Warehouse Records (Gretna, Metairie, Kenner), the Mushroom & Leisure Landing. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (504) 821-3795 Features ErnkK-Doe ______,6 The Percolators 10 •JAZZ• The Black Pope 12 New Orleans Songwriters 14 •BLUES• Walter Lastie 19 •CAJUN• Departments A/arch ______RECORDSBOOKSTAPES JazZ ------~ Rare Records ------~ Revkws ______~ Last Page ~~~· , ~) 132 CARONDELET Cover photo by Syndey Byrd '· ~ N.O ., LA. 70130 (504) 522-2363 Publisher, Patrick Borry. Editor, Connie Atkinson. Contract Advertlslna Sales, Steve Gifford, Lyle Matthews. Coatributin& Artists, Skip Bolen, Bunny Mauhews, Julia Nead, Kathleen Perry. Distribution, Laverne Kelly, Star Irvine. Contributors, 1 Carlos Boll, Jerry Brock, Bill Cat, Yorke Corbin, Ron Cuccia, Steve CUnningham, Zeke Fishhead, Steve Graves, Gilbert Catalogue Available Hetherwick, Coril Joseph, Andy Kaslow, Tim Lyman, Bunny Matthews, Hammond Scou, Jim Scheurich, Almost Slim, Rhodes 1 Spedale, Keith Twichell. Wavelength is published monthly in New Orleans. Telephone (S04) S29-S962. Mail Subscriptions, address changes to Wavelength, de ILL~ Box 15667, New Orleans, La. 70175. Subscription rate, $8 per year. Foreign, SIS per year. The entire contents of Wavelength are copyright © 1981 Wavelength.
Casablanca
312 South 10-2 am Mardi Gras 3/3 South 2-8 pm Look 10 pm-till Happy Hour 2 for 1 every day 4-7 pm Live entertainment every Fri/Sat Rock 'n' Roll & New Wave COLUMBIA PICTIJRES PRESENTS Night Owl A MARTIN RANSOHOFF PRODUCTION Breakfast 2am till A RALPH BAKSHI FILM "AMERICAN POP" in the French Quarter Wunen by Execunw Producer RONNIKERN RICHARD ST. jOHNS 729 Conti Produc WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 3 I March METAIRIE 4029 VETERANS BLVD. 888·6130 KENNER 3617 WILLIAMS BLVD. 443·2431 GRETNA 522 LAPALCO BLVD. 392·5860 Jazz Fest Update The New Orleans Jazz Festival has announced a tentative list of bookings. The Blues Cruise will feature Muddy Waters, last year's show-stopper, James Cotton, the harmonica ace who began with Muddy's band and Detroit bluesman John Lee Hooker, together for a moonlight cruise. James Brown, The Godfather of Soul, and Junior Walker, Motown hit maker, will be together for another boat ride. Brown will have a 26-piece orchestra with him and also hopes to DOllY! reunite the original Famous Flames. Sounds like pure dynamite. Roy Brown, late of New Orleans and the originator of "Good Rockin' Tonight," will accompany Charles Brown ("Please Come Home For Christmas") for a show; both may be backed by Dave Bartholomew's band. Texas' hottest R&B group, The Thunderbirds, will be returning this year, with Texas bluesman Lowell Fulsom (remember "Tramp"?). Prout's Club Alhambra will be a late night jam spot during the Fest. Watch for details. -Almost Slim NewsOn New Clubs Good news for live music fans: new clubs featuring local bands ... The Casablanca club in the Quarter has decided on new wave, rock 'n' roll, and blues for its live music format. The ~ club look ~~--NNIE U?lr~AP s great, and from 3 a.m. on, ~-~--- they'll serve a hot breakfast with G REAT ES T HIT S homemade biscuits to the fans. Clarity's on Rampart opened its doors on February 18. There'll be live music every night with emphasis on R&B and jazz. So far, they've lined up the likes of Li'l Queenie and the Perco lators, the Aubry Twins and on March 25-29, G.G. Shinn. The Dunn Inn opened its doors in JUST ARRIVED! February. Reggae and funk will be the waylon fare on Magazine Street. Jennings & Jessi Colter The Pla "Leather and ce. where you once saw Lydia Lace" Lunch, has new owners and a varied, Alabama expanded music policy. They also have "Feels so Right" a Chinese buffet. 4 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 TUESDAY ··~i?~~~a~t~ .. of ~ SHOWTIMES: 7:00, 9:30 j SPECI Al JURY PRIZE \ (SUN. MAT: 2:00, 4:30) ~ CANNES FILM FESTIVAl I ® ENOS MAR 5! DON'T MISS IT! ~.A_ ____.Li~Jt ACADEMY AWARD WINNER .the TIDDrum THE LOST 110\0R OF K.\TII.\RI\.\ HLl \1 " X" WAS NEVER liKE THIS! EMMANUEllE at 7:15 JOYS at 9:15 MAR 11 -12 -=~~==~~==~a.lt:.. T=HESPEC~IA·L~E~D~IT~I~O~N~~~~~~----~~~~~~~~ James Dean OF CLOSE ENCOUNTERS -- -- ~ OF THE THIRD KIND" REBEL WITHOUT· A CAUSE silent running Of EDEN CLOSE at 7:00 (SUN . MAT: 2:30) SILENT at 9:30 (SUN. MAT: 5:00) MAR 15-16 COSTA-GAVRAS FROM THE DIRECTOR WHO BROUGHT YOU "Z" AND FOR MADMEN \INl Y! "STATE OF SIEGE"! STEPPEN WOlf 7:00 SIDDHARTHA 9:00 TIMES: 7:00,9:15 TONITE ONlY! (SUN. MAT: 2:30, 4:45) DAYS ONLY! MAR 20-23 "A BRAZIJAN SMASH . ...VASTLY ENTERTARG" SHOWTIMES: 7:00, 9 :15 (SUN MAT: 2:30, 4:45) PURELY EROTIC ENJOYMENT! ..."**** A Sf&R DELIGHT ." EWEEKONlY! MAR27-APR2 - ~,.-.-~ and eniov OUf pOOCOffi toof THAT'S RIGHT! ENJOY A FREE, *********************** SMAll SIZE POPCORN, PLAIN OR ~~L~~:Eg~ TH~~M;~~EDt~~. I~~ Fill OUT A MAILING LIST CARD IN THE THEATRE LOBBY. HAND .4;1 THEM BOTH TO THE CONCESSIONS •I PERSON IN THE THEATRE AND FREE ENJOY POPCORN ON US! MMMMM! THE IN-KREDIBLE ERNIE K-DOE I was born Ernest Kador, in Charity 1046. K-Doe was in Chicago in the late Hospital, the second month, the Forties and early Fifties. By 1959 he twenty-second day, in 1936. I grew up was a fiXture in New Orleans. An in New Orleans, on Derbigny Street, unissued session exists on Ernest PHOTO BY SYNDEY BYRD 2419 South Derbigny Street, between Kador in the United records file. The First and Second. titles include "Process Blues, " "Get BY ALMOST SLIM In that neighborhood, Danny White Out of Here Woman," "Too Drunk Ernie K-Doe has been an integral stayed around the corner from me on To Drink" and 'Talking To The part of the New Orleans R&B scene Third and Johnson. The Neville Blues. " The session took place in since the early Fifties. His first record brothers weren't too far from me Chicago, at the Universal Recording ings were with the Blue Diamonds, a either; they stayed in the old Calliope Studio, November 30, 1953. vocal group from the city who made Projects. You see, from Erato going I believed in my mind I could sing, one record on Savoy. In the late Fifties downtown, that's the old projects; the but it didn't materialize until I came K-Doe had a couple ofobscure records new projects weren't built yet. I stayed home from Chicago. I wanted to do that were good but sold only within the with my aunt during that time because some records and I was the lead singer confines ofNew Orleans. mother lived in Chicago. for a group here in New Orleans "The In the early Sixties K-Doe signed I started singing in the church, Blue Diamonds." It was a rock 'n' roll with Joe Banashak's fledging Minit gospel, the New Home Baptist group. We made a record on Savoy label. Then sparks really began to fly. Church. I was the lead singer with the that was big here in New Orleans. That This was the pinnacle of New Orleans' Golden Chain Jubilee Singers for was a company out of New Jersey. R&B popularity, as jar as national about a year. Then my first cousin, Under my own name, the first sales were concerned. In 1961 K-Doe Willie J. Williams, pulled out of the record I made was for Ember, "Tuff scored a number 1 national hit with the group and went with the Zion Tra Enur• and "My Love For You." It novelty tune "Mother-In-Law." The vellers, so naturally I went with him. did well locally. When I made that record changed his life. K-Doe Both groups are very well known. We record the man came down to the Club followed with such favorites as made "It Done Got Late In the Tijuana from New York. I was playing "Certain Girl, " "Popeye Joe, " Evening" and "When Jesus Calls" with Robert Parker's group at that "Cried My Last Tear" and more, all with the Zion Travellers. Me, Aaron, time. The man came in the club and he onMinit. Art and Charles (Neville), lzacoo said he liked the way I sang, so we Today Ernie K-Doe resides in the Gordon and Lil' Buckwheat (he cut a went to the studio. That day they cut Seventh Ward of New Orleans. He record with Huey Smith), we use to two sessions, one on me and one with works semi-regularly at a number of hang out together. Richard Penniman, better known as small clubs in the city. One of them is My mother came down and got me Little Richard. He cut "Tutti Fruitti" Winnie's, a restaurant bar on London when I was 12 Y2 years old and I went that same day; he cut on Specialty. A venue, identified only by an old Jax up to Chicago to go to school. I stayed (Note: I believe K-Doe has his facts beer sign. It is probably where K-Doe in Chicago about two years, long crossed here. The session I believe he is feels the most comfortable, and he has enough to record "I Only Have Eyes referring to is "Do Baby Do" and taken to hanging out there most after For You" with the Flamingoes. We "Eternity" issued on Specialty 563, noons. Everybody in the bar knows recorded on South Parkway. We did it under the name Ernest Kador. 'Tuff K-Doe "personally." It is here that for Chess, but it was on the Checker Enuj" was released in 1958 under the K-Doe revealed the story of his up label, I sang the lead. name Ernie K-Doe, with Lee Allen, and-down career one recent morning. (Author's note: K-Doe's presence in who had a hit on Ember then with The interview also took place on the Chicago is documented and recorded. "Walkin' With Mr. Lee.") day of the release of Ernie K-Doe's Asfaras "!OnlyHaveEyesFor You" The Tijuana really inspired young latest single. His story is most defi is concerned, K-Doe's presence is sters like I was. It was on the corner of nitely told best in the man's own "questionable. " "/ Only Have Eyes Clio and Liberty, it used to be the words. For You" was issued in 1959 on End Golden Leaf but they changed the 6 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 name of the place. Johnny Ace used to Baronne. What happened was Joe when Allen wrote it he had thrown it come through there, Chuck Willis, Banashack and Larry McKinley had away. Allen wrote lots of good songs Richard Penniman, Billy Brooks, Billy Allen Toussaint doing the arranging. I that he just balled up and threw away. Nightingale, Bobby Marchan. I u sed signed with Minit in November 1960. So one day I looked down at the trash to sing over at the Dew Drop and when When I signed with Minit, Allen Tous can looking at some of the words he I went across the river to play I played saint used to have his rehearsals in his had had and I saw this "Mother-In at Jessie 's Place in Marrero, on front living room in Cabbage alley, Law." So I said, "Hey man, I wanna Haynes Blvd. It was fun during that that was back in Gert Town. You see, do this," and he said "You really want time, 'cause I u sed to want to be a Minit didn't have no money to really to do this?" I said "Yeah, I want to do good singer. put out, so we all had to sing behind this." My actual style of singing (if you each other. Like Benny Spellman did They released "Mother-In-Law" listen real closely you can hear it) is the bass singing on "Mother-in-Law" and immediately they wanted me to Archie Brown Lee of the Five Blind and I helped him out on "Lipstick play the Apollo Theatre in New York Boys. I listened to him very well, how Traces." Irma Thomas, Willie Harper, and Dick Clark's show, too. I couldn't he phrased words, how he says all his and Rose (Percy Stoval's niece) and a believe it, every place I went to sing, words on his records very clearly. You girl named Joyce, we all used to help people be screaming', yellin', and know, some records you've got to put out each other. carrying on. I always had to sing your ear down to really here what The first thing I cut was "T'ain't It "Mother-In-Law" more than one they're saying. But Archie Brown The Truth" and "Hello My Lover." I time. "Mother-In-Law" set up the whole stage for me. I'm very proud of ( it. It did something for me. And I think I did something for the record. You got to have that foundation song. a!'lpme! Now the biggest battle of my life was ~ •st•Qtolt!t with James Brown at the Municipal Auditorium and I came through that s~;""!'tr,;. .,_if-..;..:!:~~=--'-~~ one on top. I wasn't much worried about that, that was in 1962. We had a IWUz capacity crowd about 5,000 standing on the outside that couldn't get in. James had "Please, Please, Please." I had "Mother-In-Law," "Hello My ~ Lover," "T'ain't It The Truth," ~ "Certain Girl." ~ Larry McKinley was the announcer, ;;; and he called me out there first. You -< ~ see, it was a dressin' thing, New !!! Orleans against Macon, Georgia, ya ~ dig? So what happend was I was not 0 gonna let my hometown people down. l...«,he never missed. Some people say had Allen Toussaint; he did the I had a royal blue smoking jacket on, Mahalia Jackson was the best in the writing, Melvin Lastie was on trumpet. but under that, nobody knew what I world, but everyone is entitled to their AI Boudreaux was on drums, Fred had on underneath. They could see ice own opinion. Mahalia was a good Fields was on the bass, Justin Adams blue pants, ice blue shoes, but nobody woman singer, one of the best. But to was on guitar and Nat Perrilliat was on could see underneath. So Larry called me whe wasn't the best. Archie Brown tenor. We cut at the old Cosimo's, but me out first. Then James Brown came 1...« of the Five Blind Boys was the we used to do our rehearsing, like I out in a brown suit, white shirt, brown best. said, over to Allen's house. (Note: The polka dot tie. But while Larry was to Before the new projects were built, first Min it release was issued on Min it talkin', everybody went to screarnin'. they had a church back there called the 604, "Make You Love Me" and You see, when I pulled off that Two Winged Temple. They had "There Is a Will There Is a Way" by smoking jacket everything else was ice Mahalia Jackson, the Dixie Humming K-Doe.) Allen, he wrote and arranged blue. And on "Certain Girl" I changed birds, Sam Cooke and the Soul those songs, he wrote them just for suits nine different times! I had a Stirrers, The Highway QC's and the me. Those first records sold well clothes rack backstage. Everytime I'd Rocks of Harmony. Out of all the locally and all over the country 'cause get to a certain part in the song I'd just groups I seen, I say this man was best. Imperial was distributing them. Minit run straight around to the side, change He was about 5'4" about 145 pounds, was hitting then. Jessie Hill had "Ooh my suit and come back out the other but his voice weighed about a million. Poo Pa Doo," we had Irma, in fact I side! When he sang, I don't care what it was, helped Irma write one of her hits "I Now those tricks I do with the mike you had to move. You couldn't keep Done Got Over." stand, I learned how to do them by still. When I recorded "Mother-in-Law," practicing with a broom and a nurnber- The Minit Record deal came about 1 was going through family problems, eight thread. See, to get good working with Joe Banashack at One-Stop and I did believe my mother-in-law that mike stand like that it has to be Record Shop, A-1 distributors on had something to do with it. You see, part of you. Not just your mike stand WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 7 but everybody's mike stand. You see, reached number 69 during a five-week BRONCO'S it's a rhythm-you can tell when you stay on the charts, while the flip side, got the rhythm. I can turn around and "A Certain Girl, "peaked at 71 while do my splits and I know the micro being on the charts for four weeks; phone will be right to me. "Popeye Joe" sneaked in at 99 for one After "Mother-In-Law" we came week.) back with "Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta." Minit The only thing about all this that up was very proud of me and I was proud sets me was giving up the Trophy. See, SALOON. -: of Minit. I always got all my singing I had it from '62 to '65, James Brown CAFE. GIFT SHOPPE royalties. While I was on the road, took it. Allen Toussaint would write and After Minit sold out to Liberty in features arrange a song. When I would come 1965 I went to Duke, with Don D. back to town I would just dub the Robery. They had Al "TNT" Braggs, SALT CREEK voice on a tape. See, the reason Allen Joe Hinton, Bobby Bland, Little Tues.-Sat. 9:00 till felt comfortable doing this was Junior Parker, Buddy Ace, Johnny because he could write a song in any Ace's brother. Larry McKinley helped key and I could sing it. me get with Duke; that's over in Mechanical bull rides I wrote "Heebie-Jeebies," "Come Houston. On Home," "Beatin' Like A Tom At that time Don D. Robey had a Bands 7 nights a week Tom," "She's Waiting," "Waiting at club in Houston called the Palladium. the Station," "Popeye Joe," "Where Now he had never seen me perform open II a.m. till on weekdays open 7 p.m. till '' Now the biggest battle of my on weekends. life was with James Brown '' across" from Oakwood There's a Will There's a Way." Every but he had heard about me so his 1325 WHITNEY AVE. song that Ernie K-Doe records comes manager told him, "I'm gonna tell you PHONE 368- 1000 out of part of my life. now, don't play K-Doe cheap." You Now there is a story behind both of see, people see me walk slow, they these new records. In "I Can't Believe don't think I can dance, but it's a She Gives It All To Me," I'm speakin' wh3}e different ball game when I get about this woman who gives me on top of that stage. There is no crowd ~\\l.l\\\\ diamonds, clothes, money, and all her I can't get to. Now all things are good Iovin'. So when a lady gives you possible, but it hasn't happened to me ~l\\l\\.1. all that, there ain't nothin' else she can yet. Sun. 3/1 give you, ya know. The other one, the On Duke I cut "Later For To l ' il Queenie & the Percolators Mardi Gras Day fast side, is "Hotcha Mama," like a morrow," "I'm a Dancin' Man," Dr. John & New Meters lady is hot. What inspired us to do this "Oh Why," and "Unitl the Real Fri. 3/6 particular song, I think every woman Thing Comes Along." "Until the Real li'l Queenie & the Percolators in the world believes that no woman in Thing Comes Along" sold great. Sat. 3/8 Radiators the world can do something no better "Later For Tomorrow" and "Dancin' Thurs. 3/12 J. Monque'd Fri. 3/13 The New Meters than she can do. That's the gimmick Man" were out of sight. Robey pro Sat. 3/14 Radiators behind this record. Every woman duced that stuff, and Willie Mitchell Thurs. 3/19 Karen Bella believes she is hot, "Hotter than pep arranged it. I was with Duke about Fri. 3/20 K.B. & per she can make you scream/Sweeter three years. li'l Queenie & the Percolators than candy she's a sexy queen/ She I signed back up with Allen Tous Sat. 3/21 K.B. & The Radiators knock 'em over when she starts to saint and Marshall Seehorn about nine Music Bar sing/She leaves 'em droolin' when she years ago. I did "Keep On Lovin' a Restaurant shakes her thing." It's comin' out on Me," "Please Don't Stop" and 534 the Sansu label. Oh, I can't wait till it "Stoop Down Baby," all that stuff. Fridays Frenchmen comes! "Stoop Down," that was my latest till James Black, 944-fiUO I probably cut 37 songs for Minit. today. Earl Turbinton 945·•880 The Mother-In-Law album did all I get along with them over at Sea & Others right. And I got a gold record for Saint, because I don't try to tell 'em Saturdays, 1 am-5 am "Mother-In-Law"; I keep that at my their business. I know what I'm doing, Ramsey M cl ean mother's house. (Author's note: I'm over there recording and that's all. & the Lifers "Mother-In-Law reached Number 1 in I've been working in hotels like the Billboard Magazine, in 1961, and Marriott, the Hilton, supper clubs. FAUBOURG remained on the charts for 14 weeks; Not too many one nighters. I play here /J".afwd :!J?RJImt 1 ani "Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta" reached number 53 at Winnie's Place, Bobby's and over to 626 Frenchmen Street for 5 weeks; "/ Cried My Last Tear" the Rose Tattoo. You see, I get along 8 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 : with people when I'm on stage and that's the most important thing, I motivate the public. Some younger crowds, they're some surprised to see me doing the same dances that they're \ doing. It ain't nothin' but a thing to me! But I stay in the gymnasium all the time, the YMCA, 2222 Dryades. Around town I work with Irving Bannister and the All Stars sometimes, Tommy Ridgley and the Untouch ables, and David Lastie and his band. But we've got to bring the trophy i back to New Orleans this year. We got i to do it this year, we don't got no i__ Sun. 311-3-D, ~enner Mon. 312-Jed s choice. 'Cause all the old singers is coming back into the business, and I i VACATION! Lamar Jackson. Miss. i Tues., 3110- , ThibOdaUX. La. feel like this: If I don't do it now, this i wed.• 3111-lron H::,:·thon-Tulane U., 1;00 pm year, it might slip away. Every record 14 has got to hit, now we can't stand no \ Sat. 31 -:!~tng-TBA-:~=::'~i~.:..aaton Rouge, La. misses. I'd like to have a record out i Tues. 3117-Royal C:!!!:':'ocl:l Club ' : Thurs 3119-Hamm ond L ~ery sixty to ninety days, 'cause you : can 3120. -TBA-Hamm ' a. catch up. i= Frt Ole Man River's We're going back to the top, we're Sat. 3121- R , Lafayette, La. i Tues. 3124-J. · Hs;rse-ThibOdaux, La. going back to the top. I think my new • Wed 3125-lron , record's gonna be hit sides. I'm gonna ¥ FrUSat. 3127·3128-Jimmy s hit the charts, I ain't worried about hitting the charts, I'm gonna hit the =~--Ef*IJff, .,,l!,jli.W'l-u••-•¥£iti411·tfi:iji.J.J*II ••• charts with flying colors. I want the ;rwnwunrt1-·-· · -·- whole country to understand that people like Irma Thomas, Fats - ~ Get "Mesmerized" the new 45! Domino, we all coming back. We all driving in the same car, one way or another somebody's got to come out of the ice. 5.99 Truthfully, we don't play music here / like people in the other parts of the country. Everything they play is Sa\ e straight; you can take any record that was made in another part of the country and you let a funky band out of New Orleans do it and it sounds all the way different. That's why people come here from all over the country to record. A friend of mine, Paul McCartney, carne all the way from England to record at Sea-Saint. The frrst thing he asked for was Professor 4.99 / Longhair and Ernie K-Doe. We got the sound here that groups come from all over the country to copy, but you have to be a native of New Orleans to get it. You might come close but they can't put themselves into the groove. I don't much blame 'em, though. They can try to copy our style but they can't do it. I'll say it like this, I'm going back for all my brothers and sisters and all my kids. But especially for New Orleans in general. I have to bring the trophy back within a year. That's my New Orleans, La. goal. • 128 West Chimes St. Baton Rouge, La. WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 9 ...... : Percolation At Lang Last, Vinyl the band's lead vocalist, "because about six years here, absorbed the By Bill Cat nobody else was going to do it.. .help essence of the local musical flavor and us put it out. No big producer from redefined it through his own soulful i'l Queenie and the Percolators, Hollywood was willing to pay for our compositions, tunes like " Black a fixture on the local club scene Mardi Gras record, so we did it our Haired Girl" and " Inspiration." for nearly four years, is a band selves," Leigh Harris truly has become Li'l that has endured despite Frank Quintini, who has functioned Queenie; she supplies the powerful Lnumerous personnel changes, a variety as sound engineer and general handy lead vocals, the personna, the sex of management techniques, and the man for the band, produced and appeal, and the visual focus of the absence of any type of recording con fmanced the project. band. She has shown the ability to tract. Now, as the band approaches the "We felt we were playing a good create tough ballads like "I Was Just outset of its fifth year of existence, its Mardi Gras tune, one that possibly Practicing," and she possesses the first record, a spirited, locally pro could go on for a few years, so we stamina to belt them out week after duced single, is at last being pressed. decided to put it out," says John week in local clubs. If John Magnie is "My Darlin' New Orleans," which Magnie, ·pianist, songwriter, and leader the gumbo's roux, Leigh is the cayenne first appeared on an album by the of the band. If Li'l Queenie and the pepper. now-defunct Jazz Poetry Group, has Percolators is a spicy New Orleans Occasionally a performer possesses been cut as a single by Li'l Queenie and musical gumbo, John Magnie is the the enigmatic magnetism of a star the Percolators at the Ultrasonic roux. He is the Percolator who began before being generally accepted as Studios. Leigh Harris and John with Leigh in the spring of 1977, when such. Leigh Harris is such a performer. Magnie, leaders of the Percolators, the band formed from the remnants of The 1981 edition of the Percolators were members of the Jazz Poetry a jam called the Backdoor Blues Revue is the funkiest aggregation that Leigh Group and are prominent on that at Tipitina's. He has, along with has yet put behind her. band's only album on the Takoma Leigh, supplied the heart and soul of Fred Kemp, once a regular with Fats label. "My Darlin' New Orleans" is a the band's material since '77. He has Domino and Dave Bartholemew, is a Ron Cuccia-Ramsey McLean-Charles kept the band working through good monster on the tenor sax. His solos Neville composition. The "B" side times and bad. Whether coping with have the cutting edge of an oyster contains a Percolators' original, a hot heady popularity, or shaking off occa knife, and his ensemble playing is biscuit entitled "Wild Natives," a sional disappointments, John has nearly always tasty. rollicking chunk of New Orleans funk steadily guided the band with unswerv Drummer Kenneth Blevins, a Lake that is sure to please the legions of the ing enthusiasm and optimism. Charles native, who came up playing band's fans. Among musicians and club people, Cajun music, has solidified a rhythm "We had to do it ourselves," John Magnie is universally respected. section that in earlier days had always explains Leigh Harris (Li'l Queenie), A native of Colorado, John has, in meandered around the groove. 10 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 Kenneth is right down in it, driving the now it's swinging back toward R&B." Poetry Group through much of 1978 band with hot, precise chops. Li'l Queenie and the Percolators and 1979. That experience with impro Tommy Malone, in other bands a have over the past couple of years visational jazz affected their song sizzling lead guitar virtuoso, would made three professional visits to New writing and performing seem to quite dif be miscast in a band that York. The band's appearance there has ferently. features John and Leigh. But no-his generated favorable reviews, but "As a songwriter [the Jazz Poetry rhythm playing is crisp and clean and no recording contracts to date. Group] figuratively constipated me," his solos always fresh and inventive. In One can blame the ever-changing per Leigh admits. "It opened me up as a fact, Tommy's energetic playing sonnel, inconsistent management, the performer, but as far as writing my coupled with Blevins' driving, second tight-money state of the recording own songs, it stopped me cold." line drumming has helped return the industry, the New Orleans gris-gris, John reacted differently. Percolators to their once-abandoned and other factors. Despite exposure in "It was positive as far as my song R&B roots. Tommy's tasteful playing The New York Times, Billboard, writing, because I could supply the almost never gets in the way of John Cashbox, and, most recently, Musician music for lyrics and stories that were Magnie's exciting pianistics. Magazine, Li'l Queenie remains already there, and it came easy for me. The newest member of the band, unsigned. · Working with Ramsey McLean, bassist Ricky Cortes, is an experienced, On the homefront the band has Charles Neville, and Ron Cuccia might versatile musician who has adapted to taken advantage of an improving local have scattered me a little, but Blevins and Malone I liked it with apparent club scene, and they've maintained because there ease. were so many new ideas their local popularity despite the lack around to absorb." In not quite four years there have of a recorded product. They now look With that experience behind them, been about twenty different Perco toward broadening their regional base Leigh and John now have a band lators. For this reason the band has in the hope of cultivating a potential behind them funky enough to, in had to struggle to attain a group record-buying market throughout the John's words, "get to people's feet cohesion. This current aggregation South, according to drummer Blevins. and ass more than we ever comes closest of have before. any combo that John In these troubled economic times that We can involve and Leigh them physically in the have yet put together to factor could weigh heavily in their music." forming a truly unified band. Time will favor as they continue to seek a record The long-awaited frrst commercial teU if they are able to hold together and deal. recording, "My Darlin' grow together. New Orleans" To their credit, Leigh Harris and and "Wild Natives," which shoul "We follow the influences d be of the John Magnie have rubbed shoulders in release as you read this, people in the band," has a funki John Magnie with many musicians of diverse styles. ness that seems says, to illustrate John's "and we've changed direction They survived the experience of point. often over the years ...jazz for a while; doubling as members of the Jazz Hearing is believing. • WAVELENGTH/ MAR CH 1981 11 r-1 NEW ORLEANS NEW BREED OF NEW~ ~ PREMIER BY BILL CAT FUSION GROUP Offstage the Uptights keep busy ca New Orleans has a rich heritage of recording what Carolyn calls "base songwriting talent. Professor Long ment tapes," four-track demos of the hair, Earl King, Mac Rebennack, Big original tunes, in addition to broaden C!:J Chief Jolley, the Meters: all have been ing the band's repertoire. Many of the innovators, and their contributions to songs walk a tightrope between TIPITINAS popular music in the form of fine ori melodic complexity and pop simpli E3 ginal sounds and songs put this town city, just as the lyrics teeter between B Wed., March 18 on the map in years gone by. coolness and warmth. But this is 1981, and the beat, as "Love Is Not a Theory," one of they say, goes on with talented young Carolyn's most engaging compo songwriters, as yet generally unknown, sitions, is full of startling couplets like: C!:J keeping up the tradition by writing the "You treat me like any other appli· songs of the present day. Songwriters ance/ How can I possibly steal your 8 Contemporary working in obscurity today may heart away from science?" Arts Center produce the classics of tomorrow. So here's a look at two of the hard El Fri., March 27 working local songwriters of today; neither was born when Fess cut his first El record. Exclusive booking: James Robinson a 891 ·1328 z "Dr. Simon," a love song to a 2 science professor, contains the lines: "'<( ::E "If only my mom could see just what z 0 he does to me/ She'd send up the army, <( "'X police and cavalry ... " Vl >- Carolyn seems to have learned the "' limitations of her singing voice, and, in the manner of Carole King, gets a lot 5X 0.. of mileage out of what amounts to a Rhythm guitarist with the Uptights, sweet but ordinary "girl-next-door" Carolyn Odell is a pretty, 23-year-old vocal style. with a degree in mathematics and a "With the constraints of a four talent for writing extraordinarily piece band, a lot of what we're doing original pop songs. has already been done," Carolyn says. "I began by writing poems, and then "But the songs don't really fit exactly putting them to music," Carolyn into the pop formula. Each has its little explains. Indeed, the lyrics to her songs twists and turns that make it unique." would be intriguing even without the Working days in a record store, musical arrangements. Carolyn's Carolyn Odell listens to music almost S..... IM.SUSTtHDAI. themes deal with the inherent conflicts constantly, absorbing all types of the new orlt: JI R!ii between romance and science, between songs, but writing with a distinctive Radiators matters of the heart and those of the flair. She describes her approach to ~ c a intellect. songwriting as "meticulous," and is On stage with the Uptights Carolyn content when she is writing at the rate is backed by lead guitarist Alan Hill, of one song a week. bassist Jimmy Hymel, and drummer Uptights drummer Webb Burrell, a Webb Burrell. Her stage presence is veteran session musician, has helped loose and unaffected, and she seems to Carolyn with the arrangements of WORK DONE genuinely enjoy performing live with some of the tunes, and has provided ON PREMISES out taking on the mannerisms of a valuable advice on the recording of wind-up doll. demo tapes. 14 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 EANS SONGWRITERS A to the local music scene, 21-year-old Johnny Allen first picked up a guitar less than three years ago. Since then he has written scores of rock 'n roll songs, most of them for the recently disbanded rock and blues The Cartoons broke up in the fall of band, The Cartoons. Begun primarily last year leaving Johnny without a as a showcase for the considerable working band, but he continued to vocal skills of bassist Becky Kury, The write. Cartoons soon became a vehicle for "Songwriting is the most natural the songs of Johnny Allen, as well. thing I do," Johnny asserts. "I'm still Johnny remembers his shaky start in a little awkward playing music because the world of rock 'n roll. I have so little experience at it. But the "I was living with Tommy Malone easiest thing for me to do is to sit down (now guitarist with Li'l Queenie and and write a song." the Percolators) on Dublin Street," While between bands, Allen has Johnny recalls with a grin. "He called submitted some of his tunes to Li'l Becky and (drummer) Steve Amedee to Queenie and the Percolators, who have come over and play one night. Becky worked a couple of them into their carne over and said, 'Why don't you Coming in repertoire. He has also co-written one play along with us?' I'd had my guitar March: or two with Percolators pianist John only about four months, and knew Magnie. only a few chords. I tried to play a Aubry Twins Recently Johnny has begun to couple of songs with them, and then I rehearse with a new band that includes split because I was too nervous and Bettye Lavette the renowned local tunesrnith Clark freaked out. Vreeland on lead guitar, former Perco "When I carne back Tommy asked Lady BJ lator John Meunier on bass, and me, 'Hey man, you wanna play with us Exuma drummers Bruce Raeburn and Steve in a band?' I thought he was kidding. Amedee. Two days later we had our first Asked about his favorite local song rehearsal. I could barely make it writers, Johnny replies with no hesi through a blues song. Ten days later tation: "Ed Volker, Clark Vreeland, we were playing at Tipitina's." and Earl King.'' It was another eight months before The prospect of forming a band Johnny had gained enough confidence with one of his local favorites has to write a song and take it to the band. Johnny greatly enthused. "Clark was His first song, "Plenty Pleasure," one of the first people I ever colla soon became one of The Cartoons' borated with on a song," Johnny says. favorites. "I'm looking forward to doing more After a few more of Johnny Allen's of that." songs were added to The Cartoons' Johnny Allen's advice to other repertoire, it became apparent that a young songwriters: "Get a band distinctive style had begun to charac together, get out and play. Confidence terize the body of Johnny's song comes from hearing a band play your writing work, a style that recalls the 400 Bourbon songs in front of people.'' "Exile on Main Street" period of the 561-9231 It's fun, we might add, for the Stones' Mick Jagger and Keith people too. ~~ard . • WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 15 At Alterman Audio we know High Fidelity.We know what ed high watt amps. lacked in the bass, poorly dispersed the the specs mean. We compare specs. We do our own testing. sound into the room, and seemed to be jinxed. And we listen. Now JansZen, the holder of the base patents on elec High Fidelity is the accurate recreation of music without trostatics and one of the oldest manufacturers of these adding or subtracting anything from the music. speakers is proud to offer a new, greatly improved fourth For seven years, Alterman Audio has recommended well generation electrostatic speaker. This speaker can be used balanced component systems with the highest fidelity your with medium power amps. has fantastic bass and beautiful money can buy, and stood behind them with a double length dispersion and imaging. and new manufacturing techniques warranty and loaners. should mean a long trouble-free life. The almost weightless diaphragm of the Electrostatic We at Alterman Audio think JansZen has come up with speaker means it can respond essentially instantly to the in one of the most realistic reproducers of music we know of 1t put, duplicating the musical waveform. But electrostatics need- a very reasonable price ... The Electrostatic Fantasy. 7323 F'leJlel 3213 17fk Sbtea U~lottm 13eJWul ..CnJWUfe 866-3579 834-7772 11-7 lf(~~~~..fot.i OllfM SilL li£f 6 P_ If( 10-9:30. lfle~t -Sol. LIVE MUSIC Sun. 311 Sheiks Mon. 312 Sheiks/Late Set by Meters Thurs. 315 Night Riders, Godot Fri., 316 Del Lords, Uptlghts, Fugitives, Raffeys! and Mechanics Sat. 317 Panther Bums, Ballistics, Del Lords (from Memphis) Sun. 318 Black Flag (from Sal Night Live) Thurs. 3112 Sheiks Walter Lastie Passes Fri. 3113 Rockets, Del Lords Sat. 3114 Rockets, RZA FriJSat. 3120-3121 Sheiks Death Thurs. 3126 Sheiks Of FriJSat. A 3127-3128 Jazz Player The Cold BY JASON BERRY Walter Lastie, one of New Orleans' Walter's father, is Deacon of the 8200 WILLOW ST. most accomplished drummers, died of Guiding Star, one of the city's remark 866-9549 a heart attack last December 28 in the able spiritual churches. Frank Lastie middle of a set outside Jackson first introduced drums into the reli Square. Only 42, "Popee" as he was gious ceremonies in 1927, a radical act known to friends and kin, had been in those days. Popee began playing making plans with an American agent drums as a child under Frank's in Germany for a European tour in tutelage. He once recalled, "My father Costumes and March. had a v ery rare style of playing. He Lastie's death on December 28 played mostly with his fingers. He Masks and draws the curtain on a year when Pro would use the tips of his fingers rather fessor Longhair, Big Chief Jolley, and than his wrists to move the sticks. It 's Vintage Oothing Wild Tchoupitoulas Indian leader supposed to be something new and he Norman Bell also died- but they were been do in' it ever since I can older men, whose departures represent remember.'' Old the waning echoes of a different Deacon Lastie is s till active as a Mint Market generation. Popee was a portly, rapid drummer in church and with a senior fire drummer whose father taught him citizens' choir called The Silver-Haired rudiments of the instrument. Song Birds. Popee often played with On a deeper, more profound level, David and Betty Ann in services at the Walter Lastie was the youngest son of diminutive Guiding Star Church in the 1222 Decatur a remarkable musical famHy, and the heart of the Lower Ninth Ward. second musical Lastie to die within a Besides his father's instructions, decade. Melvin Lastie, a brilliant, Popee took lessons before reaching his pioneering c ornet-trumpet player, a teens from Fat Domino's drummer. well-established artist who had moved "Every month they would have a to Los Angeles, died of cancer in 1972, children's hour at the Hot Spot, that's also at 42. The band Walter played in where Fats used to play, and his locally, " A Taste of New Orleans," drummer, Cornelius Coleman, would featured older brother David on sax, stand behind me with his hands on my and sister Betty Ann, who made shoulders. He was left-handed and 524-7027 appearances on gospel piano and as an he'd cross his hands a nd play the beats 12-5 pm R&B vocalist. The Lasties had planned on me and if I played it wrong he to tour together in Germany, with would slap me! So, I had to learn that Popee laying the groundwork. way." Seventy-eight-year-old Last ie, Walter's first gig came when he was WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 19 YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO OUR sixteen, on a road tour organized by Freddie Domino, Fats' cousin. They MARDI GRAS DAY PARTY played in Nashville, where Walter's brother D avid happened to be per forming, and when work ran out the WITH two barely had enough to pool funds and catch a Trailways bus back to New Orleans. In later years, Popee was Fats Domino's drummer and also served as road manager for the band. It was the e ldest Lastie brother, Melvin, who gave David and Walter deeper inspirations to play profession ally. Melvin picked u p t he trumpet at fi ve, rehearsed endlessly as a young ster, and was once mildly scolded by Deacon Lastie for playing in h is room (8 R0 THE R at three in the morning. Melvin promised to put a mute on the trumpet at so as not to disturb neighbors. There are many musical families in New Orleans in which the artistic gift is passed down from one generation to THE BLUES SALOON the next, like a biological gene repro 4:00p.m. ducing. But Frank and Alice Lastie are $10.00 special people, who recognized music as a spiritual force within the isolated 940 Conti Street 523-9475 neighborhoods of the Lower Ninth Ward, across the Industrial Canal and away from the city proper. Mrs. Lastie's younger b rother is Jessie Hill, whose "Ooo-Poo-Pa-Do" is one of the city's more popular traditional R&B dance tunes. "Uncle Jessie" who was just about the same age of nephews David and Walter-began playing drums after Alice got a set for Popee. They had a rare home, the Lasties, always opening doors to local kids who wanted to play music or be around the boys who were rehearsing. The great NEW ORLEANS FINEST saxophonist Ornette Coleman drifted through New Orleans in the late Live Entertainment 1940s-long before he was famous NightClub met Melvin and stayed on for nearly a year as a house guest. For within the ADJACENT PARKIN~ family environment, music remained a Sot., Feb. 28 and Sun., Mar. 1 FRENCH MARKET JAZZ BAND, 8 pm steady pulse. Deacon Lastie once said, JUKE JUMPERS, 12 am 'til with visible pride from the altar of his church: "All of my children started Mon., Mar. 2 and Tues ., Ma r . ~ AUBRY, INC. playing music in here-right in here. Wed .-Sot., Mar. 111hru Mar. 14 Isn't that beautiful? Not only my L'll Queenie & the Percolators children, my grandchildren too." Wed.-Sun., Mar. 25thru Mar. 29 And as the other Lasties grew and G. G. Shinn married and raised f amilies, "Uncle 0 Weeknights 0 Pop" helped carry on the tradition. He Honky Tonk Rhythm & Blues Plano took time to show Joseph Lastie, Jr. nicknamed Fish-how to refine the Every Wed. nite 11 pm-4 am: Drinks $1 .25 for a ll musicians & food & beverage personnel drumming technique the youngster saw his grandfather play in church; 0 Official Mardi Gras Parade Headquarters 0 and then there was Riley, another 308 N. Rampart ~ 529·3631 nephew (Betty Ann's son), who plays 20 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 drums and trumpet. Both Fish and Hurlan are in their early 20s and active in local jazz groups. Walter Lastie was nobody's fool. He often spoke with anger in his voice about the lack of professional oppor tunities in New Orleans, the absence of recording studios and shortage of club space. After his trip to Europe last year, he left a set of drums in Ger many, to make himself return. The drums are there now, and I hope Fish or Herlin makes the trip to play those skins, because someone from the family should. Walter's funeral on Saturday, Jan. 3, was an altogether different affair from others last year. Longhair's was a massive and uncontrolled; Big Chief Jolley's, a touching procession of Get their new 45 "My Dar/in' New Orleans" Indians and traditional jazzmen from the Olympia band. But Walter Lastie's now at all area record stores funeral was a jazz musician's send-off: Sun., Mar. 1-Dream Palace Wed.·Sat., Mar. 11·14-Ciarity more than fifty musicians, from the Fri., Mar. 6-Dream Palace Fri., Mar. 20-Dream Palace Olympia, Tuxedo and other bands Sat., Mar. 7-The Boot Sat., Mar. 21-Tipitina's came out. As one said, "Aint many Tues., Mar. 31-Tipitina's cats could draw this many of us out BOOKINGS on a Saturday morning, to boot." AVAILABLE : 866·1276 I don't think anyone there could recall such a presence, in recent time, of so many working jazz artists honor ing a departed brethren. The crowd itself was not so large, perhaps three hundred people. There were no TV British cameras; little press at all, for that Invasion matter. The procession left the Israelite Register Spiritual Church on Frenchman Street at Leisure Landing and moved slowly along Elysian Fields to win an English Racer Bicycle behind the big overpass, midway between the Quarter and the Lake 4 99 4~. 9~ front. 9~----;;----;1 The notes of Milton Battiste's • Be-e tll ~c· u •n R o.l '> silver trumpet rose high into the cold, ELVIS cosnuo ...., ;\tO" no no:-.Go bright winter sky; the larger musical AND THETRUST ATTRACTIONS ...,._.,. .. - __.=:::;::., _ ...... ,:::_ sound of accompanying brass, reed and drumming engulfed the crowd, and seemed to shrink the presence of people who did not have instruments. So now let us praise Walter Lastie, a musician of uncommon talent and an artist whose struggle embodied the promise and endurance of his mates. The last song he played in the gig that Sunday off J ackson Square was "When the Saints Go Marching In." Even after he keeled over, his heart 4.59~ caving in, Popee kept thumping on the pedal of his big drum. Pop, you were one hell of a beautiful cat, and long after the wake and funeral have receded in our memories, musicians in t.emu~~ New Orleans will remember one thing ov about Walter Daniel Lastie. He was a RECORDS & TAPES ' • 5500 MAGAZINE drummer and he went down kicking. • OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK • 895-8713 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 21 Direct from New Orleans ... All the classic rhythm 'n' blues songs of Mardi Gras. Take Mardi Gras home to savor all year with a subscription to Wavelength and the Mardi Gras record. "Go To The M,~rd i Gras" Professor Longhair "Street Para~e " Earl King "Carnival Trme " "Handa Wanda AI Jo ~n_so&n Wild Magnolias Bo Dillrs . " Big Chief" b " Prof essor Longharr "Mardi Gras Mam o A nd many more ... Hawkelis ...... ••..•...... •...•...... ••.•...... •.••••.•...... •...... •.. Please send me (check one): Please send me (check one): O a subscription to Wavelength and the record. Enclosed 0 a subscription to Wavelength and the record . Enclosed is $14 plus $ .50 for postage & handling. is $14 plus $ .50 for postage & handli ng. D just the subscription. Enclosed is $8. 0 just the subscription. Enclosed is $8. 0 just the record. Enclosed is $7 plus $ .50 postage & D just the record. Enclosed is $7 plus$ .50 postage & handling. handling. Mail to Wavelength, P.O. Box 15667, Mail to Wavelength, P.O . Box 15667, New Orleans, LA 70175 New Orleans, LA 701 75 Name ------Name ------Address ______;.______Address ------ City, State, Zip ------City, State, Zip ------Jazz Woodenhead: For Export Only BY YORKE CORBIN Woodenhead may qualify as an underground organization. "We'll tell people we're playing," remarks guitarist Jimmy Robinson, " and they'll say, 'Oh, are y'all still to gether?' We practice three or four nights a week, and somebody asks, 'Are you still together?"' Certainly the band has little to do with standard notions of the New Orleans sound, and has had to work diligently at building a local audience. Playing a driving, complex fusion of rock and jazz-the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the Dixie Dregs are the best comparisons Woodenhead has over the past four years evolved a musical style much at odds with the traditional rhythms of this city. But Inner City Records, a fusion-oriented label in New York, was sufficiently impressed with a recent demo tape of their music to begin talk ing about a record contract. PHOTO BY JOSE L. GARCIA II Amusingly enough, the warehouse light show. You've got to give people where the band practices is filled with just a little more of what they want bags of red beans and packages of with what you give them. If you look beignet mix ("stuff you can go down at our competition-stageshowside, to Schwegmann's and get," Jimmy creative inclinations, and a notion of Robinson notes), ready to be shipped the pleasure they derive from that out to fans of New Orleans cuisine pursuit. around the country. Woodenhead, if The members of Woodenhead are its members have their way, may also rock musicians who went to college, be ready for export. They seemed studied classical music and began determined enough when I talked with extending their musical horizons. (Fran them, with Robinson and drummer Comiskey, trained as a classical James Comiskey carrying the burden pianist, is an exception.) "We got to of conversation. The most recent addi gether around the music school at tion to the band, keyboard player Fran Loyola," Robinson says. "Maybe that Comiskey (she and James are cousins), contributes to our problem; we're all listened in, looking bemused; bassist college-trained musicians too sophis Edgar Lipps was absent. What ticated for our own good. But this is a emerged from the conversation was a hard kind of music to play anywhere, strong sense of dedication among a so we don't moan and groan about it group of musicians pursuing their too much. along; but we do need to work more. "We do make a lot of demands on We're learning how to present our the audience. I think that's good. selves so that we don't completely There's enough music around for alienate our audience-give them some people who want to just lay back, and strong body music for a while, then lay that's good too. But I think it's impor something else on them." tant to challenge people. James Comiskey agrees. "We're "What we're doing is hard, and working on our concert set and our we're getting better at it as we go WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 23 Rare Records Fess' Best: Play At 78 Only BY ALMOST SLIM "In the Night" / "Tipitina" Old and rare records & tapes Professor Longhair Over 200,000 original label 45's Atlantic 1020 and LP's in stock-52 and up Oldies reissues-$ I .50 This isn't the rarest of Fess's Plus top-! 00 45s & LPs records, but you sure can't pick it up at in current, pop, rock & country Joe's One Stop on South Rampart anymore! In fact, it was probably the Specializing in '50s, '60s & '70s biggest of Longhair's early sellers, music managing to climb to Number 2 on the Will accept mail order local R&B charts in March of 1954. However, it really didn't catch on else where. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat. "Tipitina" was probably one of Parker and Red Tyler on sax, Edgar Rodger Castillo Mary Roques Longhair's best records and is a classic Blanchard on bass, and the ubiquitous owner Manager example of early New Orleans rhythm Earl Palmer on drums. and blues. A nonsensical lament to A previously unissued take of wine and a girl named Roberta, "Tipi "Tipitina" appears on Atlantic's fine tina" captures Fess's unique rhumba Professor Longhair- New Orleans fla vored piano playing as well as his Piano. Of course, a certain Uptown strained intoxicating (intoxicated?) music club pleasingly scotched the vocals. Session men include Robert name, too. • Continued from previous page we've got a lot to learn. Maybe we'll One thing that such bands demon add a little explosion after the last strate is that this city, self-regarding Neville Bros. song." and culturally isolated from the rest of At this, everyone breaks up-a the country, has been a testing-ground fairly regular occurrence after a James for a generation of young musicians Comiskey pronouncement. He's the resolutely dedicated to their art. With CoJd ~ one who talks to the audience between four years of commitment in the face songs at a Woodenhead performance, of unsteady commercial fortunes ' ::r and he could give Johnny Vidacovich behind them, the New Orleans musi ~e~s. ~ some competition in the drummer cians who make up Woodenhead are comedian category. He's homing in, ready to make their music heard on a Sat., 3/28 -· though, on a real point: Woodenhead, national level. They have the ability, ~ for all its esoteric antecedents in avant and they're beginning to get the Skunks garde music, springs directly from breaks. And it's worth mentioning that 1960s rock. Jimmy Robinson played their view of their music in relation to Call us for the Hendrix-style guitar as an "under making it commercially is as healthy as ground teenage rock star" with Ejacu any I've encountered. complete schedule! lation, a popular local psychedelic "After we've had a really good band of the hippie era. The members rehearsal," Jimmy Robinson remarks, Open 2 p.m. Tues.-Sat. of Woodenhead joke about playing "and we've got everything clicking the Showtime: Preservation Hall fifty years from right way, I feel totally satisfied. You now, and their development as a band have to take that attitude. There are so 9:30 weeknights does provide an interesting perspective many things about the music business 10:30 weekends on the way that particular styles of that are degrading. You just have to 24-Hour Concert Line music can branch out of, then return keep your ideals up high and go with 8301 Oak 861-2585 to, the mainstream. it." • 24 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 Reviews Rockers Meet King Tubbys In A Fire House Augustus Pablo Shanachie 43001 2125 Highway 90 w.. t Avondale, La. 430·3000 Thurs., Mar. 5 The Rockers (or rather, the Rockers Heyoka All Stars) include the Western Hemis phere's most adept bassist, Robby Fri., Mar. 6 "Rabbi" Shakespeare; Earl "Chinna" Ll'l Brooklyn Smith, who practically invented the Sat., Mar. 7 reggae guitar sound whence his middle Malibu, Hyjlnx name is derived; an assortment of Wed., Mar. 11 drummers including Albert Malawi, Sheiks Mickey Boo and Leroy "Horse Fri.ISat. Mar. 13 & 14 mouth" Wallace; percussionists Jah David Allan Coe Teo, Sticky (as in herbal matter) and Wed., Mar. 18 Jah Levi (as in dernin?); the man who The New Meters created the concept of utilizing the in the foreground. Rastafarian detec Thurs., Mar. 19 melodica (formerly thought of as tives have their work cut out for them, Ll'l Brooklyn ~ merely a child's toy) in reggae and dub eh? Sat., Mar. 21 f mucic, Augustus Pablo; and last but The smoldering cuts The Cold "' include "Short ~ by no means least, the gents behind the Man Dub," "Zion Is A Home," Tues., Mar. 24 ::a. Steel Pulse mixing board-Prince Jammy, King "Dub In A Matthews Lane Arena," c> Tubby and Pablo himself. Wed., Mar. 25 Fri.ISat., Mar. 27 & 27 ~ "Jah Say Dub," " Son Of Jah Dub," Sheiks It might seem odd to some including "Simeon Tradition," "Selassie I engineers amongst an album's musi Dub," "Jah Mouly Ita! Sip" and the cians (or "Players of Instruments," as title number. Enough riddim and echo they are usually titled on Jamaican to at least get you through Lent (or St. for over records) but in the case of a disc such Joseph's Day for the terminally a year the as the one in question, the engineers afflicted). Albums like this will one day Best Kept Secret in Town may very well be of more importance help return the trombone to its rightful than the fellows with the vintage place of respect. The runner-up this Stratocasters and the foot-long spliffs. month is " Hunting In The Congo" by For the art of dub (and let it be known the Bongos, three boys from New that Pablo is the Dubwise Picasso) is Jersey who favor black, silver and tur the art of electronics and engineering, quoise. Third place (and breathing gently tempered with 666,000 watts of hard) is " Dub Style: The Virgin Mary" Jah Elevation. Swift fingers on the by Lone Ranger and the Chariot recording studio dials rate and don't Riders." -Dr. Babylawn hesitate because dub-style is your fate and don't be a doubter because the Happy Hour-Mon.-Fri. 4-6 space is extremely Outer and 1-man is Tuesdays here (hear!) to tell that Augustus Pablo There Must Be A Flatland String Band, 10 'til has no equal except perhaps the Better World Somewhere Wed. Draft Beer Night Scientist and that's yet another sequel 2for1 so wo-wo-wo-wo-wo B.B. King ... Thursdays What and where the Fire House is MCA5162 Ladles Night 3 Free!S-12 remains a mystery but given the and Jamaican fetish for being as literal as Bot Damnjug Band, 10 'til they are spiritual and as the back cover Lots of excitement surrounds the (Exhibit A) reveals, Pablo is a man latest release from the " King of The who makes no jokes about smoke, the Blues." With Dr. John and Doc close listener might assume that the Pomus prescribing all the material pool, patio, pinball Chalice blazed a bit during these latest herein, B. manages to gracefully walk <&. sessions. Likewise inexplicably, the the tightrope between blues, jazz and one helluva Shanachie label bears a snowbound pop. But fear not, this is a blues Jukebox Victorian home with a horse and sleigh album! WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 25 B. B.'s singing and playing is as strong as I've heard perhaps since the release of the classic "Thrill Is Gone." LUIG.I'\ In fact, many of the musicians used on that session are in tow here. Dr. John's 6319 ELYSI AN FIELDS NEAR U.N.O. playing is a driving force, too. In fact, Earl King told me he could hear stuff PRESENTS similar to "Gilded Splints" on the record. The horns of Hank Crawford and Fathead Newman blend well with Mac's piano and give the background a relaxed sound. The title track ought to send King back in the charts in a big way. " The Victim" is similar to the stuff B.B. cut on Bluesway in the late Sixties. "More, More, More, 11 my personal favorite, is as intense a number as I've heard recently from B.B. The choir-like backup adds to the haunting effect of the selection. The whole album is fresh and exciting while still maintaining B.B.'s style. No bitches here, I can't think of anybody who won't like this latest effort, and if you do, where you at? -Almost Slim Folk Song Egberto Gismonti, Jan Garbarek, B.B. RECORDING STUDIO Charlie Haden ECM-1-1170 -PROFESSIONAL RECORDERS- 115 Yorke St. Belle Chasse, La. 70037 SPECIAL EFFECTS JINGLES "QUALITY SOUND AT AN Louis Armstrong once said all DEMOS music is folk music. Ramsey McLean AFFORDABLE PRICE" MASTERI NG once said it's all jazz. This three-way RECORD PRESSING street here, Gismonti-Haden-Gar ARRANGING barek, synthesize both those state - (504)-392-5093 - COPIES ments, those wavelengths, into one. TAPE The album's title is Folk Songs. The INSTR. RENTALS music seems to reach back, forward, to the core of nameless Tune, primal elec tric hum, from which sprout and 8 track/4 track/2 track generate the separate wavering petals and flowers we know as " songs. 11 The opening selection is listed as "Folk Buzzy's Guitar Studio Song, 11 from a traditional source, the author, if one existed, having faded 115 Yorke St. Belle Chasse, La. 70037 from human memory. But not time's ~ GHS Shure Whirlwind memory. For the haunting and elegant strains of the theme are timeless, full of z50/o;,..aGS Furman Sound WRoassshburn Guitars Stars Guitar Y .... Electro-Voice Kable King time-yet in a space outside of time. sA 'I oA'I Multivox Mighty Mite Grover Jazz is understood as a music that ~'/~f' '1/~~1( Univox/Korg Seymour Duncan JTG Tuners strives to release the dynamism implied by a theme. A song is the contraction ,:r::f 'f'ft4t4~~ Bill Lawrence Pickups Bad ass ~0 Electro-Harmonix Yamaha Guitar Etc. of an experience; jazz is the expansion of that song-revealing the secret -----•392-5093 ------beauties and terrors that are only dimly suggested by the song, weaving our We Deliver To The East Bank On Orders Over $20 26 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 way back to the experience itself, out of which came the song. Jazz ensemble is dynamic animated conversation AC/DC waves crashing against each other's shores, walking each other's tight ropes, doing away with each other's "Back In Black" nets, becoming each other's nets. Haden-Garbarek-Gismonti play the songs on this album meditatively and vibrantly. This is music of quiet, dark reverie. The sounds offer colors and shapes; images are suggested. Gar barek's sax is the secret sadness of a at.+DC BACK IN BLACK jester, the corridors of a young mind filled with ancient thoughts (the pungent yet languid musings on his composition, "Veien" ). Haden's bass is the hushing forest, the rigging of a ship at midnight (his solo in "Folk Sale Prices SHOOT TO THRILL l¥b: Song" -breathless caresses, then an GoodThru YOU SHOOK ME All NIGHT LONG $599 incredible full-blooded sigh). And March14 LP/Tape Gismonti, a dreamer dreamed up by guitars and pianos and bells to AC/ DC is "Back In Black;' their unspring such a deep pool of music, hardest hitting album ever. Fea- flooding the world. Gismonti: what tures hellraisers like "Shoot to else is his music but the flight of birds, Thrill;' "You Shook Me All Night alighting on this branch, then the Long;· and title track, "Back In other, crying in the night, possessing Bl ack ~' the sky, releasing the sky. Sensuous ness beyond sensuality, a spirituality that loves the earth. Half of the folk songs in here are his. "Cego Aderaldo," last track on side one, suggests, creates, celebrates an entire carnival. Garbarek-Haden-Gismonti ta ke themes that seem as old as the hills and meditatively, vibrantly expand these themes into experiences, till everything is texture, the longing of texture. For ... ? The object of desire is unspoken, unthought. A music of divine tactility. - Zeke Fish head The New Jazz Quintet Old Absinthe Bar January 18-21 You can read it on a hundred dif ferent garish t-shirts along Bourbon Street: "New Orleans, birthplace of jazz." That birth was a while back now, and the jazz child is older, reach ing middle age at places like Crazy Shirley's and playing on past retire ment at Preservation Hall. Younger musicians may be found walking hand ~(!?~ in hand with it in a few places, particu larly Tyler's, but on the whole New Oakwood Shopping Center Orleans has not been receptive to the 10-9 Mon.-Sat. children of jazz, the newer members of the family. Available on Atlantic records & tapes WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 27 Fusion jazz is a notable member of this new generation, one that has achieved considerable success with the work of people like Stanley Clarke and Chick Corea. Yet one New Orleans fusion group, the New Jazz Quintet, has more trouble getting gigs than a tourist looking for a hotel room at Mardi Gras. This is really a shame, because as the dates at the Old Absinthe Bar proved, the NJQ is a fine, distinctive band, fully capable of drawing decent crowds. The Old Absinthe is a pleasant, very personal place to hear music; the band, overfl owing the tiny stage (" We left the rest of our equip ment at home"), brought the mood even closer to the audience. Movement in the music is the most striking thing about the NJQ's perfor mance. The originals they play (which make up about half of each set, inter spersed wtth tunes by Cobham, Ponty, Corea) have titles like "The Last Journey" and "Distant Horizon" and 311-312-Jimmy's 3120..3121-Jimmy's cover varied and definitely scenic 3111-0/e Man River's 3125-0ie Man River's musical terrain. Rather than staying in 3112-Jimmy's 3126-Jimmy's one place, the songs flow, build, explore diverse plateaus. The intensity 3118-lron Horse-Thib. 3127-3128-0ie Man River's level, while generally high, is changed enough to avoid monotony. Strong originals are vital to any band hoping to break into bigger time; each member of the NJQ has contributed quality compositions. Although the endings and some of the bridges seemed a bit sloppy and unsure, these numbers are consistently tight on the inside, displaying well-structured, dynamic phrasing and a good ear for an effective riff. These are good tunes. Especially potent are Randy Web ber's keyboards. He is far and away the most gifted member of the group; every time his finers leap into a solo he ~ ~ is exciting. Webber has the most play ing time in the show, and believe me, featu.rlng the supreme sounds you can't hear too much of him. Band local music leader Dave Emilien on drums and of Harold Scott on bass provide a solid on the TUlane quad rhythm section, and if they take few ~ flights into fancy themselves, they do Friday• beginning at 3 p.m. provide a strong base for the other Deacon John • The New Meters members to take off. The guitars of Saturday • beginning at 12 noon George Scott and Lonnie Morris are The Uptights • The Cold • The Radiators • less emphasized; they could contribute they underscore the general Brown more but Clarence Gatemouth effect successfully. Scott and Morris Sunday • beginning at 12 noon produce very different sounds with Li'l Queenie and the Percolators George Porter's Joyride their instruments, an important contri bution to the overall diversity that is PERPETUATE NON·PROFIT the core of the NJQ's potential. NON-COMMERCIAL RADIO 91.5 fm -Keith Twitchell 28 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 Classifieds HOT CHIHUAHUAS! Bunny Matthews' limited edition six-color silkscreen "Chihuahua" poster now available by mail from Scheurich Gallery, 1022 Lower line, New Orleans 70118. Signed edition-$30 each; numbered edition-$15 each. Send check or money order and enclose $3 per Dedkaled to the poster for handling. Cheap! Place to rehearse or record demos, Preservation of Rock 'n' RoD! stage, P.A., etc. Ca11945-3233, Grouse House Tues •• 8 pm-1 am: Drinks for 1 Productions, Inc. 2 For Sale: Conn Alto sax. All silverplate: looks Thurs •• Ladies Night: great, sounds better. $285 ./best offer. Doug at Every other drink free all night 283-8432. STEREO REPAIR Bar Brands $1.00 Draft Beer 50- all the time We come to your home! Repairs made in home when possible. Guzzardi E lectronics, 3232 Edenbom Ave. 833-7694. Metairie 887-9858 Sky music is coming sooner or later. 899-9948. I'll pay up to $10 for "I'll Make a Bet" by Nookie Boy on AFO 306. Call Leo, 948-7990. Guitars 400Jo to 50% off: Ovation, Yamaha, Tachamini, Alvarez, Ibanez, Martin, Guild, Rickenbacker, Also Bose, Shure, Kelsey, dexys midnight runners Traynor and EV: COD or credit card. 3-day searching for the delivery. No sales tax; shipping included. Even soul rebels DEXV'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS the call is free. 1-800-526-5663. Searching For The Young Soul Rebels Dexy's Midnight Runners is one of England's most popular new bands and their Stateside debut album should enlarge an already growing following. on salt WAVELENGTH/MARCH 1981 29 The Last Page Ladies, get your smelling salts ready. "Ace" Eckerle's Global Folk Show Reverend AJ Green, from whom Talk on WTUL has been moved to Sunday ing Heads borrowed their greatest hit, afternoons. Ace features live concerts will be the sanctified headliner at the on the air. Tune in at 2 p.m. every "Joy of Love Concert Spectacular," week for acts like Angelle Trosclair, March 17 at Municipal Auditorium. the Hot Damn Jug Band, the Bad Reverend James Cleveland will open Oyster Band and many more. and it's a Rufus Production. Brian Brain (a.k.a. Martin Atkins), The Radiators album is soon to go former drummer of PubHc Image, will into its second printing ... Elmore be at Jed's March 17 with Peter Jones, James' nephew resides in New Orleans on bass (formerly with Cowboys Inter· and is full of stories of the legendary national) and Bobby Surgeoner on bluesman ...Jessie Hill revue is picking guitar. Another Pontchartrain Pro up steam. AJ Johnson, Ernie K-Doe duction ...Creole Cooking, featuring and Huey Smith all have recently been Tchoupitoulas, the Nevilles and Antoine Domino Jr. on organ, has part of the "Ooh Poo Pa Doo Revue" Joyride celebrate Mardi Gras. At the started its own restaurant on Chartres ... Watch out for Dr. John's Gumbo to Superdome on the same night: Street, called Victor's . be reissued in Japan. List price is Charlie Daniels Band and Kansas Gilbert Hetherwick fans (you know $14.98-ouch! German MCA also entertain with other acts.Pat Metheny who you are) will be treated to another plans to release Get A way With Fats visits McAlister Auditorium on Mar. alive concert by the Hetherwick Band Domino from an ABC session from 25; Em my Lou Harris is at the at Jed's on the second and third Thurs 1964 ... Mercury also is going to reissue Saenger Mar. 26; B.B. King and Bob days of March. Other band members the 1965 live Las Vegas set Fats by Blue Bland put aside their dif are Tommy Comeaux on guitar, Domino Live. Vintage Fats; get it! ... ferences at the Saenger Mar. 27, and mandolin, sax & steel; Mike CampbeU Other vintage New Orleans sets to be Santana visits on Mar. 28, 29. on bass and vocals, and Steve Wheless reissued include Bobby Charles (P A.J. Loria, who's playing nowadays ·on drums ...We heard from the talented Vine-Japan), and Shirley & Lee (Man at the Fountain Bay Club, has a 45 out Fourplay band recently. Members hattan). for Mardi Gras, "Ain't Nothing Like John Reeks, Nick Compagno, Nick Lee Dorsey's Body and Fender Shop It" / "If Ever I Cease To Love," pro Hecker and Karl Hymel are playing on Elysian Fields Avenue is closed and duced by Richard Lazes Co. (it's the around town during Carnival. no longer in operation but where is soundtrack for Blaine Kern's Mardi Tabby Thomas of Excello Record Lee? Must be riding his pony ... Gras film). Loria's backed by John fame has opened "Tabby's Blues Marshall Sehorn is back at Sea-Saint Vidacovich, Jim Singleton, Lady BJ, Box" on North Blvd. in Baton Rouge after three weeks in Europe ... Sessions Charles Neville, and Branford and across from the old Temple Club. are lined up this past month at Sea Winton Marsallis ...Jean Knight has a Some zoning laws had to be bypassed Saint for Earl King and Tommy 45 out soon, recorded at Sea-Saint, before a liquor license could be Ridgeley ••. Sammy Ridgeley is working "Anything You Can Do"/"Gossip," granted, but the grand opening came with his brother, looking and sounding by Soulin' Records produced by Isaac off this past mqnth. Tabby hopes to dapper ... Irma Thomas has added a Boldin. Also produced by Boldin is a bring Silas Hogan, Guitar Kelly, cowboy hat and the tune "Nine to new 45 by Premium, "You Know You Henry Gray, Raful Neal and The Neal Five" to her show ... Aaron Neville's Want To Be Loved" /"Girls Are Made Brothers, and Whispering Smith to the house is for sale. For Loving." Blues Box. Lazy Lester is reported to Nice article on AJ Johnson and B.B. King's new album is comprised be back in Baton Rouge for a short Mardi Gras music in the March edition of all Dr. John tunes ... Ramsey time in January before returning to of New Orleans Magazine-check it McLean has an album scheduled out in Michigan ... Henry Gray is back after a out...Irving Bannister and the All Stars Aprii. .. Look for Coteau reunion at two-week tour of Germany ... Other could hold the record for longevity in Jazz Fest. clubs that have live blues are the Snow the city. This unit has been together for March 17 issue of Billboard maga flake in downtown Baton Rouge and 12 years now and plays every Thursday zine will feature New Orleans music the Barn and the Snowflake in Port at the Rose Tattoo across from Tipi scene. We'll be interested to see its Allen. tina's and at Winnie's on London comments. Vincent Monroe, a.k.a. Mr. Cal Avenue every Sunday evening with an A sneak listen to the Nevilles work houn and Polkadot SUm, is alive and assortment of vocalists including ing on their new album was a treat. still singing and playing harp in the James K-Nine and Ernie K-Doe .•• Sounds like a hit in the making. depths of the Ninth Ward. Unfortu Walter Washington has been in the News from WTUL: The Survival nately Slim has fallen on some studio for a session at Sea-Saint with Marathon will be held March 13-15 extremely hard times as of late. He had Senator Jones. on the quadrangle. WTUL's only a leg amputated due to diabetes and is Big concerts coming up in March: fundraiser will feature three days of also suffering from tuberculosis. on March 1, in the Saenger, the live music (Basically, it's a party, says Perhaps an appearance at the Jazz Fest Original Meters, the Wild 'TUL's Rick Arnstein.) ... Mark could lift his spirits some? 30 WAVELENGTH/ MARCH 1981 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 4852 Chef Menteur Mon.-5at. I0 am-I I pm ·------·Phone 945-5110 Sundays 12 pm-6 pm 00 LP/Tape · Music ''Biggest . ,,