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Home , Fair Grounds Race Course, Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band, Vernel Bagneris, Wendell Pierce

Lighting The Road To The Future Page 4 DataZone

History of the Festival

“The People’s Paper” April 17 - April 23, 2010 44th Year Volume 28 www.ladatanews.com

Page 2 Data Zone Trailblazer of the Month Pierce Hosts Free Concert Ron Gardner Page 5 Page 6 Photos by Victor Holt

Page 2 April 17 - April 23, 2010 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com ‘TREME’ Do you know what it means?

Antoinne Batiste (played by ) is a struggling trombonist in post-Katrina New Orleans. The new HBO series ‘Treme’ features several New Orleanian musicians and artists in this authentic production.

From , creator of HBO’s , the debut series “It all began in New Orleans . ‘Treme’ set in New Orleans, chronicles the rebuilding of our unique American culture after devastation . In New Orleans, it comes from here, “Down in the Treme it’s me and my baby, we’re all goin’ crazy, but jumpin’ and havin’ fun”… . The melody rings out as the much antici- pated new series launched on small screens in living rooms across it all flows from here ”. America . And with the first episode – ‘Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?’ America soon got an idea of what it means . - Blake Lehey, Music Supervisor, ‘Treme’ “There’s pride on Bourbon Street”, several musicians suggest in the show which premiered on Sunday .

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DATA News Weekly 616 Barrone Street, Suite 584, New Orleans, LA 70113 INSIDE DATA Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors CEO/Publisher Edwin Buggage Glenn Jones Cheryl Mainor VP Advertising New Orleans Jazz & Cover Story ...... 2 Trailblazer . . . . 6 & Marketing Heritage Festival Foundation Cheryl Mainor Managing Editor Photos HBO Edwin Buggage NOJHF Inc. Editor Dionne Character Art Direction & Production Arts & Entertainment Editor MainorMedia.com Data Zone ...... 4 Newsmaker...... 7 Melanie Mainor Editorial Submissions Copy Editor Intern [email protected] June Hazeur Advertising Inquiries Accounting [email protected] Please call (504) 309-9913 for subscription information. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com Cover Story April 17 - April 23, 2010 Page 3

Cover Story, Continued from previous page.

‘Treme’ begins in the fall dysfunctions and pulls no of 2005 three months after punches in addressing them Katrina Set at that time most but does so with subtlety, remember as dark, but filled “There is a dark undercurrent with hope, ‘Treme’ celebrates to New Orleans, and it’s what the soul and spirit of New Or- makes the art of the place leanians, while it quietly in- so intense,” Simon said to a dicts the systems which failed group of TV critics, comment- us before and after Katrina ing on our lack of good public world . ‘Treme’ takes us be- ness outsiders have come to built on a bedrock of pride . and the flood . The drama schools and contrasting that yond the tourist’s view, beyond view as the reality of New Or- (Next week part 2, New follows a group of intercon- with our magnificent Carni- the canned performances and leans, and into the soul of our Orleanians make ‘Treme’ an nected struggling musicians val, he said, It may be pos- the noxious world of Big Easi- uniquely fragile American city, authentic work of art) and locals including Antoine sible that you can’t have both . Batiste (Wendell Pierce) a What makes New Orleans trombonist, Ladonna Batiste- great in one sense also makes Williams played by Khandi it problematic in another . But Alexander is a bar owner who that’s to be examined .” And is struggling with her hus- examine it ‘Treme’ does . The band and sons living in Ba- show weaves a wondrous ton Rouge and her husband’s tapestry of visual images set disapproving Creole family . amidst an incredible montage Other stories intertwine with of music staring at our own lo- the Batiste storyline, Albert cal artists . They pepper the Lambreaux played by Clark screen, from ; Peters is a displaced Mardi to many of Gras Indian Chief who re- our “Greats” are featured in turns to his devastated neigh- the show, giving the highest borhood determined to stay level of authenticity to the fla- and rebuild his way of life, vor of our city . “They should and Tulane Professor Creigh- expect to learn a lot about ton Burnette, played by John New Orleans flavor, culture, Goodman becomes an outspo- foods and the way we live and ken critic of the government’s how we could come back as response to the devastation . a whole after a big disaster, The underlying premise Katrina,” says Kermit Ruffins of the show is that if “There about the show . is Pride on Bourbon Street”, Audiences can expect to see then there is Pride every- great performances by many where in the real New Or- of our best players includ- leans; the moldy, mud-caked ing, Bruce Sunpie Barnes, war zone that was our beloved Karen “Juicie” Ruffins, the Crescent City . And ‘Treme’ late Bunchy Johnson, Henry brings to the forefront the “Simply “ Griffin, Dr John and music and people which make the Rebirth . this city great, and brought it ‘Treme’ features a lineup back to life when all outside of New Orleanians with lots were betting on her forever of hope, trying to get along demise . ‘Treme’ is about us . outside of the normalcy of life While ‘Treme’ is a celebra- due to the intensity of circum- tion of our glorious jazz his- stances they find themselves tory, it is also critical of our enduring in a post-Katrina Page 4 April 17 - April 23, 2010 Data Zone www.ladatanews.com

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival The Historic Journey to Today

By: N.O.J & H. F. Foundation The decade of the 1990s saw the Mahalia Jackson, often called the greatest gospel appeal of Jazz Fest and the Festival’s singer, returned to her hometown to appear at the first significance as a cultural symbol New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in April of 1970 . soar . The New York Times would While attending the Heritage Fair in Con- note that the Jazz Festival had “be- go Square (then known as Beauregard Square), she come inseparable from the culture and Duke Ellington, who also appeared at the event, it presents .” The Festival added fea- came upon the Eureka Brass Band leading a crowd tures like the Thursday that kicks of second-line revelers through the Festival grounds . off the second weekend (1991); George Wein, producer of the Festival, handed Ms . an International Pavilion that cel- Jackson a microphone, she sang along with the band ebrates other cultures (Haiti, Mali, and joined the parade…and the spirit of Jazz Fest was Panama, Brazil, Martinique, and in born . 2004, South Africa); and the Native This spontaneous, momentous scene—this meet- American stage and area . ing of jazz and heritage—has stood for decades since In 2001, the Festival celebrated as a stirring symbol of the authenticity of the celebra- ’s centennial, tion that was destined to become a cultural force . and the total attendance eclipsed From the very beginning, the New Orleans Jazz 650,000, shattering records for vir- & Heritage Festival was envisioned as an important tually every day of the Heritage event that would have great cultural significance and Fair, including the all-time single- popular appeal . The Festival was the culmination of day attendance record of 160,000 . years of discussions and efforts by city leaders who Wein’s prediction that New Orleans wanted to create an event worthy of the city’s legacy as would become the first city of jazz the birthplace of jazz . A couple of other festivals were festivals had clearly come true . held in the years leading up to the first New Orleans With 12 stages of soul-stirring Jazz & Heritage Festival, but those events, different in music—jazz, gospel, Cajun, zydeco, format, did not take hold as the Jazz & Heritage Fes- , R&B, rock, , African, tival would . Latin, Caribbean, folk, and much In 1970, George Wein, jazz impresario behind the more—the New Orleans Jazz & Newport Jazz Festival and the Newport Folk Festi- Heritage Festival is a singular cel- val (begun respectively in 1954 and 1959) was hired ebration . The event has showcased to design and produce a unique festival for New Or- most of the great artists of New Or- leans . The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, leans and Louisiana of the last half a non-profit organization, was established to oversee century: Professor Longhair, Fats the Festival . Domino, The Neville Brothers, Wein’s concept of the Louisiana Heritage Fair— , Dr . John, Bran- a large daytime fair with multiple stages featuring a ford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr ,. wide variety of indigenous music styles, food booths Ellis Marsalis, The Radiators, Irma of Louisiana cuisine, and arts and crafts booths, along 2010: “Say Uncle”. A Portrait of by Terrance Thomas, The with an evening concert series—formed a construct Osborne . Second in the Congo Square Parade Series. Visit art4now. Jazz Band, Allen Toussaint, Buck- com for more information or to pre-order this poster. Poster TM & © 2010 that would prove vastly appealing and enduring . N.O.J. & H. F. Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. wheat Zydeco, The Dirty Dozen In announcing the first Festival, scheduled for April Brass Band, Better Than Ezra, Er- 22 – 26, Wein said, “The New Orleans Jazz & Heri- nie K-Doe, Vernel Bagneris, The tage Festival represents a new and exciting idea in For the 1972 Festival, the event moved to the infield Zion Harmonizers, Beausoleil and many others . festival presentation . This festival could only be held of the , the third-oldest race- Over the years Jazz Fest has received many honors, in New Orleans because here and here alone is the track in America (open since 1872) . Jazz Fest would including being named the Festival of the Year four richest musical heritage in America .” He also noted, grow quickly over the next few years, constantly ex- times by Pollstar magazine . The 2004 event marks the with great prescience, “New Orleans, in the long run, panding its use of the 145-acre site . In 1975, the Festi- 35th anniversary of Jazz Fest, which the Wall Street should become bigger than Newport in jazz festivals . val, still just a five-day event with only three days of the Journal says “showcases a wider, deeper lineup of es- Newport was manufactured, but New Orleans is the Louisiana Heritage Fair, had an anticipated attendance sential American musical styles than any festival in real thing .” of 80,000 . This was also the first year of the Festival’s the nation…” and which Life magazine has called “the In 1970, only about 350 people attended the Festi- popular, limited-edition silkscreen poster, now recog- country’s very best music festival .’’ val, about half the number of musicians and other par- nized as the most popular poster series in the world . Inspired by the spirit of Mahalia Jackson and the Eu- ticipants in the event . But the Festival, which became From 1976 to 1978, Jazz Fest expanded to two full reka Brass Band back in 1970, the New Orleans Jazz & known as “Jazz Fest” almost immediately, was a great weekends of the Heritage Fair, and in 1979, for the Heritage Festival continues to celebrate the culture of artistic success . When Jazz Fest was held the next 10th anniversary, the Festival scheduled three week- Louisiana with the combined fervor of a gospel hymn year, it was clear that the event had already outgrown ends, though one entire weekend was cancelled due and the joy of a jazz parade . Congo Square . to rain . www.ladatanews.com Data Zone April 17 - April 23, 2010 Page 5

HBO “Treme” star, Wendell Pierce, joins the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in celebrating the first free outdoor concert in Pontchartrain Park

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra invites the stead, Sheriff Marlin Gusman and LPO Trustee Wil- Peterson; MFR Accountants and Consultants; Dry- community to bring their blankets, lawn chairs and liam D . Hess, whose grandparents, Edith and Edgar ades Street YMCA; Egana Circular Consulting; Rep . picnic baskets and enjoy the glorious sounds of live Stern encouraged the original development of the J P. . Morrell; and Rep . Jared Brossett . music in the first free outdoor concert ever presented Pontchartrain Park area . In the event of rain, the concert will take place on in New Orleans’ Pontchartrain Park (Press Drive at Additional support comes from Sen . Karen Carter Sunday, April 18 at 6 p .m . Prentiss Avenue) .

Data News Weekly Special Advertising

Wendell Pierce Buy One - Get One Beginning at 6 p m. . on Saturday, April 17, the Orchestra, led by LPO Resident Conductor Rebecca Miller, will serenade 1/2 off Sale listeners with a selection of well-known and well-loved works from George Gershwin’s Girl Crazy Overture to the beloved America the Beautiful, introduced by Wendell Pierce and community leaders . JAZZ FEST The concert is made possible through the generous assistance of Fidelity Home- SPECIAL ISSUES Audition Notice: ABCT April 24th & Is Seeking A Diverse st Cast For ‘OUR TOWN’ May 1 The Anthony Bean Community Theater proudly announces open auditions for the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama ‘Our Town ’. Written by Thornton Wilder . This time- less classic of the American theater is seen through new eyes in ABCT’s multi-cultural reinvention . Grover’s Corner, New Hamp- shire is a small, out-of-the way town whose citizens mirror the timeless concerns of all humankind . An immortal tale that power- Special Distribution at Jazz Fest fully describes how we view ourselves . Director Anthony Bean is seeking ac- tors of many races and all ages to help this Don’t miss this opportunity to market town come alive . Auditions will be held Wednesday, April 20 and Thursday, April 21, starting 6 p m. . at the theater’s home, directly to the Jazz Fest Audience 1333 South Carrollton Ave .

APPOINTMENT REQUIRED Actors must be prepared with a mono- Call (504) 821-7421 to Reserve your Space! logue . Please bring a photograph and re- sume . You must call for an appointment if you wish to audition .

Call: 504.862.7529

Continued on next page Page 6 April 17 - April 23, 2010 TrailblazerTrailblazer www.ladatanews.com

AnRon Inspiration Gardner for the Next Generation by: Edwin Buggage

Ron Gardner is a man who has ded- a generation during the tumultuous who has lived a charmed fulfilled life . community had some sense of eti- icated his life to serving his commu- civil rights era when the nation’s ra- “I saw my biological father maybe 10 quette .” He reflects on those times by nity, he says the seeds were planted cial landscape began to change . To- times when I was young until the time quoting his mother, “If you can’t help very early in life, “I was nurtured by day he is still drinking from the well I joined the military . But a man came don’t hinder,” “and that is something the men and women of Gretna, and of life looking for the light that lies at along “Papa” who married my mother that is not present today that there are it’s hard to remember when I wasn’t the perimeter of darkness sharing his and became my dad and raised us ”. those who stand in the way of prog- doing something .” experiences with others . Continuing he says, “It takes a man to ress that the spirit of togetherness is In his over six decades of life he has Gardner looks back on this time al- raise a family of children and it takes not as it had been .” seen the world change around him though tough, with fond memories of a whole different level of man to raise As he talks to young people he and continues to pass on life lessons a community that rooted him in self- somebody else’s children ”. says, “We must select from life ”. to future generations as a mentor, civ- less giving . “I grew up in a loving en- He goes on to say how communi- These words are he repeats as if they ic and business leader sitting on sev- vironment,” says Gardner . He talks of ties are very different today, “We had have mantra like qualities attached . eral boards . He has lived through the not having his biological father in his an extended family where people He recounts a moment from his life to time when the nation and city grap- life but others came along in this “vil- looked out for each other in our times illustrate his point, “I think it is tough- pled with issues of race that defined lage” to raise what has become a man even the criminal elements in our er today to be young, but every gen-

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JMJ Joseph M. Jones Continuing Education Fund www.ladatanews.com Trailblazer April 17 - April 23, 2010 Page 7

Trailblazer, Continued previous page. eration has its challenges and we the silver lining behind the clouds, to challenge young people to do foresees New Orleans moving few of a laundry list of things he must select from life .” Again talk- and always seems to find a maxim the same, “I encourage kids to forward into a progressive 21st shared with Data News Weekly ing of his childhood he says, “We to match the moment . Continuing volunteer; it is about getting a gift century global place abundant in as recipes for happiness and ful- walked a mile to school past three chiming on about his experiences yourself from the gift of giving opportunities, “This city will expe- fillment . On job and career, “Try white schools ”. “I think about he says of his story in the store he and having a growth experience, rience a renaissance that is unbe- to pick something you are going those times not with bitterness, says, “I mention this to point out that those who came to volunteer lievable ”. Further he says of the to truly love, work even when but I remember the white school that you could be held captive by to help our city left enriched be- resilience of New Orleans and its you love it, it’s hard ”. On serving bus driver’s would sometimes the negative circumstances that I cause they gave unselfishly of people, “After Katrina we are still community, “Get out there and stop the bus so the white children had to face then and even now, or themselves,” says Gardner . here rebuilding, we’re the little do something for somebody, do a could throw things at us, spit and realize that there is good and bad A veteran of politics working engine that could and it is proof good act just because it is a good call us dirty names ”. Then his in everyone .” “And I have chosen in an advisory capacity to several positive of what we’re made of in act not because you seek any rec- voice shifts to a tone like that of a to take what is good from life to U S. . Presidents and working in this town .” Speaking of employ- ognition ”. “The payback is not in preacher about to go into a rous- move it forward and that’s what the office of New Orleans May- ment opportunities he says, “In dollars and cents but what you do ing inspirational sermon as he I do to pass it on to youth,” says or, Moon Landrieu and the first the future after a kid walks across for your community ”. “Advancing says, “But I also remember there Gardner . African-American Mayor, Ernest the stage to get their diploma or society forward requires some- was a White man, Mr . Sidney who He is a military veteran who ‘Dutch’ Morial, he recounts the degree they will have more choic- thing extra ”. owned a store not far from my served in Vietnam, he says he words of Morial, something he es .” “If they choose to go some- Ron Gardner, a man on a mis- house .” “I was standing looking at took away from it something that has taken to his work with young where else it is not because they sion who has given the gift that a pack of white writing paper and has helped him in his life that he people . Dutch use to always say, have to, but because they want to keeps on giving; is serving his at the time as Blacks we had what passes on to young people, “Life “don’t tell me what you’re going because there will be so much go- community at its darkest hour . A was called rough paper that was is very precious and we only to do tell me what you have al- ing on in this town ”. person who is giving a glimmer of brown ”. “I must have been staring have moments on this planet so ready done ”. “I say this to say that Spirituality has guided his com- hope, letting his light shine with at this paper, he then walked up we should cherish them because we should always be striving to mitment and has given his life the example of how to live a good to me and said aren’t you going to in the blink of an eye you can be do something to better our com- meaning, value and purpose . And life; a man on a mission to serve school and he took the paper and alive or dead so I advise please munity and our lives, and this is although he has distinguished his community as an inspiration put it in my school bag and said take advantage of the opportuni- a journey where we should con- himself in the healthcare field, for future generations . go on to school .” ties you have in the moment ”. stantly be making steps in that civic and business community, Mr . Gardner is a man who is a Gardner has spent his life volun- direction by doing .” his words are as inspirational and positive force in times that seem teering and it gives him joy and He sees a city with a bright fu- uplifting as any preacher or moti- bleak . He is someone who sees enriches his life . He continues ture for the next generation, he vational speaker . These are just a

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