Down By the Riverside

As I've said before, admittedly with fingers crossed and a hopeful tongue in cheek much of the time, it's pretty much impossible to keep New Orleans down. There was no better way of proving this than last Saturday's big concert by the River. A free show with Kermit Ruffins, John Cleary, Topsy Chapman and John Boute'. There was of course "Uncle" Lionel Batiste of the Treme Brass Band cruising the front rows by the stage and dancing it up with all the lovely ladies.

Despite all the people and all the celebration (Putumayo Records made up a bunch of T-shirts that were sold with proceeds going tot he Musicians Clinic) it still feels a little bit like whistling (or perhaps more appropriately, playing trumpet) in the dark.

But a day of music down by the river is STILL a day of music down by the river and it beats running away from a hurricane any day!