Joys celebrates Mardi Gras 1993. Jackie Coon arrived from California with his flugelhorn, Rick Fay from Florida with his array of reeds. They marched with Pete Fountain's renowned "Half-Fast Marching Band" and then headed to the studios with old friends Tom Gekler, Charlie Lodice, Bob Molinellii ( from Fountain's band), Connie Jones and John Loupe. They had a ball!
The result was a relaxed session of intricate interplay that is so characteristic of New Orleans music. The strong front line of Coon,Fay,Gekler and Jones, aided and abetted by the equally robust rhythm section of Molinelli, Lodice and Loupe romp and solo their way through a repertoire that ranges from Satchmo to Horace Silver, Jelly Roll to Irving Berlin. Even "Trouble in Mind" gives you the feeling that there is a rainbow out there somewhere.
Then they took us on a parade. Molinelli traded his piano for a tambourine. Bassist Loupe took five. In came Matt Perrine, who really knows his way around the sousaphone, and Richard Taylor, leader of the Dukes of Dixieland, with bass drum and cymbal. "The Second Line," "Joe Avery's Piece," "Here Comes Santa Claus" ( a touch out of season but who cares) and "Jambalaya" are all to the beat of the street.
In the New Orleans parade tradition, join in the second line. For 17 years JFA has assisted veteran jazz and blues musicians who are down on their luck. Today in the Gulf Region, working with local organizations, JFA has replaced lost instruments and found housing and health assistance. Live music in shelters has provided both employment and healing. Please help JFA (www.jazzfoundation.org). Your action will bring joy to others and, who knows, the march may lead you to jambalaya, crawfish pie and file' gumbo.
