Chris Rose: All Star weekend proves we still throw the best party

Chris Rose, The Times-Picayune

Maybe some folks are getting tired of the New Orleans self-love thing. Maybe some folks feel like they’re going to scream if they hear one more time how much more interesting this place is than anywhere else in America.

I’m not one of those people. And I don’t think anyone at the New Orleans Arena Sunday night was either. And I really can’t imagine anyone watching it on TV could think so either. Read more »

Submitted by crwadmin on February 19th, 2008 — 12:00am

Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. to Headline NBA All-Star Weekend Show

Date: 02.12.2008
Publication: Jazz Times
Author: Jeff Tamarkin

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Submitted by Ben on February 12th, 2008 — 12:00am

NBA All-Star Game to Include Three Days of Musical Acts

Date: 02.11.2008
Publication: The Associated Press

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Submitted by Ben on February 11th, 2008 — 12:00am

New Recordings: Bob French

Date: 01.06.2008
Publication: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Author: Karl Stark


(Marsalis Music ***)

The generations conjoin on this stacked Dixieland recording. The tribute goes to longtime New Orleans drummer Bob French, who runs the city’s longest continuing band, the Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra, nearing a full century of performance. (The band was run for many years by his banjo-playing father, Albert “Papa” French.)

Bob French is a righteous player even the hurricane couldn’t wash away. The supporting cast tips you to his importance: Pianist Harry Connick plays the whole set; so does saxophonist Branford Marsalis.
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Submitted by Ben on January 6th, 2008 — 12:00am

ALVIN BATISTE: No one could have imagined that such a life-affirming disc…

Date: 12.27.2007
Publication: Hartford Courant
Author: Owen McNally


No one could have imagined that such a life-affirming disc as this would mark the final testament of the progressive New Orleans clarinetist Alvin Batiste, who died this year at 74.

Making a joyful noise unto the Lord, Batiste struts his genre-busting mastery of everything from high-flying modernism to the stompin’, Mardi Gras-like jubilance of the session’s grand finale.
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Submitted by Ben on December 27th, 2007 — 12:00am