I can’t say that I watch the Grammys or really care for what they consider the best music of the year but…… I do love when they come to town because they bring some of my favorite parties. Case in point, the Only in Louisiana brunch put on by Louisiana’s Department of Economic Development. They figure, what better way to promote Louisiana and to get entertainment folks to do business there than to throw a party.
I’m not sure if there’s a state that’s known to party like Louisiana. The Saints are in the Super Bowl this year, which has everyone buzzing, and there is already a big parade in the works, even if they lose. It makes sense though. If you’ve spent time in New Orleans, there are a few things you come to expect; great food, an abundance of music, and lively people. Now… just take that and drop it into the Millenium Biltmore hotel in downtown LA for a couple hours and you’ve got a party.
This was the third time Crash and I have made the trip to the Biltmore and each year offers something a little different. This year was Harry Connick Jr. Well, that’s who the headliner was and, after selling over 25 million records, it makes sense that people would be excited to see him, me included.
I arrived as the music was starting and I think it was CC Adock who was playing with Bijou Creole. My first mission, as would be expected, was to go straight for the food. I loaded up my plate with a grit cake then covered it with some soupy sauce, next to that I rocked some marinated meat salad because, where else are you going to find that? The real treat was round two, when I went for the gumbo and the shrimp etouffee. It was a little hard to hear from the lower level in the back where the food was so I slipped up some stairs on the far left side so I could listen to Ledisi sing with Rex Rideout. What a voice. She started her set with an a cappella scat version of a jazz classic (which I can’t remember for the life of me… yet) then mixed it up with some soulful singing that fit in perfectly for the setting.
There was a bit of a break because Harry was on the way. I saw him walk in so I slowly made my way to the same spot I had watched Ledisi from. Since there was a video about the Musician’s Village that Harry and Bradford Marsalis have been working on since Katrina, he had to wait for 5 minutes or so before taking the stage. Luck have it, he was waiting in MY spot. No one seemed to be bothering him and I didn’t either. As much as I wanted to tell him about the time, when I think I was 16, that I saw him play at Universal Amphitheater. The show was so good I tried to talk my friend into selling our Lollapalooza tickets for the next day so we could see him again (no dice).
After Harry spoke about the village and music center he introduced his band for the day which consisted of the legendary NOLA drummer Bob French, his touring bassist Neal Caine, and Shamarr Allen on trumpet. Both Bob and Shamarr are currently living in the village and represent its benefits to both young and old. Everyone was having a good time and I bopped along with them. After getting warmed up they invited Trombone Shorty onto the stage and he and Shamarr exchanged blows like they coulda been on the corner of Frenchman Street. Harry played along giving all the musicians their time to shine. He took a couple solos on the piano and added some vocals but this wasn’t a one-man show. I think that’s how things are done down south though, everyone gets their time and without everyone pitching in, New Orleans (and Louisiana to a greater extent) wouldn’t be the most unique city in this country.
Thanks to Joel and Rebecca at Creative Control and to Anna Whitlow for inviting Crash and I. Thanks to the great cooks and the musicians for making it the best way to begin Awesome Day.
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