The hurricane did not destroy New Orleans' music - on the contrary

"Here is a unique musical energy, a special groove that found nowhere else in the United States: the Street Parade, the Mardi Gras Indians influences or brass bands.Here is the link to the musical ancestors is more important than the commercial aspect. "Those are the words of the composer and pianist Allen Toussaint, a music legend. For decades, Allen Toussaint characterizes the New Orleans sound.

 

Allen Toussaint lives in a bungalow - exterior decorated with clefs, in a lovely residential area. He is wearing a blue gray jacket with floral prints and, as always, sandals. An elegant and courteous appearance.

 

Everything was broken

 

"The house here, I need to build new," Allen Toussaint begins the conversation. "Before <Katrina> I've just stayed in the city center.Then I moved here because floods had inundated my house. Of these, only a gray mass was still left "Everything was broken:. House, Studio, compositions and master tapes. "But," he adds, "I was intact." A remarkable pragmatism.

 

Allen Toussaint could still be creative. In his new home is a big black wings, besides keyboards and guitars. This is where his songs, exercises here and composes it.

 

Live music instead of studio recordings

 

Allen Toussaint had to dodge several months after New York. This stay opened him a new career. Previously he had been waiting on red light for recording in the studio, he says. In New York, but he had discovered with 67 live music and the stage. Since then, he is in the limelight. So the album "Songbook" has arisen: Then he tells the story of the music of New Orleans.

 

The hurricane "Katrina" has many musicians allowed to be out beyond the borders of New Orleans. The Rebirth Brass Band about returned shortly after the hurricane to New Orleans and were in the former disaster area concerts. Thus, it has contributed significantly to the reconstruction of the city, made a name for itself as "ambassador of New Orleans" and received a Grammy.

 

The belief in the music

 

Another musician with an important mission to "Katrina": the trumpeter Irvin Mayfield Jazz. As an official cultural ambassador of New Orleans and spokesman for the local musicians he has brought back the Jazz back to New Orleans.

 

Shortly after "Katrina" he had personally experienced a painful loss. His father came Hurricane killed. The belief in the music has helped the 38-year-old trumpeter in the grieving process. "Great music you gives comfort," says Irvin Mayfield, "and especially the New Orleans jazz gives you an indescribable feeling."

 

New platforms, new clubs

 

"New Orleans has always been different than the rest of America ticked. Nowhere else in the US the musical legacy is wide so wide, "says pianist Jon Cleary and continues:" In recent years, about 100,000 people have left New Orleans forever "That's what had come here 50,000 - including many musicians. looking for this unique musical diversity. Here are so many new bands with excellent music.

 

The music scene in New Orleans is ten years after "Katrina" as lively as before - maybe even more dynamic. In the city more live stages and clubs have been created than ever before. The Rebirth Brass Band is one of many new members. Band founder Philip Frazier holds unswervingly to New Orleans: "If this city goes down, then I go with below."