I'm in New Orleans for the 11th Annual Satchmo Summerfest that begins this weekend. The reason I arrive in New Orleans on Wednesday?...To head for The Candlelight Lounge, and a quintessential music experience you'll get here and only here. People from all walks of life and every social, economic, and cultural strata pack this unpretentious neighborhood bar every Wednesday night - The Treme Brass Band is the reason why.
Yes, that is a short man standing on a chair to dance with a six foot four coed...and yes, those people in the Candlelight Lounge are having as much fun as it looks like they are...and yes, the band's regulars are joined every week by musicians from all over town... and no, I haven't written the story yet.
This party happens every Wednesday night. Benny Jones, Sr.'s band is as predictable as the New Oreans weather - seriously hot but that's the way people down here like their music. By 10 PM the place is packed and Benny's band is locked and loaded. Lead trumpet Kenneth Terry is a soaring, bleating, teasing, high riding force of nature. He sings songs everyone in the joint knows, when he points to them for the chorus, they shout it right back.
I'll finish the story when I get home. In the meantime, this bunch of photos tells the story. I'm telling you, if you only had one night in New Orleans, and it was Wednesday, this is the place to go.
Photos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.
I am just about ready to move to Louisiana! My pulse can barely take anymore terrific reporting about the people, music with adjacent photos.
Posted by: Tracy | August 05, 2011 at 06:08 PM
Sounds fabulous...........am looking forward to the full story.
Posted by: May Louise White | August 06, 2011 at 10:53 AM
HOT! HOT! HOT! In more ways than one!!!!! Can't wait to read the unabridged version!!
Posted by: Joanne Yeomans | August 06, 2011 at 11:02 AM