The great rock and roll engineer and studio master of New Orleans music has been inducted into the hall of fame as is proper. The Matassa family remains entrenched in the Quarter with sons Louis and Johnny running their grocery store on St. Phillip, so stop by for some of their hot food (watch out for that step up halfway back!) and take it over to Dumaine to view Cosimo’s plaque commemorating his legendary studio.
NOPD releases street closure information for French Quarter Festival | NOLA.com
Save the crawfish boil
Cosimo’s on Burgundy has long hosted a popular neighborhood crawfish boil which has now encountered some opposition from neighbors. Crawfish boils are a part of our culture, rich or poor, and without some serious reasons which I can’t even imagine, this one needs to continue. That part of the Quarter has long had some crime issues and anytime we can put some “eyes on the street”, frivolity and food together, we should. Stop in at Governor Nicholls and Burgundy (and get a nice happy hour drink which is one of the best in the Quarter) and sign their petition.
2009 Times-Picayune story about Cosimo’s crawfish boil
Reflections of Bechet, A New Orleans Jazz Original: The Man and the Music”
13th annual Bill Russell Lecture
“Reflections of Bechet, A New Orleans Jazz Original: The Man and the Music”
Historian Bruce Raeburn will moderate an illustrated program exploring the artistry, humanity and legacy of creative genius Sidney Bechet (1897–1959). The evening will feature musical performances and commentary from members of the New Orleans Jazzman Band, with Jerry Embree (soprano saxophone), Frankie Lynne (banjo), Barry Martyn (drums) and Mark Brooks (bass).
Friday, April 13 • 6:30 p.m.
Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St.
A contemporary of Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton, Bechet is regarded as an early virtuoso on both the clarinet and soprano saxophone, and a musician who helped define the role of those instruments in New Orleans jazz.
Admission for this event is $10 and seating is limited. Reservations are encouraged and may be made by calling (504) 523-4662 or emailing wrc@hnoc.org. Reservations will be held 10 minutes prior to the start of the program. At that time, any unclaimed seats will be released to the public.
About the Bill Russell Lecture
The annual Bill Russell Lecture honors the noted jazz historian, born Russell William Wagner (1905–1992), and is dedicated to New Orleans jazz. Russell’s research focused on traditional New Orleans–style jazz and related musical forms such as brass band, ragtime and gospel music. He amassed an extensive collection of memorabilia, including musical instruments, records, piano rolls, sheet music, photographs, books, and periodicals. These materials trace the development of jazz in New Orleans and follow the movement of musicians to New York, Chicago, California and beyond.
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The William Russell Jazz Collection—permanently housed at the Williams Research Center—encompasses Russell’s research, audiotapes, programs, posters, correspondence, films, business cards, notes, clippings and scrapbooks. The Russell Collection is available to the public at the Williams Research Center, located at 410 Chartres St. and open Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. For more information on this collection, visit the institution, call (504) 523-4662, or e-mail wrc@hnoc.org.
Walker Percy and Tennessee
The Walker Percy documentary was show at the HNOC during the Tennessee Williams Festival this year. Percy’s work represented the alienation of the modern man and especially those living in the modern South. Interestingly, he is also remembered for his championing of John Kennedy Toole’s Confederacy of Dunces, which won the Pulitzer in the early 1980s.
National Book Award winner (The Moviegoer)Walker Percy has said his concerns as a writer were with “a theory of man, man as more than organism, more than consumer — man the wayfarer, man the pilgrim, man in transit, on a journey.”
Through archival film, excerpts of Percy’s work, and interviews with family, friends and scholars, Walker Percy: A Documentary, examined Percy’s own journey.
“Not to be on to something, is to be in despair”
Lee Kyle, roaring in for Tennessee time (TWLF tip #6)
A 21st century Tennessee Williams. Performer, artist, pedicab driver Lee Kyle. He will be selling his linoleum cut postcards of Tennessee and other characters at the merchandise table of the festival (lobby of the Monteleone Hotel)
TWLF tip#5
This one will probably like a mint julep-sweet, intoxicating and drippingly Southern in taste.
1:00 PM-2:15 PM
Talking Tennessee with Piper Laurie, Bryan Batt, and Christian LeBlanc
Join these talented actors as they recount their experiences with Tennessee Williams’ words and works. They’ll discuss our namesake’s imprint on American theater, as well as his inspiration to them as actors. A highlight of the discussion will be Ms. Laurie reminiscing about her time playing the role of Laura Wingfield in the acclaimed 1965 revival of The Glass Menagerie on Broadway opposite Maureen Stapleton’s Amanda, Pat Hingle’s Gentleman Caller, and George Grizzard’s Tom. Facilitated by Foster Hirsch.
Sponsored by Hendrick’s Gin.
Location: Hotel Monteleone, Royal Ballroom
Ticket Code(s): AllAccessPass, LitPanelPass, StudentPanPass, Sr/TeachPanPass, DayPanelPassSun
Ticket Type(s): All Access Pass, Literary Panel Pass, Student Panel Pass, Teacher/Senior Citizen Literary Panel Pass, One Day Festival Panel Pass, Single Panel Ticket (only available on site)
French Quarter block by block 
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