TOM SANCTON GIGLIST - DECEMBER 2013

With Charlie Fardella and Ronell Johnson at Palm Court. Photo: Eliot Kamenitz

Wednesday, December 11: Palm Court, with Lars Edegran's Palm Court All Stars, featuring vocalist Topsy Chapman. 8 - 11 pm.
CONCERT CANCELLED DUE TO THE DEATH OF PALM COURT OWNER GEORGE H. BUCK.

Sunday, December 15: Preservation Hall, 726 St. Peter St., with Tommy Sancton's New Orleans Legacy Band. 8 - 11 pm.

Sunday, December 22: Preservation Hall, 726 St. Peter St., with Lars Edegran's All Star Band. 8 - 11 pm

Wednesday, December 29: Preservation Hall, 726 St. Peter St., with Clive Wilson's New Orleans Serenaders. 8 - 11 pm

"LAFAYETTE, THEY ARE HERE!" JAMMING WITH THE VINTAGE JAZZMEN

Had a ball sitting in with the Vintage Jazzmen of France at Maison last Friday. The band, led by trumpeter Dan Vernhettes, was in town for a series of appearances in connection with Dan's new book, "Jazz Puzzles," a beautifully illustrated and well-researched collection of essays and anecdotes related to the history of New Orleans jazz. The band played at the National Jazz Park in the Old U.S. Mint on November 12, at the Palm Court on November 14, and at Maison on the 15th.

I was especially glad to see the guys and jam with them because this was my regular band when I lived in France. My friendships with some of the musicians, notably clarinet/trumpet player Michel "Boss" Quéraud, go back more than four decades. In addition to being a superb musician, Boss is a talented illustrator, who drew the cover of Dan's book.
After the gig, we retreated to Fiorella's on Decatur for some down home New Orleans food.

A MEMORABLE NIGHT AT PRESERVATION HALL—AND A ROB RYAN SIGHTING AT MS MAE'S

Photo © 2013 by Sébastien Chaillot

Memorable night at Preservation Hall on Sunday. The place was packed with crowds so exuberant (or drunk) that the whooping and hooting from the front row sounded at times like a pep rally at a high school football game. The band, led by Lars Edegran, was in especially good form. Personnel included Ronell "Who Dat" Johnson on trombone, Clive Wilson on trumpet, Walter Harris on drums, Richard Moten on bass, and yours truly on clarinet. Among the numbers we played: There'll be some Changes Made, Who's Sorry Now?, China Boy, Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, High Society, Song of the Wanderer, Basin Street, Poor Butterfly, and, Ronell's specialty, Make Me a Pallet on the Floor. Things got really wild during the last set when members of the Kinfolk Brass Band showed up and jammed with us on a window-rattling rendition of The Saints. Quite appropriate, considering what was happening down in the Superdome last night.
Torn between my musical obligations and my devotion to the Saints, I kept ducking out during the breaks to watch the Saints-Cowboys game in the bar across the street. Every time I poked my hear in there, Drew Brees had thrown another touchdown pass. When I went over there after the last set, I couldn't believe the final score of 49-17. I got a little Saints lagniappe on my drive home: at the corner of Magazine and Napoleon, I spotted the Saints' silver-locked defensive coordinator Rob Ryan heading into the door of Ms Mae's all-night bar. Apparently this has become a ritual for Ryan after Saints home games. May he continue to have cause to celebrate.

SYLVAINE SIGNS AT THE LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL—AND MEETS THE GHOST OF JOHN JAMES AUDUBON

Sylvaine was one of more than 200 authors on hand to sign their books at the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge last Saturday. On a perfect fall day, the event attracted thousands of visitors eager to check out books, listen to storytellers and musicians, and sample the Louisiana fare—including shrimp po-boys, jambalaya, and red beans. Sylvaine chatted with readers and signed copies of "Some Birds..." at three different book stands: Pelican Publishing, the Alliance Française, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

We spent the previous day in Saint Francisville and visited Oakley Plantation, where John James Audubon stayed while he painted his famous series on Louisiana Birds. Sylvaine felt a special kinship to the place since her book features photos of birds taken mostly in Audubon Park. In fact, we both sensed a presence in the room he once occupied. Could he be a ghostly fan of "Some Birds..."?

Sylvaine's next signings will take place at Barnes & Noble in Mandeville this Friday, Nov. 8, and at Octavia Books, 513 Octavia Street, New Orleans 70115, from 1:30-3:30 pm., on Saturday, Nov. 9. Here's a link to Octavia's invitation: http://www.octaviabooks.com/event/sylvaine-sancton-some-birds