A visit to the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint

I’m at the Nora Navra library here in New Orleans on the corner of St. Bernard and Prieur.  I’m not sure this will work, but my idea is to be in a place with low levels of adverse distraction such that writing can occur.  A couple hours ago, I returned from a visit to the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old US Mint.  I’ve been to the third floor of the museum many times, to attend lectures, interviews, and concerts. I’ve never previously bought a ticket and toured the museum.  Today I did.   

Now here’s the thing: my style of blog posting has been to sit down and write, and think, and google and search.  All the while dealing with a fairly heavy cloud of fear and anxiety coming from that place within, that feeling generator, the one that says “you’re no good, you don’t really produce quality in any sphere, including writing.” Now I regret writing that, because I feel in so doing I am rendering a piece of writing un-publishable, since to admit such self-loathing I regard as buzz-killing and nothing anyone wants to read.  

Nevertheless, I am going ahead with it in the spirit of catharsis, I suppose, as well as just a new approach to complement the new venue I am using to write in.  I have no idea if this will be an ongoing practice (writing from the library, that is.  Random proclamations of poor self-esteem are highly unlikely). Just now I noticed how enjoyable it was to look up and survey the scene, to feel a part of a public space.  There’s hope here!  I don’t want to dwell on my awareness of the “negative feeling generator” but before ending this discussion or admission or confession I will say that most certainly this infernal machine was “installed” many, many decades ago in childhood.  I guess that’s the theoretical basis of going back in therapy to correct or understand or re-live so that freedom can be achieved, the generator can be shut down, re-tuned, or destroyed.  That could be a plan, but for now I pursue therapy that focuses on current behaviors and behavioral change.  I that spirit, I give you a post from the Nora Navra Library, New Orleans, La.  NNNOLA for short.

 

NNNOLA, Tuesday Nov. 2019.  I walked thru the exhibits at the Jazz Museum today.  There were four separate spaces: Drumsville!,  Me Got Fiyo: The Professor Longhair Centennial,  Relix Celebrates 50 Years of Music and Culture in New Orleans, and  The Wildest: Louis Prima Comes Home.   

Drumsville tells a story of how percussion is the beat of creation in this city.  From Congo Square to the percussionists currently active. 

Bulgarian drummer Boyanna Trayanova

Professor Longhair:  born in the tens of the last century.  Brief flash of local fame, then faded and seemed to disappear from the public space.  Rediscovered, realized to be essential to the evolution of New Orleans music and spirit of second line and carnival, and was set to tour with big acts starting in the 1980’s, but then died suddenly.  There was a picture of the artist constructing the bust of "Fess" that now is displayed inside the doors at the entrance to Tipitina's, the music venue in the city. 

Louis Prima: what a showman!  Cool to think about that aspect of musical performance.  There was a beautifully done documentary running continuously, highly recommended.  Although there are amazing differences, connecting with the audience and delivering to them what they want and what will give them joy is something Louis Prima and the California Honeydrops have in common! (I plan to continue my ongoing project on “the Drops” soon, should be ready to post by next week).

Relix.  A display of pictures and paintings depicting live shows and music in the city. Here are a few: 

Bonnie Raitt 1977

James Booker

Jon Cleary by Frenchy (local artist who paints while watching the show)

Neville's with Mardi Gras Indians 1977

New Orleans Pacifier Ha!