[Harp-L] Louisiana

["Mick Zaklan" <mzaklan@xxxxxxxxx>]

   Just got back from a road trip to Louisiana.  It's been a good 14 or 15
years since I've been down to New Orleans.  Was very pleased to see that
harpist Smoky Greenwell is still selling harmonicas, cds, and other stuff at
his stand in the French Market.  Seems like he's been doing this for 20
years down there.  And playing around town with his own band.  Any harp
player visiting New Orleans and staying in or around the French Quarter
ought to consider stopping by Smoky's little stand and purchasing a harp or
a trinket or two from the former War harpist.  And also check out Jumpin'
Johnny Sansone, another fine player.  Seemed like every joint I stopped by
for a drink or meal, Johnny Sansone had been gigging there.
   It was good to see the city on the mend.  Hospitality was always one of
the Crescent City's strong suits; it's even more pronounced now.  In
general, I found people to be very happy, even grateful, to see tourists.
Can't tell you how many times locals started up conversations with my wife
and I; always earnestly thanking us for visiting their city at the end.
   Out of New Orleans, we drove to Lafayette for the annual Cajun and Creole
music, food, and craft festival.  A huge, free, well-run affair that
attracted people from all over the world, including quite a few
French-speakers.  Wish I could report that I heard some harp being played,
but it was all accordion and fiddle.  There were times, however, when the
accordions sounded uncannily like harmonicas.  Made me wonder what a player
like James Conway would've sounded like tackling this music.  I love the
traditional Cajun stuff, but I dig Zydeco even more.  The Zydeco bands sound
like blues bands to me, only fronted by accordions and washboards instead of
guitars and harps.
   For those who like antiques, seemed like there was a slew of antique
stores down there.  I stopped in one and asked the guy if he had any old
harmonicas.  He pulled out a couple that were on lay-away and tried to pry
my phone number out of me in case the prospective purchaser defaulted.
Apparently, the customer had put a hundred bucks down on these.  Which to
me, should have been enough to buy them outright.  One harp had bells on it,
another looked like a new Super Chromonica except that it was in a heavily
decorated cardboard box.  I'm not a collector, though.
   Anyway, can't tell you how much I enjoy this area.  As someone once
pointed out, it's as close as you can get to visiting a foreign
country without actually leaving the USA.  The food, speech, architecture,
and music are completely different from anywhere else within our
boundaries.  I'd recommend Louisiana to anybody looking for a potential
vacation spot with plenty of good food, drink, and music.

Mick Zaklan