With Love from New Orleans--a Big Bass-Drum for 15-year-old Amari Zeno

Click on over to the Sticking Up For Children website for a view of this only-in-New Orleans’ Day of Many Smiles.

Benign forces came together. BENNY JONES and ROGER LEWIS, co-founders of the Original 6th Ward DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND. were the honorary presenters of a Pearl Bass-Drum to AFARI ZENO of the International High School in New Orleans.

Roger and Benny have each flown past age 80 with nary a backward look. Each plays in Sunday’s Marches by New Orleans’ Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs whenever their touring-schedules allow. Roger carries his Baritone Saxophone, Benny his Bass-Drum.

ROGER LEWIS, AMARI ZENO, BENNY JONES in the New Orleans Jazz Museum’s new Educational Center.

The Bass-Drum arrived in New Orleans through donation by Virginia-based HUNGRY FOR MUSIC and HFM’s director and founder, JEFF CAMPBELL. It moved along from LESLIE COOPER and the Traditional Jazz Camp to MARYSE PHILIPPE DEJEAN of Sticking Up For Children and radio-station WWOZ.

Maryse, my wife, had heard from AMY WILSON, a longtime friend and Amari’s grandmother, that Amari was a young drummer devoted to the thumping heart-and-soul of New Orleans’ Brass Bands for one century, but lacking that instrument apart from his International School sessions.

Voila and Avanti! Here comes the Drum from the kind of connections that fructify (now there’s a word!) relationships in New Orleans.

Over on ‘A Bass-Drum for AMARI ZENO’ you’ll also see and hear Video of LISA MCLENDON, Educational Specialist for the New Orleans Jazz Museum, delivering warm encouragement to Amari and eloquence as to how music helps our health. Much!

LISA MCLENDON of the NOJM in a video-still.

Some people like to dance while they look and listen, so Audio-Players of “Feet Can’t Fail Me Now” by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and “Canal Street Blues” by the Treme Brass Band are part of the piece over on StickingUpForChildren.com.

RHONDA CEASAR, curator for the NOJM, and LESLIE COOPER.

TRESHEEN, AMY, AMARI, BENNY, ROGER, D P, and MARYSE.

We there were again THANKFUL for connections that keep giving in this most Hemispheric of American cities! Happy and productive all days!

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