Preservation of Jelly in the Big Easy

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans? After a front row at the Preservation Hall Jazz Band performance, oysters, and a few beignets, I suppose I can see that. We started with a quick trip over to Cafe du Monde for coffee and beignets. Ash is here, doing her French "I am...le bored" pose. I scarfed down three of them. I got powdered sugar on the camera and nearly consumed that as well, but luckily I saw the LCD screen. My sugar high was comparable to Robert Downey Jr.'s experience of the late 90's.

Then it was on to Louis Armstrong park. All hail King Louis. One of my favorite musicians ever (and ever will be).


Then on to the French Quarter. Where oysters and hurricanes were consumed...

Above ground cemetery anyone? I wonder if this is where the trip scene from Easy Rider was filmed. I'll ask Jack Nicholson next time we're hanging out and high-fiving each other (happens at least 4 times a week, and even more if the Lakers are doing well).
Now, on to the jazz. This is the Maison Bourbon, which I have mistaken for the Preservation Hall due to the sign out front, but it is not. Nevertheless, the music was wonderful. I heard three tunes Louis Armstrong popularized, and the trumpet/singer had a knack for sounding like ole' Satchmo.
Then, half a block away, to Preservation Hall (yes, they did play "When the Saints Go Marching In", but for a $10 tip given by a lovely drunk woman in the audience). Ash and I sat in the first row. The tromboner (I realize it is actually "trombonist", but Ashleigh insisted on this) almost hit us in the face with the slide on his horn, we were so close. No amplifiers, no speakers. Completely acoustic, and all dixieland deliciousness that I think anyone would enjoy. Since today marks the anniversary of Jelly Roll Morton's death in 1941 (a great dixieland legend), they even did a song in tribute. If it weren't so humid here, I would think seriously about setting up camp a block away from this club.