This Wednesday I’m going to play songs for Mardi Gras, and so I’m thinking about New Orleans and the history and rich music traditions there. I’m pretty sure I’ve never been to New Orleans although I might have been there with my family when I was too little to remember. New Orleans is a melting pot as much as anywhere in the world. It includes French, Spanish, Italian, and English settlers as well as African slaves all contributing to the soup that has become the music of New Orleans. Most music scholars agree that American music sees its roots in New Orleans and this mixture. Jazz, rock ’n roll, rhythm and blues, funk, and blues all incorporate rhythms that come from early beat patterns that were present in African and Spanish songs. Country was even influenced by these beats although most would say that country is more tied to music from England and Ireland. The first music I see written about were the brass bands of the 1830s and the gatherings in Congo Square where enslaved people would play music on Sundays. By the 1890s there are references to the first players who played The Blues like cornetist Buddy Bolden. You often hear the story that the flatted notes that established the sound of jazz and the blues were based on blue notes that African musicians played in searching for the non-western harmonies of their traditional African melodies. By the 1910s there was a definite movement of music that would influence America and the world to this day. Famous players abound like Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Louis Prima, Fats Domino, Clifton Chenier, and so many more. There are so many stories of how New Orleans music came to be through all these players and so many bands. From Cajun to Second Line to Zydeco to so many more designations of the music, I can’t hope to mention them all in this brief missive. I encourage you to check it out for yourself!
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What have I been up to?
I had 13 senior facilities last week, and it was a really fun week. Some wanted to hear old standard love songs, and some wanted to hear Mardi Gras music and all kinds of other songs. It was such a good time.
My Wednesday online show was songs about snow, and there were some really good tunes and a great audience. I’m honestly ready for it to stop snowing here, but I know there’s more to come.
Friday night I played instrumental guitar tunes at Garden of the Gods Club. I played a lot of New Orleans songs for Mardi Gras, and I played a whole bunch of other styles too. It was a packed house, and I think the diners enjoyed it.
My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good songs there as well. I love this group and all the support they give to each other and me.
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What am I up to this week?
I have 11 senior facilities this week, and I’ll be playing Mardi Gras songs as much as I can for these folks. I’m looking forward to it!
My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be playing songs for Mardi Gras as I wrote of above. This will be such a good time, and I can’t wait to share these tunes. Come on out!
Friday 5:30-8:30 I’m back at Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant playing instrumental guitar tunes again. I’m really enjoying playing so many interesting guitar tunes and adapting so many songs I usually sing into instrumental tunes. I’d love to have you there if you’re up for a really nice view of Pikes peak and the Garden of the Gods with some good food and my music. Reservations are at 888-994-3156 or you can usually sit at the bar or the small table near me in the bar.
Saturday night 7-9 mountain time I’m playing an online show of Philmont Songs for friends I’ve known from Philmont over the last 50 years. If that’s you or interests you, you can tune in on my website tommunch.com/online-concerts or on my Philmont songs Facebook page facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370/
My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I always love playing these evenings for such wonderful people who tune in. Tune in and give me your request too!
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That’s it for this week. I’m looking forward to Mardi Gras, and I hope you get the chance to celebrate it some too.
Best always,
Tom
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Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of Mardi Gras songs
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Wednesday, February 26, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing instrumental guitar tunes
Where: Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156
When: Friday, February 28, 5:30-8:30 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing a concert of Philmont songs
Where: facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370/ and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Saturday, March 1, 7-p pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Sunday, March 2, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
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