January can be a slow time in New Orleans. There’s a lull between the holidays and Mardi Gras. Well, I had the pleasure of playing two really fun and rewarding gigs this past Sunday.
The first was with Martin Krusche’s Magnetic Ear at Bacchanal. It is an early gig (6-9) and it is outdoors. It was pretty cold, but the music and the company were very happening. It is always an honor when friends and musicians come out to hear us play, and we were honored Sunday. The band had a couple of new members of the Magnetic Ear musician pool, and they both played great. Will Terry on sousaphone, and Charlie Kohlmeyer on drums were both grooving and aware, and a real pleasure to make music with.
Later that night I got to play with a Jonathan Freilich band called Klezmurder All-Stars, which was an amalgom of the long standing New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, and a newer band that Jonathan has called Klezmurder, which is a sort of free-jazz klezmer band. There was a lot of flying by the seat of my pants, but I was surrounded by great musicians, and it was tons of fun. There was a fun and engaging audience as well, which always helps.