SabbatiBlogue

Sabbatical + blog

f you search for sabbatical and blog on Google, you get very few blogs about actual sabbaticals. There is one excellent one, with the fabulous name Sabbatiblog about a new career direction that is like a sabbatical for the blogger, a minister. There are indeed a few about academics on their sabbatical, and a surprising number of clergy.

But mostly Google finds blog entries like, “I guess you’ve noticed that I’ve been taking a sabbatical from blogging.” Which just proves my point that everyone needs sabbaticals.

Ça mouille

"La pluie risque de mettre un damper sur le festival". Une jeune Acadienne m'a appris cette phrase. Mais hier on a couru cette risque sans tomber dans l'abîme.

Par exemple, la musique a pas mal continué malgré les inondations.

J'ai vu beaucoup de réponses carrément louisianaises au temps qu'il a fait. Ces jeunes femmes n'ont pas hésité à partager.

Et parce qu'il n'y avait pas assez de place sous les toits au Blue Moon, on a dansé pour se secher.

Sonny Landreth, y'all

Sonny Landreth, y'all. This man is a world treasure. He's a slide guitarist, a bluesman whose music is simply phenomenal. Maybe it’s accurate to say that he’s nationally unknown; when I talk to people outside Acadiana, where Sonny resides, I am often surprised to find people who should know his work but don’t. He is a singer-songwriter whose songs cut deep into the soul of south Louisiana.

Last night I was at the live CD recording session at Grant Street Dance Hall. The Sonny fans were very much in evidence. You have another chance tonight.

Listen to Festival International

If you are not in the Lafayette area, you can still listen to Festival International de Louisiane on the web. Start at KRVS, then click on “Listen.”

The KRVS webcast will feature music from the several stages, so the schedule is just a guide.

The webcast starts at 6pm (midnight GMT) today and Friday; it begins at noon (18:00 GMT) on Saturday and Sunday.

I particularly recommend Baba Maal, Les Charbonniers de l'enfer, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Dr. John, Urban Trad, and Beòlach. And Veillée, their last performance together. And Red Stick Ramblers, their last performance with Joel Savoy. And I've left so many out. Don't miss it, y'all.

Music for the Mississippi River

Tomorrow I'm traveling the length of the Mississippi River in my car, La Belle, while a world-class musician takes care of the house and cat.

I exagerate slightly.

I'm not going the entire length, just up to Iowa.

Anyway, my companion on this trip is music. I've got some great songs: "Louisiana 1927" by Randy Newman and Marcia Ball. Emmylou Harris & Levon singing "Wish We Were Back In Missouri." "Memphis" by Cry Cry Cry. "Southern Man" by the Indigo Girls. Everything by Lucinda.

Got any suggestions for future trips? Good themes: cotton, delta, Jackson, St. Louis, Memphis.... What songs would you play for this trip?

Easter Eggs

I am not sure just what this has to do with sabbatical. But here I am in the state of my youth for Easter. And Easter in my childhood meant Elmer’s candy. Was it my imagination or was the factory right in Slidell? (NB: it was in Pontchatoula, a couple of towns away.)

Anyway, a few years ago when I first started going back to Louisiana, I saw these Golden Brick Eggs that brought me right back. It was an instantly familiar something that I’d forgotten ever existed. And it tastes just the same. Happy Easter. Alleluia.

Top ten cool things at Balfa Camp

This past weekend I was at the Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week-End, which took place at Lake Fausse State Park. It was one of those experiences where a single day feels like an entire week, and I mean that in a very good way.

It was hard to pick just ten things I liked. Okay, so I couldn't restrain myself.

10. Lots of smart guitar tips from David Doucet
9. Dining music: Beausoleil trio—how cool is that?
8. Meeting great people, including two whom I really needed to meet
7. Crab and corn soup
6. Mello Joy coffee available at every hour
5a. Dining music: Mitch Reed’s fiddle
5b. Mitch Reed in a zydeco tie, perhaps not all that willingly
4. Really nice accordion players
3a. D'Jalma Garnier's inspiring workshop on the Canray repertoire
3b. Christine Balfa's (a last-minute sub!) splendid workshop on vocals
3c. Marce Lacouture’s fantastic workshop on home music
2. Discovering Cedric Watson
1. Jamming seven hours straight

Tout un beau travail

Aujourd’hui j’ai fini le travail de deux jours: j’aidais Feufollet avec les textes pour leur nouveau CD, qui va se lancer d’ici deux semaines. J’avais oublié comment j’aime travailler avec les dates limites, la rédaction et les textes qui posent un petit défi. Le français de Louisiane est un petit défi, ouais. Oh, que j’adore trouver les petites fautes avant la publication.

Le CD s’appelle Tout un beau soir. Venez au Blue Moon le 21 avril pour fêter son lancement. Feufollet va jouer, bien sûr. Je vas être là, c’est certain.

Cet ouvrage constitue une jolie partie de mes projets sabbatiques. Les textes des CDs représentent une partie significative du français écrit disponible en Louisiane. Ce CD représente un belle contribution; j’ai beaucoup aimé mon rôle dans sa production.

Boxed Wine Jubilee

Last Friday, just before heading off to the Balfa Cajun/Creole Heritage Weekend, I went to hear Boxed Wine Jubilee in a free concert in downtown Lafayette. During a little two-song-long emergency, Boxed Wine guitarist Chris Stafford stepped in on accordion. I don't think that there is an instrument on that stage he doesn't play. Maybe drums. Someone from the crowd stepped in on drums, which was also vacant for a song or two.

Damn there's a lot of talent in this town.

Radio Acadie

We have the most fantastic public radio station in Lafayette.

If you've been listening to KRVS Radio Acadie, whether on-line or on a real radio, you know what I mean. Radio shows are hosted not just by music lovers but by local musicians, music writers, and even some wacky and deeply cool academics. (Love y'all!) If I name even one of these shows, I will be in deep trouble unless I name them all. And you can listen to festivals and other major musical events live from Acadiana.

If you haven't yet discovered Radio Acadie, check out the schedule. You can listen to shows about Cajun music, zydeco, Creole music, local blues, and world music in French. Many shows are in French or in both languages. There is also a great selection of nationally-produced programs.

My favorite moment comes at about 6:58 am when Pete Bergeron, the host of Bonjour Louisiane, says something like "Restez à l'écoute pour Morning Edition." What a delight.

Click on over there are give your support. I am about to renew my membership on-line. I've been a member since I started listening on-line and during my stays here. You can give any amount and you should. It's a fantastic way to support Louisiana's culture.

Immersed in the good life

What a beautiful day I had today in la belle Louisiane. Not particularly newsworthy, just beautiful and typical.

After my usual coffee and morning time I joined the second-grade immersion class of Madame France Trépanier of Myrtle Place Elementary. They went on a field trip to a local nursing home, where they have partners. This is serious business. Each child has a partner that they see every couple of months, whether to celebrate Christmas or Mardi Gras or (today) Poisson d’avril. They read to or ask questions of their partner. And today was the big enchilada: Bingo! I had a blast and afterwards got to eat lunch in French at a teeny little table in a cafeteria, surrounded by the sweetest kids, all fluent in French. And they kept playing April Fool’s jokes on me, which means they like me.

And tonight, after my class in Baton Rouge, I crossed the Atchafalaya Basin to arrive at a party late but still in time to play a little music. I was between two fiddlers and I had a fine accordionist next to me. When I screwed up the professionals smiled indulgently at me anyway. And we spoke French. When I go to heaven I want one fiddler on each side of me, with an accordionist next to me and a guitar player who knows the chords sitting across from me.

Oh, que la vie est belle!