Monday, August 23, 2010

Jazz New Orleans Style


New Orleans is one of my favorite cities in the Untied States. I love the atmosphere, the art, the food, the people, and the music. New Orleans is a city where music dwells in the streets, lingering on the ears of the people wandering by. This June my husband and I flew out to New Orleans to celebrate our anniversary. During our stay we took a stroll down historical French Quarter area and stumbled upon Royal Street. There we founded a talented group of street performer musicians singing for the crowd that was now lining the sidewalks, a crowd that was increasingly growing by the minute. The music filled the streets with it's own special personality, attracting people both young and old to stop and listen, and maybe even dance or at least tap their foot. The heart of this particular group of musicians was lead vocalist Sarah Peterson. Her voice was soulful, rich and timeless. This young woman didn't just sing the lyrics of these songs, but she felt them and allowed her voice to move with the rhythm and melodies like the songs where an outburst of her soul. Sarah and the very talented musicians that joined her in this time honoring tradition known as busking call themselves The Smoking Time Jazz Club. The band's chemistry is smooth and natural, bringing together upright bass, slide trombone, trumpet, saxophone, six string bass, washboard, and Sarah's vocal talent for a mix of perfection and down right Hot Jazz!