WWOZ Blog

On Halloween night, both the Voodoo Festival and Daylight Savings Time come together. Consider that New Orleans has always been the Petri Dish of music so tonight we'll turn back the clock not just one hour but one generation as we focus on the music of this unusual city.

Why are city governments so "NON-SUPPORTIVE" of LIVE music? In Mandeville, Chenier built a new shopping, residential facility on Highway 190. They included in their plans a lovely ampitheater with gazebo for performances. They schedule four live music performance for Thursdays in October, free to the public and invited the neighborhood.

In honor of this weekend's spectacular blues festival in Lafayette Park, tonight's show will feature Wild Jimmy Spruill. Who?

Story by Sharon Armstrong.

New Orleans will be welcoming the world famous Brock McGuire Band on Wednesday the 28th of October, at the Deutsches Haus 200 Galvez, as they embark on their 2009 American Tour.

Story by Ignacio Sanguinetti. Friends of Humberto “Pupi” Menes, along with the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, will hold a benefit concert for the renowned percussionist this Sunday, October 11 at 2 pm at the Balcony Music Club. The concert will be hosted by “Freddy Omar con su Banda” and features a “descarga” or jam session with Pupi’s fellow musicians. Pupi suffered a debilitating stroke last month, and this event has been organized to raise money to help with his medical bills. Pupi is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest congueros in New Orleans. Pupi plays with a unique style that mixes tumbadora, bongo and chekere. Born in the Cuban port city of Matanzas, Pupi began his musical career in the 1960s, playing drums in Miami. He continued playing drums in the rock band ‘Ocean’ before shifting to percussion to play with the great Cuban vocalist Ruben Gonzalez. Since then, he became a fixture in the New Orleans Latin scene, playing with many popular acts including Santiago, The Iguanas, Caliente, Elegant Gypsy, the Pedro Cruz Band, Acoustic Swiftness, and others. He also has toured and recorded with the funk band Smilin’ Myron. Today he is a key member of Freddy Omar con su Banda –appearing on all of Freddy Omar’s albums- as well as the Latin band Otra, and the jazz group Two Pan Sam. “This event is an opportunity for all those who know “Pupi” to show how much we love him and tell him that we are waiting for him”, said Freddy Omar to WWOZ. “Pupi is not only a great musician, he is a good man, a good friend. New Orleans needs his energy on stage", he added. Pupi was also a volunteer at WWOZ, where he hosted the Latin show whenever he could. “Pupi played with every musician in town, he has a special personality and beat. He has been playing for more than 30 years”, says Yolanda Estrada, who now hosts the show

This Week's Show Themes: A couple topical themes to tie the music and sound clips together during the fund drive show. Starting with a tragic case of domestic violence between the Earth and its Moon.

Story and photograph by Ignacio Sanguinetti.

Margie Perez is a lovely singer and also a fantastic songwriter. Her last CD, “Singing for my Supper,” is soon going to be re-released through a non-profit label dedicated to helping New Orleans musicians. You can always find her performing all over the city. We recently had a short chat with her at the Balcony Music Club (BMC).

I believed the 4am infomercial. And only $29.99 for a Life-Coach-In-A-Box seemed like a steal. Then when they threw in a collection of mystery soul artist music, I took the bait. Unfortunately, when the cassette tapes(!) arrived, the coach was Fabio and the music was that gold LP of Barry White's Greatest Hits. Make-out music.

Story by Sharon Armstrong.

New Orleans-born dancer Eliza Alcalá remembers the day she decided to give up ballet, which she had studied since the age of three, in favor of Flamenco.

YOSHI'S: I've been out on the West Coast catching some fantastic music. On the Jazz side, the highlight has to be Yoshi's in San Francisco on Fillmore.