One Year Later.

Today marks the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Of course the "natural" part of the disaster wasn't the worst of it. What happened in the days and weeks following the disaster was the worst of it. A human disaster of epic proportions. Here we are, a full year later, and such little progress has been made. It's disheartening.

I've been thinking a lot today about the week that the Robeau and I spent in New Orleans back in April. About how you would never know that anything had ever gone wrong if you stayed within the confines of the historic district.

I've been thinking a lot about the people we met. It's not the fellow tourists or the well-heeled locals in the jazz clubs that have been on my mind, it's the kind, warm people that we met who were working in the service industry. The city's working class who were full of grit and determination.

Donald, the concierge at our hotel who said he would stay through another storm - he didn't want to leave his home again - he would weather it out. He was so optimistic about the rebuilding of the city, so sure that it will rise again. When we were leaving the hotel, I hugged Donald goodbye. Can't say I've ever been that attached to a concierge before. There was something about him that really touched me.

I've been thinking about the waiter we had one night at "Ralph and Kacoos". It's been driving me crazy that I can't remember his name. He told me that he had been sent to Washington after he had been rescued a week into the disaster from his rental in the lower ninth ward. He said that the trip to Washington was like a pleasure trip - he got to fly in a plane and see a Washington Nationals ballgame. He laughed till he could hardly talk about the sweet old woman who sat next to him on the plane. She had never left her neighbourhood before and she screamed from the moment the plane took off till the the moment it landed. He said it might have been uncharitable to laugh at a situation like that, but if you don't laugh...well, you know how that thought finishes.

I hope they're okay...I hope that they don't lose the sense of hope that they seemed to have. I hope I can help in some small way...

From September 5th until October 9th, my photo series New Orleans: where do we go from here? will be exhibited at Starbucks at 185 King Street East (at George Street – across from George Brown College, just East of Jarvis) in Toronto.

Prints of all the photos in this series are available for purchase, with one hundred percent of sales going to The Katrina Krewe, a grassroots organization established in November 2005. The Katrina Krewe consists of thousands of local and national volunteers, whose goal is to provide relief in New Orleans from the trash and debris that resulted from Hurricane Katrina along common thoroughfares. The Katrina Krewe is also fostering anti-litter awareness among residents, schools and businesses within the New Orleans area through various public service programs and activities. You can learn more at their website.

The basic clean up might be done but the work to rebuild and educate continues. A year later they still need our help.

On Bob Dorough...

Last Friday night, I got to hang out with a man who is, and I don't think I'm overstating this, a hero. Jazz fans will know that I'm talking about the iconic songwriter, bebop singer and piano player who blew onto the scene 50 years ago with his 1956 recording, the legendary "Devil May Care". Those of you not familiar with bebop singers or recordings released in 1956 will know Dorough as one of the key singers and songwriters responsible for Schoolhouse Rock. What little math skills I possess I'm sure I owe to ABC Saturday morning cartoons and Bob Dorough and friends. I know I'm not alone!

When the Robeau and I arrived at the Varley Gallery in Unionville that night I wasn't sure what to expect. The event was a fundraiser for the Markham Jazz Fest where we were encouraged to enjoy the gallery, wine and hors deurves and later the entertainment, from none other than Bob Dorough. It all seemed a little too good to be true. Why was this incredible artist coming all the way to Canada for one night only to play a fundraiser for a small fest outside of Toronto? On our way into the gallery I heard a pair of hands clap behind me. "Let's check out this aaarrrttt!". There was no mistaking him for anyone else. It was Bob Dorough. And the next thing I knew we were checking out the art together. I told him about the Group of Seven he told us that he came to Markham "because that kid Josh asked". That kid is Josh Grossman, Artistic Director of the Markham Fest and the Toronto Jazz Orchestra and he deserves major kudos for spearheading such a great event. Dorough was immediately engaged in our conversation, asking our names and remembering them later that night. He was as witty and charming as you would expect. He was a complete delight in every way and I have to say, about twenty years younger looking than his 83 years.

Yep. That's Bob Dorough and that's me right next to him. That's as cool as I'll ever be. It's truly all downhill from here, cool-wise.


After mingling with the intimate little crowd for a good long while Dorough sat down to play his first set. He opened with the arrangement of "Moon River" that he recorded on his 1997 effort "Right on my way Home"

Hearing him play and sing "Moon River" live proved what I have always felt - that Dorough is not just a great musician, but also a great actor. His "Moon River" is just dripping in irony - and not the easy kind. He's not saying "listen to that silly lyric" he's emodying a character, someone who's been so hurt, so wronged, so humiliated that the fact he would even utter the romantic Mercer lyrics is a little absurd.




He followed with his first hit and probably most covered tune "Devil May Care" from the 1956 record of the same name. It was a sloppy, loose rendition where he pounded away at the piano and didn't care if the mic was picking up his voice or not. It captured the intention of the lyric perfectly...and what fun!



A few tunes later Dorough took a break and mingled again with the crowd. More chit chat, more wine. I was beginning to feel like I was at a party at his house.

The second set included captivating performances of Charlie Parker's "Yarbird Suite" (with his own lyric), "Right on my way Home" and a stunningly beautiful "Baltimore Oriole". He told stories about Miles Davis (he is one of only three singers to ever record with Davis), his own beloved Mother and his Schoolhouse Rock days. He closed the show with "Figure 8" which he wrote for Blossom Dearie to perform on Schoolhouse Rock. Appropriate because when I think of Dorough I always think of Blossom Dearie and Dave Frishberg. They are, in my mind the great bearers of wit, humour and cool. They're like the hippest triumvirate there is. Dorough's version of "Figure 8" was wistful, whimsical and little weird. In short: perfection.

We chatted again after the show and eventually he walked us over to the door, thanked us for coming and sent us right on our way home.

Bob Dorough gave a master class that night in musicianship, storytelling and how to be a really nice guy. I'll never forget it.

---

Bob Dorough's official site has lots of great stories, pics and videos.

"Figure 8" as sung by Blossom Dearie on Schoolhouse Rock:

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

Seems as though blogger is having some major tech issues the last couple of days Bloggy McBloggerson...it's not that I don't want to talk to you, it's that you're not listening, damn you!!!

And all while I have so much to say about so many things. All the details about meeting a personal hero on Friday night, about spending Saturday's dinner hour with my family and my wonderful Uncle from New Jersey who I am just getting to know, about eating at a fancy steakhouse, about spending Saturday night watching the Robeau play at my favourite piano bar in the Gaybourhood, and what else? What else? Oh right...A FIVE GAME SWEEP OF THE BOSTON RED SOX! As emotional, exhilarating and enormously satisfying a series as this ball fan has ever witnessed.

I'm too happy about all that to let tech problems rain on my parade. Gotta go Bloggy McBloggerson, before you decide to crash again for no apparent reason.

Hope you're feeling better soon you heartless bastard.

Letters to Liam update

Some very exciting developments in the evolution of my little show which will be debuting at the Bad Dog Short Play Festival in October.

Ron Fromstein, Writer/Director of the show B-sides and Offroads which I appeared in back in 2001 has agreed to come on board as Director. I love working with Frommer and look forward to the insight he will lend as a produced playwright and winner of many a Fringe playwriting contest...

The other news is that the show now has "a look" courtesy of the multi-talented Kurt Firla! I'm sure you'll be as impressed with his work as I am!


I will be posting all relavant press materials for the show over at this new blog if you're interested in keeping tabs on Letters to Liam.

Some of my best friends are spammers?

So, we've discussed the often bizarre names of computer generated spammers here in the past but check out what I found in my inbox this week:

Subject: No perseptions and long queues
Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 2:19 AM
From: Ray Brown
To: TNolan
Conversation: No perseptions and long queues

I know it wasn't the "real" Ray Brown since he left us a few years ago...but still, getting spammed in his name? Kinda fun.

Someday I'll tell you the story about when I went to a club to see him perform. I was 19 and I went all by my lonesome cause I couldn't convince anyone to join me. Is it wrong that the fact that he flirted with me all night is one of my proudest accomplishments? Ah, if being proud of something as fun as that is wrong, I do not want to be right!

Opa!

Stopped by The Taste of the Danforth on Sunday, but not because I really wanted to. You see, I've attended before and while I had a good time, I didn't enjoy it enough to make it an annual thing. No, I went because the thought that an event this massive was happening up the street from me and I wasn't there was too much for me to handle. I live in fear that I am going to miss something fun or important. Hence my need to archive via this blog, my penchant for cable news and my disdain for bedtime as a child.

So Sunday afternoon I took a walk up to the Danforth to suss out the souvlaki. Here's the photographic evidence.

RIP, Mike Douglas

Mike Douglas with Shirley Bassey in 1968. Enjoy the leek soup!

Truth in Advertising

My Future's So Bright...

The Robeau, I am happy to report, is not the kind of boyfriend who feels the need to offer fashion advice. I know this happens out there. There are men out there who feel the need to tell the women in their lives that they don't like that blouse, or that those jeans make them look fat or that lipstick makes them look like a whore. With the Robeau it's usually "no comment" with the occasional "you look nice" or "that's hip" thrown in for variety. Unless, of course, we're talking about my sunglasses.

I like big sunglasses. They keep the sun out of my eyes and frankly, I feel kind of glam in them. Not Liz Taylor or JLo glam, more sort of Carol Channing glam. I've always worn my sunglasses big, I like them like that and I'm not going to stop just because the Robeau thinks I look like somebody's Jewish Grandmother.

"Bubbala, did you eat?"

Cut to a holiday Monday BBQ at Zee Noixy and To's fancy shmancy new Richmond Hill pad. Robby Disco looks at me and says, "Tracey always has those movie star sunglasses on!" and I felt the sudden need to defend my big shades. My methods may be unorthodox, but I think it works. Who knows, I may have some converts on my hands...

Robby Disco, playing it up for the papparazi.

Momster, aka Mrs. Disco rockin' the face eating shades.

Liam Disco, Esq. a little less amused by my experiment.

Mark actually pulls them off, don't you think?

Bunz looks so sunny and chilled out, especially considering she just gave birth to...
LARRY BUD MELMAN!!!!!


DJVL looking every inch the celebutant. Wasn't she on Laguna Beach last season?

Zee Noixy calls them "those Chernobol shades" and gives us her best impression of an angry Eastern European woman at a deli. You took the last loaf of rye and she is piiiiissed!

To' looking very relaxed. I think he just sent Joe Pesci to get him a drink.

Rach makes the look even more glam with the addition of a beautiful sunhat. I don't think the fact that I can see myself taking the picture in the glasses means they are too big, and neither should you!

Ramon thinks that maybe if he keeps the shades on Rach won't see him and make him go home and finish renovating the kitchen.

And, if I could get a cyber drum roll please.........

The Robeau, looking FAB-U-LOUS...

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

With that, ladies and gentlemen of the fashion jury, I rest my case.

Zen and the Art of the Long Weekend

Wanted to share this picture I snapped of the Buddha at Royal Thai in the Annex as a reminder that the upcoming long weekend should be all about relaxation. Don't stress it people. Your dishes and your laundry and your bills will be there waiting for you on Tuesday!

I like things that are great!

Today, one of the classiest of all the class acts that ever there were turns 80. Tony Bennett's taste, charm and energy means many things to many people, I don't have to tell you how great he is, you already know. I'm celebrating today by listening to what may be the finest record ever made. Go get yourself a copy immediately if you don't have one already. On a personal note, I need to say that my job, the cool one at CSIS that I can't talk about here, really is the coolest: today I was able to fax a birthday wish to Tony Bennett! I'm sure it was one of thousands. Happy 80th Mr. Bennett!