Friday December 17th

As we approach our Sunday departure day, we figured it was time to jump into the mouth of the beast and hit Bourbon Street on a weekend night. 

We decided we were going to Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, where the featured act was Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown.  The hotel was a lovely French style building and beautifully decorated for the holiday, and the club looked like something out of a 1930's movie musical.  Overstuffed chairs, little tables with candles, and patent leather booths.

Kid's quartet played all the standard jazz selections you expect to hear in New Orleans.  His trumpet was smooth and his fingers were fast on the valves.  The piano man, bass player and drummer were all excellent musicians and the group blended well. 



Kid Chocolate introduces his student

 At one point during the show, two 16 year old music students were brought up on stage to jam with the band.  Student's of Kid Chocolate and the drummer, the boys got to show off their stuff and experience playing in front of an audience.  They did very well and the crowd loved them.

After a few beverages, we headed out onto the street and into the swelling crows.  Bodies and beads were everywhere.  As you walked the street, you heard music coming out of every window and door.  Surprisingly, no so much of it was what you would expect, at least not what I expected.  From several venues we heard classic rock, like Led Zeppelin, then hip-hop, rap, pop and even one duo playing Seals and Crofts, Summer Breeze (eck!).

Then we stumbled upon the Bayou Club where a Zydeco band was playing up a storm.  This is some serious toe-tappin', fun music,  They had everybody smiling.  While there we tried some of the red beans and rice, served with Cajun sausage and an order of BBQ wings.  Both local favorites, the red beans and rice more than the wings, were either very good, or, enough imbibing had taken place that they just seemed very good.  Either way, they were enjoyed.



Debauchery is the norm here!

 Our evening kept us out into the wee small hours of the morning. Well past a proper time for us "oldies" to be running around.  But hell!  We ain't dead yet and we returned with our fair share of beads.  Nawlins Baby!  Enjoy it...We did!