She has performed at concert halls, music festivals, and U.S. embassies, as well as in decades of weekly performances in Dixieland 's tradition in the Royal Street Performing Arts Zone in the French Quarter of New Orleans with her band, Doreen's Jazz New Orleans. Were very approachable, and give everyone an opportunity to play. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. [5], https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Doreen%27s_Jazz_New_Orleans&oldid=1116900736, This page was last edited on 18 October 2022, at 22:47. Only recently did I start looking for other reeds. Here she is performing the jazz and gospel classic, "Just a Closer. He was just being kind to me, I think, and showing that sometimes the teacher can become the student. He was principal clarinetist of the Hartford Symphony, but had Lou Gehrigs disease, and couldnt play anymore. I dont remember those solos now, but Im sure that I still play snippets of them that creep into my improvisations. Doreen Ketchens, dubbed "Lady Louis" is one of the world's greatest living Jazz clarinetists. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. She tells Ben Redwine for Clarinet.org: It's been 30-35 years, 4 days a week. Required fields are marked *. I made fine grades, and kept up musically, I just didnt think I was! Doreen Ketchens playing on Royal Street in the French Quarter. Im like, Man, we aint never had no pop quiz, we aint gonna have no pop quiz, are you crazy? But sure enough, when we got back up to the class, there was a pop quiz. Weve had 80-year-olds sound like they are 17, and weve had 17-year-olds sound like theyre 80! CHP officers said that when they arrived at the scene they saw plumes of smoke from people performing burnouts. Walking down Royal Street on a sunny afternoon, you are very likely to find Doreen Ketchens wailing on her clarinet, leading an enthusiastic band and delighting passersby with her vibrant personality and bold, joyful sound. Published September 6, 2022. California Highway Patrol officers were called to assist the Pomona Police Department Sunday night when a large group of vehicles took part in a street takeover. Of all the clarinetists in the city, only one is sometimes called Lady Louis, or the Female Louis Armstrong, or Queen Clarinet. Doreen Ketchens has been performing in New Orleans, mostly on Royal Street, for decades. Does Doreen still regularly play on Royal St.? To this day, Doreen continues to perform at Jazz festivals around the world, including her annual spot in the economy tent at Jazz Fest. While Ketchens may prefer playing on the street, she has also demonstrated her ability to play with a classical orchestra. As I got older, I remember one of my first recordings with Kermit Ruffins. In addition to holding court as a street performer, Doreen tours internationally, has performed for four U.S. presidents, and regularly educates the youth of the world, spreading the culture and music of New Orleans. New Orleans, LA. My favorite band is a quintet we add guitar, Dave Hammer, and trombone, Steve Wonker. I was warming up, and Mr. Marsalis walked in. Want this Picture? I found it very frustrating. The corner of Royal and St. Peter became their own stage, and it has been so prominent and successful, that it is unlikely that any other band will be found playing on their territory. Thats a godsend! Thats when I discovered Doreen on YouTube. I thought to myself, Man, that instrument is pretty, I want to play that! By the time it got to me, the flutes had been all accounted for, so I chose the next instrument on the poster. I wasnt interested in jazz at all. Oh, man, I just learned about you. Their styles at the time were against what I was studying, trying to get a perfect classical clarinet tone. People tell me all the time, Oh, your sound is so beautiful, but Im really still chasing the Stanley sound! Cool 1. New York, NY. We look forward to a time when we can hear you perform again, whether it be on Royal Street, or at an International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest! 2023 FOX Television Stations, until THU 12:00 AM PST, San Bernardino County Mountains, until WED 10:00 PM PST, Riverside County Mountains, This California city named 'happiest' in America for 3rd-straight year, FOX 11's Marla Tellez chased, nearly attacked in broad daylight; How to keep yourself safe, Encino woman extradited from Montenegro to serve sentence for COVID-19 loan fraud, Residents remain stranded or desperate to get to Lake Arrowhead during state of emergency, Watch: Fishermen spot sharks in huge feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast, California Snow: Newsom declares state of emergency for 13 counties, including LA and San Bernardino, Memorial services underway for slain LA Auxiliary Bishop, Mt. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? In front of 701 Royal St. Friday - Sunday, 10:30 am-2:30pm About Us! And they called it Doreens Sweet Shop because the reason it all started was because of me wanting to be queen. 2023 GoNOLA.com, New Orleans & Company. Even if you get told no, keep pursuing your dreams. DK: I always have saved for a rainy day, but I didnt know it would be a rainy year! All Rights Reserved. You have to practice and be ready to perform at the drop of a hat. Lineup: ----- Doreen Ketchens http://bnds.in/LQZu54 Find Local Concerts: http://bnds.in/jlStT0 How to find the best blooms without the drama, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Yet more rain expected to hit California in March. A stylistically unique ensemble from day one, the members of Doreen's Jazz have been singing, performing, and playing in sync as if theyd been together their entire musical careers. Id start out transcribing solos, then playing by ear, copying what those clarinetists were doing. When we think of a musician shredding out a killer solo, it's usually the guitar or the drums that first come to mind. Eventually, I realized what he was doing, and it translated into me being able to improvise. In fact, as I'm writing this, my foot is happily tapping to one of her CDs that we bought. My school had an arrangement with the New Orleans Philharmonic where we would hear the symphony several times a year, so I had a pretty wide exposure to two genres of music, funky jazz street beats and classical music. Sign Up. I encourage readers to visit my website: doreensjazz.com, where you can learn more about me and where you can purchase recordings, and even get in touch with me yourself! I Was There. Press J to jump to the feed. My husbandhe was my boyfriend at the timehe said, Well we could do that. Im like, Man you must be crazy, Ive been to college, Im not playing no music on the street. But love makes you do crazy things. Los Angeles, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, High school basketball: Southern California and Northern California Regional results and updated pairings, Dennis Schroder leads depleted Lakers to crucial win over Thunder, Student debt is a crisis: Activists rally outside Supreme Court for loan forgiveness, An assault and fatal stabbing in the middle of class at a Santa Rosa high school, With unfounded fraud claims swirling, red California county dumps Dominion voting machines, Man arrested in connection to 7 bombings in Fresno has links to hate group, authorities say, Vote on LAPD transit patrols sparks City Hall debate over safety on Metro system, UCLA, UCSF hospital nurses voice complaints about overcrowding, staffing shortages. When I have experienced this, the look on an amateurs face is priceless, as they seem to be having the time of their life. It was under the guidance of her junior high school band director that she was pushed into practicing more, and in high school, while attending John F. Kennedy High School, she was accepted into the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts an arts conservatory for Louisiana high school students, responsible for graduates like Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste, Wendell Pierce, Trombone Shorty, Harry Connick Jr, and Terrance Osborne, among others. I remember Honey Child. Its a pretty simple song, but, for some reason, I just couldnt figure it out. Recorded live on April 5, 2012 with a Nikon D800 DSLR using a Rode Vid. Doreen's Jazz New Orleans is a Dixieland and Traditional Jazz band created and led by clarinetist Doreen Ketchens. AboutPressCopyrightContact. I won first chair in that audition! People would come to sit in, and they could play circles around me. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Since weve been playing for so long, if someone is in my spot, and I show up, theyll say, Oh, Doreen, I didnt know you were coming today. There is respect among musicians. When I went to college, I didnt know what an A clarinet was, but I learned that I needed to buy one. That would be really cool. Sign Up. Were doing the Court of Two Sisters brunch Sunday, so thats perfect. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Inside L.A.s deadly street takeover scene: A scene of lawlessness, LAPD, in crackdown on street takeovers, arrests 40 people and impounds dozens of cars, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Best coffee city in the world? Thanks for the article on ETIAS, or the European Travel Information and Authorization System (Youll Need an OK From EU, On the Spot, by Catharine Hamm, March 31). Im not a child anymore, but Im going to be okay! The takeover group headed north toward Roselawn Avenue and Pomona Boulevard, where they continued to perform dangerous maneuvers in their cars, according to police. Someone will come up and say, Can I sit in? And, well say, Sure, you can play one or two songs. Sometimes we have to say, Thank you, thank you, just to get them to not play any more. 11:00a to 3p., weather permitting. Doreen's Jazz, performing on Royal Street in front of Rouse's Market in the French Quarter. Buy tickets for Doreen Ketchens concerts near you. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) April 14, 2019 7 AM PT Great to read the article on New Orleans (". BR: Thank you for sharing your life with the readers of The Clarinet! on April 1. I saw her yesterday on Royal St. The clarinet was right next to it, and I said, Well, I want to play the clarinet.. Doreen Ketchens: I was born in the Treme, and you know, in the Treme theres lots of music, but we lived on St. Phillips Street, and I went to this nursery school called Marietta Bottery [SP]. When officers arrived on scene, they saw a large plume of tire smoke caused by numerous burnouts as well as people attempting to flee the location. I Was There. Find hidden gems and get insider information on NOLAs best restaurants, bars, attractions, and events every week. I was destroying these beautiful instruments in the weather, so Im glad I found this composite clarinet. In front of 701 Royal St. Friday - Sunday, 10:30 am-2:30 pm, Proudly created by Jesse Hellmann-Contact Web Designer Here. BR: Please tell us about your band and its instrumentation. Back in January, I was recording a film for Branford Marsalis, Ellis came around a few times, and we had worked out what we were going to play one song together, and one song as a solo with the LPO. Her tips and lessons she has on her channel are too advanced for me, yet, but I cant get enough of watching her slay and would kill to see her play in person and show a token of my appreciation. Her silky, haunting voice and amazing skills on the clarinet will stay with you even after you leave. Heres why experts say not to worry, How a Cucamonga Peak hiker survived a 200-foot fall from an icy trail, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Best coffee city in the world? Although when home in New Orleans she can often be found on Royal Street performing for tourists and other French Quarter strollers, she is an . As the bandleader of Doreens Jazz New Orleans, Doreen and her band have become ambassadors for the city of New Orleans, campaigning for her beloved hometown and its well-known traditional Jazz music through performance and education. She is an amazing clarinetist AND a buttery smooth, expressive singer. I started to listen to jazz so I could learn the tunes and fit in with his band. People today might hum while they play to achieve something similar, but I dont think that was what he was doing. He passed by me, then backed up and said Ms. He was a very gifted educator. Where to See Live Music in New Orleans, Top 8 Things to Do in Algiers Point Neighborhood, NOLA History: Andrew Higgins, The Man Who Won The War. Doreen Ketchens has been performing in New Orleans, mostly on Royal Street, for decades. Sometimes people surprise you! New Orleans, LA. Royal Street Performing Arts Zone. I started playing jazz because I fell in love with a tuba player! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Its been about a month since I did a YouTube lesson. Most of the people were arrested on suspicion of spectating or participating in the takeover. So, I started to look for a new mouthpiece, and I saw the DAddario marbled mouthpiece. It wasnt like a dream, I was really trying to get out of a history test! Even after playing alongside other famed musicians, such as Macy Grey and The Black Crows, and performing for several dignitaries, including four U.S. presidents, Doreen has never forgotten where she started. Will you relate your memories of growing up in New Orleans, what your perception of the city was, and when it was that you first became interested in music? 74. ), it could also be called Clarinet City. There are more professional clarinetists living and working in New Orleans than any other American city, except, perhaps, for Washington, D.C. because of all of the military bands stationed there. You want to move the audience, you want to touch them. How did he do that? Then, I listened to the clarinetists who played with him: Edmund Hall, Buster Bailey, Barney Bigard. If I knew then what I know now, Id be a much better clarinetist and musician than I am today. Give me, a kiss to build a dream on . 2:00 PM. At that time, there were four funeral homes within three blocks of our home, so Second Lines would pass constantly, passing my house and my school several times every week. Log In. Mr. Marsalis had a way of looking straight through you when you didnt do what you were supposed to. We were going to play Duke Ellingtons Caravan. Caravan has two bridges, and he played one, while I played the other. A stylistically unique ensemble from day one, the members of Doreen's Jazz have been singing, performing, and playing in sync as if they'd been together their entire musical careers. Nathan Solis is a Metro reporter covering breaking news at the Los Angeles Times. 155. The California Highway Patrol established a Street Racing Task Force that focuses on combating illegal street racing and sideshows. We were supposed to play with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) in March of 2020, which, of course, was postponed because of COVID. It was just beautiful. The weather really does wreak havoc on instruments. He used to call me Ms. Joseph, my maiden name. DK: Roger Lewis, with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, lived five doors away from me, and they used to practice at his apartment, so I heard them a lot! I started playing clarinet in the fifth grade. There was no real work here, I mean, were back home in New Orleans, the symphony has gone bust for the third time, so we took a walk out in the quarter one day, and there were some people playing in the street. It should be noted that an unfortunate result of resorts being built to indulge Americans desire for exclusivity is the elimination of public access for Mexican citizens. The couple began performing on the streets of New Orleans in 1987.[5]. Doreen ran an eatery called Doreens Sweets until she and Lawrence realized they could make money following their first passion, music, after seeing so many musicians seemingly do so on the streets. Two felony arrests were made for assault on a peace officer, possession of a firearm and possession of drugs. The band room is bigger than any other class, and its got pictures of all of these beautiful instruments and stuff like that, which was really cool. Those cats were awesome too! I remember we were auditioning for the Louisiana Music Educators Association honor band, and I was feeling low because I didnt think I did very well on the audition. DK: Its a passion. The vast majority of arrests were for spectating and/or participating in an illegal street takeover. DK: Its been 30-35 years, 4 days a week. Originally published in The Clarinet 48/2 (March 2021). Jazz funerals and parades passed in front of my home several times each month. [7][5], Doreen attended Delgado Community College, Loyola University of New Orleans, Southern University In New Orleans, and, through scholarships, including one from the New York Philharmonic, University of Hartford's The Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut, where she studied under Henry Larsen. She formed her band called the Jackson Square All Stars, and they began playing in the French Quarters Jackson Square. [8], She has been featured in numerous documentaries about New Orleans, its heritage, and its music, including several profiles by WWOZ, New Orleans' Jazz radio station including a video profiles and audio programs, and dozens of articles from major newspapers and magazines around the world. Show More Events. ). He said, There you go, you got it! And, that was that.

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