main: August 2008 Archives
Sunday night, when Allen Toussaint played "Yes We Can Can" for Democratic convention delegates in Denver, the song sounded tailor-made for the Obama campaign. But he wrote it in New Orleans, in 1970, inspired by a different era of change.
No wonder. New Orleans musicians have for more than a century anticipated and articulated just what this country needs. Now, three years past the floods that followed Katrina, Mr. Toussaint and other bearers of the city's unique (and uniquely American) culture -- jazz musicians, brass-band members, Social Aid & Pleasure Club second-liners, and Mardi Gras Indians --call on the country to respond to their needs, for the good of us all. We must recognize this culture as essential to New Orleans recovery, not to mention the restoration of our damaged national identity.
BIG "We Shall Not Be Moved" VIDEO SHOOT
Woldenberg Riverfront Park
Saturday, 9 August (with a rain date of Sunday, 10 August)
10:00am - 1:00pm
Come out and be a part of the "We Are the World" of New Orleans!
**** OVERVIEW ****
We Shall Not Be Moved is, essentially, the "We Are the World" of New
Orleans http://www.weshallnotbemoved.org.
The musicians of New Orleans are producing a recording and video of
the song, We Shall Not Be Moved, featuring some of New Orleans' best
players, singers and choirs, along with national celebrities.
The project is designed to heal, uplift and unify the people of New
Orleans---and the world---helping us all turn the page once and for
all, release the images of devastation to flow downstream, and stride
into the future with spirits soaring.
