LEAF & Tipitina’s Team Up to help Louisiana Musicians!

LEAF & Tipitinas of New Orleans teamed up the day after Katrina hit to help find musicians temporary homes, replacement instruments, clothing, and funds. The response from the LEAF community & nationwide continues to be TREMENDOUS & GENEROUS. THANK YOU!!!

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LEAF Instrument Convoy in New Orleans for New Years '06 at Tipitinas.

LEAF & Tipitinas collaborated to raise instruments for musicians & youth since Katrina struck. Over $50,000 worth of instruments were donated! On 12/29/05 we loaded up 5 trucks & a LEAF crew of 10 at the LEAF office & headed to NOLA. Instrument matches were done in Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, & in NOLA-an amazing experience!

To see all our photos from the trip

The immense devastation in New Orleans is shocking, beyond belief, & unacceptable. Each person has a story that is unimaginable. The city feels so abandoned by every level of government. The need is so large. The people that are in NOLA helping to bring it back to life are to be praised and they need support. Thank goodness for Tipitina’s Crew sticking in there and creating respites of great music, support for the musicians, and a sense of normality in this overwhelming process. New Years eve at Tipitina’s revived the soulful neighborhood "Second Line" with the Hot 8 Brass Band. The night of music at Tips commenced with my favorite Madri Gras Indians: Donald Harrison & Monk. Galatic & friends brought in 2006.

In NOLA, Tips crew matched us with Charmaine Neville to help on her home- for several days we pulled & scrapped & dug. We were ready to work and as a team donated over $5,000 worth of work hours. After driving around each day seeing so many destroyed homes it gave us hope to go to Charmaine's and see a house come back to life. Neil is still there committed to helping her get her home back to livable with water. Charmaine is so positive & strong!!! UPDATE: Water has been returned to Charmaine's home! Small steps make big differences.

Instruments are a priority need of the musicians. Many instruments were lost in the flood. Through the LEAF community and the nationwide media such as on NPR, The Kathy & Judy Show in Chicago, and The Wall Street Journal instruments have come this way. The collaborative effort has matched keyboards, an accordion, trumpets, classic guitar, saxophones, tambourines, bass rigs, flute and clarinets with musicians needing their instruments for work, spirit, and a connection to their life.

To all those who Donated instruments “THANK YOU!!!!!!!’s” abound from Glen of the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, Imhotep, a Madri Gras Indian & strong Musician, & his 11yr old daughter, Zulu Connection, Vincent of Rebirth Brass Band, Davell Crawford, all of The Little Rascals Brass Band, Royce, Charmaine Neville, Sublime Lens Band, Andrew McLean, a Saxaphone teacher who had lost his but needed to go back to work, Chuck Brackman, several members of the Crescent City Orchestra, Robert a street musican, several student musicians, and many more!!!

From an instrument match
“Mark is very excited about getting a guitar. It is a great guitar and will help Mark to feel like his life is getting somewhat back to normal again. Being able to play music is an important part of his life and this is probably the longest he's gone without having a guitar in his hand in years. Thank you so much for doing this for Mark and for all of the others you are helping. It means so much! Please tell Therese (the donor) thank you, thank you, thank you!” Mark’s mom in Chicago

HURRY HOMES
Homes and musicians were matched in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. We had offers from across the country- it was so inspiring to see the generosity come forth.

From a home match
 "God bless you!"- A.J. Mallory, drummer of Rebirth Brass Band, upon hearing his family had a home donated in Dallas Texas after spending two weeks living in a tent with his wife and two children. The kids are now enrolled in school. A.J & his host B. Hilton have recorded an album together.

HOW CAN YOU HELP NOW?

GO to NEW ORLEANS. www.neworleansonline.com
Witness the destruction resulting from the levees breaking. No photos or stories can give you a sense of this unimaginable scene. It will call you to action and increase understanding.
Hotels & Tourists areas are open. We recommend locally owned & run boutique hotels Royal St. Charles, Queen & Crescent, & Garden District Hotel. (links www.royalsaintcharleshotel.com, www. gardendistricthotel .com, www. queen and crescenthotel .com)

Thanks to Tim at Garden District Hotel for donating their Banquet Room to facilitate instrument matches and storage. Reflecting on his story, “ I have lost everything. It has got to get better!”

 

 

DONATE INSTRUMENTS FOR NEW ORLEANS YOUTH or $ to purchase instruments.
As schools reopen, youth in music programs & musicians will need instruments. Lets help them rebuild through music. Email Erica@theLEAF.com. We will either have you mail them to our office, directly to a musician match, or we will pick them up (we have LEAFers about the country).

The Windward School in Los Angeles will be sponsoring a 9th-12th grade group of student musicians. They are raising funds for instruments and will be writing supportive letters. If you have a class that would like to be matched with a New Orleans class let us know & we will help make the match. Email Jennifer@theLEAF.com

Uniforms donated by TC Roberson for New Orleans youth:

HIRE NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS FOR PARTIES, FESTIVALS, & EVENTS. (oh & buy their CD’s of course)
If you would like contact info to hire bands just email us Erica@theLEAF.com
Zulu Connection
New Orleans All Star Klezmer Band
Mavra Wright
Charmaine Neville
Donald Harrison
The Wild Magnolias
ReBirth Brass Band
Little Rascals Brass Band
Hot 8 Brass Band
Henry Butler
Sunpie Barnes & The Louisiana Sunspots
All The Basin Street Records Artists
& so many more……..

DONATE FUNDS THAT ARE GETTING TO THE PEOPLE.
So many organizations doing great work & so much work to do. We recommend Habitat for Humanity.
For direct donations we can match you directly with a musician/family.

 

LISTEN TO NEW ORLEANS MUSIC! OUR SUPPORT & BELIEF WILL BE NEEDED FOR YEARS.
“Oh when the Saints come marchin’ in…

Thank you to WNCW for getting the word out! We also appreciate Mountain Xpress, Black Mountain News, & The Charlotte Observer.

Thanks to Asheville Area Arts Councill, The Town Pump, Ivi’s Wonderworld Film Offices in Charlotte, and The Orange Peel for being instrument drop off stations.