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Bass-Drum to AMARI ZENO
           in New Orleans

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ROGER LEWIS, AMARI ZENO, and BENNY JONES in the NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM'S EDUCATIONAL CENTER, March 21, 2024, with the Bass-Drum donated to Amari through HUNGRY FOR MUSIC and the NEW ORLEANS TRADITIONAL JAZZ CAMP and STICKING UP FOR CHILDREN.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band My Feet Can't Fail Me NowDirty Dozen Brass Band
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(Some PEOPLE like to dance while they read.)
 

On Thursday, mid-day, March 21, 2024, several connected Parties passed along a Pearl Bass-Drum to 15-year-old AMARI ZENO, a student and Band-member at the International School of Louisiana on the West Bank of new Orleans. 

Central to the bestowal were two who had co-founded the pioneering Dirty Dozen Brass Band in New Orleans' 6th Ward ... 47 years ago ... Benny Jones of the Bass-Drum and Roger Lewis of Baritone, Tenor,  Alto and Soprano Saxophones. They welcomed the student to the art and community of Brass Bands begun in this City more than one century ago.

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New Orleans!

LESLIE COOPER, Director of the Traditional Jazz Camp in New Orleans, coordinated the Drum's donation by Virginia-based Hungry For MusicHFM
and its Founder and Director, JEFF CAMPBELL, have gathered and distributed
MORE THAN 20,000 instruments for music-students across North America and round the world since 1994.

Sticking Up For Children interviewed Jeff and properly praised his tireless generosity three years ago.

 

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Thursday at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the NOJM"s Educational Specialist, LISA MCLENDON, gave a welcome as informatiional and substanative as it was charming and sweeping.
 

Lisa McLendon, educatonal specialist at NOJM, March 21 2024, video still from her introduc

Lisa said:  "Youth.  We need our young children to carry on our culture of New Orleans. And when I was talking with Amari earlier I found out that he's interested in a Health career. There's a real correlation between music and physical and mental health. We're working at the Jazz Museum on a Symposium dealing with Neurology and Music. So, please keep on with playing music. It's part of your spirit, part of your soul, and it's who you are." 

Lisa is recorded by MARYSE PHILIPPE DEJEAN.

 

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MARYSE, TRESHEEN WILSON (Amari's mother), Amari, and Benny.
 

Canal Street Blues
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(Are YOU still dancing? Well, here's another Brass Band!)
 

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AMY WILSON (Amari's grandmother), Amari and Benny.
 

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RHONDA CEASAR, Curator for the New Orleans Jazz Museum, and Leslie.
 

Happy transfer of Bass-Drum to AMARI with his MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER AMY, BENNY JONES, ROGER

The Gathering, a Very Happy Occasion, with DP between Roger and
Maryse and a Bumper-Sticker from our aide, Ray Fransen's Drum Shop, and with Amari holding the richly fruitful book, Talk That Music Talk, about New Orleans' Brass-Band culture and many of its luminaries, by Bruce Sunpie Barnes and Rachel Breurlin.

THANKS again to Jeff Campbell and Hungry For Music, to Leslie Cooper and the Traditional Jazz Camp, to Greg Lambousy and the New Orleans Jazz Museum, to Lisa and Rhonda of the NOJM, to Benny Jones and Roger and Ray Fransen's Drum Shop for help with the drum, to Amy and Tresheen and to Amari, to JENNIFER MAXWELL and JAMBAR Organic Artisan Energy Bars for supporting Sticking Up For Children, and most especially and warmly to Maryse for making the transfer and occasion HAPPEN! 

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JAMBAR now comes in five flavors, with the addition of its new Tropical Trio (Banana, Coconut, and Pineapple). Wow-Zahs all!

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