Description
The latest history of New Orleans is fraught with tragedy and triumph. Both are reflected within the city’s vibrant, idiosyncratic music community. In Keith Spera’s intimately reported Groove Interrupted, Aaron Neville returns to New Orleans for the primary time after Hurricane Katrina to bury his wife. Fats Domino improbably rambles around Manhattan to advertise a post-Katrina tribute CD. Alex Chilton lives anonymously in a battered cottage within the Treme neighborhood. Platinum-selling rapper Mystikal rekindles his career after six years in prison. Jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard struggles to translate Katrina into music. The spotlight also shines on Allen Toussaint, Pete Fountain, Gatemouth Brown, the Rebirth Brass Band, Phil Anselmo, Juvenile, Jeremy Davenport and the 2006 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. With heartache, hope, humor and get to the bottom of, every of these recent narratives stands by itself. Together, they communicate that the funky, syncopated spirit of New Orleans music is unbreakable, regardless of Katrina’s interruption.