Fan writes reaction in Lazy River Jazzclubnewsletter

In the Newsletter of the Lazy River Jazzclub Gent we read a pleasant reaction on our gig!
Thank you very much Eddy De Raeve!

What a discovery! What a swinging act! What a band!
Found by Antoine in New Orleans, contacted and booked, with excellent result!
Seven fine musicians who entertain comically the public and play the New Orleans and Dixie oeuvre in a professional way.
Relax, fun and ambiance guaranteed. This is a sure remedy against depression.
It's a pity that we don't know each other, and we're only separated 100 miles (Maaseik).
Please, can they come again next season?

Merry Christmas

Our court photographer from Düren, edited a photo with many good memories of New Orleans, and made this beautiful Christmas card.
Monika, thank you very much!

Our personal Christmas cards will be posted today or tomorrow.

We wish all our visitors, friends, fans a Merry Christmas-time and a safe arrival in the New Year!

Heerlen Woonboulevard

Last weekend the visitors of the woonboulevard in Heerlen were welcomed by "Zwarte Pieten" and "Sinterklaas" songs in Dixieland style. Below the picture we got from "Zwarte Piet" Frank stands invisible behind.

A little later Hubaer caught Frank with his favorite things and promptly took a picture of it. ;-)

Lazy River Jazzclub Gent

Here are photos of our beautiful performance at the Lazy River Jazz Club in Ghent.
Some were sent by new enthusiastic fans!
Nice to hear from them so that everyone enjoyed the evening so much

It really was great to play together.
With Frank on drums, Lieven at the piano, Jo on Sousaphone and Nic on banjo, the rhythm section turned at full speed.
That is a solid foundation for our hornsection Hubaer, Maurice and Gaens for building up their solos.
We hope for a new invitation next year, we love to go back there.

40.000 HITS

Today we reached the cape of 40,000 Hits on our website!
That's an average of 4000 hits per year.
Our busiest days was on October 25, 2011 with 84 hits.
Not that bad, isn't it?

Lost Files from Dresden 2010!

Browsing the files on my laptop, I found these vid's. I thought they were nice enough to load them on youtube.
The following vid -shot by Frank- at the jam session in the bar of the IBIS hotel. (40th IDF Dresden, May 2010)
It was a very spontaneous affair, drawn by "die verrückten Belgier" :-)

John Evers (tp Blue Note Six) took part in the great jam, and even gave the chords of this song, the title of which we still do not know. :-)
Unfortunately he died later that year. (November 2010)
I think the contrabas player is Peter Rath.



The 2nd vid (Frank again!) is a peek into the dressing room of the Alter Schlachthof where we had to kill time before our show. Lieven does it!!
Nice to see / hear how tunes get in our play-list...

Coming Soon!

more info:

Jeker Jazz Festival

Thanks to photographers Marjo and Giel we can enjoy the pics they took of our fantastic show we gave away at the Jillz Jeker Jazzfestival 2011 in Maastricht (NL).
Marjo, Giel, thanks a lot for sharing these pic's!

Click HERE for the slideshow.

On YouTube!
The Oakcity Jazzband plays "La Vie en Rose" and "Sweet Georgia Brown"!
Big Hugs for Marjo!

International Seniors Day

For the occasion of the international seniors day we were invited at "Huize Uilenspiegel".
Yesterday, Nele & Hilde gave us this pressarticle from "Het Belang van Genk".
Noortje, thanks for your submission!

Kreuzau Festival

Last Sunday was the 10th time the Oakcity Jazzband was invited to the annual festival in Kreuzau (D). We forgot to celebrate this!
Although the weather in the morning looked very bad, we could keep it completely dry, and it was again another enjoyable festival with lots of people.
After all these years we know the good spots, with fine attention to our music. The people there know us too, and treat us to applause, drinks and German sweets.
We're happy that Nico is rid of his shoulder problems and is back all right to play banjo.
Monika came to visit us again, and with her ​​new camera she shot the sharpest pictures of her willing objects.
Here is the slide-show.

Djembé drums at the Streetmarket in Zülpich

Frank found a lost video on his mobile from a streetparade earlier this year.
Great to see how musicians communicate and how much fun it is to play together!

Wassenberg Schlemmermarkt 2011

Time flies!
The Schlemmermerket Wassenberg is a highlight every year, and it amazes us how quickly a year is over.
After 12 times we know about the ups and downs of the restaurants, the staff and organizers, and we are excited that the Oakcity Jazzband belongs to the "permanent values" of this culinary event.
The Senfmühle from Terhorst was, with her ​​new shop on wheels, this year's eye-catcher!

We also notice that more and more visitors are coming from the wider area, Düsseldorf or Aachen. This year we even welcomed a group of people, that we know from the Sound Of Music from Houthalen (B)! Pure coincidence, but very nice!

It's huge fun in Wassenberg, and an absolute must for anyone who loves good food, good wine, beer or an exotic cocktail.
Bob, - for the occasion "Bob Suisse" - replaced Nico again on banjo, because Nico's shoulder problem was still there.
And Roel, aka "Raoul du Quartier" was the great trumpetplayer in this event.
And to anyone who asked for Hubaer, we explained that he had to do his sentence in prison. To be clear, this is a joke!!

Memorable was the moment that we performed "St. James Infirmary" in the city tower gate. It's cool, how passersby react to the dark melody and the played sadness of the musicians.

Sunday at noon, we stood, as usual dressed in black, on the Schlemmermarkt in Wassenberg Germany.
Here's the video that was taken of the tune "At the Jazzband Ball"
For the announcement of our guest musicians we thought of funny french nicknames.




Click here for the slide-show from our photo's.
Click here to go to the Wassenberg Schlemmermarkt pages.

New Orleans Photo's from Brandon Agnew

Last week we received an e-mail from Brandon Agnew. He is from Canada, but we have met him, and his cool friend Andrea, in New Orleans. He has sent us some pictures that we have put in an album so that everyone can see them. The photo with the bubbles on Royal Street is great!
Have Fun! Click here for a slideshow.

Riverboatshuffle Maastricht Luik with Jazzclub Aachen

For pictures click here!

At 8:30 Nico got phone!
Hubaer & Ghislaine & Lucille and Maurice were already in Maastricht at the boat! They did not feel coming on board one more time at the lock in Ternaaien...
Four coffees later, the rest of the Oakcity Jazzband was at the spot.
Bob Suisse played banjo, because Nico's shoulder problem was not over yet.
François Brulez wanted to sit next to the window, and with Jo le Loup in the corner the music was started in New Orleans style.
Maurice Chevalier was at first surprised with some CD-presents from New Orleans!

This riverboat trip was marked by the Oakcity experiences in New Orleans.
Nico le Bourreau, decorated with all the accessories worth to a Grand Marshal, entertained the whole deck.
Our French Quarter successes as "La Vie en Rose", "Petite Fleur" and "Tiger Rag" in which Hubaer Cemetière, Maurice Chevalier and Gaens Sans Gène shine, were also accepted on this boat with much applause and cheers!
There sounded much emotion in the voice of Nico in singing "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans"!

An hour later than planned we arrived at La Batte in Liege. We were almost in the lock when the boat had to turn back. There was a bus of passengers who still had to be picked up...
At La Batte was nothing much to do, the market vendors were busy cleaning up.

On the return, we enjoyed playing music and making jokes on the outside deck. Despite the predictions not one drop of rain felt down. With the song "Virginie" - for the occasion renamed into "Lieze, the prettiest girl of the land" - we wished the fresh Grandpa and Grandma Hubaer & Ghislaine all the good luck with their grandchild! Red Roses for a Blue Lady was hilarious, with that Yuca on the table.
Especially nice was that everybody joined us singing "Glory Halleluyah".

Awesome!
are the pictures from Jo Philippi from Valkenburg a/d Geul (NL)
He and his wife Josée travelled on the boat to Liège.
They enjoyed the trip very much, and so did we!
His pictures are now in our internetalbum. Click here to watch them all.

Carnaval Mundial Elsloo (NL)

With 15,000 people in the village Elsloo, each participating group was given a lot of attention and response.
The evening sun was present, and that made the fun even greater.
Nic's debut as Grand Marshal was a hit!
Frederic (banjo), Martin (bass drum), thanks once more for your nice stand-in role.
And Frits gets an extra compliment from us for keeping us on track without problems.


Here's the link to the slide-show.

New Orleans Videos

Today Dominique Meekers sent us an e-mail with al link to the video that he made of the Oakcity Jazzband at the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans. "I Found a New Baby" is the tune he recorded.
We love to share this and the other New Orleans videos with all our website visitors!

Dominique, thanks a lot for uploading this great video at YouTube!

Japanese Ice Cream at Fritzel's European Jazz Pub

This video was taken at Fritzel's European Jazz Pub in New Orleans on a tuesday evening.
Even Japanese musicians know how to play the tune "Ice Cream", you can hear that the sopranosax player is from Austria, and the "little" drummer boy is hard to find, but all around!!
We had a great time, and enjoyed the night.
By sharing this video, we hope to spread the Fritzel's fever to every YouTube viewer.
You should have been there once in your life!!!

Summer Boulevard Heinsberg (D)

Because Nic had a lot of trouble with a painful shoulder, Frédéric -a kind banjoplayer from Herstal- had to stand in.
Lieven took the vocal part in the shopping streets of Heinsberg (D).

Monika bought a new camera, and came for a try-out on the willing objects of the Oakcity Jazzband. The quality of her pictures gets a higher level!
Judge yourself and click here to the slideshow.

Japanese musicians at Fritzel's European Jazz Pub

New Orleans, tuesday April 12, 2011.
We were told there was a Japanese Jazzband at Fritzel's European Jazz Pub in New Orleans. So Hubert and I went to the jazztemple on Bourbon Street. This is "Tin Roof Blues".

BBQ Herberg Stevenswaerdt

The ladies of the Oakcity were also invited to the BBQ, and have especially enjoyed the cooking of Mark & Pascalle and their team.
Definitely worth for every connoisseur.
Klaus Heidtmann, a casual cyclist with a decent camera, sent us his pictures of the last part of our performance in Stevensweert.
It's always nice that there are people who make the effort after the show to rejoice us with photos!
Klaus, thank you!

Here's the link to the pictures!

Zülpich Streetfestival

Even though the weather was not at her best throughout the whole afternoon, we had a great time there in Zülpich!
Afterwards the members from the CDU, and other enthusiasts sent us nice pictures.
Thank you all for sending them!
Click here for the album.

Jazz Art Live Maastricht

Through the mediation of Giel, we were on the Jeker Jazz Live Art event in Maastricht on Saturday.
We played at the St.Amorsplein at the terrace of cafe Falstaff & C'est la vie.
Beautiful weather, great sound on the square, pint of beer and cola, and many people who stayed to hear our music, that's nice!
PS Fritz and Kitty, who had seen us in New Orleans, were specifically homed to Maastricht to see us back. That's, great, isn't it?

Here is the album with pictures of that cosy afternoon!
Marjo, Giel, thank you for sharing these pictures with us!

Køge Jazzfestival Denemarken

From our comrade Sven, (Basement Jazzband,DK) we received a photo CD by mail.
A very good photographer took these from our performance at the jazz festival Køge.
Here is the album.

Song for Marda!

On our last day in New Orleans we were invited to the private party of Juliet and Tim Laughlin, and we have dedicated a song to Marda.
She went to dance spontaneously, and Tim joined us with his beautiful clarinet play.
We hope to see Marda, all her friends, and all those great people, we met in New Orleans, again!

Fritzel's European Jazz Pub on Bourbon Street, New Orleans

Thanks to a helping hand of the Hurricane Jazzband from Maastricht we were booked at Fritzel's European Jazz Pub on Bourbon Street.
It was Sunday, April 10,2011 and we were pretty nervous to do this gig in this famous café!
In order to reduce the stress we played as a streetparade band on our way to Fritzel's. Immediately we had a lot of enthusiastic people in our second line to encourage us.
There is a ghost under that stage in the corner at Fritzel's, and lots of energy! From the first step on the thick carpet, the entire band was at ease.
Our performance was greatly appreciated, and our "French" songs had a huge success.
Immediately after the show, Miss Kate came to ask us if we could make time for another performance during our stay in New Orleans.
Of course we can!

French Quarter Festival 2011! Pictures by Johan De Grande

Johan De Grande (Jazzclub Lokeren-Belgium) was in New Orleans too at the French Quarter Festival.
He sent us beautful pictures of the Oakcity Jazzband at the concert on the International Stage at the Dutch Alley. (Saturday April,9)
Now it's our turn to congratulate Johan!

"Congratulations!" and thanks for sharing these pictures with us.
We made a film of the pix, and added some music to it...

If you go out to shop with your wife, Maurice Chevalier will sure be alive!

On Tuesday, for the second time, we were invited to Fritzel's Jazz Pub on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Fred Dupin & His New Bumpers Revival Jazzband from Bordeaux played immediately after our gig.
But their clarinetist went shopping with his wife, so Fred gave our Maurice Chevalier the sign that this spot was free in their band.
Maurice picked up the role quickly, and gave an elegant interpretation of the clarinet part in this band.
Is it any wonder that we are very proud of our own Maurice Chevalier?

Jazz Matinee @ Marda Burton's house op Royal Street

Saturday's, after our spectacular Dixie show on the international stage at the French Quarter Festival, we were still loaded with adrenaline, and that had to come out! We paraded through the hot streets and then came up in the Royal Street. It really is a royal street with a lot of magnificent houses and beautiful balconies.
When someone came, and asked us if we wanted to play some tunes on the balcony of Marda Burton's house, we agreed of course immediately. Marda welcomed us like we were family, and after a pleasant break in the cool of her posh apartment, we began to play on her balcony. The people walking in the street stopped one by one, and it slowly grew into a great enthusiastic crowd that chanted "we want more"! Marda was all in her lap and delighted to make as many pictures as she could. In this slide-show you can see the pictures from that very cozy jazzy afternoon!

International Stage French Quarter Festival New Orleans

Did you know that the Oakcity Jazzband was the onliest band from Belgium on this world famous festival? In the weekend of May 8-10 there were 250 groups in the various stages in the French Quarter of New Orleans!
Moreover, and Johan from Jazzclub Lokeren told us that, we were the first Belgian band invited after Hurricane Katrina (August 2005)!

Dick Breeny sent us the pictures in this album this week, with a very nice message: "My wife and I enjoyed Oak City Jazz Band immensely at French Quarter Fest a couple of weeks ago. I love doing photography and I have quite a few photos on you and your band along with some dancers and crowd shots. Thanks so much for coming to New Orleans."

It was a great performance that the Oakcity Jazzband gave away, all in the best circumstances. The people were very attentive, and surprised with our comparison between New Orleans and our hometown Maaseik.
It is the river and the water that binds us.

It's incredibly beautiful when you hear that the audience encourages and applauds, and when they start dancing out of satisfaction, then you're swinging on stars.
The lady, who we got on stage, was delighted with the attention she received, when we played our blockbuster and closing number "When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you"

New Orleans, Royal Street Jam

*New Orleans, Friday April 8, 2011.
No, we did not cheat on our hornsection! ;0)
After our great FQFI gig at the Dutch Alley they were stitched at Fritzels Jazz pub on Bourbon Street, and the rhythmsection was kind of lost on Royal Street.
A wink, a smile, a nod, and this streetjam just happened.
Music is a beautiful universal language...

Petition "Reopen the Louis Armstrong Park" in New Orleans

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

We were at the Louis Armstrong Park, and we were very disappointed that it was closed. We could only take some pix of our Idol's statue through the iron bars of the gate.

Please Sign! Hopefully it will help to open the park soon.

How the New Orleans story began

Our trip to New Orleans was a happening of unique and amazing events.
But if you put that all together in one short week, then you might understand why we felt like swinging between the musical stars of New Orleans.




New Orleans, Thursday April 7, 2011

"How we met Connie Jones and Tim Laughlin"

This morning Frank, Lieven and Nic made a walk to see the Mississippi.

On the side we saw a Fox camera crew to shoot the festival start-up.
Without any problem we had a chat with Connie Jones (trp) and Tim Laughlin (cl), both musicians on the bill of the French Quarter Festival!

Connie and Tim invited us immediately on Monday to come to their CD release party at Fritzel's European Jazz Club on Bourbon Street.


Coincidence? Destiny? The Ghost of Mary Laveau is wandering around in New Orleans, and she must have been supporting us everywhere.

French Quarter Festival International Stage

New Orleans, Saturday April 9, 2011.

Between the Mississippi and the French Market place is the Dutch Alley.
There, at the international stage we gave away our best gig ever!
The sound in the kiosk, was sublime, also for us musicians!

Our Dixieshow gave us an exuberant, cheering audience.
Our French songs "C'est si bon" and especially "La Vie en Rose" were highly appreciated!
There was spontaneous singing and dancing!

We were pleasantly surprised that so many Belgians came to congratulate us after the show.
They bought CDs and took photos and videos, that we hope to see later.

There were even men from Poland, which knew us from our St. Louis Blues moves?
They had already seen them last year at the 40th International Dixieland Festival in Dresden ...


Frits, a Dutch American, went with us and treated!! us in the Original French Restaurant. We hope to hear from him and his wife Edith soon.

Click here for a slideshow!

French Quarter FestivaI Openingsparade

New Orleans, Friday April 8, 2011.

We are in our hotel on St Charles Avenue and we can use google blog!
It's great out here!
This town sweats music!!!
The Openingsparade this morning was totally crazy! What a happening!
After the jazzparade we wandered around at the French Market and played for fun!
We really needed a cool-down in the Original French Market Restaurant...

Click here for a slideshow of the pix of the French Quarter Festival Openingsparade.

We'll spare you the detail of the troubles we have on the background, but Franky says we are almost a rockband now...;0)

Kreuzau Autoshow

Last Sunday we played in not so nice weather at the Mainstreet of Kreuzau for an open air carhow.
Today these 7 Oakcity friends fly to to the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans. The temperature can get 82°F, says the weather forecast.
The differences are sometimes big, but, where-ever we go, we do our best to make people smile. And it works! And getting Ice Creams in return, that works too!
Here are the pictures of our gig in Kreuzau, attention to the photographers and the Rock & Roll dancers in the street! Despite of the weather, Monika's day has become a beautiful one!

New Orleans Hit

Great!
The first hit from New Orleans at our website is not an April 1 joke!

Denmark Dreams

Friday
At the Amager Jazzklub the audience had fidgety feet and danced, that was great to see!
Immediate after our show the jazzklub chairman invited us for a next time!
Many asked for our CD's and some "groupies" came for autographs and kisses. ;0)

Saturday
Early in the morning we paraded at the market in Køge.
It was cold when we started, but then the first springtime sun warmed up many womens hearts! And ours too.
Our entrance in streetparade style at the start of the Køge Jazzfestival was unexpected, and fun!
The audience stood up and encouraged the band by shouting and applause.
That evening the Oakcity Jazzband was "top of the bill", and we saw very happy people, and some of them emotional too, by the vocals and trumpettunes on "La Vie en Rose".
Even the sound engineer told us we did a great show. ;0)

Sunday
About noon we left Køge to go to Ishøj Kultur Café.
We think it was our best show, all the arrangements we rehearsed went right, and that felt good.
"Tiger Rag" was dedicated to a sophisticated lady in a panterlook dress, and when the "Sheik of Araby" was teaching his harem lady how to belly-dance, there was a roaring laughter.
Many thanks to the lady who gave us yellow roses, and to everyone else for cheering and your heartwarming standing ovation.

We didn't have much time to get back in Køge for our last gig.
It was the first sunday eve live music happening at Hugo's Vinkælder and it was great.
We were exhausted but still very happy and pleased with the warm welcome!

Denmark, we'll be back next year!

Click here for a slideshow of pics Frankie took.

On the road again...

...to a beautiful Denmark weekend!
Friday, March 11: Amager Jazz Klub Kopenhagen
Saturday, March 12: Streetparade Køge
Saturday, March 12: Jazzfestival Køge (top of the bill!)
Sunday, March 13: Kultur Café Ishøj
Sunday, March 13: Hugo's Vinkaelder Køge
Monday, March 14: Tired but satisfied back home again...
;0)

Jazznight @ Hoensbroek Castle (NL)

The Old Style Jazzclub from Heerlen has booked the Oakcity Jazzband for their 30st International Jazznight at the "Kasteel van Hoensbroek" (NL).
Together with the famous Maryland Jazzband of Cologne - with the Belgian! trompeter Joris De Cock- , the swinging 4Beat6 and the Aces of Syncopation - with black magic vocals of Machteld Cambridge -, we will make it an unforgettable night for you!

Jazzfestival Køge (DK)

Sven send us the press article of his radio interview about the Køge Jazzfestival in Denmark in March.
We haven't got a clue what is written, but we recognize our name in the article!
:0)

Here's the programm of the Køge jazzfestival:

Christmas & New Years stuff

Frank send us some pics of Peer (B), Zonhoven (B) and Heerlen (NL).
Great ambiance there!