Dear Listener,

In the Crescent City, it used to be if you were old enough to reach up and put a quarter on the counter, you were old enough to get a beer. So, when I was in high school, it was my weekly custom to spend Saturday nights in Cosimo’s Bar in the back of the Quarter on Burgundy listening raptly to the jazz quartet of Ellis Marsalis, James Black, Richie Payne and front man Nat Perrilliat, New Orleans’s unsung saxophone great. (It was said that Nat was Coltrane’s teacher.)

Jazz and Cosimo’s was my corner of the New Orleans music universe. I thought the bar was named after some Renaissance Italian dude. Little did I know that we had our own Renaissance Italian dude right around the corner at J&M Studios! It was only years later when I was president of the New Orleans Personal Computer Club that I got to know Cosimo Matassa as a fellow hobbyist. Of course, by then, I knew he was the revered godfather of New Orleans music, maybe even American music. But I also had the privilege of just knowing Cosimo as a man who was incredibly kind, infinitely curious and amazingly brilliant at improvising solutions. He created the effect of multi-track recording before that process was invented, simply by knowing the correct geometric placement of microphones for each instrument in his studio. As you may know, Cosimo passed away last week; his visitation was held Tuesday at Lake Lawn. The crowds were huge, and all of this city’s music royalty were there with their life-long memories on their sleeves.

There seem to be too many of these events lately. Just a week before, we were called to attend the memorial of saxophonist Tim Green, who at one time was also general manager of WWOZ. It was in the station’s early days in Armstrong Park when Treme was wild and volatile. Tim used to walk around with a baseball bat in his hand after receiving threats to his life by some of the local denizens who took exception to his policies.

But that was the thing about Tim: he totally stood up for the things he believed in, damn the consequences. About two months ago Tim and I spoke of those days, and, sad to say, he always felt that those around him let him down in not supporting and trusting his leadership. All I can say is, I’ve known many of the general managers who were called upon to guide this venerable madhouse, and he (along with founders Jerry and Walter Brock) were the most committed to seeing WWOZ realize its potential. Tim really cared. And it is clear that the music community really cared about him, judging by the number of people that showed up at his memorial. They all had the same sort of admiring things to say about Tim: He was a stand up guy ready to put himself on the line for what he believed in.

Yours in ties-that-bind and stars-that-shine,

David Freedman
General Manager

The fifth season of "Takin' It to the Streets", WWOZ's weekly coverage of second line parades and Mardi Gras Indian events, continues with the Goodfellas Annual Parade on September 21 and Young Men Olympian Annual Parade on September 28. Check out "Takin' It to the Streets" for route sheets, interviews with parade organizers and the schedule of upcoming parades.

» Get route sheets from "Takin' It to the Streets"

WWOZ's Fall 2014 Membership Drive happens November 4-14, and we need your help to make it a success! We're looking for phone bank volunteers to help us sign up new and renewing members at the studio. With lots of food, fun and live music, the phone bank rocks during the pledge drive!

» Sign up for the Fall 2014 Membership Drive phone bank now!

The ninth annual Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival comes to Lafayette Square October 17-19. It’s produced and presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, and the lineup gets better every year: Los Lobos, Bobby Rush, Ana Popovic, Denise LaSalle, Valerie June, Joe Louis Walker, Mel Waiters, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Little Freddie King, Vasti Jackson, Mia Borders, Luke Winslow King, and more.

» Hear the best in blues at the Blues & BBQ Fest

We're proud to share this, the first effort of WWOZ's brand-spanking new video production unit: Lazy Lester sounds great at age 81, doing "They Call Me Lazy" backed by the Lil' Buck Sinegal Band. The performance was recorded at the Blue Moon Saloon in Lafayette, LA on August 15. This is just the beginning: more 'OZ-produced video is in the works!

» Video: Lazy Lester Live

The third Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival happens September 26-27 with a lineup that includes Walter "Wolfman" Washington & The Roadmasters, JJ Grey & Mofro, Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers, among others. WWOZ will be there for a live broadcast.

 » More on the Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival

WWOZ will be in New York to live broadcast A Great Night in Harlem on October 24. While we're there, we're planning an event at d.b.a. in Brooklyn on October 22, 7:30-11p. $10 (suggested donation) gets you a free beer from our co-sponsors (Bayou Teche Brewing) and a raffle ticket. Prizes include a much-coveted Brass Pass to next Spring's Jazz Fest. And of course, we'll have live music: a straight from Louisiana band, headlined by Louis Michot of the Lost Bayou Ramblers.

 » More on WWOZ at d.b.a. Brooklyn

The French Market continues to up its culinary game and return to its roots as the city's original public marketplace. October 15 marks the opening day of a weekly installment of Crescent City Farmers Market at the French Market, which will happen every Wednesday from 2-6p. There'll also be live music and cooking demonstrations by local chefs using ingredients from the farmers market.

 » Crescent City Farmers Market at the French Market

Have your meal the old fashion New Orleans way... put the booze in your food! This apple cider and beer-braised pork belly recipe comes to you from Chef Daniel Esses, Three Muses on Frenchmen St, and Louisiana Cookin' magazine.

» Recipe: Apple Cider and Beer-Braised Pork Belly Over Scallion Pancake