Our man Gumbo at Rhythm and Roots....

Not to be deterred by a little rain like the rest of us, Johnny Gumbo ventures southeast to Charlestown. Here is his report:

And then there was one........

A little undecided Sunday morning about heading to R&R but then the feet got the better of me, the sun was threatening to come out and so off I went around 1:00, sans my fellow music lovers who had enough rain at Bobby Zimmerman. Pulled into the parking lot around 3:00 and could hear Rosie Ledet's accordion wailing away and I knew I'd made the right choice. What a beautiful day it turned out to be. Plunked my chair down about 25 yds slightly right center of the main stage, refreshed myself at the beer tent and then headed to the Red Hook. If you like to dance, R&R is a great place to go. No matter what's on the main stage, the dance pavilion is always cookin' with zydeco, cajun 2-step and a little swing thrown in for good measure. It's really a dance festival as much as a music festival and people come from all over, danced with a lady from Florida who comes up every year.

Rosie & the Boys were great as usual. Tim O'Brien & Cornbread Nation turned out to be more folksie, not that that's a bad thing. Lots of string instruments and good rhythm, ala Bill Monroe. Enjoyed listening for awhile but then had to head back to the Red Hook. Came back to see James Hunter 'cause had to report to johnnyk. Thought he would be blusie but the tenor and baritone saxs and his lyrics gave off kind of an English James Brown flavor. I can never remember any of the songs in anybody's set like jk can so you'll have to look it up.

The rest of the day became a little blended together going back and forth between the Red Hook and the main stage with stops in between at the beer tent to keep hydrated. Did take a break and went to the workshop tent which I usually don't do but was pleasantly surprised. Listened to Steve Riley and the Mamous talk about who and what influenced them musically and answer questions from the small audience. Then they would launch in to some tune that they were talking about. Have to do that at JazzFest next year.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra very good, if you like Latin and salsa or just appreciate good percussion music but tough to zydeco dance to so back to the Red Hook. Scooted back to catch Dr. J who started out with a couple of songs from his Duke Ellington CD and then a couple from his new CD. Didn't recognize them 'cause I haven't heard it, but he said they were. Half way through, packed up the chair and went to finish out the night at the Red Hook with Steve Riley. Lots of dancers, lots of dancing, and a good time. Called it a nite around 11:30, packed up the Blazer and headed to Newport to stay at Barry & Cheryl's. That was a trip (literally the trip itself), but another story.

R&R is really a well kept secret. There's lots of room, easy parking (no charge), great music for all tastes, some great food, beer, and the atmosphere is really laid back. Lots of families and nobody gets bothered. Would be fun to put together a bunch of people next year for the day, Mother Nature be damned. - jg

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Communications with Gumbo at R&R:
3:30pm - Phone call from Gumbo, who arrived about an hour ago and got in some dancing before settling in about fifty feet from the stage. Weather is presently PERFECT, but rains have kept the crowds sparse. Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys have just concluded and he is awaiting Tim O'Brien & Cornbread Nation. I requested a report on the Van Morrison-touted James Hunter.
6:00pm - Called Gumbo, no answer.
6:30pm - Gumbo calls back, fresh from the dancing to Rosie Ledet at the Red Hook Dance pavilion. Says that James Hunter was sort of an English mixture of James Brown and Little Richard with two great sax players backing him. JG then hung up, had to go bad. Forgot to ask him about Cornbread Nation (wondering if Tim O'Brien collaborated with former NC-Charlotte/Boston Celtic great Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell).
9:00pm - Final check-in from Gumbo, shirt soaked from dancing (yuck), just before Dr. John commences his set. Spanish Harlem Orchestra was good, but played mostly salsa, which does not lend itself well to zydeco dancing. He also sampled the Rounder Records workshops for about an hour, listening to the performers discussing their craft. After Dr. John, he is off to Newport for overnight.