Monday, May 07, 2007

Musicians jazz up rebuilding efforts...

By STACEY PLAISANCE, Associated Press Writer

NEW ORLEANS - Singer Harry Connick Jr. wielded a paintbrush. R&B heartthrob John Legend did a little laundry. The two were among the musicians performing at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and giving back to a region still trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina. Dozens of volunteers worked on homes Saturday, the penultimate day of the festival, in the Musicians' Village. Connick started with saxophonist Branford Marsalis to help displaced musicians and keep the musical traditions of his hometown alive.

"It's not about guilt," he said from the front porch of one of the candy-colored, shotgun houses that stick out among the vacant houses and empty, overgrown lots in this storm-ravaged section of the Upper 9th Ward. "I just don't want to see it go away."complete story

No comments: