Judy just returned from New York where, among her other adventures, she had the chance to catch Loose Marbles playing in the Union Square subway station.  She bought their CD - no label save for "loosemarbles (a) gmail.com written on the back.  The tracks are unmarked.  I slipped the disc in and was hit with the most insanely incredible New Orleans Jazz music.  No, it was hot jazzy Nawlins goodness.  Judy was lucky enough to also be able to catch Chance and Amy jitterbugging like nobody’s business and Meshiya Lake belting out tunes, unmiked, above the sound of the band.  Dan Baum describes Loose Marbles as, "... a sort of Amalgamated Jazz Corporation.  The fifteen musicians play clarinet, trumpet, banjo, washboard, accordion, trombone, guitars, sousaphone, standup bass, and guitars.  The music varies depending upon who is playing."  This is an eclectic group of people who range from University music-school graduates to rail-riding, outdoor-living hobos who all have a love for Jazz.

Click the You Tube link and listen for your self.






Also, check out Dan Baum's article on Loose Marbles as well as James Heil's photo documentary of itenerate street players

Haha -- that clip is sweet, Don.  Just like being back in the Quarter.

I spent one of the best weeks of my life in that town -- or so they tell me...

And I love the way the cop car just cruises past about halfway through and don't give f***-all about the people playing in the middle of the street.

But you know, this stuff is just never, ever as good as it is live.

I saw this incredible girl who played the spoons -- and she had, like, 30 different spoons, of all shapes and sizes -- and she was playing Hendrix -- "All Along the Watchtower", it was.

Blew my mind.  No place like it, I tell ya'.

Anyways, fun clip.  Thanks for digging it up.

  

That was really great!

Thanks for sharing!

I've seen this group in the subways.  You'd be surprised at some of the talents you find in these spots.


Phil

I think they are freaking amazing.  I was reading Alan Furst's The Polish Officer after the fat kid and the skinny kid were in bed.  Judy had this cranking in the back room and I'm thinking all I need is a bottle of absinthe and I'm in pre-war France.

Don