Hey, Goddesses! Are you familiar with the expression “Drop the mic?” It’s the Hip Hop gesture that’s basically equivalent to “Top THAT!” Well, how about “There IS no mic. Top That!” Let us explain.

Now that we’ve introduced the great Old-Timey or Trad Jazz scene as demonstrated by the terrific street bands in New Orleans and multi-instrumentalist and music goddess, Shaye Cohn, we want to share and cover more fun and informative Roseannethropology by continuing to turn you on to under-exposed talent down in The Crescent City. New Orleans is where most Jazz scholars agree that Jazz, America’s classical music, was born and it’s where you’ll usually find Erika Lewis, who brings her powerful and authentic vocal stylings to the local scene as a featured singer in some varied settings. Most of the time it’s purely acoustic music in the links we’re providing, and the vocalists have only their lung power for amplification, hence, the opening reference, above, to dropping the mike. You have to ‘belt’ if you’re going to be heard in the street, but you can’t lose the vulnerability and sometimes lowdown spirit of some heartfelt tunes in the process. It takes a special skill and talent. We’ll let the music speak for itself, as we provide some links that showcase Erika’s delivery of real-deal old tunes first done by female Jazz and Blues pioneers, and we hope you’ll be prompted to check out some more links that appear as you take an historic musical tour of the town where it all began. And, check out the amazing young people who are giving it all new life!

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“I can’t get no grindin’ – Tell me what’s the matter with the mill!” – You GOTTA LOVE IT! Dig THIS! It’s not like there’s never a microphone in the mix; here’s Erika and Shaye and their trumpet player extraordinaire partner, Norbert, in a wickedly stripped down trio format with Shaye on piano! This was live at The Old Mint in New Orleans.

After you do some sampling and exploring the links to so many soulful performances, let us know you enjoy and appreciate this great art and the dedicated young performers who bring it to us without relying on extravagant production and glary spectacle. It’s an extra treat when you check out links that have some great dancers in the styles of the era, and it’s SO cool to note the Depression era clothes lots of players sport. Oh, Man, there’s a washboard player who looks like he just strolled out of a hobo jungle wearing an old-fashioned newsboy’s cap, and he takes some amazing ‘drum’ solos! We have a feeling that our flirtation with the great street bands of New Orleans is going to evolve into a lasting love affair with the music and the fantastic players. We want to get to know them better.

And, you can have a front row seat for it all, right here at DomesticGoddess.TV!