www.chazfest.com

An 'Hola Nola' Series

Hola Nola- and hola Charles Leary, aka Washboard Chaz. The frequent whistler whose washboard has many bells serves as the likeness and inspiration for a Bywater festival set for tomorrow.

It is now tradition that during the brief break from that other fest with which it happens to rhyme, ChazFest gathers musicians who are (for the most part) not booked for the big show to play in the 9th Ward backyard of local troubadour and fest organizer Alex McMurray at the Truck Farm Studios (3020 St. Claude Ave.).

Fact: the focus of this showcase is all local. And not only is the water okay to drink, it’s also cheap. The ten hours of music starts tomorrow at noon.

There’s no question  that Chaz is one of many faces of the local scene o sought after by tourists who walk all the way to Frenchmen St. He’s been so fully minted as a New Orleans character, in fact, that one would never know he’s a yankee, from New York! After life around the Big Apple, Chaz headed out west and lived for 22 years in Boulder, CO., until finally finding and settling in the Crescent City at the turn of the millennium. Upon moving here, he quickly formed the Washboard Chaz Blues Trio with Ben Maygarden and Roberto Luti, on harmonica and slide guitar, respectively, followed by an additional three-piece group, the Tin Men. For this project, Chaz teamed up with Sousaphonist Matt Perrinne and singer-songwriter/Hola Nola alumnus Alex McMurray to become one of the most well-known and celebrated local bands in town.
 

Since then, Chaz has hit the washboard with Royal Fingerbowl, The Jazz Vipers, The Iguanas, Tuba Fats, the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, The Palmetto Bug Stompers and Washboard Rodeo, had a song featured in Bad Lieutenant  (‘Mother Died’).
 

In honor of this year’s installment of Chazfest, we went straight to the source of its inspiration to see what get his musicla goat, and hear the songs that keep WC
strapping on the old rub board.

Here’s what we found:

1. “Preaching Blues” -- Robert Johnson
When I first heard this song, I, like many others, thought there had to be two guitars. It is probably the most incredible acoustic guitar recording of all time; I still get goose bumps whenever I hear it. My Blues Trio end our show with this every night and it never ceases to amaze me how it captures the crowd and sends them into a frenzy.
 

2. “Cherokee” -- Bud Powell, Max Roach and Charles Mingus
This was recorded in June of 1953 at Toronto's Massey Hall, and billed as The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever. Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie were on the bill as well, but one side of the double album was this trio. I was in my heavy bebop phase, as well as beginning to get serious about playing the washboard. The song is at hyper speed with amazing solos by Powell (piano) and Roach (drums). I studied Max's solo for years and was somehow able to play it almost note for note on the board. One of my great inspirational recordings.

3. “Sweet Georgia Brown” -- Rahsaan Roland Kirk
This song is on Kirk's 1975 recording The Return Of The 5000 lb. Man. It has amazing washboard played by Fred Moore of  New Orleans. Man, I thought if I could ever play as fast and as good as he did, I would have it made. He plays double time to the band's half time the whole length of the song. Also of note: some amazing whistling by William Eaton.

4. “Ozona” -- Alex McMurray
One of the most beautiful, heartbreaking songs ever. The song just stirs something in my soul that brings out so much emotion. Alex doesn't play it much anymore, but once in a blue moon, we'll do it with the Tin Men, as we did a few weeks ago. Standing on stage with him playing this song is like an out of body experience.

5. “Fingertips Part I and II" -- Little Stevie Wonder
The song that burst Little Stevie Wonder onto the radio. It was amazing for someone at my age of twelve, to be performing at such a high level backed by Motown greats. It's a live recording with the famous shout "What key, What key" as Stevie came back onstage and improvised the final saga. A hint of things to come…

6. “Take 5” -- Dave Brubeck Quartet
This song epitomized the West Coast cool jazz sound. It was written by Paul Desmond in the time signature of 5/4, which wasn't heard much at the time. It’s a pleasantly complex song that, along with Miles Davis' "Kind Of Blue", turned people on to Jazz who never would have otherwise. Overall, a beautiful song that I love listening to.

7. “Like A Rolling Stone” -- Bob Dylan
The song where Dylan went electric and got booed at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. An amazing song about privilege and the loss of it, also the first five-minute song on am radio in the 60s. The summer of '65, one heard this song along with the Stones' "Satisfaction’ every hour on every commercial radio station. A great piece of songwriting by Mr. Bob.

8. “She Loves You” -- The Beatles
What is there to say? It’s the song that changed music in America for better (or worse). Horn bands were out for a number of years, and bands started writing their  own songs. I grew up in New York and remember when they [The Beatles] came in February of '64, two and a half months after John F. Kennedy was killed. Watching them on the Ed Sullivan Show, I could almost feel things changing. What a great piece of songwriting, especially with the chorus leading the intro to the song. Listen to it again- it’s still a great song.

9. “Corrina" -- Taj Mahal
Written with Jesse Ed Davis, this song captures the essence of Taj early in his career from the 1968 album The Natch'l Blues. The banjo being played at a half time beat with an ode to a woman really sets the song up. Taj was an inspiration then, a young black man playing acoustic Blues. I've known Taj for thirty years, and his career has moved in so many roots music directions. I play this song with my Blues Trio and looking out at the crowd, people of a certain age are singing along with me. A beautiful song.

10. “Mannish Boy” -- Muddy Waters
A primal shout of early Chicago Blues proclaiming: I'm not down south anymore and I am a MAN. The guitar work and shouts in the background are as real as anything ever, ever recorded. Absolutely love this recording.