New Orleans jazz clarinet queen Doreen Ketchens is beloved by locals and tourists alike. 2023 Copyright. On a recent weekend, the task force issued 300 citations, impound 50 vehicles, and arrested 20 individuals, according to the CHP website. Ketchens has played with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. on April 1. DK: Thank you! Charges included assault on a police officer, possession of a firearm and possession of drugs. You have to practice and be ready to perform at the drop of a hat. As I got older, I remember one of my first recordings with Kermit Ruffins. This is for all types of music even classical. I'd bet you can go there most days to hear her. California Highway Patrol officers were called to assist the Pomona Police Department Sunday night when a large group of vehicles took part in a street takeover. Id find a recording of the song we were supposed to play, and just play along, figuring out the tune, and what to play to sound good. More than 25 Million People have loved and shared Doreen Ketchens video clips on YouTube, Vimeo and Facebook. Royal St. @ St. Peter St., Friday - Sunday, 11am - 1pm. A very special evening of New Orleans Jazz with Doreen Ketchens and Doreen's Jazz New Orleans! Rudy Reyes talks about his time on 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test', Southern California storm: Region hit with heavy rain, mountain snow, gusty winds, Look outside! The misinformation created a near panic among travelers. How are you thinking? I told him I was positive. CHP officers said that when they arrived at the scene they saw plumes of smoke from people performing burnouts. FREE Weekly Roundup! Doreen's Jazz, performing on Royal Street in front of Rouse's Market in the French Quarter. Today, she is one of the regular drummers backing the group. International Clarinet Association. Doreen Ketchens and her family perform on Doreen's corner. Chris F. Elite 2022. 2017. There are so many good clarinetists out there, and they want the jobs too. I looked in, and there was Mr. Batiste. Get our L.A. She has been featured in numerous documentaries about New Orleans, its music, and its heritage, and she has been seen on television in shows like HBO's Treme. BR: Tell us about the equipment you play. So I told my mom, I ran home, I said, Mom we have to raise some money because I want to be queen, and all this other stuff, and she said, Well what Ill do is Ill just sell a little candy out of the front door, and thats what she did. Wed start at 9 in the morning and play until 9 or sometimes even until 11 at night! Weve been doing Facebook Live concerts from our dining room, where we ask for donations to our virtual bucket. Most mornings, I get up in the morning, play some etudes, then we record some tunes. DK: Dorian, my daughter has been playing with us since she was 4. We are clarinet cousins! Doreen Ketchens plays Tin Roof Blues on Royal street in New Orleans. Im like, Man, we aint never had no pop quiz, we aint gonna have no pop quiz, are you crazy? But sure enough, when we got back up to the class, there was a pop quiz. I was warming up, and Mr. Marsalis walked in. Authorities said they impounded 19 vehicles in connection with the street takeover near the intersection of Rio Rancho Road and Rancho Valley Drive. Earlier in his career, he worked for Eastsider L.A. Although when home in New Orleans she can often be found on Royal Street performing for tourists and other French Quarter strollers, she is an . Give me, a kiss to build a dream on . At that time, there were four funeral homes within three blocks of our home, so Second Lines would pass constantly, passing my house and my school several times every week. 27 arrested during street takeover in Pomona. Many news and travel websites were reporting that a visa would be needed starting in 2021, even though it had clearly been stated that this form was not a visa. Ben Redwine retired from the United Stated Naval Academy Band in 2014. Most of the people were arrested on suspicion of spectating or participating in the takeover. Eventually, I realized what he was doing, and it translated into me being able to improvise. She began playing in Jackson Square with her first band, the Jackson Square All-Stars. ), Louisiana State University (M.M. Dispatchers with the Pomona Police Department received a call just before 9 p.m. from a concerned citizen who reported the drivers were doing burnouts in a shopping center parking lot. [5], https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Doreen%27s_Jazz_New_Orleans&oldid=1116900736, This page was last edited on 18 October 2022, at 22:47. I was destroying these beautiful instruments in the weather, so Im glad I found this composite clarinet. She began to study with clarinetist Stanley Weinstein. People would come to sit in, and they could play circles around me. Authorities claim they found a firearm and drugs in one of the vehicles. Thank you for your recognition of Ketchens and that true-to-life photo. How to find the best blooms without the drama, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Yet more rain expected to hit California in March. Recorded live on April 5, 2012 with a Nikon D800 DSLR using a Rode Vid. Their styles at the time were against what I was studying, trying to get a perfect classical clarinet tone. Reynolds was in New Orleans to write about the street. You know what I mean? Doreen Ketchens is a regular on Royal Street, the home for street performers in New Orleans French Quarter. For more information and updates about how New Orleans is addressing the Covid-19 outbreak including restaurants that are currently open for takeout and delivery please visit, Doreen Ketchens playing on Royal Street in the French Quarter. New Orleans, LA. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? Dorreen Ketchens and band playing on Royal Street, French Quarter, New Orleans. (Photo: Adriana Lopez). Leave a Review. When I went to college, I didnt know what an A clarinet was, but I learned that I needed to buy one. [5] She ran a plate lunch eatery called "Doreen's Sweets" for a time until she and Lawrence kept passing musicians working the streets of New Orleans, and she told him that they could make money doing that. All Rights Reserved. May. BR: Yes, thank you for agreeing to this interview. NS: At what point in all this do you say to yourself, not only am I good at the clarinet, but I could continue to study and become a professional musician? I was walking around, feeling sorry for myself, and I heard a clarinet being played in a room. A woman of many talents, Doreen worked her way through conservatories and college as a chef. Jupiter and Venus meet for rare conjunction. Want this Picture? Still to this day, nobody plays like Stanley. Someone will come up and say, Can I sit in? And, well say, Sure, you can play one or two songs. Sometimes we have to say, Thank you, thank you, just to get them to not play any more. I played Mitchell Lurie reeds in college. Doreen Ketchens is one of New Orleans' most visible street musicians. In the fifth grade while attending Joseph Craig Elementary, she signed up for the school band in order to escape a pop quiz. Required fields are marked *. Back in January, I was recording a film for Branford Marsalis, Ellis came around a few times, and we had worked out what we were going to play one song together, and one song as a solo with the LPO. The only relief I got in that class was when Mr. Marsalis stopped trashing me in class to start trashing Harry! The name eventually evolved to Doreens Jazz New Orleans, making Doreen the first female bandleader. So, I went to his house for the rehearsal. She. This cool kids outdoors club will introduce you to L.A.s best asset, Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate Wednesday, its last major COVID restriction, Burbank aborted landing was latest close call for U.S. flights. In front of Rouse's on Royal St., usually midday to early afternoon, Thursday thru Sunday. Its their privilege to lose. Do you have any thoughts about this cultural phenomenon? To get out of a pop quiz, she responded to an announcement asking interested students to come and sign up for the band. She formed her band called the Jackson Square All Stars, and they began playing in the French Quarters Jackson Square. Jazz clarinetist and music educator Doreen Ketchens is famous for her performances on Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Doreen Ketchens is an American jazz clarinetist who performs Dixieland and Trad Jazz. 290. He was a very gifted educator. Email will originate from news@neworleans.com. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Yosemite breaks decades-old snowfall record, closing national park indefinitely, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a jungle and Maya ruins, Has wildflower shaming gone too far? Doreen grew up in Trem, a New Orleans neighborhood that birthed several extraordinary musicians including Kermit Ruffins, Trombone Shorty, Louis Prima, and The Rebirth Brass Band, just to name a few. So, I started to look for a new mouthpiece, and I saw the DAddario marbled mouthpiece. He gave me some advice which I didnt really understand, then he said retrogression. I still didnt understand him, but he said it again, then showed me on the piano. Police issued eight parking citations and a moving citation and impounded a vehicle, according to Pomona police spokesperson Aly Mejia. Before you knew it, almost every girl wanted to play the flute. Joseph, what are you doing here? I said, Im playing on this recording session. He said, You mean to tell me, all those years at NOCCA, you werent interested in jazz, and now youre playing jazz? I encourage readers to visit my website: doreensjazz.com, where you can learn more about me and where you can purchase recordings, and even get in touch with me yourself! I sat down, virtually, with Doreen Ketchens in November 2020. 13th, 2017. Will you relate your memories of growing up in New Orleans, what your perception of the city was, and when it was that you first became interested in music? About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . I needed some rehearsals, I thought! Pomona. She has performed at concert halls, music festivals, and U.S. embassies, as well as in decades of weekly performances in Dixieland's tradition in the Royal Street Performing Arts Zone in the French Quarter of New Orleans with her band, Doreen's Jazz New Orleans. After high school, Doreen attended Loyola University, which is where she met her husband Lawrence. Hes a rocket scientist too. According to CHP- Baldwin Park Office, while one person was attempting to leave, they intentionally rammed into a CHP patrol vehicle. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. DK: Roger Lewis, with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, lived five doors away from me, and they used to practice at his apartment, so I heard them a lot! All Rights Reserved. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. BR: Who were your musical idols when you were learning your instrument? I had rarely played with a symphony, and it had been a long time since I had played with him. In the meantime, my husbands father passed away, then shortly after, my father passed away, so we moved back to New Orleans. Press J to jump to the feed. Use this community to ask New Orleans locals questions that you may not be able to find on Google: recommendations for restaurants, itinerary suggestions, questions about specific neighborhoodsetc. What is the name of this blonde guy who plays the guitar in Doreen's band @ the royal street? So, he was Uncle Al after that. We have been enjoying her for more than 25 years. I started playing jazz because I fell in love with a tuba player! Before that, Solis was at the Redding Record Searchlight as a multimedia journalist, where he anchored coverage of the destructive 2017 fires in Northern California. May. We'd start at 9 in the morning and play until 9 or sometimes even until 11 at night! Doreen J. Ketchens Click for SMASHING VIDEO New Orleans, Louisiana 701 Royal Street & St. Peter contact number (504)908-7119 Youtube : Doreens Jazz New Orleans ), and The Catholic University of America (D.M.A.). By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. She has performed at concert halls, music festivals, and U.S. embassies, as well as in decades of weekly performances in Dixieland 's tradition in the Royal Street Performing Arts Zone in the French Quarter of New Orleans with her band, Doreen's Jazz New Orleans. 1 Second Line is a New Orleans tradition in which a second line of revelers follows behind a first line of parade participants and musicians. DK: I was in fifth grade, we were at lunch, and there was a rumor going around that wed have a pop quiz. Ive been playing DAddario Reserve 5 reeds too. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. DK: When I started, all I could do was play melodies. None of my family members were musicians, but my dad was a member of a social aid and pleasure club, and he used to Second Line all the time.1 He played the stereo constantly, so Im sure thats where my musical influence came from. She is famous for being one of the best clarinet-players in the Crescent City, holding forth from her regular spot on Royal street in the famous French Quarter. [citation needed]. If I had been raised by Mr. Marsalis, I would be the greatest clarinetist in the whole world, Id know everything there is to know about music, and everything, because he had this way of pushing you and making you feel like dirt if you didnt live up to his standards. And, it was like a key opening a door, which made me able to play the song! [5], She worked her way through conservatories and college as a chef, and met her husband, arranger and sousaphonist for Doreen's Jazz New Orleans, Lawrence Ketchens at Loyola. [2] The group has been featured in numerous articles, including New Orleans' Jazz radio station's Busker Blog. Doreen ran an eatery called Doreens Sweets until she and Lawrence realized they could make money following their first passion, music, after seeing so many musicians seemingly do so on the streets. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. People tell me all the time, Oh, your sound is so beautiful, but Im really still chasing the Stanley sound! The couple began performing on the streets of New Orleans in 1987.[5]. Im not a child anymore, but Im going to be okay! The weather really does wreak havoc on instruments. Published September 6, 2022. When I have experienced this, the look on an amateurs face is priceless, as they seem to be having the time of their life. So, he said, You must think positively. POMONA, Calif. - Over two dozen people were arrested during an illegal street . Did you have any contact with them when you were growing up? He previously worked for Courthouse News Service, where he wrote both breaking news and enterprise stories ranging from criminal justice to homelessness and politics. She tells Ben Redwine for Clarinet.org: It's been 30-35 years, 4 days a week. Free concert series in the idyllic Sauk County setting of Witwen Campground. There was no real work here, I mean, were back home in New Orleans, the symphony has gone bust for the third time, so we took a walk out in the quarter one day, and there were some people playing in the street. I started listening to Louis Armstrong. Live, performing in the greatest traditions of the music, at the Royal Street Performing Arts Zone.That heavenly sound wafting down from Royal Street and St. Peter is the magical clarinet of the great Doreen Ketchens, one of the world's top Jazz clarinetists, and her band, Doreen's Jazz New Orleans, is performing on St. Peter, the French Quarter street closed to traffic as a space for live performance, in their usual spot on at the corner of Royal Street and St Peter.She packs the tent at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival every year, and amazes and delights clubs in the North America, Europe, Latin America, and at corporate events and private parties. Public performance. He told me, You know, you probably didnt do as badly in that audition as you think you did. But New Orleans jazz musician Doreen Ketchens has garnered much acclaim over the years for her incredible talent with the clarinet. We created our own gigs by playing out on the street, and weve gone many places in the world from the street from that very corner. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) April 14, 2019 7 AM PT Great to read the article on New Orleans (". Since weve been playing for so long, if someone is in my spot, and I show up, theyll say, Oh, Doreen, I didnt know you were coming today. There is respect among musicians. He earned degrees from the University of Oklahoma (B.M.E. Of course, he knew all of that, but he said to me, I kind of remember your bridge, but show me what youre doing. I said, You want me to teach you something? So, I showed him, and he nailed it, of course. [4] Their band evolved into "Doreen's Jazz New Orleans," and, after much struggle with the chauvinism of traditional Jazz and club owners, they managed to find a winning formula playing and entertaining crowds via their street shows, Jazz festivals, and then, through direct sales of their music and videos on the Internet. I didnt even know what it was called, it just looked pretty, so I chose the clarinet! Doreen Ketchens, dubbed "Lady Louis" is one of the world's greatest living Jazz clarinetists. Great to read the article on New Orleans (New Orleans True Royalty, by Christopher Reynolds, April 7), especially about Doreen Ketchens, an incredible jazz clarinet player, and her group. Nick Spitzer: Sounds like you kind of became a queen of the neighborhood just by having your name on the sweet shop. DK: Yes, all the time! Here she is performing the jazz and gospel classic, "Just a Closer. 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