UPDATE on the NOLA massacre, from the Babylon Bee

Further to our report on an unpleasant incident in New Orleans, in which a former soldier, who may or may not have been a Muslim, and may or may not have been a member of ISIS, and may or may not have been a jihadi wanna bet, took out 15 innocent bystanders, we are pass on the news, gleaned from the Babylon Bee (where else!) that the "FBI Assures Nation It Will Put Its Most Diverse Agents On Terror Case".

Makes you feel safe and secure, doesn't it?

"Allahu akbar!" in NOLA - Another year of peaceful coexistence begins

New Year's celebrations and festivities surrounding the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans were marred (but not cancelled) before dawn this morning, when a man driving a pickup truck rammed it into a crowd in the French Quarter, killing ten and injuring dozens more.

We were about to run the customary meme when someone said, "What if it's an 'anti-Islamist', like the guy in Magdeburg?" So we waited a couple of hours, and sure enough...

The FBI is investigating the slaughter of innocents as an act of terrorism. An Islamic State group flag was found in the vehicle, they said, along with an IED (read: bomb). The driver, who was killed in an exchange of gunfire with New Orlean's finest, has been identified the driver as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, a resident of Texas. It's possible that he is not unrelated to the Shamsud Din Jabbar who appears in this video selfie.

 

If this property manager of Blue Meadow Properties LLC in Sugar Land TX (not a million miles from New Orleans) is the person shown in this photo, he will no longer be in a position to represent you in your real estate dealings.

For some reason, the religion of the deceased terrorist has not been revealed, but if we are correct in our assumption (lifetime pct .987) he is at this very moment in Paradise, being serviced by 72 virgins.

Sleepy Joe Biden, speaking to reporters from his basement in Delaware, said he felt "anger and frustration" over the attack, which would never have happened had he only been re-elected. He is said to be considering a pre-emptive posthumous pardon for the late jihadi.

UPDATED: VIDEO: Tuba Skinny runs afoul of the New Orleans LAW!

Walt's message for Independence Day: America is no fun any more! In this video, starting at the 3:55 mark you'll see Walt's favourite Dixieland New Orleans jazz band, Tuba Skinny, get busted by the New Orleans po-leece for "blocking traffic" on Royal Street. This was on April Fool's Day, but it was no joke.  

   

The well-named James Sterling, who posts many of the Tuba Skinny videos, writes: 

After much delay and confusion the City of New Orleans has returned Royal Street to a pedestrian mall as of April 26, 2022.   However, there is still pressure from certain business owners on Royal St. to ban the pedestrian mall so the struggle will continue. 

If you support the band and the freedom to make people happy, you can email the Civic Authorities and tell them what you think.

UPDATE ADDED 4/7/22: Good news, boys and girls! Tuba Skinny were not arrested when the New Orleans cops returned to the scene of their "crime". Guess they were in full compliance by then, because less than 48 hours later they appeared at the annual Abita Springs Buskerfest. Click here to see the just-released full video, 100 minutes of excellent Dixieland New Orleans jazz!

VIDEO: Latest Tuba Skinny webcast

Ed. here. It's been a while since Walt gave you a break from politics and religion. It's also some time since we reposted a video featuring Tuba Skinny (leader, Shaye Cohn), possibly the greatest New Orleans (formerly "Dixieland") jazz band extant. So here's their webcast from yesterday afternoon. If you like it, please tip the band: Paypal - tubaskinny@gmail.com; Venmo - @tubaskinny



Politics, religion... there was another topic we used to talk/write about... what was it... oh yeah, hockey! Poor Len Canayen reports that the 16 teams competing for the Stanley Cup have entered bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton and will start playing (in empty arenas, sadly) this coming week. Poor Len may... or may not... have something to say about the possibility of the Montréal Canadiens, seeded 16th, going home with Lord Stanley's silverware, in a few days.

VIDEO: Latest Tuba Skinny number - the band needs your help now!

Regular readers will know that Walt is a hyuge fan of Tuba Skinny, the best New Orleans jazz band extant. Today we have a new number, posted to YouTube just yesterday, "The Variety Stomp". But hear this! James Sterling, who puts up these videos, has added an

URGENT APPEAL! "Tuba Skinny and all New Orleans musicians are in a financial crisis and need your help. All concerts, clubs, and restaurants are now closed due to COVID-19. Go to tubaskinny.com and purchase music or tip the band. Links provided on the band's web page. These YouTube videos are free but the band has bills to pay so please help the band in their time of need."



Walt [and Ed.! Ed.] ask you to help out, if you can. And tell `em Walt sent ya!

VIDEO: Brand new tune from Shaye Cohn and Tuba Skinny

Got the mid-winter blahs? Here's some New Orleans jazz that'll get you tapping your toes and feeling GOOD. The Tuba Skinny Jazz Band, praised here before, plays a new composition by Shaye Cohn. Robin introduced it as "The Diamond Dove Song" but James Sterling, who posted it to YouTube says he's not sure if that's the official title or if it's simply "The Diamond Dove".



Recorded at The Starlight Lounge in New Orleans, on 15 January 2020. Mr Sterling says you may need to turn up the volume, as he's experimenting with new recording equipment.

MUSIC VIDEO: Latest from Tuba Skinny - "Forget Me Not Blues"

Had a nice rest this weekend from things political, on either side of the World's Longest Undefended Border. [Lotsa Canadians wondering if it will ever be defended! Ed.] Let's begin a new week... and a new season... with the latest offering from my absolute favourite New Orleans-style jazz band, Tuba Skinny. It's called "Forget Me Not Blues".



Publishing this in B&W [sepia-tone? Ed.] rather than colour is a nice touch, gives it kind of an olde-tymey look to go with the olde-tymey sound.

MUSIC VIDEO: Newbie but goodie from Tuba Skinny, just dropped

Nice to take a break on a hot summer day -- and I do mean hot -- from politics and religion and relax with an ice cold Dixie. And what better kind of music to accompany the imbibing than a new piece by Tuba Skinny, the greatest New Orleans Jazz Band on this side of the Pacific! Just posted to YouTube on July 24th, this is "Cushion Foot Stomp".



If you enjoyed this (and how could you not?!), check out "Won't You Be Kind to Me?", posted on WWW 27/4/19 and the band's first appearance on WWW, 12/1/19, recorded at the Albita Springs Opry, 19 June 2017.

NEW TUBA SKINNY VIDEO: "Won't You Be Kind to Me?"

Ed. again. While we wait for Walt's blood pressure to get somewhere near normal, it falls to me to find other stuff for this space. "Other stuff" includes topics other than politics, religion and -- sorry, Len --hockey. From time to time we like to share a bit of music, guaranteed to brighten you day. In January we introduced Tuba Skinny, a New Orleans traditional jazz band formed in 2009. The ensemble includes tuba, trombone, cornet, tenor banjo, guitar, vocals, washboard, and clarinet, and is inspired by the jazz and blues music of the 1920s and 1930s.

The band has performed on streets and stages around the world, including music festivals in Mexico, Sweden, Australia, Italy, France, Switzerland and Spain. They're all great musicians, but my favourite, the erstwhile leader of the band, is Shaye Cohen. The granddaughter of noted jazz musician Al Cohn, she plays (in addition to cornet) the fiddle, piano, accordion, banjo and spoons! The only thing I've never heard her do is sing.

Listen for Shaye's stage direction before and during this performance of "Won't You Be Kind to Me?", a Memphis Jug Band/Hattie Hart song from 1929. This video was recorded on April 14th at The French Quarter Festival, Jackson Square Stage. Thanks to James Sterling for putting it up on YouTube.