jazz festival | John Tebeau

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May 20, 2011 · 3:16 pm

First Postcard from New Orleans: Liuzza’s

"Liuzza's" John Tebeau, 2011

What’s the first thing one should do when attending the famed New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival? Run to the Acura stage and get good seats for the unique jazz stylings of Sonic Youth or Bon Jovi? NO! You FIRST stop at Liuzza’s for a Bloody Mary, foo.’ How many times I gotta tell you that….

Anyway, this little 5″ by 7″ painting (watercolor and ink on heavy acid-free paper) is first in a series I’ll be doing called Postcards from New Orleans. Any other subjects you’d like to recommend? Recommend away, mes amis! Recommend away….

New Orleans Jazz Fest or Bust (Seven Paintings and One for Free)

David Byrne for Mark Brush

The first portrait from this contest has been finished and delivered! Thank you, Mark Brush for the inspiration. Next up: Nina Simone for Kelsey McCune of Portland, Oregon.

"Dr. Nina Simone: The High Priestess of Soul"

Thanks again to everyone who provided thoughtful comments and posts.

–John

The Inspiration

Talking about New Orleans Jazz Festival with friends last weekend, I couldn’t help but get all worked up and want to go. Dammit, I’m like a chocoholic but for Jazz Fest (to paraphrase my favorite “Onion” editorial ever). I gotta go back. Have you been there? You know what I’m talking about? It’s the music, man. Okay, and the food and the voodoo and the booze. But mostly the music.

The Contest

Write a comment on this post (or email it to me at john@tebeau.com) and tell me about why you dig your favorite musician. ANY musician, not just the ones shown below. Even Mozart or Tom Jones. Is it a certain moment that inspired you? A song? Is it what they “stand for?” What is it about them that moves you? Tell me. On March 24 I’ll announce the winner, based on the responses, at my opening reception at Verlaine (110 Rivington St. in NYC). The prize is a free 11″ by 14″ portrait of the winner’s favorite musician. Judging will be based on content, heart, wit and spelling.

The Goal

The idea here is also to sell some paintings to justify the trip back to New Orleans. Not just any old paintings, but paintings I’ve done of musicians. Musicians make the magic. These people represent contact with the divine to many of us. Music is what makes us want to go to New Orleans Jazz Festival (and the food and the etc.), and hopefully these representations will make it happen for me this year. Need a gift for someone? Maybe you can get it right here. Maybe they can get their own if they win the contest.

Please pass this on to anyone you know who loves music, New Orleans, or art. It’s an opportunity for a free painting, and who knows? If I sell a few of these babies, maybe I’ll see you at Jazz Fest.