 Good afternoon everyone. Good afternoon. What a wonderful crowd and what a beautiful afternoon at the Shadows on the Tesh. My name is Catherine Malone France. I'm the Senior Vice President for Historic Sites at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. As you know many of you I hope the National Trust has been a part of this community for more than 50 years as the owner and the operator of the Shadows on the Tesh. And I'm delighted to be here today and we're honored to have been able to support the incredible production you're about to see with a grant from the National Trust newly created African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. We're funding projects all over the country that preserve and interpret African American history and culture. Projects just like what you are going to see today that truly bring history to life. And I'm particularly delighted to see so many young people in the crowd today. You know our we are all young at heart. You know our best projects at our National Trust Historic Sites around the country are just like this one in that they have deep local roots but they also have national impacts and long lives. And I know that this one is going to be just that. I'm so grateful to all of our local partners here and some of them will speak in a moment grateful to the staff here at the Shadows on the Tesh. Pat Kale and her wonderful staff to the Bunk Johnson Jazz Festival, the Bunk Johnson Brass Band and many others who have supported this project. You know preservation is not just painting a building or repointing a building it's the work you're going to see today which is about excavating and reclaiming and telling and retelling stories. And that work is incredibly important because I believe that it brings us together and it binds us together and in doing so I think it creates a more united and a more hopeful community and a more united and a more hopeful country. So thank you for being here with us today and with that it's my pleasure to introduce one of our wonderful local partners Judge Porter who is representing the Bunk Johnson Brass, I mean the Bunk Johnson Jazz Festival. Remember it. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Feels good out here. Feels great. It's wonderful to have you thank you all for coming and joining us for this absolutely wonderful opportunity to see Broadway on LA 182. I'm first I'd like to recognize and ask the members of the Board of Directors of the Bunk Johnson Festival to please stand so that you can be noted at this time. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The Bunk Johnson Brass Band will appear in the concert later to knock your socks off. All right. But Dwaylan Jackson who is the band leader is in the play Mona Jackson who's also on the board is in the play as well. So you'll see those guys and you'll see them a second time. We just want to thank the shadows of the National Trust for asking us to be partners and to be with this terrific author and writer and creator and now that I have given her a new name Hurricane Diaz. She is a wonder and a great treasure to not only the shadows in this project but to the world. Thank you. We're still on. Thank you Judge Porter and thank you Catherine. I'm going to be really brief because what I have to say is coming up next. I did want to though just thank the the trust and the shadows for this wonderful opportunity and in particular to thank the Bunk Johnson Jazz Festival board and in particular Judge Porter, Doc Gilbert and Phoebe Hayes who were just my wonderful tour guides and showing me the the beauty and the wonder and the history and the richness and the struggle of this community and I hope we have just begun to do it justice. This is the debut performance so I'm really really delighted to bring it to you just to kind of show you what all of our efforts have brought and also I wanted to thank the many many members of this community who consented to doing interviews with me and sharing your stories, sharing your knowledge, sharing your personal histories and philosophies and I can't I don't have my glasses on so I can't see who you are but if you if you were someone who was interviewed by me would you stand and just because I know Phoebe you you were doing both things at the same time so Judge Porter as well so and I'm just really delighted to have gotten to know Bunk Johnson just a little bit and to bring this work to you and I hope you enjoy it. One last thing if you have a cell phone would you put it on silence because I know you want to take pictures so that's all right but if we don't want to have anybody calling us up and lastly I did want to dedicate this this afternoon's performance to my brilliant beautiful and blessed sister and Saki Shange who just recently passed and she was my mentor and muse and one of my best friends because my other one is my my baby sister Bisa who is we today so thank you very much I hope you enjoy the show testing deacon Roland John Lewis will offer an invocation at this time force please let us begin in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit all that God has created and sustains all the events he guides and all human works that are good and have a good purpose prompt those who believe to praise and bless the Lord with hearts and voices he is the source and origin of every blessing by this celebration today we proclaim our belief that all things work together for the good of those who fear and love God we are sure that in all things we must seek the help of God so that in complete reliance on his will we may in Christ do everything for his glory we offer this prayer today through Christ our Lord in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit just for a night more what harm will it do it's 1949 these are modern times black man can go where he wants we don't save the world for democracy shoot after I cut my record I might buy this joint bunk Johnson back on top we can't just go I invited people used to work here don't mean you can trace around Mr. Weeks won't mind me and him are like this well sort of weeks all here and this is my place the yoke wasn't so welcoming to black today is different we're having a party need to bring some joy up in here Bunk Johnson out of shadows Lazarus rising to walk again among the living you gotta forgive him he don't know he can't help himself yes sir old bunk is back back on track wonder who's coming did you get my letter we all did Bunk Johnson he was a famous musician played with Louis Armstrong that's right what's there when jazz was born that's right sometimes he would wander off and come back wander off and come back from who knows he wrote me a letter once from jail pencil script down to the nib dear period mr. period weeks period on toilet period paper period 10 long sheets I kid you there is almost every word like the words were notes and he was writing out a song 10 sheets of toilet paper long odd it seems to me my yard man starting up all this commotion bump bump bump that negro monster broke me a hun time got a whole basket just for my bum a letter from but was never too small notion get the whole life story chapter my dear kind friend yes I'm glad it's easy to hear from you once more if you ain't good to be in touch with you again are you gonna make good on that promise you made before I'm sorry to disturb your peace with them don't go cops that got me and put me in jail I know my pace past due for a couple of weeks but could you maybe get in advance to make my bail it's a dog gone shame that one of the creators of jazz has to make his living god forgive him mowing the grass I'm nearly out of patience and almost out of cash I've been trying to get with you to put together some good cats for my bed sadly it's true I'm surely overdue been jumping between the pot and the frying pan it's a setup place you said that would be top and bottom because I can't play my trumpet at all tell I got them the doctors told me they cost 175 bucks till I hear from you or pal I'm plumb out of luck oh shucks Big Bill Russell lately of New York I hear from good old Louis but I'm here to tell you that sport if you want to know about jazz or he knows well not quite that's right all his good secrets and how to blow that's right yours truly got the whole story the genesis in all its glory I know every cat that played and every sad take you to the spots yes well the music first got hot and tell you about the greatest players who ever played want to know about a thing called jazz but johnson's got the first word and he's got the last yours too got the whole story the genesis in all its glory I know every cat that played and every sound they ever made to the spots yes where the music first got hot and tell you about the greatest players who ever played and the thing you want to know about a thing but johnson's got the first word and he's got the last I wish you had written just one letter to me a letter say dear never send me one now I want y'all to know that I'm a born again newly minted Catholic took catechism and everything late in life on a count of one marred bauquet here my wife to make an honest woman out of the women I've been living with half my life marred bauquet come and dance with me your number one ending da da da da da da da da da dee look listen da da da dee dee da let's try it over look listen do you see why his name is bump I called it mr. johnson to encourage better behavior what good did that do don't pay no attention to my wife I willy gary bun johnson have not have no small town life. I'm not originally from around here, New Iberian. Seriously? Really? You gonna go there? My band, my story, take a chair. Bunk Johnson out of the shadows. First thing you need to know, I'm a descendant of the Congo. Congo Square, born on Constance Street between Peters and Octavia in uptown New Orleans on the 27th of December, 1879. What? You told me 1889. Draft notice said 82. What difference it make? The data's of no importance. The place, that's what I'm talking about. New Orleans. Jewel of the South, mouth of the Mississippi where all the world met up for one big, juicy kiss. That's what I'm talking about. You got natures, homer, jidamaja, a takapa. Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Dutch. Zulu, Congo, Akang, Tutsi, and Tuar. And don't forget that you're above. Patience, patience, Panamanians, Jakes, cowpulks, Arocanians, Catholics, Baptists, Muslims, and Jews with a touch of the blue. Kind of Creole scene, black and white and never shading between. You might knock a top on the street party. Nice and nasty, the music. Come from where? Come from the growing. Tender ass, the tenderloin, birthplace of the funky. But one half swagger, one half strut. That's what I'm talking about. My hometown, the Jewel of the South. Sweet, sweet, back in New Orleans. Shiny, black, honest of a thing. The music played from dawn to dawn. Hold on to this place where jazz could be born. Around them tumble of pure sin and sound. Talking about sweet, sweet, back in New Orleans. Shiny, black, honest of a thing. The music played from dawn to dawn. Hold on to this place where jazz could be born. Around them tumble of pure sin and sound. Boys wear miles of- One big hill who can clear a whole field. Running from night riders in their dreams. I'm awake. To three parts, heaven and five portels. A place they all call the story of me. Of a sad, sad story to tell. I got a fuel. You better bring something to sell. Something to sell. I'm broke. With these dudes. Them knacks on your shoes. No, it ain't. From the dust tracks on your shoes. Teresa's food wagons. Bread beans and rice, cabbage and cornbread. With pure cane syrup and a cup. Brothers and sisters, and we weren't living poor. The Longshoremen and men with them big cotton screws. Everybody knew her. Facing an old sturd event where the grain was loaded. They lined up in a bunch from my mama's bucket lunch. That's how I hooked up with Buddy Bolden. Charles Bolden, first name Buddy. Boy was he the king. First heard him in 95, playing in Lincoln Park. My feet been following ever since. Brother man, this imprint. Life ain't been the same since. That faithful day. I heard Bolden play. I will stand standing right beside the man. I'm talking about Buddy Bolden. He was a shining star. No one could hold a candle to him. I was there. You just got to take my word. He was the greatest trumpeter that you ever heard. That horn sing. Boy, oh boy, I'm never gonna forget this. The greatest trumpet player you ever heard. Hey mama Teresa, what you got there? We got red beans and rice, but it's two cabbage and a cup of syrup. You know that's the fish. You gonna give me some of that over you got brewing in the bag? Listen up, man. Everybody read on the king. Provisin' on a melody from four flats, from F sharp to B. Bent notes all up in his head just dancin'. And in the old key, fast and furious fingering. As crazy as it was loud. Everywhere he went, that cat would y'all cry. Say, down beat on the floor. Making you move till everybody was on their feet. Dancing to the groove from up, time to down. Blastin' his way to a new world of sound. Tell everything that went before. Stumped into the ground. Down beat on the floor. Making you move till everybody was on their feet. Dancing to the groove from up, time to down. Blastin' his way to a new world of sound. Tell everything that went before. Stumped into the ground. Boy, oh, take a chance, you know, to sit in which, if I could, you falls down, stays down. You ready? He didn't know I had been going around getting the boys to teach me. I told him I couldn't read, and we'll get him to play the parts and then run home to practice. Easy for that head music. But was I ready? Ain't nothin' worse than a man that gets cut from the bandstand. Steppin' off stage, head down low, carryin' your hat in your hands. Will he rise to the occasion or disappoint? My test would come at Victor Woz. Join over on Rampart Street. You can come in on a break. Give you a chance to get rid of those shakes. Three balloons, boys. And he started playin' that pure execution. Pure pitch tone that pierced your ear. And dope's comin' out of his head like runnin' water. I'm a dead man, walkin' the slaughter. So I stepped in the center of the bandstand. Everybody lookin' at me. Is the young blood gonna be a man? Everybody lookin' to see. Will he hold up or leave with his hat in his hand? What you think it's gonna be? But he stepped up, just eggin' me. You wanna play with the king? Let's be able to sing. You who falls down, stays down. Keep up a dime, my old mind. The crowd drew closer and close, makin' bets as they was drinkin'. Buddy boatin', spittin' our notes. Faster than I was thinkin' them. That's when the dows begin to creep and I became forlorn. How can I compete with boldin' on the horn? But then it popped into my head right out of the blue that day. The best thing that I can do instead was stay out of his way, countering his melody with a sweet tone and underplay. And find all the notes around him and play the Bung Johnson way. All the way. Buddy, buddy, buddy. Buddy, buddy, buddy. Look at that young black girl. My shirt was wet, clear through, but I had my first jazz gig. My cheeks were sore, my lips were blue, but I was one smilein' jig. Baby boy, I ain't know you could play like that. You sound like licorice, sweet. You play the horn like a clarinet, melodic and complex, and that tone, makes me feel like I'm in heaven. You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? we swing. All in the streets. Even the police horses were prance. Whole world just be dancing. Second line just dance. It was Buddy Bowden that gave me my first chance. New Orleans. Whenever we would play, even death took a holiday. New Orleans. Parades, picnics, dance halls and Jews. The women's suite after the cat is cool and the blues be hot. Cutting contests to the death. Killing you with the music. All over the city. We were the cats. Kids would follow us everywhere trying to carry our hats. Come on sport. Let's go head over to Lulu. Lulu's my Hogginny hog. Women of all variety to please a man. All color of Jews in the night. In the lights of St. Louis. Only place you get three shots. Shot downstairs. Shot upstairs. And shot through. Hope it ain't but it's up the back steps. Three at a time. Keep up young blood. You forget I play from behind. I'll be there when you get to the phone. Just leave the door open. That was this kid named Louis. Everybody called him satchmo because his mouth was so big it looked like a satchel. Begging on the streets. He's the stuff pennies in his mouth to keep the kids from stealing. Quit stealing my intimate fun with the people man. Nobody asked you to do that. Louis Armstrong locked up in the warf's home on the counter him firing a gun on New Year's Eve. Come on bump. Come on man. Throw me a phone. Let me be your sauté dog. He would steal away from the home and follow me. Started after me to show him how to blow the coronet. When he heard the band would not be playing. I'ma let you carry it. Hold it like it belonged to Gabriel. I would let him carry it and school him a little on the side. See the only man who succeed on this horn play around the beat. Hesitating. Getting behind the pulse. Creating suspense. Anticipation of the next note. And a handkerchief around a piston to shield the finger. You know a handkerchief around a piston to keep the gig stealers from stealing. You want to hide your secrets? Use a handkerchief. Now you know that don't even sound right. Hello cats. Old satchamo speaking. But this time just drive as I see it. Diego Tony's at Perdido. Louis was standing behind the piano and fooling around with my old coronet. I showed him how to hold it and place it to his mouth. This is how you play the blues. The blues is fundamental to all things. His early recordings all those licks Louis Armstrong loved from me. Living only in the melody now in the story. He has my style. My tone. My vibrato. He said. He said. That negro sat right beside me and couldn't play a lick. Had to hum the tune alongside. I'm not saying ain't a bit of it a few. But the bigger part he. I'm descended from Congo royalty. Nobody can take advantage of me. Louis wasn't the only one I brought up. I brought up sitting in Pushey. Had to go to his mama's house and ask her if he could play. Some of those Negroes New Orleans guys I grew up with. The old shuffling alone. Can't remember nothing. Couldn't play a chorus to save their life. Whiskey heads. All dead. But bump. Bump. Now there was a musician had the most beautiful tone. The best imagination and the softest phrasing of any trumpet player in New Orleans. George spot of the world. Maybe I'll throw him a bone. All over the city we were the cats. Kids would follow us everywhere trying to carry our hats. Say buddy. Going over the span of semester with Jelly Roll. Crazy Creole piano player. Jimmy Parker on the drums. Let's go over there and give him a touch. Done found out since Mr. Plessy. They just as black as the rest of us. Still. Jelly Roll. Do play some stride. Got a finger reach I hear about a mile wide. Crescent City. Bars. Hunky Tunks. Dance halls. Bearer houses. Upright pianos. Prompt up against the wall. King folding. Hey buddy. But it was a looker. Made me want to stand next to him. Catch the afterglow. I wasn't so pretty as buddy, you know. But I have my attributes. People say I had hush puppet eyes and a million dollar smile, but buddy, buddy, buddy. Now there go a pretty man. Chocolate brown skin. That sort of Creole nose or Indian tall and slender chocolate man. King of a chocolate city. A terror with the ladies. Everybody trying to get with me. Hey buddy. You got to understand. You got to understand. A blues cat got to look sharp. Can't even know where that hat is. Hatty Rogers. Colored sporting house. We play a little. Then play a little. The sickness of the sporting house. Some say that's what got him. Done failed many. Walker and my good friend. Buddy folding. Man. Most popular band in town. Hands down. The king. But all kings fall down. Greatest ragtime trumpet player could execute like hell and play in any key. He had a music too much. They say it was the drink, the glee maybe. All them women, three parts hell, five parts heaven. Louisiana State Hospital by 1907. Howling mad. Jazz is like taking a voyage on a vast ocean of sound. You got to have your compass, your melody to go by or you just get lost. Lost his mind. Lost his speech, stuttering words, jumping at things. I've seen the signs. Too brilliant to stay shining. The music could be a demon sometime. Driving. Mr. Johnson. Jazz ain't nothing but the blues with rhythm. Rhythm and blues. New Orleans. Sweet. Bitter. Sweet home. The city of my youth and dreams. Well, how'd you end up in New Iberia then? Well, if you must know, I'ma tell your story. It starts with a woman as stories often do. Starts with a woman. And don't you know, ends up with the blues. It hurts so bad I don't get around much anymore. Trouble. Standing with her arms crossed right at the door. How I came to New Iberia. Lord, Lord. Well, now there's a story I asked myself. I was, it was 26, no, seven. A great flood swept over the land. I was staying with my sister. Again. After you know the accident. Well, you can call it my daughter in accident. Her name is Emily. No need to be loud about it. Anyway, I was staying with her again over in Lake Charles on account of my husband's people lived over there and New Iberia where we had been living at was under water. I was so glad not to be knee deep in mud and walking on dry land for once. I put on my favorite black satin skirt, polka dot blouse, patent leather pumps and my hat with a feather in it and went out. Sis was waiting table. It was my husband Candice joint. So I got me in for free right up front. We come in, black women sitting together sound like birds. So probably no waves of laughter. Really? You want some? Where'd you find that hat? You think you look all right? And then some. When you get married, sister, I am through having this conversation. Obviously not tonight. On second thought, I take that back. I was playing with Tony Bob and then everything was flooded from Memphis to Lake Pontchartron for Tony's gig came through. I was working for an undertaking in Texas. Times like this got fine work where you can. Lake Charles. The most human city in the contiguous United States. I didn't need no handkerchief. I needed a mop. So you know, we come in setting up and whatnot. Candidix's place and say, come on over and meet my wife, sister. I see this beautiful brown skinned gal and polka dots and a feather in her hat. You know what happened after that? We know how it is. This how it began. Fill the breeze or skip in the stone, hear the birds, then kissing the girl, taking it ease or taking a stroll, each single word like it's a pearl sitting close up under the trees by a stream, just walking along, standing inside her mirror, Lee whistling her favorite song. Fill the breeze or skip in the stone, hear the birds, then kissing the girl, taking it ease or taking a stroll, each single word like it's a pearl sitting close whistling under the trees and then before not too long, steady wondering while you start singing, I'm settling down. The sky turned blue and the sun did shine. And so I said, oh baby, will you be mine? She said, oh no, I already know about your kind. Just tell me the truth. No use to lie. And so the sky turned blue and the sun did shine. And so I said, oh baby, will you be mine? Just tell me this for I know to speak my mind. You're looking for a good woman or just a good time. Ma, he's a musician. Mud track's just gonna drag you down. I'd rather listen to my heart than to you. Besides, I think he's cute. He does have a very nice smile. Child, if you know what's good for you, I'm nobody's child. I know my own mind. Mark my words. You ain't never gonna get him to say I do. Then they all there is to life, being a wife. Cook for myself, independent, make my own sauce. I can make rice. I have a daughter, independent. That right. Her name's Emily. Guess that makes us three. So when the waters went down, we were family. And New Iberia was my new hometown. New it was like New Orleans and many, you know, like golf. But seriously, after buddy and watching that fast life up close, breathe the air, see the sunrise, wandering off the path a bit. But I can do this. Me and miss life was good. Making a decent living started playing with a local favorite playing with Evan Thomas and his man orchestra next to playing with Buddy Bolden. You couldn't ask for better than that. Evan Thomas was mean. If Buddy was the king, Evan was an archbishop or something. Evan Thomas was the loudest dog on horn you ever heard. Couldn't read for nothing, but he could play. Boy, could he play. You can hear that horn from a mile away. Even next time over. He used to sit up in the store windows of the truth friends hall going from window to window playing to the joint be so full room couldn't hold no more inside and out. Crowd carried him round on their shoulders. I couldn't play to that extreme, but nobody played like bunk. But me bunk the cool bunk the wise knew how to read how to count how to improvise didn't go in for no highs and lows stayed in the middle and work that tone. Louis has my style. We took a little house shotgun a shack over to school alley. We were a family bunk my Emily and me see from the beginning he treated my daughter like she was his own. We were making ourselves a home. Wasn't exactly having but was making a decent living. What's making a decent living playing the area traveling round town to town left at the Texas and then we come to rain rain rain after rain rain rain things were the same. When I rolled out the town of rain I said I never want to see that place again. Rain Louisiana 1932. Give it up ladies and gentlemen. Evan calls out I'll be glad when you're gone you rascal you a one a two a one two now I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you well I'll let you in my home and you wouldn't leave my woman alone I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you John Gilley just out of parchment coming to seize Evan on the bandstand with his back turn now Evan had been messing with his woman right out in the open middle of the stump Gilley jumps up middle of the stump the place was packed Gilley jumps up like a maniac let go my clothes somebody gonna open your nose you've been fooling around all right I'm sure it'll take your life now I'll be glad when you die you rascal you uh huh you sure gonna be dead when I get through you'll be lying down six feet deep or hanging from a tree I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you oh yeah Gilley shot it out from the jump stand from the he stabbed Evan twice in the back in three times in the hand Evan stumbled and tumbled back in the whole joint scrambled Gilley went berserk and turned the place to shambles nice still bloody in his hand he ran after Evan as Evan ran you've been fooling around my wife can't do that to a man I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you you know you know me wrong mess up my happy mom I believe you hang in a tree ship your body a cov I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you Evan knew himself wasn't no small man does between little George Lewis and my music stand I got knocked back in my chest and my trumpet flew in the air Gilley reached right over my shoulder and slices Evan threw blood spurting all over my shirt like a moat nice still bloody in his hand he ran after Evan Thomas after Evan ran you've been fooling around my wife I'm sure gonna take your life Evan somehow made it to the front of the club trying to get out but the dog on door opened up instead instead of swinging out and the people were so crowd inside he couldn't get it open so Gilley run up behind us down again we all trying to get out trying to run when Gilley just got out of parchment pulls out a gun folks man flying like crows have to join out the window Evan ran about a block and then died on the steps of the church a man's pride somebody tell me how much does that work Gilley's wife was a beautiful woman I don't know if she didn't have something to do with her father getting killed because she was one of those movable women a lot of blood spilled it was in rain that old bastard Gilley came in with a knife and murdered my old friend oh oh oh the night that Evan Thomas died in a time of rain never know never wanted to see a night like that again when I rolled out the town of rain I said I never want to see that place again John Gilley killed a few people there killed a cop got away didn't they shot him but not before he had got a few of them and Evan Evan had an ear in the tone and for range and power no comparison man he can play his horn so high above the staff you could swing it on the star as for myself head first out the window knock down cold he heard a terrible crash came to him realized it was me woke up the next day missing all his front teeth by the ones just leaning on each other like they was drunk couples dancing look at you wouldn't be playing no more trumpet busted my teeth scattered on the floor where would I go what could I do what kind of man was I didn't anyone want to ask that what kind of man think of life like a series of chords arpeggios try to rice harvest then came grinding they call it grinding season grinding season New Orleans is sadly not at the fuck you but New Iberia is a buck 75 a day conch shell wake up roll out 5 a.m no thank you I decided he decided to drive a truck or a tractor made up his mind to work hard till he died I've been trying to get 150 bucks for three whole years can't make that kind of money nowhere yet ain't got no other way but to put his shoulder to the wheel nose to the ground plow to stone he put his music down for good never felt so alone so wrapped up in this pain he couldn't even see me but thicker than it say even without a ring not so pretty no more but don't worry I'm not gonna leave you what would that make me piece of string tied for a bridge nursing him notes came out like brittle broken cracked not the same man lost his smile and his joy he's just an old drunk say he taught Louis Armstrong lend me some money hold my horn whiskey from a mason jar that's the trouble with the blues to play the music good the feeling has to be with students hard losing the party itself I didn't realize so I lost my teeth you been tested for what how am I supposed to what am I supposed to do without my horn nothing but a old drunk I know Louis Armstrong and your dreams old man who you calling him he got so bad he didn't want to do nothing Hopkins in Persian Compton LaBose general store you forgot your coke coca cola I forgot you a coke person what you say bunk my cell above I want to pawn my horn some guy coming from New York say you got a customer here I gotta catch a train I came all the way down man I come all the way down here to get my suits you mean you're gonna make me wait for a fella pointing some piece of junk some old bunk right at this moment he's my favorite customer afternoon monsignor boo miss daughter I'll be right with you what you're saying I want to pawn my instrument I got a lady up in same one bill oh they grow them up there now which one is it today silver I'll go bunk you're drinking too much shoot my cell above drinking is an evocation drinking is big down here my cell above what you got pretty funny I don't know miss daughter what you're having mind black dot what you got to make me dazzle I was told you might have something I liked oh that's nice don't forget more a woman of imagination and in the ought to get as she was easy on the y'all name of black dot she was something else miss black dot she was something else serving gentlemen of influence and well nation we are if she was perfect she'd be top shelf like an hour glass bottle you keep off of yourself miss black dot she was something else when you're gonna start playing again leave me alone woman that you can tell me how to get a new set of teeth field hand share crop tie to the land you got you a talent bump where's your ambition so you had a good year but you come up short you need to make you a new plan sport let's give it all all you got to give that's some free have a little faith in the face of it go on home bunk where is that it was all in his mind hopkins in perishing sometimes he pawns something leave it forget who he was wait wait wait what the some folks tussling a bit two whores over from hopkins street mr hall and his man picking them up yellow convertible who got that kind of corsage you I drive a Cadillac baby that's a caron delay and that's mr weeks who weeks hall from the shadows the what an old plantation now sitting in the middle of town shadows on the tesh the what tesh means snake old indian name for the bayou your wife's people from there uptown dixon's ck steta x the wilts and the dixon families work for week hauls since slave time he don't hire from nothing but them old families he particular peculiar you gotta know somebody no no no I won't oh come on maude you rather me work for the mud supply or the feed store I don't like going up there never been up there don't like thinking about it better just left that all behind who want to remember them days I rather remember than do I won't go up there I won't lower myself to ask them for nothing I just won't do it just telling me my wife so I can get a job baby oh you now you want me to be your wife will you need something I'm not going around with you like this over and over again you could help me get a job but not I want a church wedding upright and proper catholic father edward says you must furgo the mason and that music shoot that's the only thing I've been trying to get back to to go all these dog on jobs that's the fact of it if that's the price I can't be no catholic why you need somebody to sanctify what we got we're not even throwing my lot in you isn't that enough it's what people do it's a sign you love somebody love you don't think I love you food on the table money in the box roof of your head that's not proof treated your daughter like my own call this dog on swap of a town my home isn't that enough you want to talk about love in a back of an alley one small room and a kitchen always always bitching and you just itching to get free how was that um that's what a god woman you could be the death of me to hell with you you hear me I'm not going up there I'm not doing it so walking two by two first day on the job the interview it's really not a mansion but it does have a grand air don't you think I'm hoping it could be saved in that when the time comes I can donate it to somewhere to preserve for posterity the way the south used to be this is my hope no joke back stairs for the slaves brought ones for the white folks he and his head man Clem showing off the homestead wait are those antlers on his head 1819 10 000 acres land grant from my brother Byron Caron delay the bricks fired from our own red clay cypress beams from the swamp right back out yonder by how many hundred slaves I wonder the manicured lawn you've got to keep green all the sedges all neatly trimmed they'll go out if you let them tanning in the morning two chains to the wind man this is a kind of weird scene something wrong with him I am my mother's only child a late bloom to the vine when she was 43 and my papa 59 she used to put pills on my tongue to control my my my stammer name me weeks after some distant progenitor after I suppose into present air to a bankrupt life did you know louisiana went from being the richest state in the nation to being the poorest overnight overnight he means the civil war all right the war between the states the great rebellion my great grandma mary what a hellion when the union attack she retreated to the attic and refused to come back down I believe she's still up there hanging around she's buried in the limestone grave right over there by the shade tree I hope to lie beside her when the time comes the last sign of a vanquished good kingdom home sweet home build a sweet sugar juice black sweat blood and bones let it be understood that there's a purpose no matter how accidental it may look everything must be assessed for habits situations some shade colored bruma oh hell the aspartis are not doing well we'll have to tend to them soon highest three men the bamboo wedges strands of barbed wire hitting the hinges nothing means more to me than this garden aboard the modern world's loud intrusion in fast-changing world air plastic seclusion from what the south the way it used to be my expecting called slavery this is my home and it is not an exhibit although all kinds of famous people have come down to visit there was a great filmmaker d dunkey griffin his uh birth of a nation re-vote history gorgeous he raved I've never seen anything like it divine Rockefeller once gave my sister Sue a dime Walt Disney mickey mouse uncle remiss songs of the south may west said she said if weeks you can have a house and a friend you're the best Henry Miller that writer whose novels got banned weeks you're living and breathing in your own masterpiece I am I have a famous door full of all their signatures the most prominent of persons cloaked in time if you weren't famous enough he'd erase your name when you moan the grass be careful of my rabbits and my poor mac poor mac my car and my spot dog if you work for me see clemmie's got all the keys you don't come in the house just work the odd okie dokie poor mac poor mac come along spot here boy where's that dog gone dog where are you at mr hall don't tolerate no lounging about you work the whole day or you don't get paid yeah well it's a dog life uh mr hall want to see you over by the summer house yeah okay that was the spot where they go by the gazebo to shoot the breeze if you could have heard me back in the day you know that I bug johnson new music I played with bold and the king and blew off the roof taught joe oliver buddy pettit chris kelly and young lootu all over story there we roam playing a music that only we own pursuing my art mastering it focused I failed in all other human devils or enterprise love family children and power loneliness isn't the worst of things not being able to work is worse I've got to preserve some beauty my house the story are open to you shadows on the test looking over to buy you he drink absence sometimes come on mr hall let's go get you washed up and put the bed the story I wanted to tell you I I wanted I want to show you the beauty of the old south it's glory I never treated a black man with disrespect it's the only place where a nigga isn't treated like one come on mr mr hall all my boys tell you every one of in that right limb mr hall let's get to bed everyone of them how many I wonder I hear him sometime how many how many how many in the shape of a hand where we swam across the water trying to see her again the imprint of a hill dug into the veins where she slept when she learned he was so like teeth from the mouth of an old man I have to get to the head yet in the shape of the tree and I'm surprised and left overs you're breaking home food can't you see I'm busy what to do something done stole my heart and left me with you won't you do me a favor and tell me this just who is this you left me with took my love like stock and barrel to the store to see what else you can hide or put a full on I said he took it all to feed the drinking Jones I nearly lost my mind we're just about everything I own be broke with a broken heart and oh what to do something done stole my heart and left me with you and tell me this just who is this like stock and barrel to the store to see what else you can hide or put a full on I said he took it all to feed the drinking Jones I nearly lost my mind we're just about everything I own be broke with a broken heart and that's right everybody in the sitting on the song that's right that's right hey my goodness the postman delivered an enclosed letter known to all a musician from New Orleans from where she came pulled by the name of bump address unknown somewhere in New Ideria excuse me Lewis Armstrong sent me looking for an original jazz cat of Bunk Johnson would you happen to know but the yacht man some white dude shows up tall as a stork derby hat the name with will Russell I'm writing a book on jazz the first official recounting I want to chronicle how it came to pass he over there mourn the grass and that's how Bunk Johnson got a new horn a new outlook and new teeth for city tour after 10 years back on track with a new set of choppers courtesy of y'all's truly so famous he acts like he doesn't even know me now come on Mr. Johnson Louis okay he got you your teeth yeah yeah yeah not the way he promised or win and and they don't quite fit you're smiling ain't you oh come on woman you're gonna give me grief all night I might Bunk's not my name you need to quit complaining handsome as you ever was the Lord has looked down on you and given you a second chance smile you ain't smiled in 10 years Louis says you know all the history all the history and then some time to make some new time to show the world for all to see what you gonna do May 17th 1942 it was a real and great pleasure to me when the express man brought that fine Selma trumpet and I can really go on my knees now I am only a real young man and at 62 years old I think the good Lord can make me have another 62 years now that is my prayer every note every night can you imagine my surprise when late one balmy night back at the shadows old Bunk showed up he extended his hand to show me his new set of teeth wrapped in tissue they don't quite fit but at least I got my lip we walked on down to the bay to the water's edge and then Bunk played me a solo a solo by the tesh 42 Bunk took out his horn from the case and rubbed it the finish till it shone held it up for inspection and stepped upon a stone like he was stepping to a throne he whipped the valves and I could not believe my ears Mr. Johnson hadn't played like that Maude how long we've been together this is courtship breaker maker revival we did that three or four times out of those 20 years we've been living together off and on maybe six years all together make it seven that sounds better excuse me for taking so long to write looking to hear from you real soon and also the bills which came to me in the time of need as I know that you understand our conditions here at home and with the help of the good Lord Bunk is up and sitting around doing real fine is the report of the doctor since when the blood's going up to 200 where's the periods don't start with me Mr. Johnson don't nobody need a period after every word and put your glasses on you know you supposed to wear them all the time we have to be at the doctor's office up in Lafayette I'm gonna get my sister to drive us this win I don't want your old sister around I don't need no doctor I'm feeling good hamming my horn I want to work my fingers you need to work your fingers on this typewriter so I can get some of this housework done Emily's coming from school look at this mess I can't get to my business for all of your copious correspondence period he just gonna want to keep me to see if you keep as good as you're feeling check up on your blood you know so he'll know I'll let you know Maude what Maude maybe we should get married oh quit talking nonsense no listen listen look I want you to be taken care of and where you think you're going you are young man so you keep telling me no list list look look Maude okay woman I've been living with more than half my life will you be my wife you're delirious let me check your purse I'm serious come on now we don't need no minister we can go down to city hall to register I want to take care of you the way you took care of me want to make sure you get my pay when it come and my royalties and Maude when I was down and at my worst you only saw the best Western Union I'd like to send a telegram please December 5th 1948 stop to William Russell stop Kanto Missouri period got no right to ask but it just come to me I've got no song without your melody and now it's late but I know this much is true I'm a shadow of myself without you Bunk Johnson is worse period we'll let you know what happens next Maude Mr. Johnson Mr. Johnson Bunk should be a happy story like Louie when he smiles the music is one brashy brash resistance cry a cosmic symphony cane silk tie pressed wing collar a butterfly wide lapel suit dark wool store bought proper ears so big they stand out like two cornucorpios ready to gather up all the sound horns of plenty gotta get it all in your head and let it dance round bristly eyebrows of rats gallant my music man second trumpet to the best Bolton Evan Armstrong took the lead only late in life that's what you hear on the records but was that his best when he was playing second when he can stretch out and be free when he could dance around the melody never a power player always for this played with first and last played with the best always slightly behind the beat he gave me a solo performance bought five dollars to get home I sometimes think he was uh indifferent to success that he would have been happier with the part-time job mowing lawns are you someone important how would you like to sign my door a friend of Bunk Johnson oh the silence of it all not the bunk I knew just two cars in the procession the music man laid to rest and complete silence he needs a song a song something something they said see it's a diversion of Zion can we sing the songs of our Lord while captive in a foreign land while captive in this far away get you drew may I forget the skill of my unclean to the roof of my mouth if I do not uphold my the children of Edom who said raised the foundation there who ought to be destroyed happy shall he be that regarded thee as thou hast served us happy shall he be that's just like children against the stones that's what the psalms say happy is still is the one who remembers our song