Louisiana’s wealth of interesting personalities is what makes the music of this great state rich. Sadly, many of these legendary personalities are passing from this world, leaving the traditions of Louisiana music to be carried on by younger musicians.
One of those great personalities, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown has helped to define the state’s musical tradition for the past 50 years. In the first installment of The Louisiana Masters Series on Sept. 10, Loyola students were privileged to be a part of what could quite possibly be one of Gatemouth’s final performances. Brown held the first master class of his career and left the Nunemaker Hall crowd in awe of his talent and showmanship.
The 88-year-old musician has contracted lung cancer and only has a short amount of time left to live.
Primarily a guitar player, Brown also plays the fiddle and sings. His style is all his own, having taught himself all the instruments he plays. Brown has performed and recorded with such fellow Louisiana legends as Professor Longhair.
The Louisiana Masters Series is the brainchild of John Snyder, the new coordinator of the Music Industries Studies program at Loyola. The mission of the Masters Series is to bring Louisiana artists onto Loyola’s campus to teach young musicians what they have learned through their travels and their wealth of experiences.
“There are not that many states that boast a musical heritage like Louisiana,” Snyder said. “No other states can say that they are home to artists like Gate, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton or Professor Longhair.”
The master class began with a performance by Brown’s band, Gate’s Express, along with the legend himself. Featuring Joe Krown on the keys, David Hyde on bass, and David Peters on drums, Gate’s Express romped through a number of tunes Brown had chosen to represent his musical style developed over the course of a lifetime.
After the band’s performance, a student group took the stage, featuring jazz studies junior Pete Murano on guitar, music education senior Greg Smith on bass, and jazz studies junior Kyle Sharamitaro on drums. The power trio jazzed it up for their first tune, Thelonius Monk’s “Green Chimneys,” then brought up the stellar keyboardist Joe Krown on a rousing “Big Chief.”
At no other point in the whole master class was the melding of musical generations more apparent than when Brown was listening to the young student band play with his keyboardist.
Brown left the young musicians with a warning, though: “Don’t get stuck in a rut of playing that New Orleans music.”
He encouraged the audience to play what they feel and to be unique.
The master class was recorded on video for broadcast on public television and possible release on DVD and. Holbrook Productions professionally recorded the forum, and students were allowed to oversee the project as a learning experience.
The most magical moments of the master class came when Brown was in his element. He is a born entertainer, and pleasing a crowd is what he does best. Brown is notorious for his personality and his stubbornness, so it was no surprise that he was not forthcoming to his interviewer during the master class, but regardless was able to pass along some of his knowledge and experience.
Greg Heaney can be reached at [email protected]
