Getting The Spirit Blog

Well, I'm back after almost a month without
internet and telephone. Seems the clear
instructions were not so clear for Deutsche Telekom.

While I was without connection to the world, my
favorite band won a Grammy! Congratulations to
the ReBirth Brass Band of New Orleans. I worked
with them from 1984-90 when they were fresh out
of high school. Traveled with them in several
countries as a tour manager and did their
booking. The two founding members, Keith and
'Tuba' Phil Frazier are like brothers to me. I
took participants to their regular Tuesday
performance at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans
last year. Little did we know that less than six
months later they would receive a Grammy. It is a
long time coming! We will definitely visit them in 2012!

I see also that the second weekend of the camp is
the Annual Crescent City Blues & Barbecue
Festival in New Orleans. Two stages of non-stop
Blues and some of the best Southern Barbecue you
can get. The music is free and the food great. We
will definitely be a part. Thanks to the Jazz &
Heritage Foundation for putting on such great
events. They support the camp as well.

If you have registered for the camp and are ready
to do your bank transfer, I would suggest using
the new information I just uploaded onto the
registration form today. My bank was purchased by
the Volksbank of Paderborn-Höxter. For a while,
until the Bundesbank was able to make it
official, I was having problems receiving bank
transfers. I think we are through the tunnel, but
in case you have problems, call me up. I'm glad to help!

Stay Blessed,

Marty

They just announced the lineup for the 2012 New Orleans "Jazz Fest." Lots of great names, in addition to the usual non-stop Gospel, local music, food and culture. A definite recommend (in addition to, not instead of the Camp :-)).
More here ---> http://www.nojazzfest.com/

Mark your calendars! The dates for the 2012 camp have been selected.
October 6-15 we will once again travel to the land of Gospel for the
camp. If you missed out this year, don't worry, get in early next
year. After this years camp, the web site will be updated with the
new sign up form and lots of pictures from the camp. Stay tuned and....

Stay Blessed,

Marty

One of our stops on this Gospel Train to New Orleans will be at the Crescent City Blues Festival after church on Sunday, Oct. 15 to see The Campbell Brothers. They are a great group that plays sacred music with steel guitars. Here is a link for the Blues Festival:
http://www.jazzandheritage.org/blues-fest/

and here is a link to a pdf file about the food that will be served there:
http://www.jazzandheritage.org/files/general-uploads/2011_Blues__BBQ_Menu.pdf
Yum!

And, entrance to the festival is free!

Just found out that on the second weekend of the camp will be the Mahalia Jackson's 100+1 Celebration featuring the Mahalia Jackson Choir, Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indians and more. And all free! We're there!

http://www.wwoz.org/events/180180

Hi All,
        Two great tips for Gospel radion on the net. The first is a 24/7 station playing the best of American Southern Black Gospel music. The URL is www. malacogospelradio .com/   Malaco Records is a great label that has a large selection of Gospel music, including special compilations and samplers.

        The second tip is a listener sponsored station out of New Orleans called WWOZ. They have a Gospel program on Sundays from 8:30AM - 10:00 AM New Orleans time (would be 15:30 - 17:00 in Western Europe and one hour earlier in the UK). The show is short but great, and I often listen in while having enjoying Sunday coffee. Their URL is www.wwoz.org . The great thing about WWOZ is that they have programming of all types with many shows featuring local New Orleans music of all types (Jazz, Blues, R&B, Cajun and Zydeco as well as Gospel). 

        If you have tips about great internet Gospel radio, email me!

Stay Blessed,

Marty

Mardi Gras anthem written by Earl King, first performed by Professor Longhair.
About the Big Chief of the Mardi Gras Indians, a long tradition
in New Orleans dating back to a friendship between the Native Americans
in that region and the slaves. Enjoy!

Do Whatcha Wanna, but behave yourself!

The deadline to sign up is coming up quickly (March 15, 2011).
Registrations have been coming in  pretty regularly in the last two
weeks and the web site is getting hits like crazy at the moment. If
you are thinking about coming with us, don't hesitate and miss the deadline!

The great news is we will definitely be travelling to New Orleans! I
am still negotiating the flights, but the hotel has been booked for
several months. Ideas abound regarding culture programs for us during
the free time, but a lot will depend on what is happening in town
during that time.

One of the big developments is that I am working toward forming a
non-profit corporation for Getting The Spirit. This would open a lot
of doors for the future, such as making it easier to get funding, be
included in other program offers, etc. More as this develops.

Keep on singing!

Marty

Hi All,
         Been busy with the next phase of
marketing for the camp.  I am in the process of
printing 1,000 flyers to mail out to choirs in
areas of Germany that have Fall vacation at the time of the camp.

Been also busy with the flights.  It looks like
we will be flying from Düsseldorf unless anything changes dramatically.

We have been receiving signups and it would be
great to have a full house for the first official camp. More later!

Stay Blessed,

Marty