THE BOB EDWARDS SHOW, January 28 – February 1, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013: Bob goes behind the scenes of the New Orleans institution Preservation Hall with Ben Jaffe. The building has been around since the 1750s and five decades ago Jaffe’s parents turned what was an art gallery into the undisputed home and showcase of traditional New Orleans jazz. Then, a talk with David Simon about his HBO series Treme, which is set in New Orleans in the first few years after Hurricane Katrina. Finally, Bob visits with New Orleans musician Davis Rogan, the real life inspiration for the lead character in Treme. Rogan is known as “the real Davis” around town.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013: We begin with Bob’s visit to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and his conversation with the iconic blues legend Dr. John. Next, Bob takes the ferry across the river to Algiers to sit down with drummer Stanton Moore for a New Orleans music lesson. Then, Bob sits down at a cafe on Frenchman Street with Troy Andrews, better known as Trombone Shorty. Finally, Bob samples a New Orleans delicacy: a snoball from Hansen’s SnoBliz. Ashley Hansen Springgate runs the business started by her grandparents in 1939. In fact she still shaves the blocks of ice on the very same machine her grandfather invented and built.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013: Bob talks with NOLA’s own legendary pianist, composer, arranger, and producer Allen Toussaint. Then we travel to the home of Irma Thomas, known as “The Soul Queen of New Orleans,” to learn all about her life and music. There were some struggles along the way but Thomas tells us about winning her first Grammy award in 2007 for her album After the Rain.
Thursday, January 31, 2013: New Orleans is hosting its first Super Bowl in over a decade, followed closely by the city’s annual Mardi Gras celebration. Bob talks with Mayor Mitch Landrieu about the challenging logistics surrounding those two events, plus the city’s burgeoning film industry, the always lively music scene, and the city’s continuing recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Landrieu is halfway through his first term as the mayor of New Orleans and the son of former mayor Maurice “Moon” Landrieu. Next, we’ll meet a Swedish import to New Orleans. Theresa Andersson grew up in Scandinavia but when she arrived in southern Louisiana in 1990 she felt at home. Andersson has now spent most of her life in New Orleans and performs live as a one woman band, recording herself on many different instruments and building songs on stage. She demonstrates that process for Bob. Finally, pianist Jon Cleary invites us into his home studio for a master class in New Orleans music. Cleary is another import: he still speaks with a British accent but when he sits in front of a piano all you can hear is New Orleans.
Friday, February 1, 2013: Doyle McManus, Washington columnist for the Los Angeles Times, joins Bob to discuss the latest political news. Then, Bob talks with New Orleans legend Aaron Neville about his long career and his brand new album titled My True Story. Finally, the latest installment from our series This I Believe.