ReJazz New Orleans

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:17 am

I thought people might be interested in this program:

Herb Boydstun on CBS News Show Aid for jazz band, storm victims

November 29, 2005

Reported by Chuck Hansen, Enterprise Reporter

Herb Boydstun, president of Capital One's banking segment, appeared last week on the CBS national news broadcast "The Early Show" to help a displaced New Orleans jazz band and to promote the ReJazz New Orleans campaign, which was launched by Hibernia after the hurricanes.

Members of the Treme Brass Band lost most of their possessions in Hurricane Katrina and were forced to leave the city. Musicians from Treme (pronounced "truh-MAY"), have been a part of the New Orleans music scene their whole lives, playing in the streets and in nightclubs, during Mardi Gras, in jazz funerals, and touring the world. Among musical legends who grew up in Treme was Louis Armstrong.

As part of its "Week of Wishes" series, which helps Katrina's victims, The Early Show lined up an array of assistance for the band members that will enable them to return to the Big Easy. Boydstun appeared on the show to offer the band four months of housing in the French Quarter to help them get back on their feet.

"We want you back in the city so badly," Boydstun said on the broadcast. "Jazz is such a part of New Orleans. We know housing is a real issue, so ReJazz New Orleans, Hibernia Bank and Capital One are going to provide the band with several months of housing in the Valentino hotels in the French Quarter, just a short distance from where you play."

The Early Show also arranged with other companies to provide the band with airline tickets back to New Orleans, paying gigs in the area, and instruments to replace the ones they lost in the hurricane.

"We hope you'll come back to the city very shortly," Boydstun told the delighted band members.

"I want to thank everybody for supporting the Treme Brass Band," said Benny Jones, drummer for the band. "We'll go back to New Orleans and help build New Orleans back and put New Orleans back on the map."