Interesting bit of NOLA music history - "The Mexican Band"

[David Richoux]

I had not heard about this in all of my years of playing New Orleans Jazz (nor in my years broadcasting the music on radio.) The years just before Jazz developed in NOLA have been researched quite a lot, but this long article presents some new information, especially on the role of the bass player in bands. http://jazz.tulane.edu/sites/default/fi ... c_1991.pdf

[Art Hovey]

The article mentions Juventino Rosas' tune, "Over the Waves". The chord pattern of that song later became known as "Bill Bailey" chords, and has been utilized in many tunes since then, such as "Bourbon Street Parade", "The Second Line", "My Memphis Baby", Ciribiribin, etc. Does anyone know of an older tune (older than "Over The Waves") which has the same changes?

[David Richoux]

I never really hooked "Spanish Eyes" to "Bill Bailey" (or "Over the Waves") before, but I could sing it right along with this one.

I guess the only older NOLA "Ur Song" would be "Unfortunate Rake/St. James Infirmary/Dying Gambler(Cowboy, Crapshooter, etc.") That one goes back to 1700s England and Ireland traditions... Some detailed historical notes here.

To get back to tubas - check the "heavy metal" in this version of Over the Waves!