Topic starter
22/08/2010 4:03 pm
The print piece of this article was an insert in the Bangor Daily News last week. Did anyone else get it in their local newspaper? It's always exciting when a picture of a big red paddlewheel jumps out ahead of all the mostly grim news of the day! Was particularly delighted to see the Graceful Ghost included! I loved the video of the Natchez in this online version of the piece that includes some up close pilot house and ER footage, Debbie at the calliope, and my old buddy Ben Smith working his magic on the slide trombone.
Jazzou
22/08/2010 4:38 pm
Yes, I posted about this article over in the "Steamboats" forum last week:
http://www.steamboats.org/forum/steamboats-history/3736-steamboat-article.html
Topic starter
22/08/2010 7:27 pm
Steve, I must have missed your post. Since everyone is now on Facebook, I spend a lot more time there and less on .org. Glad you got this out there. It's an excellent article.
22/08/2010 11:10 pm
Facebook by Faceless!
Not everyone is on Facebook... some of us just steam along on email and .org. Its you younguns, Jazzou, that do all that there social networking! I've decided if it ever does come to having to do something fancier than email, then my computer days are done. As to that article, I have to say it was one of the best and accurate magazine articles I've seen about the NATCHEZ in particular and for steamboating in general. And to include that video of a dinner trip was great. Jazzou I presume you've seen Ben do the number where he plays the trombone with his foot? The Dukes were new on the NATCHEZ and performing inside the dining room at the stern. He was doing that number when we unfortunately began our turn at the bottom of the harbor by backing into our own wheelwash... I've never seen him play it near turnaround time again!
Topic starter
23/08/2010 3:34 am
I guess it's all relative, Judy. My reason for joining Facebook in the first place was an attempt to keep up with my 30 year old son! His reaction to the old man joining FB was one of pure amazement. What is really cool about it is the number of old steamboaters I've caught up with, but when I spend way too much time on it, I'm tempted to revert back to .org and email, too. Was also very impressed with the article in American Profiles and agree about the quality of the video. Ben Smith is really something, and yes I've seen the foot thing. He is the only musician I've ever known who would regularly come out with his horn and jam with the calliope.
24/08/2010 7:32 pm
wrote: Jazzou Jones;22850 I've ever known who would regularly come out with his horn and jam with the calliope.
During my first (or second) year on the AQ, I suggested an afternoon set at the Calliope Bar called Music and Margaritas. It gave me a chance to stretch a bit and keep my solo chops intact for when I would work in Florida between steamboat seasons. (It also got me out of the sing-a-long). It was a lot of fun and we even did it at night for awhile, calling it Music and Martinis.
Anyway, one afternoon as I was Jimmy Buffett-ing away, we approached a lock. (I hadn't thought about that ahead of time). Sure enough, and to my horror, Phil showed up with that evil grin of his to play the "lock" on the calliope. I never had a chance. So we did a guitar/calliope duet for about 20 minutes. The first and last time in AQ history that happened.
Paul
Topic starter
24/08/2010 10:48 pm
It's just by nature the poor old calliope can't take a back seat to anyone and thereby allow for a nice string or brass solo. When I watched Ben turning purple while I was comping along, I tried in vain to stifle the evil grin. Volume is POWER, baby!