Tbilisi Hosted The New Orleans Days
On April 26-29, 2007, for the first time in the history of Georgia, Tbilisi hosted New Orleans Days. On April 25, the U.S. performers Sharon Martin (vocals), John A. Brinson (piano), Gregory W. Dawson (saxophone), Michael Woods (double bass), and Lisa Felton (chef) arrived from New Orleans in Georgia to participate in New Orleans Days.
The New Orleans jazz band conducted master classes for students of the Tbilisi Youth Palace, Conservatoire, and the Music College No. 2. On Friday, April 27, the band performed a New Orleans Days promotional walk on Leselidze street. Participants included Georgian students and young musicians from the Tbilisi Youth Palace, as well as the general public. The walk concluded at the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office where the New Orleans jazz band was met and greeted by Vice Mayor of Tbilisi Mamuka Akhvlediani.
On Saturday, April 28, at 9:00 p.m., the Georgian National Music Centre hosted a concert by Sharon Martin and the New Orleans Jazz Band. The Jazz Band performed traditional New Orleans jazz music and gospels. Georgian musicians Maya Baratashvili (vocals), Gia Salagishvili (drums), and Gia Rakviashvili (piano) performed together with the U.S. musicians. The concert also featured a unique performance by Georgian pianist Nika Memanishvili and U.S. vocalist Sharon Martin. The Mayor of Tbilisi, Gigi Ugulava, and the Ambassador of the United States of America in Georgia, John Tefft, opened the concert. A poster show about Louis Armstrong was displayed in the foyer of the National Music Centre.
On April 29, Lisa Felton, a renowned cook from New Orleans, presented a cooking demonstration of traditional New Orleans dishes. The demonstration was accompanied by a performance of Sharon Martin and her band. Ms. Felton prepared New Orleans dishes such as Gumbo, Jambalaya, Bread Pudding, Banana Foster, and Fried Chicken. The demonstration was concluded by a reception where guests had an opportunity to taste the New Orleans dishes. Over 200 guests attended the presentation.
The New Orleans Days were organized by the Association of Professional Musicians AISI. Together with the U.S. Embassy in Georgia, sponsors and partners of the New Orleans Days were UNESCO, CEC ArtsLink, Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia, Tbilisi City Hall and Tbilisi Municipality, Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel, Georgian Public Broadcasting, Radio Syndicate, Radio Green Wave, Tbilisi Youth Palace, GMC Group, LTD Morkinali, and JSC Healthy Waters Inc.
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