Thomas Gerdiken

	Journey to New Orleans 2008 February 2008 I travelled for the first time to New Orleans for the eighties anniversary of Fats Domino. My contact to Fats Domino started in 1990 when I did support for his European touring. The Birhtdayparty took part in world famous Jazzclub TIPITINA´S in New Orleans. What a great experience to get to know personally to my alltime heroes as Dr. John, Allain Toussaint, Randy Newman and Walter Wolfman Washington.
	The unique New Orleans Gumbo really knocked me off my feet. Dixieland, Blues, Cajun, Zydeco, Swamp Pop, Funk, Soul, Brassbands, Mardi Gras Indian Music. Music everywhere. Jambalaya, Fish, sweet cakes at Rampert and Dumaine. The New Orleans Fever got me and now I know why it is called The Big Easy. I loved to visit concerts in Preservation Hall, House of Blues and Lousiana Music Factory. I enjoyed to have coffee and sweat cakes at Rampert and Dumaine. The whole French Quarter was music. You could feel it, hear it and it shook me from my head to my feet. I loved to visit the club´s where my heroes had performed as Professor Longhair, Fats Domino and James Booker.
	At the Royal Street I discovered New Orleans also as a place for paintings and other kinds of art. I loved to hear the waterpipes in the background of the Mississippi Boat Natches. I enjoyed to have lunch in the French Quarters Restaurants with all these fish, rice and beans and lobster.
	Through my musician friends I got also in touch with the tragedy after Katrina. This inspired me to work for projects as NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS CLINIC and NEW ORLEANS MUSIC ASSISTENCE FOUNDATION conducted by my dear friends Bethany and Johann Bultmann. They work so hard to keep the NOMC running. I had the opportunity to visit the projects of NOMC like Music to School and the book program of the Guardian Institute. The institute is situated in the 9th Ward and conducted by the Harrison family. For details please look for Guardian Institute. I appreciate these projects very much and since these times I try my best to support their work by organizing benefit concerts in Germany.
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