TONYA MOSLEY, HOST:
That is FRESH AIR. I am Tonya Mosley. And for those who’re ever within the French Quarter in New Orleans, chances are high you have noticed my visitor at the moment, clarinetist and vocalist Doreen Ketchens. For over 30 years, she’s carried out on the nook of Royal and St. Peter Road, 4 days per week, generally 12 hours a day, together with her band, Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DOREEN’S JAZZ NEW ORLEANS: (Singing) Now, when the saints go marching in. Properly, when the saints…
MOSLEY: Doreen Ketchens has many nicknames – Woman Louie, Queen Clarinet and Miss Satchmo. Nods to her passionate performances of Dixieland and conventional jazz and for her skill to hit and maintain excessive notes for lengthy durations of time like the nice trumpeter Louis Armstrong. Ketchens has carried out for 4 U.S. presidents – Invoice Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. And initially, she performed classical clarinet earlier than her late husband, Lawrence Ketchens, launched her to jazz whereas the 2 had been college students at Loyola College.
Lawrence was an achieved musician in his personal proper, too. As a part of Doreen’s band, he performed the tuba, valve trombone, drums and piano, changing into a significant attraction for his skill to play the sousaphone and drums on the similar time. Just a few years in the past, Ketchens fulfilled her dream of performing on the Kennedy Middle. She’s additionally performed with orchestras all over the world. Doreen Ketchens, welcome to FRESH AIR.
DOREEN KETCHENS: Thanks for having me.
MOSLEY: I wish to provide my sincerest condolences on the lack of your husband, Lawrence, who simply died this previous January. And I had the pleasure of happening the rabbit gap of watching your performances, and apart from being completely captivated, I used to be additionally simply taken by what felt like magic watching the 2 of you performing collectively. Are you continue to performing?
KETCHENS: Yep. I imply, I do not wish to get haunted for the remainder of my life, you realize? That is what he’d do (laughter). He used to all the time inform me, you realize, you have to play it doesn’t matter what. So that is what I am doing. And it is working. It is working. I get power from simply eager about the instances he is been within the viewers, you realize, and giving me a nod, you realize, by some means.
MOSLEY: It appeared like there was such a terrific love between the 2 of you, and your love language was the music. You all carried out collectively for a lot of many years, and I feel perhaps a ravishing approach to begin our dialog is to truly hear slightly little bit of the 2 of you. I watched this video of you two performing for the New Orleans jazz station WWOZ. And there you’re enjoying the clarinet and singing, and Lawrence was enjoying sousaphone and the drums on the similar time. I do not really suppose I’ve ever seen that in my life. I used to be considering, how? Can I play slightly little bit of that efficiency?
KETCHENS: Sure, please.
MOSLEY: The track is “Home Of The Rising Solar.”
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
KETCHENS: (Singing) There’s a home in New Orleans they name the Rising Solar. He is been round all the various younger lives (ph). And now, I do know I am one. My mom, she was…
MOSLEY: That was my visitor at the moment, Doreen Ketchens and her late husband, Lawrence, enjoying “Home Of The Rising Solar.” Doreen, what a outstanding efficiency. I imply, as I discussed, Lawrence is enjoying the drums and blowing into that sousaphone – which is a sort of tuba – on the similar time. How did he determine that he had that expertise?
KETCHENS: We had drummer issues. And the drummer did not present up, and he was bored with it. You realize, and we had been on the road. He stated he wasn’t that good anyway. I guess you I may play simply pretty much as good as him and play the tuba. And so he sat behind the drums. And he took one stick in his left hand. And he simply began to do it. I imply, identical to that, and it was there. He cannot play rolls and stuff like that. So he does the inflections, you realize what I imply? So for those who’re simply listening to the drummer, you realize, there’s numerous house in there. However for those who’re listening to the group, then he fills in all of those areas that you’d usually hear the drummer do. It is simply superb, you realize? However necessity is the mom of invention, and he invented the tuba drummer (laughter).
MOSLEY: One factor I seen is that you’ve a growl that, you realize, it is not solely current in your singing voice, however we additionally heard it when you had been enjoying the clarinet. How do you do this? Like, you make your clarinet growl.
KETCHENS: Individuals have requested me about that growl so much, so I did it – really, I did some movies on it on YouTube through the pandemic once I was going completely loopy ‘trigger I could not exit and play. However there are two methods of doing a growl. There’s one with the throat, you realize, (vocalizing) like that, such as you’re gargling. And there is one other one with the tongue, like a Spanish R, you realize? And each of them principally sound the identical once I do them. However you choose one, you realize? And I picked the Spanish R as a result of I assumed the transition to and from was smoother. So – and that is how I do it. I simply (vocalizing). That is how I do it. That is it.
MOSLEY: How did you two begin enjoying on the streets on the French Quarter?
KETCHENS: Properly, we had been away in Connecticut. We met at Loyola, and we had actually good scholarships, however the – you realize, while you get to be a junior, you realize, nicely, tuition constantly goes up, whereas your scholarship stays the identical. So in my junior yr, you realize, our junior yr, we requested for extra money. And, you realize, universities, they do not actually spend money on, you realize, scholar juniors which might be already there, you realize? And it harm my emotions, so I began making use of to completely different locations and received accepted into just a few. However the College of Hartford, The Hartt Faculty of Music, you realize, had essentially the most cash, and I did not understand the price of dwelling in Hartford was a complete lot extra.
KETCHENS: But it surely nonetheless labored out OK. And I went there, and I stayed on campus for the primary semester, did not prefer it. So I discovered me a pleasant condominium off campus for the next semester, and I stayed there, and it was good till they stole my automobile. The stole – I ended in to take a nap, And once I got here out, there was nothing there. My automobile was gone. My clarinet was in my automobile ‘trigger I used to be…
MOSLEY: Oh.
KETCHENS: The clarinets had been in my automobile as a result of I used to be taking a nap. You realize, I assumed I’d simply hop on again. However anyway, they finally discovered my automobile, and the one motive – they took every thing out of there besides the clarinet as a result of the the latch on the case got here unfastened, and there have been two clarinets in there. And so after they picked it up, the entire items simply, you realize, sprawled all around the trunk. And they also did not trouble, you realize, selecting them up or nothing. And so my clarinets had been intact, and – which was cool as a result of, you realize, that was the most important factor that was within the automobile.
MOSLEY: Proper.
KETCHENS: However as soon as they stole my automobile – and Lawrence was nonetheless right here. He was going to Xavier on the time. And he stated, man, she will be able to’t be on the market by herself. She’s too far, and he or she’s alone. I received to go. And whereas we had been there, he received us some work with this firm referred to as Landerman Company. And so they threw events, you realize, company occasions and stuff like that. And, you realize, it was good that they’d this unique New Orleans band. And so, you realize, we labored that approach. And that is how I began working towards, principally, you realize, simply enjoying the music. I simply performed melodies at first. However after some time, you realize, I began, you realize, improvising only a tiny bit.
And so we had been in Connecticut, and we’re doing fairly good, after which Lawrence’s father dies. And really, his father was sick and we went down and we received married there as a result of, you realize, he needed his father to see him married. I imply, we had been going to get married anyway, however we pushed it ahead at that time, after which his father died. And a month and a day later, my father died, and, you realize – nicely, you do not know – however I am the youngest of three, and he is the youngest of three, and he had two sisters, and I had two brothers.
And we had been caretakers, you realize? I imply, we are the ones that took care of, you realize, our dad and mom and stuff like that. So we did not wish to be so far-off. We needed to attempt to be right here for so long as we may with our moms, you realize, as they transitioned from having companions to not having any in any respect. And so we got here down, and we began doing no matter we may, you realize, to make ends meet.
And we had been strolling within the French Quarter in the future, and we noticed some folks enjoying on the road, and Lawrence stated, hey, look, we may do this. I am like, man, you have to be loopy. I have been in faculty. I am not enjoying on a avenue, you realize? However love makes you do loopy issues, and, you realize, we went on the market, and we performed, and I used to be OK as a result of we had been collectively, you realize, and received slightly following, you realize? Individuals appreciated us. We had been younger, cute and all that stuff. And…
MOSLEY: I imply, three many years…
KETCHENS: …You realize, the music was fairly good.
MOSLEY: Proper.
KETCHENS: Truly, yeah, it is approaching 4, you realize? Yeah.
MOSLEY: I like watching the movies of you and your band. And I used to be simply eager about that have of seeing, principally, like, a live performance, these knowledgeable musicians, in a accessible house while you’re out on the road. However was it all the time so welcoming on the market? I do know it may be, like, notoriously aggressive amongst musicians jockeying for house while you’re a avenue musician.
KETCHENS: Oh, yeah. I imply, however we – you realize, generally we sleep on the spot. I imply, you do what you need to do, you realize? And it was the 2 of us, so it was simpler to combat. So, you realize, it was type of arrange for victory, you realize, so far as – you realize, so long as we weren’t lazy, and, you realize, you needed to cope with the individuals who – for some motive, they moved to the French Quarter and had been quiet. I do not perceive that in any respect. However they referred to as the police.
MOSLEY: Oh, you imply the individuals who reside – yeah.
KETCHENS: Yeah.
MOSLEY: Yeah, the individuals who reside there.
KETCHENS: Yeah, man. You realize, they’d say, I do not need ot hear your – I do not wish to hear that music. And like, bro, you are within the French Quarter, you realize (laughter)? What do you anticipate, you realize? However yeah, so After which, you realize, you bought to cope with police who’re having a nasty day, you realize, and stuff.
So yeah, it will get type of difficult, however, you realize, it is enjoyable. And it was enjoyable creating collectively. It was enjoyable rising collectively. It was enjoyable simply making music and, you realize, making folks cease. I imply, as a result of, you realize, avenue retailers are completely different. You realize, you go on the market, and also you arrange, and most of the people suppose, you realize, you are on medicine or one thing’s flawed with you.
And they also move by you or determine they will move by you. However then you definitely begin enjoying, they usually cease. And, you realize, you are on the road. You bought to make folks cease and pay attention after which provide you with cash, you realize? We’re extraordinarily blessed as a result of, you realize, we all the time appeared to search out that mixture that makes folks say, oh, my goodness, they usually nonetheless do it. And it is grand.
MOSLEY: Doreen, let’s take a brief break. And for those who’re becoming a member of us, my visitor is clarinetist and vocalist Doreen Ketchens. We’ll proceed our dialog after a brief break. That is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MOSLEY: That is FRESH AIR. And at the moment, I am speaking with jazz clarinetist, vocalist and New Orleans establishment Doreen Ketchens. She’s identified for her performances of Dixieland and conventional jazz, which has earned her the nicknames Woman Louis, Queen Clarinet and the feminine Louis Armstrong for her distinctive vary and highly effective excessive notes.
You realize, to look at you carry out, you actually are. You are, like, placing your complete physique into it. Your eyes are closed, and, I imply, I suppose that is common, I imply, if you find yourself, like, intensely centered in your instrument. I’ve heard you say while you’re enjoying, you are continually digging for extra info inside your self, and I used to be like, wow, actually taken by that, but in addition surprise extra of what you imply.
KETCHENS: I imply, identical to with the rest, you realize, for those who’re a mother or father, you wish to be a greater mother or father than your mother or father, although you had a terrific mother or father, you realize? However I simply do not wish to fall right into a rut. Individuals are rising up listening to what I am doing, what I did, and, you realize, I wish to be above that. It is flattering.
KETCHENS: And in some senses, you realize, it is insulting as a result of folks steal your licks and every thing else, they usually do not acknowledge it, you realize? But it surely’s nonetheless – you realize, you wish to keep forward of the sport. You wish to be the perfect. Louis Armstrong is, like, a giant affect on me. And I’ve listened to – nicely, I assumed up till the opposite day, really – I assumed I listened to every thing that was on the market about Louis Armstrong, however there’s all the time one thing new, you realize? However I can hear the identical track over that I’ve heard for lots of of instances and discover one thing new inside it. It is superb.
MOSLEY: Is there a favourite Armstrong? I do know that is like asking, is there a favourite little one? However is there a favourite track of his that you just love otherwise you return to usually?
KETCHENS: Yeah, that’s like asking a few little one, you realize, I imply, ‘trigger there’s some that strike me in sure methods and others that strike me in others. You realize, I imply, while you say that, you realize, “La Vie En Rose” involves thoughts and possibly as a result of my daughter hates it (laughter).
MOSLEY: Oh, actually? Why?
KETCHENS: Yeah.
MOSLEY: She says…
KETCHENS: Yeah. However – after which, you realize, she received – she fell in love and stuff like that, and he or she, like, understood it, you realize, and stuff like that. However “La Vie En Rose” involves thoughts as a result of, you realize, he had a approach of doing issues, you realize, form of like Nat King Cole. You realize, you may hear Nat King Cole singing French and Spanish. It ain’t the perfect French and Spanish, you realize, but it surely’s nice, you realize, as a result of he had that respect, you realize, for it. And you may hear Louis do all types of various sorts of music, you realize, and nonetheless know it is Louis first be aware, you realize? I imply, so I simply aspire to only be nice. And with the intention to be nice, you bought to maintain aspiring to be nice, you realize? And…
MOSLEY: Do you’ve got your personal tackle that favourite – in your favourite Armstrong track? And in that case, are you able to play slightly little bit of it – not the entire thing, however only a bit?
KETCHENS: Oh, “La Vie En Rose”?
MOSLEY: Sure.
KETCHENS: I set myself up for that, did not I? Let’s have a look at.
(Enjoying clarinet).
(Singing) And while you converse, angels sing from above. On a regular basis phrases appears to show into love songs. Give your coronary heart and soul to me, and life will all the time be la vie en rose.
MOSLEY: Thanks a lot for that. I imply, you are nicknamed all of those names – you realize, Woman Louis – for a motive. And that is very clear a few of the the reason why, however I am very curious to know when did you first uncover your self in Armstrong? Do you keep in mind while you first heard that inside his music your self?
KETCHENS: Yeah, I did not understand it in any respect. I used to be simply doing what I do. I used to be simply studying songs and enjoying songs. And someone requested me, you realize, once I was singing, you realize, they stated, how do you do this with these phrases? And I am like, what are you speaking about? And, you realize, simply Louis spoke like my dad, you realize? And so with out realizing it, you realize, as a substitute of claiming phrase, I say, woid (ph), you realize, stuff like that, you realize, as a result of that is what, you realize, I grew up with. You realize, you alter with society. You realize, you go to varsity, and also you say, nicely, that woid, they usually’re like, what the heck are you speaking about. You realize what I imply?
So – however, you realize, it all the time comes again once I do this, and numerous the melodies – you realize, the way in which he interpreted the melodies and stuff – I actually, actually, actually appreciated it, you realize? And it appealed to me. So, you realize, generally, you realize, I begin off and, like, I study the melody proper from him, you realize? I will do precisely what he does.
However as – you realize, as I play it, as I develop, you realize, with the track, it turns into me. You realize, I alter just a few issues, you realize, as a result of he performed a trumpet and I play a clarinet, you realize? And he was a a lot older man. I used to be a a lot youthful lady and simply different issues that come into play that you do not anticipate, however they do as a result of it is human nature, you realize? So yeah, I did not understand it. However as soon as I spotted it, I embraced it and simply roll with it, you realize? And I am nonetheless rolling with it.
MOSLEY: Our visitor at the moment is jazz clarinetist and vocalist Doreen Ketchens. We’ll be proper again after a brief break. I am Tonya Mosley, and that is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MOSLEY: That is FRESH AIR. I am Tonya Mosley. And
MOSLEY: That is FRESH AIR. I am Tonya Mosley, and my visitor at the moment is jazz clarinetist and cultural ambassador to New Orleans Doreen Ketchens. Recognized for her performances of Dixieland and conventional jazz, Ketchens has earned the nicknames Woman Louie and Queen Clarinet for her distinctive vary and highly effective excessive notes. She’s carried out for 4 U.S. presidents and fashioned her personal band, Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans, in 1987. She’s recorded 28 albums together with her ensemble and is named a fixture for her avenue performances within the French Quarter. In 2022, she acquired an honorary doctorate in music from 5 Cities Faculty. Doreen, you are a fixture within the French Quarter of New Orleans, however inform us slightly bit extra concerning the space that you just grew up in.
KETCHENS: I grew up within the Treme. And yeah, lots of people are aware of that neighborhood due to the TV sequence. And I grew up in the home that I used to be christened in, really. It was once a church. It was a church, and I used to be christened in that very home, after which it turned a complete bunch of different issues. However yeah, proper within the center. And my dad and mom had a candy store and…
MOSLEY: Named after you.
KETCHENS: …They named it after me, yeah (laughter).
MOSLEY: Yeah.
KETCHENS: Yeah, and that is a complete ‘nother New Orleans conventional story in itself.
MOSLEY: Like naming shops and issues after one another, or…
KETCHENS: Oh, no. See, I went to a nursery faculty referred to as Marietta Bottery (ph). And like another establishment, you realize, folks want to lift cash, and so we had these modern methods of elevating cash right here in New Orleans, you realize? I imply, you might promote issues like World’s Most interesting Chocolate, which all people and their mama (laughter), you realize, has not less than tried as soon as and, you realize, oranges, jams and – or different candies.
However I needed to be queen of my nursery faculty. And yearly, they might have a fundraiser, which might be a Mardi Gras ball, and that Mardi Gras ball – you get to decorate up, you realize, and stroll down the aisle. And, you realize, there is a king and his queen of their court docket, and, you realize, I simply thought it was the good little factor. I went there two years in a row.
However so it got here time to lift the cash, and what you do is you do issues. So my mother – she determined to promote sweet from the entrance room, you realize, so she’d go and purchase some wholesale sweet. And, you realize, we had been proper down the road from the college, so naturally, you realize, the children would come and, you realize, get on the doorstep and purchase sweet.
MOSLEY: You needed to be fairly in style.
KETCHENS: Yeah. Yeah, discovered the way to combat, too (laughter). However so, you realize, she was fairly good, you realize, promote sweet and cookies and stuff like that, and raised some fairly good cash and turned it in. However after we turned it in, I wasn’t queen. I did not have the funds for to be queen. I used to be third maid, and it was cool. You realize, I received to put on this large, lovely yellow costume, and – however I wasn’t queen. When the queen walked up, you realize, the aisle, I used to be like, man, have a look at her. Man, I might be queen.
So we began early that subsequent yr, you realize? After all, they by no means stopped coming to the door anyway. And by the point it was time to show within the cash, we had a complete lot extra money than we had the yr earlier than, but it surely was my final yr there, you realize? I had principally aged out.
So my mother – you realize, she defined that to me. I used to be 4. And he or she stated, now, you realize, I do know you wish to be queen, however we may do, you realize, one in every of two issues. We may take all of this cash and switch it in, and you may be queen. You stroll down that aisle as queen. I am like, yeah. She stated, or we may take half the cash, and also you in all probability will not be queen, however you might nonetheless stroll down the aisle, and you will have some cash saved. You realize, you begin saving cash, and, you realize, while you develop up, you’ve got extra.
I used to be 4, so what I needed to do was take all the cash and even add some extra and be queen. I imply, I simply did, you realize? However I checked out my mother, and I do know what I used to be alleged to say. Despite the fact that I used to be 4, I knew what I used to be alleged to say. So I stated, OK, we’ll do this, and that is what we did. And I nonetheless wound up being first maid, however I used to be OK with it as a result of when the queen walked down the aisle this time, I am like, yeah, I gave you that.
However the children stored coming to the door. And there was a barber store subsequent door run by two twins, they usually closed up. And, you realize, my dad received the intense concept of, hey, folks come to the door anyway, come to the store, you realize? So he inquired about, you realize, renting a store and received it, and we lived subsequent door, and we had a candy store proper there…
MOSLEY: Wow.
KETCHENS: …And my mother began – and that is why they named it Doreen’s Candy Store as a result of all of it was, you realize, introduced upon by me desirous to be a queen (laughter).
MOSLEY: Proper. I imply, what sorts of stuff did you all promote? That – you offered all of the sorts of sweets that had been part of that contest, however what did the children come there for?
KETCHENS: Oh, I imply, sugar.
MOSLEY: Yeah.
KETCHENS: Sugar. That is what they got here there for – cookies with sugar, candies with sugar, drinks with sugar, you realize, on the way in which to high school. My mother would rise up early anyway, and he or she’d be open, and he or she’d open all day lengthy and shut at about 9 o’clock at evening, and he or she could be in there ‘trigger my dad – you realize, he labored for the park service, so, you realize, he had a 9 to five. However she was OK with it ‘trigger it was hers, you realize, and he or she was house. And my mother would cook dinner three meals a day each single day and run the store. I do not do this now. I imply, you realize what I am saying?
Yeah, I used to be actually in style, you realize, as a result of, you realize, my dad and mom had a candy store. After all, you realize, you get the detrimental influences too and, you realize, folks telling you, you higher convey me some sweet or I will beat you up. And it was like…
(LAUGHTER)
KETCHENS: Properly, that ain’t going to occur.
MOSLEY: I imply ‘trigger you had been – had been you serving to your mother make the sweet, too?
KETCHENS: No, no, no. It was – we did not begin making stuff till I received to, like, faculty. However earlier than then, it was simply – you realize, simply shopping for issues wholesale, like chips and, you realize, candies and cookies and stuff like that, they usually’d come. You realize, I used to be made to work within the retailer and did not actually prefer it that a lot, you realize? So a typical child, you realize?
MOSLEY: Please inform the story of how the clarinet turned your instrument as a result of it is an notorious story that you just inform, that you just began enjoying to get out of a pop quiz in elementary faculty.
KETCHENS: Yep. It was superb. We had been at my favourite topic, which was lunch.
(LAUGHTER)
KETCHENS: And there was a chat of a pop quiz, and it is like, they stated we will have a pop quiz after we return. And I am like, we ain’t by no means had no pop quiz, you realize? Properly, in fact, we received again up, and there was a pop quiz, and I received the stink eye from so many individuals, you realize? However the quiz was a such – ‘trigger there was, like, 30 children within the classroom. And he’d go down the road. He’d ask one query. And for those who received it proper, you handed. In the event you received it flawed, you failed. And I regarded out the window and I stated, oh, God, get me out of this. I will do something.
And about 2 minutes later, the principal got here on the loudspeaker, and he or she stated, anyone fascinated by becoming a member of the band, report back to the band room instantly, and I am like, oh, my goodness gracious. I raised my hand. After all, all people else raised their hand, too. However by God’s grace, he picked me, and I keep in mind working down the corridor, and I used to be so comfortable, you realize? And we went to the band room. And, you realize, we spent all our time in that classroom. However once I received to the band room, it was an enormous room, and it was lovely. That they had music notes and, you realize, footage of devices all around the partitions and stuff like that. And I noticed the flute, and I used to be like, oh, wow, have a look at that. I stated, I will play the flute.
And the band director, Mr. Burkela (ph) – you realize, he began out, you realize, introducing completely different devices and saying various things. After which he requested, you realize, he went row by row asking, what do you wish to play? Properly, I already knew what I needed to play ‘trigger the flute was so glossy and so silver and so lovely. However the lady in entrance of me – she stated the flute. And the lady subsequent to her – she stated the flute. And it went on and on about seven to 9 instances. And by the point he is getting near me, I am like, nicely, I do not wish to play that now. It is a fairly widespread instrument, you realize?
MOSLEY: Proper.
KETCHENS: And the clarinet was proper subsequent to it, so I stated, I will play that. And that is why I performed a – the clarinet. Course, they’d about 5 or 6 different ladies that say clarinet ‘trigger they had been boy devices and lady devices, you realize?
MOSLEY: Proper. Proper. Yeah.
KETCHENS: However I used to be the primary one, so I used to be all proper with that, and it labored out fairly good.
MOSLEY: Let’s take a brief break. In the event you’re simply becoming a member of us, my visitor is clarinetist and vocalist Doreen Ketchens. We’ll proceed our dialog after a brief break. That is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MOSLEY: That is FRESH AIR. And at the moment, I am speaking to jazz clarinetist, vocalist and New Orleans establishment Doreen Ketchens. She’s identified for her performances of Dixieland and conventional jazz, which has earned her the nicknames Woman Louis, Queen Clarinet and the feminine Louis Armstrong for her distinctive vary and highly effective excessive notes. You are classically educated. When did jazz change into your style?
KETCHENS: Oh, that – Lawrence (laughter). We had been in faculty, and he knocked on my follow room in the future. Properly, I went to this performing artwork faculty referred to as NOCCA, you realize, New Orleans Middle for Inventive Arts. And I used to follow on this closet, the janitor’s closet. And within the janitor’s closet, you might hear the clarinet all by way of the college. However because it was a performing arts faculty, no person complained, you realize?
And in the future, Ellis Marsalis knocked on my door, and he stated, hey, you sound fairly good on that. You realize, you ever thought of enjoying some jazz? I am like, no. And he stated, nicely, why do not you hearken to some jazz clarinets and see what you suppose, you realize? I am like, OK. And Ellis Marsalis all the time did intimidate me, you realize?
MOSLEY: And for many who do not know, I imply, he is a legend, however he is a – was an acclaimed pianist and educator, and his sons, in fact, are legends in jazz, too.
KETCHENS: Yeah, so, you realize, I used to be like, he stated, we would like you to take a pay attention and, you realize, let me know what you suppose. And I am like, OK, and see, I wasn’t enthused as a result of that is homework, you realize? Along with every thing else I needed to do, now I received to go to the library, ‘trigger, you realize, you may’t simply take out your cellphone and go and search for – you realize, I received to go to the library. I received to examine this out and all this different stuff.
However I did as a result of I knew he was coming again, you realize, and I listened, and I heard numerous clarinetists – you realize, George Lewis, you realize, Pete Fountain and, you realize, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw. And I revered what they did, however we had been completely different. You realize, I used to be concentrating extra on tone and method, they usually had been extra targeting jamming, you realize, bending the notes and not likely involved about tone and stuff like that, you realize, so it wasn’t my factor.
And so, you realize, just a few days later, he knocked on the door once more. And he stated, nicely, what’d you suppose? And I used to be like, you realize, it is actually not my factor. Yeah, I can recognize what they’re doing, but it surely’s not my factor. And he stated, nicely, you are entitled to your opinion. And as I inform you that, I can nonetheless see him saying that earlier than he closed the door. And I simply I assumed the world was going to finish ‘trigger I simply made Mr. Marsalis offended, you realize, however he wasn’t offended. He was simply chilling, you realize?
After which I went to Loyola. And simply to chop the story quick, I used to be working towards within the follow room, and, you realize, there was a knock on the door. And I regarded on the door. It was in a cubicle, so you might – you realize, the doorways had been glass. This beautiful, completely beautiful dude was knocking on the door. And I am like, could I make it easier to? And he stated – nearly verbatim, I child you not – he stated, you realize, you sound actually good on that clarinet. You realize, you should strive enjoying some jazz.
MOSLEY: (Laughter).
KETCHENS: And I used to be like, OK. And simply…
(LAUGHTER)
KETCHENS: …In order that’s how I began enjoying the jazz.
MOSLEY: Is it doable so that you can play us one thing to provide us an instance of the distinction between the classical clarinet that you just had been actually into earlier than Lawrence after which what you in the end got here to do?
KETCHENS: Properly, how about simply “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” and I will simply provide you with an concept?
(Enjoying clarinet).
Proper? So, you realize, a straight tone, and then you definitely fill the horn up with air and stuff like that. And, you realize, while you go excessive…
(Enjoying clarinet).
So – however once I play jazz, you realize, I nonetheless think about these qualities, you realize, the standard of the tone and the standard of the method and stuff like that. However, you realize, guys would do
(Enjoying clarinet).
…You realize what I imply? Stuff like that, which was nice in its personal respect, you realize? However simply not – I imply, it is, like, taboo, you realize, for someone who, you realize, performed classical clarinet, you realize? However, you realize, by the grace of God, I found out a approach to mix the 2 as a result of I needed to hold with this tuba participant – you realize, this beautiful tuba participant. So I might go one thing like…
(Enjoying clarinet).
So – you realize?
MOSLEY: There’s this custom in New Orleans that is related to the celebration of the useless or just lately departed. I imply, actually, Mardi Gras is the last word celebration of dying and renewal. And also you grew up seeing these second line parades occur and watching different family members and music being such part of that grieving course of. And I am simply eager about that once I’m eager about Lawrence and his legacy.
KETCHENS: I imply, we might be in that very same fifth grade class the place I – you realize, the place we had a pop quiz, and a second line would move by. And generally they allow us to, you realize, take a break and watch them by way of the window, and different instances we simply needed to maintain going, you realize, whereas a second line handed. And we had a funeral house, you realize – in my neighborhood, they’d, like, 4 or 5 funeral properties, so there was all the time a jazz funeral. And I assumed we had been the one ones on the planet that did that up till I turned an grownup and I began doing grasp courses and workshops, you realize, all over the world and began finding out the stuff.
However, you realize, it is an previous African custom. And people Africans had been enslaved, they usually had been unfold all around the world. So you will discover, you realize, the celebration from this life to the opposite, you realize, by way of some type of music and track all around the world. You could find it in Japan, Germany, particularly South America. You realize, I feel we do it the perfect, you realize what I imply? And we have grown up with with the ability to specific ourselves by way of music. Even for those who did not play an instrument, you might dance.
You realize, my dad by no means performed an instrument so far as I do know, however he was a member of a social help and pleasure membership. And people had been the fellows that costume up and dance, you realize, in entrance of the band. So when Lawrence and I’d come to the lounge to study new songs, my dad knew all of the songs. He’d name the titles to all of the songs. So we grew up right here. The music is in us, you realize? And it is throughout us. You’ll be able to’t keep away from it.
It is not like within the French Quarters the place, you realize, folks with a complete lot of cash can complain to the police concerning the music, you realize, and the police may come down and really ask you to cease. Within the hood, you realize, someone’s enjoying music or working towards their trumpet or one thing like that, you may’t name the police. Police not going to even hearken to you, you realize? However folks do not anyway, you realize what I imply? Lawrence used to – his mother used to make him play outdoors. You realize, go outdoors. I do not wish to hear all that.
MOSLEY: Proper. Proper.
KETCHENS: So the neighborhood was used to listening to him play, and he was used to enjoying, you realize, whether or not you appreciated it or not, you realize what I imply? So yeah.
MOSLEY: Have you ever been out on the street performing since he handed?
KETCHENS: No, I have never been out on the street but. I imply, I performed his memorial. But it surely’s Mardi Gras, and we would not be on the market anyway this time of the yr. They’re too loopy round Mardi Gras time. And all people’s asking, hey, when are you popping out and all that stuff. And, you realize, I say, oh, the weekend after Mardi Gras. And it will in all probability be that. I will in all probability do it. I’ve to, you realize?
I imply, at first, when he first handed, I could not even hearken to our music with out breaking down. And, you realize, I thought of it, you realize, once I was planning his memorial service. (Crying) I stated, you realize, you play all of those funerals and second strains and stuff for strangers and associates, and you are not going to play in your husband, you realize? It does not make any sense. So I labored at it.
And it is a way of thinking. (Crying) I received to be – I received to cross. You realize, I received to step to the precise or one thing like that. After which I am OK, and I play, and I can play. You are like, he is right here. I imply, I nonetheless really feel his presence. I actually do, and I thank God for that as a result of I do not really feel alone.
After which our daughter’s husband was deployed. So, you realize, you might say she simply occurred to be house, but it surely’s God.
MOSLEY: Yeah (inaudibleib).
KETCHENS: ‘Trigger she’s there, after which her son’s there, and it is simply lovely, you realize? And if she hadn’t been there that morning once I awoke and he was gone, I might have been alone in that large, previous home, you realize? I might of nonetheless been all proper. I am nonetheless impressed with how I dealt with every thing, however I wasn’t alone. You realize, they had been there, and that is God.
MOSLEY: Doreen, let’s take a brief break. And for those who’re becoming a member of us, my visitor is clarinetist and vocalist Doreen Ketchens. We’ll proceed our dialog after a brief break. That is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF ALLEN TOUSSAINT’S “BRIGHT MISSISSIPPI”)
MOSLEY: That is FRESH AIR. And at the moment, I am speaking with jazz clarinetist, vocalist and New Orleans establishment Doreen Ketchens. She’s identified for her performances of Dixieland and conventional jazz, which has earned her the nicknames Woman Louis, Queen Clarinet and the feminine Louis Armstrong for her distinctive vary and highly effective excessive notes.
A really excessive second that listeners could be aware of is your efficiency in 2023 on the Kennedy Middle. Ted Koppel and “CBS Sunday Morning” (ph) adopted you for that large evening. And I wish to play a clip of you performing one in every of your legendary lengthy notes. Let’s pay attention.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MOSLEY: (Laughter) That was my visitor, clarinetist and vocalist Doreen Ketchens, performing on the Kennedy Middle in 2023. My God, Doreen. Have you ever ever, or anybody ever, counted how lengthy the period of time that you could maintain a be aware?
KETCHENS: It varies. You realize, there is a buggy driver who says, she will be able to maintain her breath for 2 minutes (laughter). I do not learn about all that. However once I was a child and I used to be in junior highschool, I used to carry my breath for nickels, you realize, and get, you realize – and I made some huge cash, you realize, doing it. So I’ve – you realize, it was no downside placing it within the clarinet in matter of truth. But it surely must be a excessive be aware as a result of they do not take that a lot wind. You realize, it could not be a low be aware. I could not presumably do this on a low be aware as a result of, you realize, it takes an excessive amount of wind. However with these excessive notes, generally, you realize, as a substitute of taking a breath on the finish of it and, you realize, have the discharge.
MOSLEY: Doreen, this has been such a pleasure to speak with you, and I actually recognize you taking the time within the midst of your grief to share your lovely love story and the attractive music that the 2 of you all made collectively. And I wish to finish perhaps by asking you about this track that’s in your newest CD that was Lawrence’s. Are you able to inform us about it?
KETCHENS: Yeah, it is referred to as “West Africa,” and it is completely fantastic. It was a joint collaboration, however I simply got here up with the melody and the phrases, which got here actually simply, you realize, due to what Lawrence established, you realize, within the piece already. And my daughter and I, we’ve it on loop. You realize, we simply play all of it day, every single day, and it is simply completely fantastic, you realize? And even listening to it, you realize, I tear up as a result of a lot of him went into it and you may hear it. I imply, I can see him within the studio, you realize, ‘trigger he was alleged to be doing harmonies, and he stated, you are going to suppose I am loopy, however that is what I am feeling. And it simply went on, and it is simply lovely. Simply lovely.
MOSLEY: Doreen Ketchens, thanks a lot.
KETCHENS: Thanks.
(SOUNDBITE OF DOREEN’S JAZZ NEW ORLEANS SONG, “WEST AFRICA”)
MOSLEY: That is Doreen Ketchens together with her band, Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans, from their album, “Walkin’ By way of The Streets.”
(SOUNDBITE OF DOREEN’S JAZZ NEW ORLEANS SONG, “WEST AFRICA”)
MOSLEY: Tomorrow on FRESH AIR, two specialists be a part of us to discover the fast dismantling of variety, fairness and inclusion, generally generally known as DEI, throughout private and non-private sectors. As soon as hailed as markers of social progress, conservative critics now painting DEI as emblematic of extreme woke tradition. Be part of us.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MOSLEY: To maintain up with what’s on the present and get highlights of our interviews, comply with us on Instagram – @nprfreshair.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MOSLEY: Recent Air’s govt producer is Danny Miller. Our technical director and engineer is Audrey Bentham. Our managing producer is Sam Briger. At the moment’s senior producer is Therese Madden. Our interviews and critiques are produced and edited by Phyllis Myers, Roberta Shorrock, Ann Marie Baldonado, Lauren Krenzel, Monique Nazareth, Thea Chaloner, Anna Bauman and Joel Wolfram. Our digital media producer is Molly Seavy-Nesper. Susan Nyakundi directed at the moment’s present. With Terry Gross, I am Tonya Mosley.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
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