Vappie is a premier jazz musician in the United States and has been called the best and most original banjoist in New Orleans today. He is best known, perhaps, for his contemporary performances and recordings of classic jazz compositions from the 1920’s and 30’s. The main goal of Vappie and his Creole Jazz Serenaders is to provide today’s audiences with a glimpse of “the real spirit of early jazz,” a period when jazz was the “pop” music of the time.
“What I’ve tried to do with the Creole Jazz Serenaders,” says Vappie, “is bring both the spirit and sophistication of classic jazz back to life by presenting neglected songs from that era that are also lively and entertaining. I hope to illustrate the kinds of music played when jazz was young, as well as the complexity of many of these pieces. When we perform, I always try to provide a sense of fun and energy that demonstrates to modern audiences why this music was the dance music of that generation.”
In
addition, Vappie has become known for his transcriptions and
arrangements of classic jazz compositions as performed by Ferdinand
“Jelly Roll” Morton, Joe “King” Oliver and others. During the 1998 New
Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, he was chosen to be music director
for the world premier series of concerts of newly discovered music
composed by Jelly Roll Morton. In 1999, the Creole Jazz Serenaders
received the Big Easy Award in New Orleans for best Traditional Jazz
Band. Performing since 1975, there are many, many other credits in
Vappie’s musical resumé including, touring and performing with Wynton
Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, being tapped as musical
director for the stage production of the musical “Satchmo,” lecturing
and performing on the “History and Music of New Orleans Creole Jazz”
sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, touring with
Finn Burich’s International New Orleans Jazz Band as a featured artist,
and most recently touring Europe and performing at the 2005 New Orleans
Jazz and Heritage Festival. He developed and taught the curriculum in
traditional jazz at the University of New Orleans at the request of
Ellis Marsalis, Jazz Studies Director. WWOZ radio fans will recognize
him as host of the “Traditional Jazz Show.” The band has been booked to
play at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St; Louis in February 2007 and
Carnegie Hall in May 2007. They will release two new CDs - Banjo A La
Creole and Swing Out. All concerts in the series are free, open to the
public, and followed by a reception where the audience can meet the
performers. Childcare is provided for children under six years of age.The series, now presenting its sixteenth season of free concerts, is supported by memberships and by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the St. Tammany Arts Commission.
Christ Church is located at 120 S. New Hampshire in Covington at the entrance to Bogue Falaya Park. For more information, contact the church office at (985) 892-3177.