Displaced New Orleans jazz musicians find place to play

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A quartet of musicians driven out of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina plucked and huffed breath back into the Big Easy's sultry spirit with borrowed and donated instruments this weekend.

Scattered by the hurricane's wrath, the four were forced to leave behind many of their belongings and flee to Houston. Then with Hurricane Rita bearing down, they were forced to evacuate again.

But as they played in Louisville Friday night, memories of their newly acquired vagabond livestyle vanished, and the jazz of New Orleans returned. With so much pride and enthusiasm, it was hard to believe that just weeks earlier they lost everything they owned.

“It's one touch of normalcy and familiarity because that's what I used to do back at home," said Michael White, a music professor at Xavier University in New Orleans. “In a way, when I'm out here, it feels like I haven't lost everything."

White, a clarinetist, and the group performed at Louisville's historic Seelbach Hilton Hotel on Friday. Another gig was scheduled Saturday night, and the ensemble will also play on Sunday at the Clifton Center in Louisville.

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