His grandfather may be the legendary folk artist Pete Seeger, but Tao Seeger has paved his own path. When I saw him sit in with the Preservation Hall Brass Band at the Louisiana Music Factory, he sang a song in Spanish!
Tonight, the core of that acclaimed group joins him. Ben Jaffe, the musical director of the storied organization will be on sousaphone, Clint Maedgen, the newest member of the band, will be on saxophone, Freddie Lonzo is the featured trombonist, Rickie Monie plays piano, Charlie Gabriel is the clarinetist, Mark Braud is on trumpet and Joe Lastie mans the drums. This clip is the same band. Inexplicably, it cuts before the finale, which featured Tao Seeger.
Here’s a funny story that didn’t make my upcoming book. At least I think it is and anyone who has ever heard me rail against the chair people and supports my point of view, will knowingly nod.
Back when Tao was a youngster he appeared on stage at the Jazz Fest with his grandfather. This was sometime in the early 1990s. Since I had never seen the legend who allegedly was furious at Bob Dylan for abandoning the folk movement and going electric, I was up front and center on the rail for the set.
People were very distressed that my friends and I were dancing. They began yelling at us to sit down and one guy even threw a beer can at us. Pete saw what was going on in the audience and made some comment to let us be. And they did.
Clint Maedgen, who has a second job playing much more modern music with the Bingo Show!, is the opening act. Who knows what he has in store.
