Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
.
>> MARDI GRAS SEASON IN FULL
SWING.
REVELLERS ENJOYING AND WEARING
COSTUMES AND PARTYGOERS TOSS THE
COLORFUL BEADS AND TRINKETS INTO
THE CROWD.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I
AM HOPPING A PLANE AND HEADING
TO NEW ORLEANS FOR MY VERY FIRST
MARDI GRAS.
IT'S PERSONAL FOR ME AND I
WANTED TO SHARE THIS PHOTO WITH
YOU.
THIS IS MY MOTHER'S MOTHER.
SHE GREW UP THERE.
SHE LOVED THE SPIRIT OF THE
CITY.
THIS PICTURE I HAVE IN MY
BATHROOM.
SHE WAS THE QUEEN BACK IN 1946.
JUST TRUST ME.
I HEARD ABOUT MARDI GRAS FOR A
LITTLE WHILE.
I DECIDED IT'S TIME TO SEE WHAT
THE CELEBRATION IS ALL ABOUT.
I ENLISTED TWO PEOPLE WHO CAN
HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
FAT TUESDAY A COUPLE OF DAYS
AWAY.
TWO NATIVES.
DONNA BRAZIL AND TROMBONE SHORTY
WITH THE SKMASKMASK AND ALL.
>> THIS IS FROM THE CREW.
HELL YA.
THIS IS A MACING.
>> I'M LOVING THIS.
CAN I SAY THIS IS THE CRAZIEST
JOB.
IN MY SUITCASE, I HAVE A WONDER
WOMAN COSTUME AND A TUTU AND A
MASK AND A PINK WIG AND A DRESS
FOR CHURCH.
DONNA, WHAT AM I FORGETTING?
>> JUST A SMALL BAG.
WE CALL IT A WINE SKIN.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO START RIGHT
NOW AND GET YOU A HURRICANE.
YOU WILL NEED SOMETHING TO KEEP
YOURSELF MOIST AND HYDRATED.
MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOU
GET RED BEANS AND RICE.
MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY GIVES
YOU A DELICIOUS PANCAKE.
>> I AM READY FOR THE MARDI
GRAS.
I HAVE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE I'M
GOING TO GO AND THERE IS A
PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF DEBACHERY
AND BOURBON STREET.
IT'S MORE THAN THAT, IS IT NOT?
>> IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
YOU GO A BLOCK AWAY AND YOU SEE
A BUNCH OF FAMILIES DRESSING UP
AND IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
YOU ARE FINDING YOURSELF WALKING
AROUND THE CITY AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW YOU GOT THERE AND PEOPLE YOU
NEVER MET BEFORE AND HAVING A
GREAT TIME.
>> I WALKED THROUGH AND THAT'S
WHERE YOU ARE FROM.
HERE'S MY QUESTION BACK TO YOU.
YOU ARE BLOWING THAT HORN, I'M
CURIOUS IF THERE WAS A PERSON IN
FRONT OF YOU WHEN YOU ARE MAKING
THAT MUSIC.
ANYONE YOU ENVISION PLAYING FOR?
>> I THINK LOUIS ARMSTRONG.
I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF HIS AND I
WANTED TO PERFORM FOR HIM FOR
WHAT HE DID OPENING DOORS FOR
US.
OTHER THAN THAT WHENEVER I PLAY
I ALWAYS SEE THE SPIRIT AND TO
KEEP IT ON.
WHEREVER WE ARE, I AM ALWAYS
TRYING TO BRING THAT ENERGY TO
WHEREVER WE ARE.
>> DONNA, I HAVE RECENTLY COME
TO KNOW WHAT SECOND LINING
MEANS, BUT I DON'T THINK OTHER
PEOPLE KNOW.
EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS.
>> THE FUNERAL SERVICES, PEOPLE
WILL OFTEN GET THEIR UMBRELLA
AND THEY START SWAYING TO THE
MUSIC.
I HOPE THAT YOU ARE READY TO
MOVE THOSE HIPS AND BRING IT
BACK AND BRING IT FORWARD.
WHEN YOU SAY THROW ME SOMETHING,
MR., MEAN IT.
>> THROW ME SOMETHING, MR.
>> IT IS A TRADITION.
HE IS SO ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
PEOPLE CELEBRATE ON THEIR FRONT
PORCH.
ON THE SIDEWALK.
THEY CELEBRATE IN THE STREET.
THEY CELEBRATE WITH STRANGERS.
THEY MAKE THEIR SANDWICHES AND
BRING THEIR BEANS AND RICE AND
BRING THEIR COLD DRINKS AND
WATER AND OTHER REFRESHMENTS SO
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
MARDI GRAS IS ONE OF THE FESTIVE
SEASONS THAT STARTS AND END
RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
LENT SEASON.
FOR MANY OF US IT'S A CHANCE TO
GIVE PRAISE AND THANK GOD TO
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
>> MY GRANDMOTHER WILL NOT BE
FAR FROM MIND.
WHAT ONE THING CAN I NOT MISS?
>> WELL, YOU DEFINITELY DON'T
WANT TO MISS THE PARADE ON THE
MARDI GRAS UNDER THE BRIDGE.
IT WILL BE UNBELIEVABLE.
>> ALREADY.