Queen Doreen Ketchens, “Queen of the Clarinet”, (born October 3, 1966 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.)
(English / Español / Italiano)
She is a virtuoso traditional jazz and Dixieland clarinetist.
She is famously known for her vibrant street performances on Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.
She leads the band Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans alongside her family.
Nicknamed “Lady Louis” because of her ability to hit and hold powerful high notes, and her love of Louis Armstrong’s performance style.
She worked her way through conservatories and college as a chef, and met her husband, arranger and sousaphonist for Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans, Lawrence Ketchens (1963-2025) at Loyola. She found her passion in Jazz with Lawrence and the two regularly performed together.
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Es una virtuosa clarinetista de jazz tradicional y Dixieland.
Es muy conocida por sus animadas actuaciones callejeras en Royal Street, en el Barrio Francés de Nueva Orleans, Luisiana.
Dirige la banda «Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans» junto a su familia.
Se la conoce con el apodo de «Lady Louis» por su capacidad para alcanzar y mantener potentes notas agudas, y por su admiración por el estilo interpretativo de Louis Armstrong.
Se costeó sus estudios en conservatorios y universidades trabajando como chef, y conoció a su esposo, Lawrence Ketchens (1963-2025), arreglista y sousafonista de Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans, en Loyola. Descubrió su pasión por el jazz con Lawrence y ambos actuaban juntos con regularidad.
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È una clarinettista virtuosa di jazz tradizionale e Dixieland.
È famosa per le sue vivaci esibizioni di strada su Royal Street, nel Quartiere Francese di New Orleans, in Louisiana.
È alla guida della band Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans insieme alla sua famiglia.
È soprannominata “Lady Louis” per la sua capacità di raggiungere e mantenere potenti note acute e per il suo amore per lo stile interpretativo di Louis Armstrong.
Si è mantenuta agli studi presso i conservatori e all’università lavorando come chef e alla Loyola ha conosciuto suo marito, Lawrence Ketchens (1963-2025), arrangiatore e suonatore di sousafono per la Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans. Con Lawrence ha scoperto la sua passione per il jazz e i due si esibivano regolarmente insieme.
Today, on what would have been his 100th birthday, we celebrate the legendary Tony Bennett, whose timeless voice, effortless charm, and devotion to the Great American Songbook touched generations of listeners. His incredible seven-decade legacy as a master storyteller and jazz icon continues to inspire and live on through the music he gave the world.
This is by a patient of mine with early late stage dementia, who was a poet for most of her life. Her new poems are dictated to me during writing workshops I run at my hospice job. She hadn’t written since her diagnosis. This is one of seventeen poems I’ve written with her so far.
posted with permission from herself and her family.
She died early this morning.
I’ve been doing poetry since I could write but I do think she was my only teacher.
Working with her was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I mean it when I say you all are so lucky to get even this glimpse at the majesty of her work.
1924 Mikiphone portable pocket gramophone from Switzerland. Hungarian designer Miklós Vadász created this battery-free wonder in the 1920s so folks could spin records anywhere. Fold it up, tuck it in your pocket, and jam on the go with just a hand crank. Vintage portable tunes at their finest.
