Diva Discussions

Children In The Business Lounge...

2011-11-21T07:35:00.001+01:00

I'm currently sitting in the executive business lounge in the airport where there is a family with the most out of control set of two year old twins I have ever encountered. They are horrid. They're running wild, screaming, harassing other passengers who are trying to relax, read or get work done before entering a very long flight from Angola, Africa to Lisboa, Portugal. I can tell you with a great deal of confidence there will be issues if these awful little urchins are on this same flight. It's way too early for this insanity.

Later fa you!!!

When I Think Of Home

2011-09-17T05:58:00.001+02:00

I am HOME!! I made it in Tuesday night to warm, humid, sticky, fabulous New Orleans. As I got off the plane at Louis Armstrong International Airport, the wet heat of the air in my city wraps around me and gives me a big giant hug to welcome me back. One of the airport workers standing at the door of the plane greets me as we make eye contact with, "Hey baby, how ya doin'?" I am in New Orleans without a doubt.

Tonight I went to Chickie Wah Wah and heard Paul Sanchez's set, he had Alex McMurray and Davis Rogan on his set and my dear friend, vocalist, Debbie Davis, the reason I made it out this Friday evening, was a part of the show. I joined in on one song from the Nine Lives set. I'm in New Orleans.

Tomorrow, I'm doing the hang with my grandmother and cousin. Talking present, past and soon come. I'm in New Orleans.

These are some of the things I think about, when I think of home.

Hey y'all, I'm in New Orleans!!!!

Later-fa-you!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:New Orleans, LA

This Is What It's All About...

2011-09-08T14:20:00.001+02:00

I'm touring once again, but this time it's a bit different. I'm doing concert tours to schools around Møre og Romsdal. These concerts are sponsored by the fylke or district to teach the children about other cultures through music, poetry and theatre performances. Our project is called École Créole. It teaches the children and also the teachers about Cajun and Creole culture, music and food through songs and stories. It's presented in a way that is both very entertaining and educational. The children and teachers have a blast and we have an awesome time presenting this program.

I LOVE being on stage, performing at festivals, clubs and concerts, but this is such a fulfilling and life enriching experience. I've never thought of myself as good with kids. I never believed that I knew how to relate to tiny people. Before our first concert last year, I was unable to sleep and was so stressed that I had acid reflux and the sweats! I told the guys in École Créole, (Kåre Nymark, Jr. and Paul David Longstreth) that I didn't think I could do it. I told them, I don't know what to do with tiny people. Honestly, tiny people have always freaked me out. Of course you understand that when I say tiny people I mean kids, not midgets... The first concert last year was a huge success and each performance has gotten better and better. The kids love it, the teachers love it and we love doing the presentation. More and more schools in Møre og Romsdal are requesting our presence at their schools and also areas around other parts are asking if we could bring our program to work with their school band or perform at their schools.

Helping to spread the rich and vibrant culture of New Orleans is a wonderful thing. Thanks to Kultursekken, Møre og Romsdal Fylke, Kåre Nymark, Jr., Paul David Longstreth and the great city of New Orleans for the inspiration.

www.facebook.com/ecolecreole

Later-fa-you!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Norway

We Americans, Don't Travel Well...

2011-08-20T12:36:00.001+02:00

I know that I may ruffle a few feathers with this post, but I don't care, truly. My home-folk can get pissed with me for what I am going to say, but hopefully you will reflect on it and those of you to whom this is applicable will have to acknowledge, somewhere deep inside, that this is YOU!

I've been traveling and living in Europe, mostly Scandinavia for many years and when I'm on tour I spend most of my life in hotels and airports. During the endless hours I spend waiting for flights or having breakfast, lunch or dinner in the hotel or local restaurants, I enjoy people watching. I find mankind fascinating and quite curious. People from all walks of life and from nations far and wide can be an interesting and quirky lot. But, vive la difference!! The things that make us all so different, make us all so special. But...of course there is a but and a big BUT! I often, on way too many occasions, find myself cringing at listening to my fellow countrymen on my travels. Just this morning I sat enjoying a lovely breakfast while listening to a table of American tourists visiting Norway, bitching about the fact that they had to "suffer through" eating this European breakfast. Where was the American style breakfast they were used to? Why does this hotel have these strange foods for breakfast? Because you're in NORWAY!!!!! This is what Norwegians eat for breakfast!! You want pancakes, STAY HOME!! Why do we expect people to conform to the way we do things in their own country? 20 minutes ago, I stepped outside to take a walk through Oslo center, because the weather is spectacular and on the West Coast we haven't had much of a summer. As I am strolling down the street, window shopping, I see the same group of my countrymen standing outside of the hotel, looking up and down the street, and they looked a bit confused. Being from the South, my manners kicked in and I asked if they needed some help. They proceeded to complain to me saying that they were looking to find someplace to eat that had "normal" food. Seriously? "Normal" food? I asked them what exactly did they categorize as "normal" food? This country has some of the best seafood in the world, the beef, pork and poultry is all free range and there are no factory farms. The produce is mostly grown right here in Norway with very strict rules on anything that has to be imported. I'm from Louisiana where we eat turtles, alligators and some folks in Southern Louisiana eat far stranger things than could ever be imagined here! One of them spotted a TGI Friday's a half block away and they were on cloud nine! I had to just walk away before I said something less than polite about this jaded, silly behavior.

The reason we travel abroad is to experience the lives, culture and food of others. Why cross the Atlantic Ocean to find a TGI Friday's or McDonald's? You don't have to like everything that you try, but at least TRY. Explore life a bit. The world would be a much better place if we stop being so critical of other people's way of life and just try to understand it. It's rude to go to someone else's country and complain about how it's not like home. It's not supposed to be like home. If that's what you're looking for, STAY HOME!!

Later-fa-you!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Oslo Jazz!!

2011-08-18T16:58:00.001+02:00

I'm here in sunny Oslo for Oslo Jazz Fest 2011. First performance is tonight at Oslo Domkirke, 19:00 with YSJ. The second performance is on Saturday night at New Orleans Restaurant, 21:00. I'm looking forward to the festival this year for a few reasons, it's been a while since I've done Oslo Jazz, I was in Brazil last year doing a festival there when the festival in Oslo was going on so, T C Hawkins filled in for me singing with YSJ. This year Allen Toussaint will be doing a solo set, so I'm looking forward to that, I haven't seen him since he played Molde Jazz along with Elvis Costello. Another highlight is Vernel Bagneris and Morten Gunnar Larsen doing their off-Broadway hit Jellyroll! A tribute to Jellyroll Morton. I mentioned in one of my earlier posts how great it is to see folks from home at these European festivals. It's a blast!

The church concert here in Oslo is also very emotional. Its the first time I've been back in Oslo since the awful attack that happened last month. When we went to the church for soundcheck, the grounds around the church are still covered with flowers and candles and people are placing more every day. The inside of the church was also filled with people lighting candles a in memory of those who lost their lives on that day. Tonight's concert is foe them.

Later-fa-you!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

I Lead A Charmed Life...

2011-08-12T08:33:00.001+02:00

We had an outstanding concert last night at Silda Jazz in Haugesund. A completely full church for our concert and this was a huge amazing church! We had a guest trombone player, Gunnar Bech, working with us and he did an amazing job. The audience was an enthusiastic one which made the performance a bigger pleasure. They ended our performance with a standing ovation and requests for an encore. It was truly lovely. But, I must say, the thing that really made yesterday's performance a treat for me, was looking all the way to the back of the crowded church to see my dear friend from home, drummer, Doug Belote!! Doug was at the back of the church for our entire performance. After the concert we hung out and talked and laughed, a lot. When you're around Doug, it's hard not to laugh, a lot! He's a funny, funny dude.

We all went to have dinner at the Maritime Hotel, Suløen and myself and Doug with the band he was there with, the amazingly talented Randy Crawford and one the one and only Mr. Joe Sample. We had a wonderful time. It makes the road a happy place when you have these really precious moments.

Today, I head back home to Langevåg and my poor husband who has been sick with a fever and terrible cough for the past 6 days. It's time for me to get back and look after my baby!

Next stop, Oslo Jazz Festival...

Later-fa-you!

And Away We Go!

2011-08-11T11:26:00.000+02:00

Well, I'm back to touring. A short tour anyway. Off to do a one day concert at Silda Jazz in Haugesund. Right at this moment we are sitting in the Oslo Airport with a 4 hour wait for the plane to Haugesund. I wish somebody could explain to me why people will work so hard at inconveniencing a group of people who are coming to perform for you, just to save a few bucks!! I mean, come on! Really!? It's a colossal ass ache to have a 4 hour wait in any airport to fly DOMESTIC!!

Any-hoo, we're doing a concert tonight at a lovely church and we hope to have a fantastic turnout. We head back to our respective homes tomorrow, so we get to spend the weekend at home.

I am looking forward to see my good friend, Doug Belote. He'll also be there. That's one of the cool things about European festivals, I often get to see wonderful home-folk. Life is good

Later-fa-you!!

My Grasp On Home

2011-08-09T20:00:00.000+02:00

I've noticed that the two things that I use to maintain my grasp on home are Facebook and NFL.com. Some people use Facebook as a platform, some use it as a pick-up spot, some use it as a forum, some as a PR machine and some as a photo-blog. Its my connection to home. I look a few times a day when I'm able, to see what the folks back in New Orleans are up to. When I read the posts about the concerts they'll attend that evening and the photos that very often accompany that event, the crawfish boils, birthday parties, secondlines, backyard barbecues, neutral ground family picnics or just sitting on the front porch door-poppin', I don't feel so far away.

NFL.com, GamePass. The best money I could ever spend. I overdose on highlights, opinions, sports documentaries and the bonus of getting to see what ridiculous new commercials are on in The States. This is another thing that makes home not feel so far away. My family sometimes gives me a hard time about being a big gadget geek, but my gadgets are my lifeline. To be able to watch the Saints games at the same time my friends and family are watching and be able to go on Facebook or Twitter and talk trash with them, makes me feel as though I'm sitting on the sofa next to them and not across the Atlantic from them.

Now, I have to go because there are back to back specials on Shannon Sharpe and Marshall Faulk on NFL.com and I have to check that out. Later-fa-you!!

Tricia Boutté Project — Threadhead Records

2011-08-08T15:52:00.001+02:00

Click on the link below and donate some funds to the project! Please, please, please!!! (In my James Brown voice)

Tricia Boutté Project — Threadhead Records

Yeah, Its Been A Minute...

2011-08-08T15:45:00.004+02:00

Life sometimes becomes a bit too real for me. Its that crazy artist shit, ya know how it is.

I tried out a blog that was connected to my website for over a year and it was a royal pain in the ass, so I'm back to the old trusty Blogger!

I'm making some big music life changes lately and I need to jibber jab about it a lil bit. I have been newly signed to Threadhead Records with my partner in musical crime, Paul David Longstreth. Paul David and I put together some miscellaneous crews of musicians which was aptly named, The Bootleg Operation. We got together last year to do a very successful tour in Brazil. We realized that even though the Atlantic separated me from them, we had to make this project continue. Threadhead Records agreed. We are creating a great collection of tunes to keep the mind, ears and body tingling. Super sweet musicians, Paul David Longstreth on piano, Mitchell Player on bass, Ocie Davis on drums, Grammy Award winning arranger, Alonzo Bowens on sax and ME singing and giggling!!! Yes, yes, yes. Its blowing up!!!

Here on the other side of da pond, a new CD was released at MoldeJazz 2011 in Norway. Ytre Suløens Jass-ensemble & Tricia Boutté - Live At Molde Jazz!

The National radio NRK, did a live broadcast/recording of our set at the festival last year. It was a fantastic recording, great atomosphere and lovely audience. I'll have a link to purchase that CD on my website, soon, soon!

And here we go!

2009-11-12T08:16:00.001+01:00

Well I'm heading to the airport now to begin what will be a very busy tour schedule. I have a gig in Oslo tonight and then onto more southern parts of Norway for a Culture House Tour. Following that, one free day for rehearsal and then off to Angola Africa with GUMBO! More info to come...

http://www.teedyworld.com

Busy Singing Bee

2009-11-10T10:35:00.002+01:00

Well, off I go again! I'm heading out this Thursday to Part 2 of the Kulturhusturne with YSJ. Part 1 was awesome and had a great turnout for every show, so we're expecting good things from this one, as well. I will also be going to Angola, Africa with GUMBO, a Norwegian band that dedicates itself to education the youth of Norway about New Orleans styles of music and culture. They have made the trip to Angola many times before and they have asked me to join them on this venture. So, after lots of vaccinations and paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, I'll be on my way! I will tend to my blog while I travel and make sure to include lots of pictures and words on my experience there. Join me on this adventure.

Karma 360˚

A New Chapter in my LIfe

2009-10-19T10:29:00.002+02:00

Well, its official. I'm not only a vocalist, performing around Europe, I'm the proud owner of Divasaurus Nails salon! With Peto's encouragement I have opened up a nail salon in the extra room here at our house. I had my first customer last Friday and I can't wait to start working this week. As a performer, I have week days as far too much downtime. I needed something to do while I'm sitting on my butt and this is the perfect solution. I have alreay built a fantastic website and I'm now spreading the word about my new venture. So, if you're in the area, come on by and pamper yourself!

Divasaurus Nails!

Summer Tours Begin!

2009-06-21T08:44:00.002+02:00

We had a great concert last weekend for the kick off of our summer touring schedule. We played in Hadeland in Branbu at Café Oscar. Its a beautiful restaurant and bar. We were invited by the Hadeland Jazz Forum. The audience was awesome and the band was in lovely form. We played all of the new material that we will be recording, live, at Molde Jazz in mid-July. I'm really looking forward to the festival and the recording. Molde Jazz will featuring several of my recipes, buffet style in Perspiration Hall at Alexandra Hotel. Good music, good eats, good people. WHo could ask for anything more?

But the work is good...

2009-02-13T09:33:00.008+01:00

The weather here in Norway is pretty damned cold and snowy at the moment which is why all of my friends and family back home in New Orleans always ask me, "Why in the hell are you in Norway!" Well, the simple answer is, the work is good. We've had great tours since the beginning of this year. Beautiful audiences, beautiful music, both jazz and gospel. I really have no complaints at all. None. Let's add to the fact that I have a wonderful man here as well!

We recently did a concert in Sarpsborg at Glenhuset to a full packed audience, who were lively, very enthusiastic and loved the music. They were a joy to play for. The gig was hosted by Sarpsborg Jazz Klubb via Bjarne, www.sarpjazz.no

That's Bjarne up there.

We played 2 sets. We've added a lot of great music to the YSJ set recently. Lots of great standards, blues and a couple of pop tunes re-vamped to make them YSJ-style!

We play in Sarpsborg fairly often, but I must admit, this concert was by far the best. Great time! We've been invited back to do a Christmas concert next year. That's the lovely thing about Norway. You perform places and when all goes well, you can mark your calendar for a repeat performance. I guess that's why YSJ is booked thru 2012! But the work is real good...

Up and running!

2009-01-14T17:01:00.005+01:00

2009 has begun and now I'm up and running with gigs, new music and tons of work advertising and creating publicity. I have done extensive work on my website. I've embedded my iGoogle Calendar into my website (http://www.teedyworld.com) and also embedded my ReverbNation music player into my Listening Station (http://www.teedyworld.com/Listening_Station_Gallery.html) to insure that new songs will be add in both places at once. I've found iGoogle Calendar very useful. My mother/personal assistant keeps track of my gigs and travel for me on iGoogle Calendar. I was able to link my Google Calendar to my iCal on my Mac. When I update things myself in iCal it syncs with iGoogle and also updates in my website. Lovely! It kills many birds with one stone.

All of the interactive properties of the apps including things like Facebook, this blog and Twitter, I am expanding my fan base and getting my music out to a wider public. Fo any musicians that have tried MySpace and thought it was a good networking tool, you have to check out ReverbNation. It rocks and it syncs with your MySpace page. Give it a look see, you won't be disappointed.

I performed at Montreal Jazz Festival 2008 and one of the great music fans from the audience sent me a photo from the performance (above). Thanks Lucie!!

Hurricane Gustav

2008-09-01T13:34:00.002+02:00

Currently the storm is about 80 miles outside of New Orleans. The power has gone in out in the French Quarter and wind gusts are up to 80 miles an hour. This storm will be dangerous. The one thing that makes this situation better is that 2,000,000 people have evacuated the city to safety. We pray that my beautiful home will survive this terrible weather.

New at TeedyCooks.com

2008-06-16T17:09:00.002+02:00

I've been putting up some of my summertime grilling recipes at teedycooks.com. Along with some of the refreshing cocktails there, I hope to help get your summer-groove on! Make up a batch of cocktails toss some yummies on the grill and get blazed.

I've also put up links for the websites of some of the cool festivals where I'll be performing this summer on teedyworld.com. Check out those links and make your summer a live music listening experience.

Back in Norge

2008-05-15T21:07:00.002+02:00

Well, I'm back in Norway. I had a blast in New Orleans for Jazz Fest. YSJ rocked Economy Hall and it was so much fun to be home. My mom surprised me by having my grandmother and my Auntie Joyce (my dad's sister) at our concert. Big thanks to my cousin Kimberly for bringing my grandmother and big thanks to my cousin Connie for getting my Tee Joyce there. Connie and Joyce came all the way from Houston!! My family rocks!

I got to do the all night hang with my friends Greg & Wezie while I was there. They're die-hards and come every year for Jazz Fest and the bring the great vibe and wonderful atmosphere everywhere they go. I hadn't been with them since last Jazz Fest so it was great to see them. Kåre and Doc even hung out with us. I think this was they're first Jazz Fest after-party and I think they had a great time.

I have a few days to rest up before I get back to work here in Norway. This weekend is a holiday here. Its Norway's National Day, May 17. So, needless to say, we'll be partying. Norwegians really know how to party...

When will sleep come????

2008-04-04T00:40:00.002+02:00

Well, as usual, I'm awake at an un-Godly hour. You know, its cool to stay up late and hang out when you're touring and hanging out with other musicians, but when you're home and have been cleaning up for a week, YOU SHOULD BE ASLEEP!!! Not working out for me.

I'm going to hang out tomorrow night. Some friends, fellow musicians, Christiansand String Swing, will be playing a set near my town tomorrow night. They'll be jammin' at Thon Hotel in Ålesund at 22.00. If you're around, you should attend. They're an energetic talented group with an amazing singer. Maybe I'll see you there. I'll try out sleeping again now, Nite nite!

Peace 360º

Spring Cleaning...Uugh!

2008-04-03T12:17:00.004+02:00

Well, not anything really exciting this week. Actually, I'm working my ass off in my house. Cleaning, boxing up crap, making room to function. I'll be heading back to the States soon. When I return here in early May my really intense summer tour schedule begins. I'm gonna need my place in easy packing and jetting order. I hate cleaning!! I have this weekend free. Sounds like fun? NO! I'm cleaning remember?

What's going on now...

2008-03-15T13:12:00.001+01:00

A friend read my first post and said that I'm supposed to start with a synopsis of myself. Yeah...
I basically stated who I am in my "about me" in my profile. But here it goes.

I am a vocalist from New Orleans. I live in Norway in a small town called Langevåg. I got my official full residency here in October 2007. Before that I was floating all over Europe for many years on artist visas.

About Norway

From Wikipedia,

Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a country and constitutional monarchy in Northern Europe that occupies the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It is bordered by Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The distance between the northern and southern parts of Norway is considerable compared to east-west distances. The country's extensive coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean is home to its famous fjords. Since World War II, Norway has experienced rapid economic growth, and is now amongst the wealthiest countries in the world, with a fully developed welfare system. This economic progress is caused in part by the development of oil and gas reserves off its coast. Norway was ranked highest of all countries in human development from 2001 to 2006. It also rated the most peaceful country in the world in a 2007 survey by Global Peace Index

Langevåg is the administrative center of the municipality of Sula in Norway, and lays at end of the road on the north side of the island. The place is known for having raised famous musicians as Nils Petter Molvær,Robert Post and the bands Ytre Suløens Jassensemble and The Brazz Brothers. It is also the home of New Orleans jazz vocalist Tricia "Sista Teedy" Boutte. The Devold factory is world famous for its "Devold blaatrøie" and is still producing knitwear on its own brand "Devold". Langevåg is surrounded by awesome scenery; mountains (Sulafjellet 796 m.o.h.), forest, lakes and of course (as it is situated on an island) a beautiful coastline. The City centre includes 56 shops, 4 hotels, 6 gas stations, 5 schools, medical centre, retirement homes, office + service buildings, the "Devold factory" with museum factory outlet and a cosy café + guided tours. There is a passenger ferry from Langevåg to Ålesund, and there is about a 35 minute drive to the city.

Haha!! It says that I live in Langevåg in Wikipedia! How crazy is that?

Anywhoo...
I tour all over Scandinavia most of the year and we also make trips to other parts of Europe. I stay really busy and I'm loving life here. I date a great man, Per Tore Langlo. He lives in Stranda about 1 1/2 hours from me, over the mountain. I visit home a bit. Not as often as I used to because of my tour schedule. I will be back in NOLA for the Jazz Fest, so the party starts April 26 at Economy Hall @ 2:45pm!

Welcome to the Blog-world!

2008-03-15T10:52:00.000+01:00

I have officially become a part of the great world of blogs. I am often asked what I'm doing, where I'm going and so on. I tell these stories to people over and over again. Its a bit exhausting really. This way I guess I can let ya'll know what's up with out saying it 50,000 times!

I'm in a town in the south of Norway called Hov in Søndre Land. Lovely town. I'm here with my guy, Per Tore Langlo. We drove down from Stranda (where he lives). He's here doing some renovation work on a cabin. We'll be heading back to the Northwest in a day or two. Needless to say I'm doing some major relaxing right now. Something i don't get to do often since I've been living and singing/teaching in Norway. Now, don't get me wrong, that's a good thing. A busy musician is a happy musician!

Gotta make some coffee now. I'll be back at you.

Peace, 360°