00:59 Where the name Quezerque came from. Various cultures. Grew up in the 7th Ward, and went to school at Xavier Prep. Father played guitar, mother was a singer, brother played trumpet and another that played drums. Very musical family, jam sessions every Sunday. 03:00 Only instrument was the trumpet 03:15 First professional performance at 15 years old. Played nothing but New Orleans tunes, Dixieland and Traditional jazz. Learned Stocks and grew an interest of arranging. 04:08 Met Clyde Sr. Got inspiration to arrange. 04:40 Started his first groups in the Army. And started arranging for large bands. The Royal Dukes of Rhythm Band was formed at the Veterans School of Music 05:36 Musicians in the Royal Dukes of Rhythm included Carl Blouin Sr., Hampton, Manuel Crusto during 1955 06:25 George Davis (Guitar) relationship. Did concerts together 06:45 Allison Miner talks extensively about George Davis and about her the first time she listened to Quezergue’s arrangement “Big Chief” on the Watch Label. Some background history. 08:52 Recording of “Big Chief” arranged by Quezerque 11:15 Story behind the recording: Smokey Johnson (Drummer), played so hard during the session that blood was coming from his hands. It is not a tambourine in the background it is bottle caps in rows. Prof. Longhair kicks the leg of the piano, so they tied his right leg to the stool 13:00 Allison Miner talks about her own story about bottle caps 13:27 Quezergue relationship with Professor Longhair. 14:49 Professor Longhair’s reputation. No one truly had anything bad to say about him “Very honorable man” 15:41 Career development in terms of national recognition. “Groove me” and “Mr. Big Stuff”. “Teasing you” with Willie T written by Earl King was where he first got recognized. “Reputation by steps”. 17:35 Business aspects of music in terms of Publishing. Depended on other people “half way” 18:21 “The Litney of Saints” and “Charles Brown CD” Recording. No. 1 in the Caribbean 22:30 Neville Brothers were the background singers to the previous recording. 22:50 Miner talks about “Going back to New Orleans” and how Quezergue has arranged the majority of it. Danny Barker was on a lot of the selections 23:23 Where Quezergue met Danny Barker at Carnegie Hall. Story that Danny did not have charts done in time and Quezergue took over. 25:17 List of orchestration or conducting tours. List of people he has worked with. 25:47 He said that he was blessed. He can’t hear something that he likes and not immediately put it on paper. 26:54 Works with a tuning fork when he composes. Tells an extensive story about a fella in New York with one of the Neville brothers concerning his tuning fork. 30:55 Things that he will be doing at the Festival. 32:33 Story behind arrangements that he was working on at the time of the interview. Discussing how busy he is. 34:15 “I won’t Cry anymore “recording from new Charles Brown record. 36:50 Another story about a group called the “Damien’s”. Funny how it came about. 40:21 Musical aspirations. “Nothing except to get better”
