When you arrive, you pay your admission fee ($15 per person for adults) and are handed a set of headphones with a transmitter.  Unlike some museums, the music follows you.  No need to turn the receiver on or off if you arrive at a display and your timing is off.

Gorgeous inlaid floor with the continents - entrance to a Mim gallery

The customer service people suggest that you start with the first floor display, which has an array of guitars, a massive chime –(see last week’s blog for an image of the giant boat-like gong).

Next, head upstairs where the exhibit halls are arranged by continent.  The United States and Canada displays are housed in one large area and contain exhibits, screens with music that repeat with the performances heard through your headphones, and displays that show everything from a piano being skillfully constructed by Steinway craftspeople to Bluegrass music being energetically performed.

Amazing craftsmanship goes into constructing every piano (Steinway)

It is a dizzying and convincing parade of musical instruments that does convey the sense that music is truly the one unifying concept of the human race.

Many countries have their own versions of bagpipes

Take bagpipes.  You might think that they’d be in a display in the Scottish area.  They are, but it appears that many different cultures and countries have their own versions of bagpipes, too.

Every country has an exhibit of musical instruments, augmented with a performance that you can see on screen and hear with your headphones.   The color and array is exhausting and exhilarating to behold.  Junkanoo in the Bahamas and all manner of colorful and well-crafted instruments catch your attention.

Junkanoo in the Bahamas is a colorful pageant with steel drums

Downstairs – The modern masters

In addition to live performances, MIM has a hall with some pop, rock, jazz and other favorites on loan.  See the piano that John Lennon composed “Imagine” on, along with a video of him singing  “Imagine” and breaking out of the melodic line to editorially intone – in a deeper voice – “and I’m not the only one” (referring to  the desire for peace).  It gave me shivers!

John Lennon's piano on which he composed "Imagine" and a video of him playing

Eric Clapton performs several songs on video and you can see his instruments while you listen.  Carlos Santana, the Jonas Brothers, the Black-Eyed Peas, Paul Simon, George Benson and many others are all represented.  George Benson’s Platinum record for “Breezin’” is on display, along with Eric Clapton’s Fender – his “Brownie.”

Carlos Santana highlighted

Although we were tired after about three hours, we could have stayed twice as long.  There was so much to see and hear!

Transport yourself to MIM and you’ll spend an exciting and inspiring time.  All ages can enjoy the museum and there’s even a room to try the instruments.  Adults and children were banging on the drums and trying out the chimes.

Joey Wan enjoyed trying out the Gamelan, a xylophone

Note: There are video screens in most galleries that, using the headphones every visitor is loaned, start playing in the headphone when a visitor is near that particular exhibit.

MIM – the Musical Instrument Museum has a gift shop, a café (which prides itself on using “fresh local ingredients”), a coffee shop, and spaces for performances.  A great place to visit!

They play the old cowboy tunes, like “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “Along the Navajo Trail,” “Cool, Clear Water,” and others that most people have heard.  The foursome does the songs well.  Here are samples – -

Man of Constant Sorrow

The Blazin\’ M Cowboys perform

(Our first video posts – we plan many more!)

The players – Bill Bassett, Jim Dufresne, Reno McCormick, and Sheila McCormick (yes, they are married – which adds to some of the razzing), put on a great show.  They have chemistry as a group and intersperse their performance with funny hats, silly stories and varied types of music.  They feature each performer as lead and the very quiet Jim Dufresne turns out to be exceptionally gifted and amazing as he plucks his guitar.  Bill Bassett has a great announcer persona and voice as well as doing his instrumentals; Reno McCormick is quite versatile as he plays violin (“fiddle”), banjo, guitar and mandolin; Sheila McCormick plays her bass with authority and has a strong, sweet voice.  The group has been playing together for about 10 years and it shows.

At one point, flashes of lightning and a ghost seem to appear and it is spooky and funny.  Another visitor is the infamous “Otis,” quite a character.  I won’t say more and spoil the fun. Be prepared – they even have a singalong!

So, if you have the opportunity to visit the Blazin M’ Ranch in Cottonwood, AZ, you’ll have a fun, family evening.  If you’re celebrating your birthday, you’ll even be called up to the front for recognition and a funny hat!   We were seated next to a woman who was there for her birthday.  She was grinning from ear to ear.

Yippee-ki-ay!  Come on down and join the fun!

French Quarter street scene, early in the day

Although, I’ve been to New Orleans twice, I haven’t seen everything yet. But, even though I’ve been there, any visit is not complete until you visit the French Quarter, which is the quintessential place where everything comes together. There is music, excess, great food and amazing architecture.

Saint Louis Cathedral, overlooking Jackson Square, French Quarter

Food fun in New Orleans

New Orleans food has a special spiciness and flair to their cooking and their friendliness. Their foods have names you won’t find elsewhere, too. Muffalettas, po’boys and beignets are all great to try and have followings. Muffalettas are huge round sandwiches with an abundance of bread, meats and an olive mix. The bread is crusty outside and fluffy inside, which soaks in the flavors.

 
Po’boys are crusty, submarine-like sandwiches with hot, fried meats or fish inside. We trotted all the way to a restaurant named Uglesich’s to experience a prime po’boy. It was a ride, a walk and a wait, but well worth it!

 
The beignet is a humongous doughnut-like confection that is showered with confectioner’s sugar – abundantly. A sugar high from eating a beignet is not uncommon. I watched my husband eat a beignet. Every morsel and sugar crumb disappeared, a good sign that it was fabulous.

 
Upscale restaurants abound and I had memorable experiences at Brennan’s (reviewed on May 6, 2009). The Court of Two Sisters also provided a terrific culinary choice, with a jazz brunch. But, every meal in New Orleans was an occasion.

Music in N’Awlins

Walking the French Quarter, there’s a good chance you will hear music pouring out of a club or wafting out from a restaurant.
New Orleans is synonymous with jazz and you will hear the catchy, upbeat, wails of the bands as you travel the French Quarter.
On St. Peter Street in the French Quarter, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs nightly. Even though they charge an admission to come in and listen, you can hear the music as you walk by. They’re an institution and a terrific group.

RECIPES

While I was attending a convention, I stayed an extra day and had the good fortune to attend the Cookin’ Cajun Cooking School. They are only selling their products now and not operating their school, but at the time  they shared two very typical N’Awlins recipes, Bananas Foster and Shrimp Etoufee. You’ll find them following   –

(Save your calories, because these are not for people on diets – New Orleans natives love their butter!) Recipes courtesy of Cookin’ Cajun Cooking School.

www.cookincajun.com

Bananas Foster

½ stick butter
¾ cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup banana liqueur
3 bananas, quartered
½ cup rum
½ tsp cinnamon or Cindy’ Voodoo Dust, optional
6 servings vanilla ice cream

Directions:

Melt butter in a skillet or sauté pan.
Blend in brown sugar, stirring until it forms a thick paste.
Add vanilla and banana liqueur – stir well and cook for three minutes.
Add bananas and cook over medium heat, basting the bananas with the butter and sugar mixture.
Heat the rum in a very small saucepan or metal cup.
Ignite the rum and pour over the bananas. For added drama, sprinkle cinnamon or Voodoo Dust into flame.
Stir well and serve over ice cream. Makes 6 servings.

Shrimp Etoufee

1 stick butter
½ cup flour
2 cups onions, finely chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1 cup each red and green bell peppers, finely chopped or dried
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 ounces tomato paste
1 quart fish stock
1 teaspoon liquid Crab and Shrimp Boil (similar to the Old Bay brand)
3 cups shrimp, peeled and deveined
lemon zest, optional
1 bunch green onions, chopped
½ bunch parsley, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon spicy seasoning – (white and red peppers with herbs like basil and thyme)
4 cups cooked rice – popcorn or basmati rice preferred

Directions:

Melt butter over medium heat in a Dutch oven.
When butter begins to foam, add flour, stirring constantly.
Cook for about 10 minutes to form a light brown peanut-colored roux.
Add vegetables and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
Add tomato paste and cook for 5 minutes.
Then add stock and crab boil.
Add shrimp, lemon zest (if using), and simmer, covered for 10 minnutes.
Add the green onions, parsley and spice Blend (Cookin’ Cajun has their own brand of this).
Simmer 10 minutes more, remove from heat and allow to rest for 20 minutes.
Reheat, if necessary and serve over rice.
Serves 8. (Be careful about holding shrimp at room temperature so it does not spoil.

Tomorrow – Tune in for a visit to Santa Fe…