The Commercial Appeal from Memphis, Tennessee • 63

IS Rim depicts a Big Easy Helping fud the funk in New Orleans are (from left) Itoy Andrews Kermit Ruffins and Irvin Mayfield featured in the film "Make It Funky!" 'Mi '-N 's 1 1 i1 By John Balfuas New Orleans and Memphis each can stake a claim to being the moat important popular music city in America (New York? Tbo derivative Detroit Chicago? Built upon a Southern foundation Nashville? Left leave country music out of it jt now) Yet linked by a rhythm-and-blues heritage as well as a river and a railroad line Memphis and New Orleans never have been rivals Instead these soulful cities seem more like coconspiratore in musical revolution a relationship acknowledged by the National Academy of Recording Arts Sciences: The Memphis chapter of the Grammy organization extends south to encompass not only Mississippi but NewOneans too The cities drat often come together in any formal sense but the Memphis-New Orleans friendship will be recognized with food music and film during a public NARAS-sponsored program from 6 to 9 pjn Thursday at Studio on the Square 1116 event begins with music by New Orleans trumpeter Kermit Ruffins a co-founder of the Rebirth Brass Band who has been one of the Crescent Cityfe most popular and prolific performers since he broke off for a ado career in 1992 Food will be provided by Calaloirefc a 120-year-old New Orleans restaurant -named one of the 50 best in the country by Gourmet magazine At 7 pm after the food and music It Funky!" will be shown Director Michael Murphy will answer questions after the screening (Maybe someone will ask if like to shoot a followup in Memphis a city equally ripe for this sort of treatment) Narrated by Art Neville the film offers a history lesson a class in music appreciation and a funky concert experience As Bonnie Raitt says in the movie the musical heritage of New Orleans is you can dance to" The story of New Orleans music is sketched through interviews with such key figures as drummer Earl Palmer Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun pioneering producer1 Cossimo Malassa the Sam Phillips of New Orleans to put it simply and composer arranger and pianist Allen Ibussaint who also performs a medley of "Fortune Teller" "Working in the Coal and "A Certain Some of the other peformers filmed during a 2004 concert at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans include Ruffins the Dirty Dozen Brass Band Irma Thomas Walter Washington Snooks Eaglin members of the Meters and guest star Keith Richards who exposes his vocal limitations while croaking out the Fata Domino classic Tm The contributions of Midi pioneers as Domino and the late Professor Longhair are remembered through vintage film dips Tickets to die event are $20 each or free for NARAS members lb order in advance call 525-1340 or write mmphisgnmmyxom Get away to Nashville for a night to remember! Experience the world-famous Peking Acrobats aboard the General Jackson Showboat's Evening Dinner Cruise) -plus a night at the world-class Gaylord Opryland Retort -all for as little The Gaylord Oprytend" Resort Pedum Indudes: One nighti stay at Gaylord OprylahdJiesort) -J One ticket to 77 la Faking Acrobats Evening Private Captain's Recaption prior to departure 1 One on-board beverage In a souvenir-glass Delta Flatboat Ride i Breakfast at Rachel's or the Cascades Restaurant Gaylord Opryiand VIP Coupon Book nice: For reservations ceM 14IMI1-9139 wwwgaykrdoprylanLcom Ptr parson bnad on doubto occupancy pke ttx and drily iwoitfca OthariwtrUfarwaopk 1 1 SHOWBOAT.