Charles Suhor

Bruce was a joy to teach. He had a fine mind and refreshing perspectives. He played in a rock band, possibly with others in your class, right? Somehow I remember him and Walter Lamia trading fours during class discussions, which were at the heart of my experiences at Franklin. Memories that I'll treasure into the bardo, if threre is one. 

Posted on: Aug 24, 2020 at 4:49 PM

The first review of my book just came out from Midwest Review. I swear, I didn’t write it myself. "Creativity and Chaos: Reflections on a Decade of Progressive Change in Public Schools, 1967 - 1977" is an inherently fascinating, impressively insightful, exceptionally informative, remarkably thoughtful and thought provoking read. A unique memoir of an educator during a volatile and interesting time as reflected in American educational institutions and social movements over the course of a decade.” As Dorothy Dix, the mother of advice columnists, once said, “Writing is like shooting in the dark. It's good to hear a bell ring now and then.”

Posted on: May 16, 2020 at 2:58 PM

I had hoped to drive to N.O. for signing of my new book,  Creativity and Chaos: Reflections on a Decade of Progressive Change in Public Schools, 1966-1977. The pandemic put an end to that. I hope you’re all keeping safely cloistered. I contacted some of you via an old email list, but here’s the message for the rest of you. The a documented memoir of the years after I left Franklin to the end of the decade, the so-called hippie/Viet Nam years that you know so well. I was advocating for change as English Supervisor for the district and getting into the national level. Here’s the amazojn.com. announcement--

https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Chaos-Progressivism-Orleans-1967-1977/dp/158838392X/ref=sr_1_3?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&qid=1575317175&refinements=p_27%3Acharles+suhor&s=books&sr=1-3&unfiltered=1

Posted on: Mar 23, 2020 at 1:32 PM

Posted on: Feb 13, 2019 at 4:55 PM

Most of you who are in the N.O. area probably know this, but I just saw on p.15 in Preservation in Print (PIP) that the old Carrollton Courthouse building that was Franklin is being renovated after being in the “most endangered" list. Along with two new adjacent buildings, it will become a 100-unit assisted living and memory-care residence. Many historic sites are becoming swanky hotels and restaurants, like St. Peter and Paul Church (pp. 22-26), which is good, but I’m glad to see our building will be put to a humane use. BTW, I recommend PIP for all who share my obsession with the city’s past, present, and future. Subscribe by becoming a member of the Preservation Resource Center at https://prcno.org/get-involved/memberships/

Posted on: Nov 25, 2018 at 9:18 PM

Maybe you've heard this. If not, know a new book by James Nolan, class of '75, Nasty Water: Collected New Orleans Poems, is out. The poems are varied-- imaginative, intense, poignant, funny, and lots of other adjectives—and I'm only on page 22. Real N.O. stuff, too.

https://www.amazon.com/Nasty-Water-Collected-Orleans-Poems/dp/1946160350/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1543200964&sr=1-1

Early reviews of my late brother Don's Jazzology 2-CD set, "Don Suhor—New Orleans Clarinet and Sax Virtuoso," are out. Great comments from Peter Lay in London, Geraldine Wycoff in a N.O., and Scott Yanow in Syncopated Times.

“Highly Recommended! These CDs mean that Don Suhor’s talents will not go unsung.” --Peter Lay, Just Jazz magazine (July 2018)

“Don Suhor thoroughly embraced both traditional and modern jazz and often would infiltrate one of these kissin’ cousins within the other. He also brought an equal amount of fervor to the clarinet, his first instrument, and the saxophone. Don Suhor continually demonstrates his love of all jazz and the wholeness that remains the music’s, as well as his, essence.”--Geraldine Wycoff, New Orleans OffBeat weekly (July 31, 2018)

“On both of his instruments, Suhor had a wide range and was able to high very high notes with ease, making the occasional leaps into the stratosphere a logical part of his open-mined style....Despite his lack of interest in being documented, the release of this twofer lets one enjoy the musical legacy of Don Suhor, a talent who deserves to be remembered.”--Scott Yanow, Syncopated Times (August 2018)

I was in the city in July for a jam session/tribute to Don at Snug Harbor organized bu some of his colleagues. It was very touching, and the jazz was terrific.

On Thursday, July 19, I’ll be in town at Snug Harbor on Frenchmen Street to hear a musical tribute to my later brother, Don. He was a great clarinetist and alto saxophonist who lived under the public radar but was universally admired by fellow musicians. A group of them organized this session in his honor, co-ordinating with the release of a 2-CD set of his best work on Jazzology Records. I won’t sit in but my son David, a jazz vocalist in Pensacola, will do a song or two. Shows are at 8 and 10 pm. Hope to see some of you there.

My brother Don's two-set CD was just released on GHB/Jazzology. Don played in N.O. for over 55 years. He was never a self-promoter, but as Tommy Sancton wrote, "Don Suhor remains a legend among musicians who knew and worked with him." He made a few recordings as a sideman before he died in 2003, but they didn't give a sense of the range of his talent. Twenty-two of the 27 tracks for the 2-CD set I compiled for Jazzology feature Don in privately recorded trio and quartet settings. The "Clarinet Connections” disk shows how he combined brilliant technique with soulful New Orleans feeling in a unique “Dixiebop” style. The “New Orleans Spot Gig + 2” disk features Don on modern jazz alto sax for eight tracks at an only-in-New Orleans wedding reception, plus two trio tracks in the Lee Konitz tradition. If you’d like a copy, I have a good stack that I can sell at the discounted price of $15. Send a check and your address to me at 3566 Audubon Road, Montgomery, AL 36111.


Don Suhor--New Orleans Clarinet and Sax Virtuoso
G.H.B. Records [ BCD-561/562 ]

RECORDING ARTISTS:
Amy Sharpe Trio
Gary Burghoff's Mardi Gras Celebration Band
Topsy Chapman & The Pro's
Wendell Brunious Jazz Band
John Eubanks Trio
Don Vappie Quartet
TRACKS:
Disc One
Petite Fleur
Crazy Rhythm
Sweet Georgia Brown
Sweet Lorraine
Seven Come Eleven
Lazy River
A Closer Walk with Thee
'Swonderful
Basin Street
Someday You'll Be Sorry
Just A Little While To Stay Here
If Dreams Come True
Dippermouth Blues
Struttin' With Some Barbecue
All The Things You Are

Disc Two
Slow Boat to China
How Deep is the Ocean
Lady Be Good
Makin' Whoopee
Caravan
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
South Rampart Street Parade
Take the A-Train
Second Line
Lotus Blossom
Ezz-Thetic

Sorry I missed the reunion--sounds like it was warm, interesting, and not the least, party-ful. (Okay, that's not a word, but I can’t think of one that gets to the meaning). It has been great linking up with so many of you on this site, which I trust will stay open. I'll want to let you know when two retirement projects are being released early next year. A book titled "Creativity and Chaos: Progressivism in New Orleans Public Schools and the Nation, 1967-1977" includes Franklin events but mainly deals with the the tumultuous decade after, when I was English Supervisor for the district. The other project is a two-CD set of my later brother Don's best work on clarinet and alto sax. He was brilliant but under-recognized, and the mentor for my parallel career as a drummer and jazz journalist. I wrote Don's bio for the 2016 issue of Tulane's "Jazz Archivist" journal. I’m glad I’ll be seeing you-all on the video that Michael is sending. You are a remarkable group.