Ponderosa Stomp 2007 Joseph A. Rosen Photo Gallery

by Tom Watson (text) and Joseph A. Rosen (photos).

If jazz pioneer Sidney Bechet was right when he said, "Water is freshest at its source," it would be hard to imagine a roots music festival sweeter than the Ponderosa Stomp. The 6th annual Stomp took place on May 2, 2007, in its original stomping ground, New Orleans, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Ike and the Mystic Knights of the Mau Mau. The one-night event was held at the Big Easy's House of Blues and featured Texan psychedelic pioneer Roky Erickson (and the Explosives), Roy Head ("Treat Her Right"), Dennis Coffey (Motown golden age session guitarist), Barbara Lynn ("You'll Lose A Good Thing") and Stanley "Buckwheat Zydeco" Dural Jr. (zydeco accordionist and Hammond B-3 player), among many others.

Since its debut in 2001, the Ponderosa Stomp has evolved into a premier roots festival whose purpose it is to recognize the often forgotten and unsung pioneers of blues, rock 'n' roll, country, jazz and soul by presenting and re-introducing those trailblazers to today's audiences. The success of the event has much to do with the untiring efforts of its organizers, the Mystic Knights of the Mau Mau, a 501(c)(7) non-profit charitable organization (MKMM Charities, Inc.), and their leader, Dr. Ike, who in 2005 gave this description of the Stomp: "The Ponderosa Stomp is the ultimate ass-shaking house party. Where else can you shake and groove on pure rock 'n' roll insanity in the land where rock 'n' roll was born?"

For those who missed the sights and sounds of this year's Stomp, photographer Joseph A. Rosen provides the images below and you can hear music samples from many of the performers on the Mystic Knights' website.

Photo Gallery

About Joseph A. Rosen
Joseph A. Rosen is a New York City-based professional photographer whose work has appeared in Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated and more. Corporate clients include JP Morgan/Chase Bank, American Express, Nordstrom, PepsiCo and IBM. He has been a working and exhibiting professional since prior to his graduation from Carnegie-Mellon University with a degree in Photography and Related Studies in 1973. His music clients are some of the greatest names in the industry from blues, R&B, soul, rock, Cajun/Zydeco, and jazz, the record companies for whom they record and their management groups. Joe has received the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive in Photography and Art Award for 2002. The award is presented by the Blues Foundation of Memphis to an artist who has created a body of work which has brought the Blues to the public though photography and "made a significant contribution to the blues world." For more information about Joseph A. Rosen, please visit www.josepharosen.com.

Other articles featuring the photography of Joseph A. Rosen
Photo Gallery: 2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Photographer Joseph A. Rosen Exhibits, Blues Roots and New Orleans Red, Open in Minneapolis
Muddy Waters, Les Paul and Others Featured in Photo Exhibit
Music Icons and Bed-Stuy Featured in Photography Exhibition
Gibson Helps Preserve Preservation Hall
The Legendary R&B Cruise
Excerpts from 'The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu'
Les Paul Tribute Concert at Carnegie Hall
Secret Society Uncovers Music Roots (2005 Ponderosa Stomp photo gallery)

Related Link
Ponderosa Stomp

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