2007年VOA标准英语-Jazz Endangered in New Orleans

By Jim Bertel
Washington, DC
20 February 2007

 
New Orleans Mardi Gras mask
The Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans comes to an end today. And while the crowds are larger than last year, this year's celebration was still considerably¹ smaller than before Hurricane Katrina devastated² the city in 2005. VOA's Jim Bertel reports that despite the vibrant³ atmosphere, there are growing signs Mardi Gras, and New Orleans, may never be the same.

Mardi Gras is in full swing in New Orleans. Revelers from all over the world turned out in recent days to watch parades and fill the city's famous French Quarter to take part in the biggest party of the year. That includes Nicole Heth. "Everybody has amazing outfits⁴ on, there's hairstyles, clothing, shoes, it's crazy,” she says. “The beads⁵ that are flying everywhere, the balconies of people, I love it."

Many in New Orleans say this year's Mardi Gras feels more normal than last year's scaled down celebration, the first after Hurricane Katrina flooded most of the city and killed hundreds of people in August 2005.

 
Revelers celebrating Madi Gras in New Orleans
Mardi Gras is considered a key to reviving New Orleans' tourism business.  The damage from the devastating⁶ storm is still visible in many parts of the city, but is largely unnoticed by those who stay in the French Quarter and central business district.

One thing visitors will notice is: much of the music that made New Orleans the capital of jazz is missing. "It's not like it was in the past,” says one repeat visitor to the city. “No. There [are] not any street musicians. There used to be a lot more street musicians."

Like many city residents who lost their homes in the storm, many of the jazz musicians who once performed in the city are gone.  "You take it for granted, you take the little things in life for granted, like walking down the street and seeing a jazz musician. The little things in life are what you miss,” says another visitor.

Jazz has been synonymous with New Orleans for decades, but few clubs featuring this uniquely American art form have reopened. Efforts to help local musicians through relief funds and subsidized housing have had limited success. 

Joe Braun is a local musician. "It's been hard this year to make a living here in New Orleans,” says the member of the Jazz Vipers⁷, “because there are less and less places to play."

Many venues⁸ are too badly damaged to reopen; others have switched to more tourist-friendly rock and roll, forcing Steve Venet and his jazz band to perform far from the city's famous Bourbon Street.

"This is primarily a local scene. There are very few tourists that will venture out here," he says of his new location.

And tourists, like those celebrating Mardi Gras this week, will be instrumental in reviving the city, both economically and culturally. For now, the future remains⁹ uncertain, leaving many musicians feeling disheartened. But their love for the city's unique musical heritage motivates them to play on.

1 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

2 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

3 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

4 outfits   

n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 )；一套服装；集体；组织v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He jobbed out the contract to a number of small outfits. 他把承包工程分包给许多小单位。 来自辞典例句
• Some cyclists carry repair outfits because they may have a puncture. 有些骑自行车的人带修理工具，因为他们车胎可能小孔。 来自辞典例句

5 beads   

n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链

参考例句：

• a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
• Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。

6 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

7 vipers   

n.蝰蛇( viper的名词复数 )；毒蛇；阴险恶毒的人；奸诈者

参考例句：

• The fangs of pit vipers are long, hollow tubes. 颊窝毒蛇的毒牙是长的空心管子。 来自辞典例句
• Vipers are distinguishable from other snakes by their markings. 根据蛇身上的斑纹就能把┹蛇同其他蛇类区别开来。 来自辞典例句

8 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。