Boz Scaggs killed it in the blues tent on Saturday. Great weekend of music!
May God bless each and everyone of these artists and beautiful human beings!!!!
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Note to NYTimes: Links to some video samples of these musical heroes (if available) would be appreciated.
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Going to my first Jazz Fest this weekend to see my son perform at the the festival!
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@Rob
Mazel Tov & Laissez les bons temps rouler...
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What I love about JF, besides everything, is reading about it. Thanks, Jon. Boz and Bonnie and Jon Cleary channeling Allen Toussaint was sublime. There was a lot of channeling going on this past weekend. I hope you got to hear Boz’s “Loan Me A Dime.” Duane was in the tent. Levon was on stage with Amy Helm. Fats and Fess were everywhere.
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Just returned from the weekend. Amazing music!! Think you might have missed Irma Thomas and Al Green on your list. The Reverend is moving a bit slower but the voice is still there. Great weekend all around. The range of music is unmatched and the people who attend Jazziest are the best! If you love music, try to get there one year!!
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I'll be there on Thursday!
Heading that way for weekend number 2. Praying to the old gods and the new for good weather. Can't wait.
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I wish I could be there Friday for Cecile McLorin Salvant and Aaron Diehl!
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I read and reread this beautiful article, missing my dearest hometown more each time.
The music of New Orleans is a gift to America and the world. It brings joy even from sorrow and pain to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit.
At Jazz Fest, everyone has rhythm. Everyone can dance. There is no hatred. It’s as the world should be.
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@Park bench
From a NOLA ex-pat:
When I go to Jazz Fest it's to eat like there's no tomorrow, to dance like no one's looking and to sing like no one's listening...
Laissez les bons temps rouler.
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Hopefully you can tell by my screen name I'm a displaced native. There is now, and forever will be, only one New Orleans. I don't have the writing talent to even begin to describe it. If you've never been there, or went as a tourist, go or go back. Stay at least a week, and stay at the Columns Hotel on St. Charles Ave, built in the early 19th century and furnished in antiques. Do your homework before you go. There is too much to do to list it all here. Just go.
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Yagot Dat Rite!
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Carlos Santana wearing a shirt designed by the late artist Mike Roman.
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I just returned from jazz festival and agree that what makes the festival different is how it highlights talent period! Whether it is young, old, jazz, gospel, pop, indie, country, R&B, etc. My highlights were Tab Benoit, a Lafayette local, rocker that when announced was dubbed "Louisiana's Santana!" His guitar playing skills are incredible! The jazz festival loves to bring it's LA musicians to the stage, the NOLA (New Orleans) band Better than Ezra was fantastic, and has played together for 25 years. The Christian Singer Lauren Dingell, also with Louisiana roots, also wowed the crowd, as did the Indigo Girls, where duet Emily Sailers noted she spent two years at Tulane and sang gigs in NOLA before going back to Georgia and teaming up with her childhood friend Amy to form the grammy-award winning Indie folk group. Another NOLA band, the Revivalists was equally impressive. Bottom line: NOLA Jazz and Heritage Festival is an amazing event.
Matching the music is the amazing food offered inside and outside the festival and more than anything are the people that support the festival. They are gracious, generous, and open. From every UBER/taxi driver to neighborhood street vendor, bartender, hotel worker. These people love their city and their heritage and they want you to love it too!
If the NOLA Jazz & Heritage Festival isn't on your bucket list, it should be!
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