JazzFest ’15: First Friday, One of Best Days Ever

Posted: April 24th, 2015 | Filed under: Culture, Music | No Comments »

jazzfest2Before I start waxing ecstatic about this year’s opening Friday, I’ve got to have a little chat with Keith Urban.

Feel free to talk amongst yourselves for a moment, should you not care to listen in.

“Keith, c d kaplan here. The Culture Maven.

“During your interview this afternoon in the Grandstand, in advance of your headlining set on the Big Stage, I was one of those guys way in the back, in the significant other’s section. While the Film Babe and her sisters in thrall were trying to get as close as possible, like the Plaster Casters in the days of yesteryear.

“You were charming. Loved your story about getting kicked out of metal cover band Down Under, the one that did Whitesnake songs.

“And, while I know your music has nothing whatsoever to do with New Orleans, jazz or Louisiana heritage, I understand the promoters bring in BNAs like yourself, so we that love this area and its indigenous music can hear it on many of the other stages.

“The Film Babe said I should ask you a question about your music or something. But, you know my only query would be, ‘Where’s Nicole?'”

“But, now that I’m back in the hotel, blogging this day up, the Film Babe and I having wisely bid an adieu to today at the Fairgrounds before the anschluss of rain, thunder and lightening, very, very frightening, I do have a question. Actually a suggestion.

“How ’bout you and the Mrs. and the Film Babe and I double date one night. Or more. Maybe we could switch off, if you get my drift. Swing, to use the vernacular. The Film Babe, though she’s being coy, would love it. And, I, so that she could have her way with you, would be more than glad to spend those moments with that bride of yours. You know, just to be a nice guy.

“Let me know, okay? We’re in town all weekend. Or, we don’t live far from Nashville, and would be more than glad to blacktop it down to spend the evening with you guys sometime soon.”

* * * * *

I’ve got a personal designation for days like this at JazzFest.

A lagniappe day. (You know what the word means, “a little bit extra.”)

It’s a festival day, when the first music of the late morning — It kicks off just after 11:00 in the a.m. — is so good, that everything else on the day is extra.

Have you heard of Earphunk?

Probably not.

What I can tell ya is there ain’t no band like this in your town. Unless you live in you know where.

They’re a bunch of local rockers, imbued with the spirit of this burg.

Kind of like the Allmans . . . if George Porter Jr. was playing bass, and . . . Ivan Neville was on the keyboards.

They rocked. They rolled. And, you needed hydrochloric acid to get the phunk out of your ears after the set.

So fresh. So enthusiastic. And so grateful to be playing JazzFest after growing up with it out in the crowd.

“We’ll remember this day forever,” the leader said as they left the stage.

Remember the name. Earphunk. They’re the next Galactic.

* * * * *

The only question I have yet to be able to answer after the set by Tedeschi Trucks Band is whether it’s in the Top 10 or Top 5 sets of music I’ve heard at JazzFest? Ever?

Or where it stands among all the concerts I’ve attended? Ever?

They ripped it from the first note. Derek Trucks proved yet again he’s the only true descendent of Duane Allman and Dickey Betts, weaving their licks stylistically throughout every solo, yet adding a turn here, another there, to make them his own. The essence of coalescence.

Susan Tedeschi confirmed what we’ve known for a long while. She’s in the upper echelon of lady blues singers. And she’s a damn fine guitar player. (Though she, like just about everybody else, bobs in the wake of her hubby.) Oh my, what a fab rendition of “I Pity the Fool.”

The band, as usual, was super tight. And confirmed what I’ve long believed about this festival. Most everybody plays better in New Orleans. That’s the spirit force of the deal.

There are exceptions, of course. Like last year, when Clapton mailed in a set. Very lame.

Which was more than offset by Tedeschi Trucks searing rendition of Derek & the Domino’s “Keep On Growin’.”

The TTB version rendered Friday matched, or, as heretic as it may sound, may have surpassed the brilliant intensity of the original. Yes, you read it right, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

It was, as I’m wont to hyperbolize of such, transcendent.

I’ve told the story before, of the only time I recall being totally sated after a set of music, in need of nary another note. After Aaron Neville, during a Neville Brothers Band set in ’88, sang “Arianne” with only brother Art behind him on piano.

After Tedeschi Trucks set today, I needed to hear not another note. I wasn’t alone. Most everybody I’ve talked with about the set seems to agree it was about the best thing they’d ever heard.

Let me just say these words of praise don’t do the hour forty five minutes of music justice.

Period. Exclamation point!

* * * * *

Some other highlights of the day:

Leo Jackson & the Melody Chords shouting for Jesus in the Gospel Tent.

Shamarr Allen’s vocals and trumpet solo on “Love is Blind,” while sitting in with Paul Sanchez and his all girl band, Minimum Rage.

A guy with that JazzFest logo you see at the top of the page tattooed on his ankle.

Johnny Sansone first thing when walking in the gate.

Crawfish strudel.

That this party’s just gettin’ started.

 

 



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