Posted: May 4th, 2022 | Filed under: Food, JazzFest, Music | No Comments »
Though not a world traveler, I feel fairly comfortable opining that there are not any other cities around the globe with as musically an influenced culture as New Orleans.
No, Memphis, put your hand down.
From the time slaves were allowed to dance in what is now called Congo Square, just outside the Quarter past Rampart and Basin Streets, through the advent of jazz, the honky tonks of Storyville, the brass band tradition, Satchmo, Fats, T0ussaint and to this day, this city swings, sways and dances.
Even immediately after funerals to assuage the grief.
I can’t get enough.
So, I have contemporary local faves, some of whom I’ve already heard, some are playing this coming weekend. Then there’s the newcomers, carrying on the tradition, like Tuba Skinny, and others like Naughty Professor, extrapolating from it.
Below I chat about a few of the New Orleans/ Louisiana based acts that had my attention this past weekend
Posted: May 3rd, 2022 | Filed under: JazzFest, Music | 2 Comments »
Too much to say in one podcast about my return to New Orleans for the first JazzFest since ’19. So I broke it in half.
More important than the music or incredible food which inform this unique city’s culture, to see it resilient as ever, as alive as ever, warms the heart.
Just being back brings arguably the most joy.
But, of course, the soft shell crab at impeccable GW Fins, a late lunch at Peche and Crawfish Strudel at the fest bring joy to my taste buds.
Then, oh yeah, the music at the best music festival extant in the world’s most music centric city.
Name Drop Interlude: At my friends Marc and Jill’s crawfish boil the other night, I was chatting with a pal of theirs, whom I’ve know for years. Who, I just learned the other night was roommates in the early 60s in military school with Duane Allman. Who was good friends with Robert and his parents, who hosted Duane and brother Greg for holidays, and whenever they came to town to play. Just sayin’.
Below I discuss some of the non local acts that grabbed my soul.
Stay tuned, Part Deux Coming Soon.
Posted: April 28th, 2022 | Filed under: Culture, JazzFest, Music | 5 Comments »
My favorite thing in life, the New Orleans JazzFest, the best musical experience extant, is back after a two year hiatus because of You Know What.
So am I.
This will be my 33d Fest, the first in ’76.
Seven days of music on consecutive weekends, on ten stages inside Fairgrounds Racetrack complex from 11:30 in morning until 7:00.
Did I mention it’s in New Orleans, where you can also find something worthwhile to eat when out to dinner with friends?
I am beside myself with joy.
For the reasons why, listen below:
Posted: May 2nd, 2020 | Filed under: Culture, JazzFest, Music, New Orleans | No Comments »
Realizing it’s truly an impossible task — sharing my “favorite” JazzFest musical moments that is — I’ve decided to take a different tack for this last take on JazzFest for this year.
Because, I love it all. Even the days when I can hear umpteen different performers and none really grab on and don’t let go.
As I always say, that’s why I keep coming back. From day to day. From year to year. Even now in 2020, when I can only experience the event via WWOZ’s JazzFesting in Place.
So, here’s some quick mentions of some regulars, and I’ll give it up for this time around.
* * * * *
Have I mentioned how much I cherish Allen Toussaint?
Duh, like only a gazillion times.
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t start with He Who Is My Favorite New Orleans Musical Icon, my favorite musical icon period.
When still alive, Toussaint, except maybe way back in the day, never had a regular band that gigged together all the time, that toured. He was, until Katrina for sure, mostly a writer, producer, arranger. But a sometimes performer.
So, at his annual JazzFest sets, his ensemble was always a put together outfit. The upper echelon of NO players, of course, Men and women who have played with him through the decades. But, not playing regularly, the groups were often not as tight as one might hope.
Plus, his singing voice, never anything truly special, diminished over time.
But ya know, it was always Allen Toussaint with his incredible presence that bridged the gap between dapper and dazzle, and his sweet persona, and his amazing songs and charts. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: April 30th, 2020 | Filed under: Culture, JazzFest, Music | No Comments »
There’s a chat room where JazzFest obsessives like myself hang out.
For the acolytes, the Jazz Fest Forum is a year round thing.
The denizens are called Threadheads, and most seem to know each other from hookups during Fest. Or otherwise. Liuzza’s seems to be the official unofficial meeting place. They also have a party every year during Fest called the Patry. With boffo lineups.
I’m sort of an outlier, an auxiliary Threadhead if you will, having come to the dialog later than most of the regulars. On the way to the Fest a few years back, in the Charlotte airport, I did meet a couple that helped start the Forum. And there’s the NRBQ-loving regular I chatted up a couple years ago between acts at the Gentilly Stage.
It’s a year round deal, but, as you can imagine, conversations ratchet up with the lineup announcement in January, and the posting of the Cubes a month out.
One of the regular threads will deal with lesser known, obscure acts that somebody’s heard in concert with a hearty “You gotta hear this group.”
I check them all out on youtube before making my daily plans. Weeks in advance, I must admit. Plus, disciple that I am, I also check out the ones I don’t know that might not have been recommended.
Which brings to my favorite tip of recent years . . .
. . . Bombino. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: April 26th, 2020 | Filed under: JazzFest, Music, New Orleans, Ruminations | 1 Comment »
Oh my, the power of suggestion.
As I write this Saturday afternoon, I’m listening to old JazzFest classic sets at WWOZ.org, which the station will be streaming again Sunday the 26th, and next Thursday through Sunday, noon to 8:00 EDT.
Today’s sumptuous slate opened with Bonerama, which as I write I am confirming to myself might be my favorite of the current New Orleans fusion maestros. (I’d like to more definitive, but, my ears are easily turned, faves change on a whim.)
You know Bonerama’s like funk and rock and some second line Longhairish rumba, all fronted by — Ready for it? — a trio of trombones. Which they play straight up or synthesized.
I mean, ya know, it’s New Orleans. Where else?
And, listening to them open today with “Big Chief,” reminded me of a favorite JF musical moment I’d forgotten. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: April 19th, 2020 | Filed under: Culture, JazzFest, Music, New Orleans | 3 Comments »
Already consumed with the stark reality that my upcoming week was going to be considerably different than planned, I did not need a reminder.
There it was nonetheless when I sat down at my computer Sunday morning.
The Reminder: JazzFest tomorrow.
Sigh.
Not that my favorite thing to do in life, the gravitational pull of my year, started Monday. The festival wouldn’t have begun until 11:00 in the morning Thursday.
Just sayin’. Hearing some hot New Orleans outfit, like, say, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, or Flow Tribe, before noon on a workday, while savoring a frozen latte, is among life’s most endearing pleasures.
But Monday’s the day I start the trek down. At least since I’ve been driving instead of flying. No matter to explain, but I’ve got my reasons, and it works for me.
Stay overnight along the way in Mississippi. Get to the Crescent City around noon Tuesday. Check in and let the burg’s quintessential vibe wash over me. Take a jog through the Quarter. Dine with long time pals that night at, say, Clancy’s or GW Fins. Read the rest of this entry »
