Anyone besides me attend the NOLA Jazz and Heritage Fest?

[medjuck]

I've never been before but my wife took me for my 65th birthday. I loved it. Didn't hear much jazz (caught a bit of Ellis Marsalis but it seemed the wrong venue in which to hear him so I moved on.) Did catch a lot of New Orleans R&B: Irma Thomas, Allen Tousaint, Barbara Lynn (I know-- she's from Texas) Dr. John, Tab Benoit . Found myself in a crowd bouncing to Eddie Bo while the smell of marijuana wafted in the air and the rain came down. Decided that there was no where else on earth I'd rather be at that moment. He had a great alto sax player he never introduced. Reminded me of Hank Crawford with Ray Charles.

I forgot: I did hear some jazz. To get out of the rain I went into the Economy Hall tent where Michael White and 2 other clarinet players were doing a tribute to George Lewis. I really enjoyed it.

Went to Snug harbor Sunday Night and heard Henry Butler. He was in his jazz mode (which probably disappoints the fans who come to hear him sing). He plays like Don Pullen-- if Pullen had grown up in New Orleans.

And of course I ate a lot of great food that my heart doctor would not have approved of.

Next time I'll try to go for both weekends.

[Free For All]

Found myself in a crowd bouncing to Eddie Bo while the smell of marijuana wafted in the air and the rain came down. Decided that there was no where else on earth I'd rather be at that moment.

I love moments like that. Glad your 65th was special!

[BFrank]

Sounds like a great time.

I went about 20 years ago and really enjoyed it. Stayed out WAY too late every night.

[GA Russell]

Glad to hear you had a great time! I went twice and both times had a ball. But when I went there was plenty of jazz.

Did you check out the gospel tent?

[rpklich]

I've been down there quite a bit, having had relatives living in N.O. pre Katrina. The festival is held in a horse racing track, and it really smelled funky after a rain. Jazz certainly isn't the focus of that festival. Some of the food at the festival is quite good (all of it is local-no national chains.). I wished I had been the one to think of the iced tea franchise-low overhead and real long lines on hot days. They used to have interviews with musicians in the grandstand. Audiences were small at these interviews and were allowed to ask questions of the performers too. The grandstand also had lectures, given by scholars about the local culture. Some were quite informative. I recall one given by a linguist, the topic being the linguistic differences between the various N.O. neighborhoods. About a dozen people were in the audience. I was the only one from out of town. The next several times I went down to visit my relatives, I kept finding myself guessing what neighborhood people were from.

I hope you hit a few restaurants too .

[GA Russell]

I recall one given by a linguist, the topic being the linguistic differences between the various N.O. neighborhoods. About a dozen people were in the audience. I was the only one from out of town. The next several times I went down to visit my relatives, I kept finding myself guessing what neighborhood people were from.

I would have enjoyed that! All the time people tell me that I don't speak with a New Orleans accent. I used to try to tell them that there are many accents including a neutral one, but I gave up.

[Free For All]

I recall one given by a linguist

Cunning?

[medjuck]

I did hit a few restaurants: Commander's Palace, Little Dizzy's and Maximos.

The Gospel tent was hard to miss. Just inside the gates and good shelter from the storm. But none of the music made me feel the spirit. On the other hand Sister Teedy was in the Economy Hall tent backed by a Norwegian Jazz Band and she almost made me a believer.