Friday, May 6– The Red Hawk Hunters Mardi Gras Indians is one of the youngest tribes on the streets of New Orleans and they are one of the prettiest. Check them out first thing in the morning—ya heard me?
The keyboardist David Torkanowsky has a new band with the unwieldy moniker, Fleur Debris. The group features George Porter Jr. on bass and Zigaboo Modeliste on drums. The three musicians have a long history together as “Tork” played in several incarnations of the Meters back in the day. I’m not sure what they will be playing, but it will be funky. With George and Zig on board how could it be anything but funky?
Stanton Moore (pictured), the drummer for Galactic, is playing with his trio at 2:55 PM on the Lagniappe stage. This will be a great gig and here’s hoping it’s Will Bernard on guitar. He’s a great player who should be getting more love from the Jazz Fest despite the fact that he’s not from New Orleans.
The Forgotten Souls are a super group, brass band style. They only play a couple of times a year and with Kirk Joseph on sousaphone they are a can’t miss act. Tell Henry you read about it on TVD.
The last time slot today is crazy. I would really like to see Arcade Fire since I love the band’s exuberance, but I’m afraid it’s going to be way too crowded, so I may decide to celebrate the New Orleans Klezmer Allstars 20 anniversary or even check out Willie Nelson—either way, you can’t go wrong- it’s Jazz Fest!
Saturday, May 7– Did you know that Stafford Agee, the trombonist for the Rebirth Brass Band is a Mardi Gras Indian? His tribe, the Black Feather, is on the Jazz and Heritage stage at 11:20AM. His suit is spectacular this year.
At 1:20 PM, Baritone Bliss is scheduled for the Jazz Tent. This group features Roger Lewis, Tony Dagradi, Tim Green, Calvin Johnson, Dan Oestreicher, Mari Watanabe and Herlin Riley. All those names should be familiar to regular readers of TVD, so suffice it say that this is going to one crazy set with all of these great players hitting on baritone saxophones.
If you’re in the mood for another set with all of the same instrument on stage, check out Kirk Joseph’s Tuba, Tuba Tuba (pictured). I saw this set last year and it’s totally out of the box. Can you imagine seven tubas and/or sousaphones at the same time? If not, be there.
Mystikal is a homegrown hip-hop star that has seen plenty of trials and tribulations including a stint in jail. He returns to the Fairgrounds and has a prime slot on the Congo Square stage right before Ms. Lauryn Hill. Does anyone remember when he played in 2001 and the Jazz Fest set it’s single day record of 160,000 festers?
Sunday, May 8– Ah, the last day and it’s Mother’s Day too! I have been hyping the Mystic Drone, the new band from the subdudes’ front man Tommy Malone (pictured), quite a lot on TVD. If you can get up early enough, today’s the day to check out this act. He hits at 11:15 AM on the Gentilly stage.
Tabou Combo is another of the eagerly awaited Haitian bands that are playing at the fest this year. They played in New Orleans way back in the mid-1990s and blew everyone away with their dance grooves and amazing vocals. I expect more of the same on the Congo Square stage at 1:40 PM. Stick around to hear the Rebirth Brass Band.
It’s going to be one weird mash up in the afternoon when Kid Rock “opens” for the Neville Brothers. I wonder if anyone told him that it doesn’t matter how big a star you are, the Nevilles always close the Acura stage.
Perhaps Kid Rock is one of the friends scheduled to perform with the Radiators for their final show at the Jazz Fest. Somehow I doubt it. There were most likely be tears in beers when the fishhead faithful show up for the last hurrah. I’ll be in that number. (photos by Dylan Stansbury)
