The second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kicks off at 11 AM Thursday morning. It’s often the least crowded day. It’s easy to navigate around the Fairgrounds, checking out art, food, and other offerings on the infield of the mile long horse-racing track. Here are our picks for Thursday, May 4. The full schedule is here.
COOT has been on the scene for over twenty years playing sporadically around town. This will be their debut at the Jazz Fest. The band is a funky outfit playing original music. Guitarist and songwriter Brian Rueb has a technique reminiscent of the late great Snooks Eaglin.
New Orleans is known for its intergenerational bands. More so than anywhere else in the country, musicians of various ages play together as peers. We are also known for our family bands—members of the same family who make music together as naturally as they break bread. The Chilluns are singular among these ensembles and feature Dave, Darcy, and Johnny Malone, Spencer and Andre Bohren, and Cranston and Annie Clements.
Jazz heads regularly complain that the programming at the Jazz Fest doesn’t have enough jazz. Well if you’re in that number, don’t miss the set by legendary alto saxophonist Lee Konitz in the Jazz Tent. He has a vast resume including having played with Miles Davis and Gil Evans on the iconic Birth of the Cool album.
When the schedule first came out, it had the great South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela on the bill for a Salute to Louis Armstrong. He had to cancel due to illness. The salute now features trumpeter Nicholas Payton, trumpeter and vocalist James Andrews, and clarinet player Dr. Michael White. It still should be a set well worth checking out.
The last time slot is impressive with Widespread Panic, Darius Rucker, and Tower of Power on the big stages. If you want a more intimate experience, check out Egg Yolk Jubilee on the Lagniappe stage. These guys put on an entertaining set featuring brass instruments amid a blast of rock ‘n’ roll.
Or head over to the Blues Tent for Ms. Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton. Fischer (pictured at top) was a back up singer for the Rolling Stones for years and a featured subject of 20-feet From Stardom, the award-winning documentary look at the role these unsung musicians play.
Tomorrow: Friday picks!
