The two Saturdays at the Jazz Fest are the most popular days and the organizers capitalize on the fact by bringing in the most popular bands creating a schedule rivaling any festival in the world. Saturday, April 25 is no exception with The Who, John Legend, and Ryan Adams facing off against Kenny Garrett and Robert Cray on the biggest stages. And that’s not even mentioning the local acts. The full lineup is here.
One of the tricks to enjoying the most crowded days at Jazz Fest is to get there early so you beat the lines for food and everything else. Start your day with Tank and the Bangas. This young funky soul band from New Orleans has been getting a lot of well-deserved love from TVD. Check them out for yourself.
Get yourself over to the Congo Square stage for 12:30 PM for Tony Hall and the Soul Stars Tribute to James Brown. Hall, who currently plays bass, guitar, and sings in Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, has been leading this all-star tribute for the past eight years to celebrate the birthday of the Godfather of Soul.
This is their first appearance at the Jazz Fest. They will also be playing next Friday night, May 1, at the Maple Leaf Bar.
Brice Miller is a trumpeter and bandleader without peer who recently earned his PhD. Now he is billed as Dr. Brice Miller and the Mahogany Brass Band. His band is another act that is always on my hit list at Jazz Fest. Check them out on the Jazz and Heritage stage after the Creole Wild West.
By the middle of the day, the massive crowds will be surging into the Fairgrounds. Head over the Lagniappe stage, located in the paddock area of the Grandstand, for Little Maker. This band, led by Micah McKee, are troopers who play around New Orleans and have been touring a bit this spring. This is their second Jazz Fest appearance in a row, so they must be doing something right.
Cassandra Wilson is no stranger to New Orleans. The jazz singer recorded a promo for WWOZ talking about driving down I-55 from Mississippi and listening to the station. Today she performs a tribute to Billie Holiday during the centennial year of the tragic legend’s birth.
Ah, the last act of the day—where will you be? I don’t have a pick or a plan. Gonna roam the grounds soaking up the vibe.
SUNDAY PICKS: One of my favorite things about the Jazz Fest is a chance to see your favorite bands at one of the biggest gigs of their year. As I have watched the New Orleans Suspects gel, I have marveled at how they keep getting tighter and tighter. So I am psyched to see them today.
Angelique Kidjo (pictured at top) is an African music superstar and a strong role model for women the world over. She is a tiny dynamo who last played Jazz Fest more than a decade ago. During her set I was appalled to see people sitting in chairs ignoring her impassioned performance. This led to a long campaign to ban chairs at the front of the biggest stages at the fest. I bet she will be happy to see no chairs are allowed up front at the Congo Square stage.
Pitbull closes the Congo Square stage. I hope his fans give Kidjo a hard listen to find deep connections between the new world and the old. I know the Rebirth Brass Band, who play between the two, will tear the proverbial roof off the joint. They take no prisoners.
Insider tip of the day—sometimes you need to read the schedule closely to find the hidden gems. Saxophonist Charles Neville, who decamped from the 13th Ward to western Massachusetts many years back, will be making a guest appearance in the last slot of the day with Beausoleil. That means there’s a good chance he will be sitting in with someone else over the course of the day.
Next week remember to check back for second weekend picks beginning on Wednesday.
