PHOTOS: ARMAND DOUROUX | Rain is always in the forecast during the summer in New Orleans, but the music at the nineteenth annual Satchmo Summerfest went off without a hitch on Friday, August 2. The same couldn’t be said for Saturday. The heavens opened up with severe thunder and lightening towards the end of the set by the New Orleans Classic Big Band forcing the staff to cut the music during the performance by the Doyle Cooper Jazz Band.
On Friday, Cyril Neville (pictured at top) put on a dazzling performance with the young musicians in his son Omari’s band, the Fuel. Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers were their own ebullient selves, led by the singer and trumpeter. His pianist, Yoshitaka “Z2” Tsuji, almost stole the show with his fluid, high-energy solos.
Cooper’s trombonist, Miles Lyons, did double duty performing with The Classic Big Band as well as in the shortened set on Saturday. Joining trumpeter and singer Cooper was saxophonist Oliver Bonie (all pictured below).
Also part of the big band was guitarist and banjo player Seva Venet (and one musically inclined infant). A large cast of musicians including drummer Simon Lott, saxophonists Ashlin Parker and Wes “Warmdaddy” Anderson, as well as trombonist Michael Watson joined him.
Singer Charmaine Neville also put on a stellar set with bassist Donald Ramsey, drummer Raymond Weber and her longtime pianist and musical director Amasa Miller. As expected, she closed her set with her signature version of Armstrong’s signature tune, “What a Wonderful World.”
