New Orleans Jazz & Heritage 50th Anniversary Festival
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, New Orleans, LA, USA
April 25-28, 2019 and May 2-5, 2019
by Mary Andrews
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is an institution dedicated to the city’s culture. From the abundance of local entertainers to social aid workers and the marchers to the cooks define Jazz Fest and differentiate it from any other festival in the United States.
The people showed up in masses to partake in one of the most diverse and incredible group of entertainers in the industry for the festival’s 50th anniversary.
There were over 800 acts spread between 14 stages during eight days of the festival. The artist lineup featured a number of performers who had been on the first bill back in 1970 including members of The Meters, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Little Freddie King, and Ellis Marsalis alongside his children Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason.
This year’s lineup was plagued by artists that dropped out of the lineup including Bob Seeger, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Clift, and, on the second week, John Prine. Most of the “MIAs” were due to illness. Elvin Bishop and Robert Randolph were added to the schedule at the last minute to replace Prine on the second weekend.
The national artists provided many big moments at jazz fest as well as the local artists. They draw many fans to New Orleans for the first time. This is a big factor that brings a lot of revenue that keeps fest growing each year.
Stand out performances came from legacy entertainers as well as the younger acts. There is literally something for everyone to enjoy and it is impossible to see everything. Gospel music was well represented and Shirley Caesar made a welcoming, uplifting appearance there.
Many of the highlights from the first weekend include Reverend Al Green, Taj Mahal, The Doobie Brothers, the O’Jays, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, and Irma Thomas. Johnny Rivers made his first appearance at Jazz Fest.
Boyfriend was a set like no other at Jazz Fest. The stage was set up with three curtain-covered entrances that had scantily clad dancers emerging to the front of the stage. Elizabeth brought out every prop and lyrics to create a show that was one of a kind, and bashed the societal “norms” chaining women to “manhood.” Boyfriend’s show was much like a cabaret about femme liberation.
Rapper Logic gave a feel-good uplifting set while Baton Rouge native Lauren Daigle brought her A-Game on with a high energy set. Grammy Award-winning Daigle is an artist to watch. Reggaeton was well represented with Columbia’s J Balvin. Fans were dancing in the late afternoon sun. Ciara also stepped up the octane level with a well -choreographed set.
There were several tributes shows on the first weekend. The most memorable was the tribute to Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew that featured special guests Bonnie Raitt, Irma Thomas, Davell Crawford, John Cleary, and Al “Lil Fats” Jackson with the Fats Domino Orchestra.
Jazz fans reveled in Gregory Porter’s magical baritone vocals. Porter gave an in-depth interview at the Alison Minor Stage earlier during the day. Porter has admired and emulated Nat King Cole for many years, but his vocal capabilities reach far beyond Cole’s vocal range. He maintains Cole’s smooth delivery. Many of the songs in the set were self-penned revealing Porter’s truth and experiences.
The second weekend was a weekend of legendary divas with Glady Knight, Diana Ross, and Chaka Khan on the bill. They gave amazing performances, but Diana Ross’ performance really stood out.
Ross emerged from a blue tent on the side of the stage dressed in a bright yellow floor-length dress with a smile as bright as her dress. She immediately started singing her hits that included songs from her Supremes and solo career.
There were nine wardrobe changes in total during her set. That is a record for any Jazz Festival performance. Gown colors ranged from bright red, gold sequins, silver, and black. Her makeup was so impeccable that it was very hard to believe she is 75-years old.
Ross was very engaged and responsive to her fans as she noticed what was going on in the crowd. She was relishing the love thrown her way. The packed field of fans was as much a part of the performance as the musicians, background singers, and Ross.
Ross is ranked 16th as the lead singer of the Supremes and 26th as a solo artist by Billboard magazine’s Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists chart, she is responsible for more than 100,000,000 album sales. It was little wonder that the thousands of devotees in the crowd were so familiar with songs that were the soundtrack of their lives. Ross announced, “This is my Diamond Jubilee. If I can do it, so can you,” as she cheered the crowd on to continue clapping and dancing. Ross did it all and went overtime with her set.
Gladys Knight thrilled fans on the previous day. Folks not only filled the area in front of the stage, but also the track leading to the stage was impassable on both sides of the Congo Stage. Knight was totally in a space to energetically perform her classic hit songs that included “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
Chaka Khan played to the absolutely packed and scorching Congo Stage opening her set with “This Is My Night,” with its bright horns, and “Do You Love What You Feel” and “Tell Me Something Good,” two more Rufus songs. Khan followed them with “What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me?” Her soaring vocal runs predominated the set. There was a medley of Rufus songs, including “Stay” and “Sweet Thang.” Khan was in her element as she entertained the crowd.
They were many more great moments with highly anticipated sets from Kamasi Washington, Ani DiFranco, Chris Stapleton, Mavis Staples, Buddy Guy, Rita Coolidge, Aaron Neville, Trombone Shorty, Dave Matthews Band, Tom Jones, John Fogerty, Herbie Hancock to name a few. It was a feast of the widest variety of music for everyone to taste.
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