NEW ORLEANS — Friday of the 40th Annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans started with the blast of a trombone. New Orleans’ own Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue got the Gentilly Stage rocking for a hot but entertaining afternoon. “Can I play my trumpet for you, New Orleans?” Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews asked the crowd with a huge grin on his face. “And all you sexy women in the house, thanks for coming out!” Orleans Avenue features Andrews, a trumpet and trombone protégé who has played with everyone from Norah Jones to Juvenile, as well as six other local musicians. Andrews, a self-proclaimed band leader at age 6, took the stage on a hot Friday afternoon looking energized in a black T-shirt, dark jeans and red, black and gray sneakers. His T-shirt, designed by New Orleans designer NOYO, featured a huge fleur-de-lis, fitting for the New Orleans attitude Andrews seems to personify. Besides the music, fans enjoyed drinks and famous New Orleans food.Mary Anderson, a resident of Pensacola, Fla., said the food is her favorite part of Jazz Fest.”This is awesome,” Anderson said as she stuffed a spoonful of red beans and rice into her mouth. “I had jambalaya and crawfish beignets yesterday that were great, but these red beans and rice are off the chain. I’m still scoping it out to see what’s for tomorrow.”Other food favorites included po-boys, crawfish, fried chicken, alligator, crab cakes, shrimp étouffée, New Orleans sweet tea and crawfish bread.The festival also features vendors from across the world, selling everything from lawn chairs to African masks to paintings of New Orleans blues legends.Saturday’s wake-up call came from another one of New Orleans’ own, Sammie “Big Sam” Williams and his Funky Nation.Williams, formerly the trombonist for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, refused to let the audience sit still, urging on the crowd and his band mates to move their bodies.”These guys are great,” said John Labe, a New Orleans resident and Big Sam fan. “He just has so much energy on stage. I’m loving this.”Following Big Sam was another New Orleans treat, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk. Rooted in ‘70s inner city funk, they brought the crowd to their dancing feet with the first funky bass line.Meanwhile, New Orleans’ Rebirth Brass Band was getting started at the Congo Square stage. Rebirth, with special guest Kermit Ruffins, played its usual blend of funky brass while dancing in unison.As Rebirth’s show ended, trombonist Corey Henry was just getting started. As soon as the show ended, he made the quick walk to the Gentilly stage to join funk and brass jam band Galactic. He was joined by trumpeter Shamarr Allen, and the two stole the show.Henry and Galactic saxophonist Ben Ellman traded solos for nearly 10 minutes during an extended jam. Then Allen showed his talents, complete with a Gilligan’s Island tease during the middle of one of his solos.Allen and Henry then traded raps, filling in for rapper Juvenile in “From the Corner to the Block.” The set ended with both Henry and Allen crowd surfing. It seemed as if they would have played forever if they could.After the Galactic show, fans were split between three stages as James Taylor, Erykah Badu and Wilco were all set to perform at about the same time to close out the day.The crowd for Badu’s set was massive, and many of the fans had made the trip to the festival just for her.”It’s not everyday you get to see Erykah in your hometown,” said an ecstatic Shandra Theres. “I’m so excited.”Badu didn’t disappoint, strutting on stage in a purple robe with her gigantic hair swaying in the wind. Her voice captured the attention of the packed crowd, including New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler, who was sitting in the VIP section following a close playoff win against the Denver Nuggets earlier in the day at the New Orleans Arena.Wilco also brought the jams. The Chicago-based band is known for their live shows, and it was apparent why. Things got a little funny when the band decided to begin “I’m the Man Who Loves You” by jumping off their speaker stacks. One member of the band slipped and fell. Then, to try to divert the crowd’s attention, a man walked on stage, an apparent roadie pounding on a cowbell.But for many, the weekend’s main attractions were headliners Dave Matthews Band and Earth, Wind and Fire, both of whom performed later that night.”These guys have been doing this for years,” said Wilson Winter, a festival-goer for the past 10 years. “I’m glad they are here.”Liz Thurston, a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder, made the trip to New Orleans just to see Dave Matthews.”Out of the hundred or so live shows I’ve been to, Dave is the best,” Thurston said. “His energy, the band’s performances, they are just great.”——Contact Jack LeBlanc at [email protected]