Each year in New Orleans, on the last two weekends of April, the Jazz and Heritage Festival brings together a wealth of local jazz, funk, blues and soul musicians alongside some of the biggest popular artists of the day. The event is the crown jewel of festival season in Louisiana, and the experience doesn’t stop at the music; with the help of artists, vendors and craftsmen from around the city, the festival is shaped into a truly comprehensive distillation of all facets of New Orleans’ unique heritage. It’s the perfect dose of Crescent City culture for out-of-towners visiting in, and a celebration of the colorful traditions and customs that give the city the flavor of home for locals.
Jazz Fest always boasts an impressive lineup of local, national, and international musicians, and this year’s list is one of the best in recent memory. I’ve been tasked with covering the first Sunday of the festival (April 24^th) this year, and though I’ll only be there on official business for one day, this is hardly a limitation; each day of the festival is bursting at the seams with top-notch musicians, and the first Sunday is no exception. Jazz itself will be well represented that day, with New Orleans natives Terence Blanchard, Herlin Riley and Dr. Michael White providing local flavor while a duo set of Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter leads the charge as one of the biggest headlining slots of the genre across both weekends. These guys really need no introduction, but for those who might not know, they are not to be missed; in addition to solo careers full of innovative and genre-defining albums, both artists are veterans of Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet, and have played alongside the full pantheon of modern jazz legends.
New Orleans blues is as much a part of the city’s musical culture as jazz, and a handful of local artists including Henry Butler and Little Freddie King carry the torch for the genre on Sunday. The biggest name in blues of the day, however, is Taj Mahal, hailing from Harlem. Known for his adoption of African and Caribbean musical elements and other nontraditional forms, the singer and guitarist is a pioneer of both straight-ahead blues and world fusion. International music will also be out in force, with many artists coming straight from headlining slots at Lafayette’s Festival International. These include Dédé Saint Prix (Martinique), the Garifuna Collective (Belize) and Leyla McCalla, a New Orleans resident whose Haitian heritage shines through in her beautiful music. As always, the sounds of Acadiana will be heard across the fairgrounds as well, with Corey Ledet, Don Vappie, and genre veterans BeauSoleil sure to have attendees two-stepping to the rhythms of Cajun and Zydeco music.
Last but certainly not least, some heavy-hitting popular musicians from home and abroad will be gracing the stages of the festival on Sunday. While local hitmakers Better Than Ezra and Royal Teeth will be sure to pull in audiences throughout the afternoon, the biggest name of the day is that of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who will be closing out the Acura Stage with a two-hour set. One of the biggest headliners of the festival, the LA funk rock outfit will be sure to draw a considerable crowd. Meanwhile, rising hip hop star J. Cole will be closing out the Congo Square Stage, while Nick Jonas wraps up the proceedings of the day at Gentilly. With such an abundance of talent from home and abroad, one would be hard-pressed to see everything worth seeing at Jazz Fest’s first Sunday. This is part of the magic of the festival, however, and I’m excited to immerse myself in it this weekend. For a full recap of the first Sunday of Jazz Fest and reporting on some of the artists mentioned above, make sure to check back here next week.