Today was a perfect day to attend Jazz Fest. The sun was shining, but it wasn’t too hot or humid, just pleasantly warm. And the ankle-deep mud at the Acura stage yesterday dried out. (In yesterday’s post, I forgot to talk about the mud. I think it was the same stuff they had at Woodstock.) For some reason, the place wasn’t mobbed. I had no trouble finding elbow room at any stage—even the Acura stage for the Allman Brothers (more on that below). And—this will impress Jazz Fest veterans—I never once had to wait in line for a Portolet. Where was everybody? I don’t know, but wherever they were, they missed something.
On my schedule, I counted 63 acts playing today. Obviously I couldn’t see them all. Occupying my personal cutting-room floor today were these hard cuts: Louisiana LeRoux, Voices of the Wetlands Allstars, the Levon Helm Band, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Robert “1-String” Gibson (I’ve never seen or heard him, but his name intrigues me), Guitar Slim Jr., the Hot 8 Brass Band, and Susan Cowsill — all folks I would have enjoyed seeing if only ... Then there were the Blind Boys of Alabama in the Gospel Tent; I caught just a little of their set but missed most of it because Marcia Ball was competing with them at the Gentilly Stage.
Anyway, today’s theme is sitting in. The first act circled in red on my schedule was the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Despite their name, they are not a museum piece. They are a living, breathing, traditional-jazz band. Their guests on stage today were Amy LaVere, Yim Yames (from My Morning Jacket), and Terence Blanchard (whom I think I spotted yesterday playing trumpet during Simon & Garfunkel’s finale). This set is a contender for best Jazz Fest set this year. That’s saying a lot, since the competition includes ...
Marcia Ball, who had Wayne Toups add some accordion to a few songs. (I caught Wayne’s entire set before Marcia’s. Solid zydeco. Can’t listen to it sitting down—must dance.) Marcia and her band always, always do a great show. They never, ever mail it in. This makes her a “best bet” for any Jazz Fest. One thing that struck me today is that she’s a damned good piano player. Meaning if that you took away the singing, the arranging, and the stage personality, and left her with only piano playing, she would remain an A-list entertainer based solely on that. Some reviewers refer to her as a barrel-house piano player. She can do that and do it well, but she’s much more musically sophisticated than that.
To end the day, I stopped in at the Acura stage to take in a little bit of the Allman Brothers set. Sitting in—literally—was Derek Trucks. He had a cast on his right foot, so he played sitting down. He sounded like he’d played with these guys since the 1970s. And with the long blond hair, he looks like he could be an actual Allman brother. I think he sat in for the entire two-hour set.
One artist I saw with no one sitting in was Theresa Andersson. She is an amazing artist. She’s a one-woman band, accompanying herself on both vocals and a bunch of instruments via loop pedals. If you ever get a chance to see her, do.
Next weekend looks interesting. On Thursday, Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin) will be playing banjo on the Gentilly Stage with the Steep Canyon Rangers. There’s also Widespread Panic, Elvis Costello, the Average Whtie Band, Blues Traveler, Sunpie Barnes & the Louisiana Sunspots (in my opinion, the most underrated zydeco band around), and several dozen other acts. Friday includes a tough choice at day’s end: Aretha Franklin or the aforementioned Derek Trucks with his lovely wife, Susan Tedeschi? It doesn’t get easier on Saturday, when I’ll have to choose between Jeff Beck and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. And those are just a few of the 200+ acts playing that four-day weekend. Stay tuned.
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