Our Review of the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Fest 2010 | by Marv D.
Our Review of the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Fest 2010 | by Marv D.
Good Day T.UM.S readers.... this is Marv D..... on the road to the New Orleans Jazz Heritage fest. Well I was suppose to leave. At 5:30 in the morning, yeah right 2 hours later, luckily my stuff was already packed. The jazzfest is a six day event: 23,24,25,29 of April and 1,2 of May and it featured major and local groups ranging in all types of music, food, arts and crafts, a little something for the kids - all for a good time.
Once I found out where I'm supposed to be, I got checked in and sent on my way. I was stationed by the gospel and blues tent and behind me was the jazz tent, where at 5:35 The Sax pack was to perform. If I'm not mistaken I think Gerald Albright is performing tomorrow.
The musical line up for the jazzfest is extensive and I must give kudos to the people who organized the event. Just the thought of all the musicians, security, and just getting to and from the event. All the volunteers that helped out too. I have to admit the festival started at 11:00am and by the time I got there, everybody was having a good time - even though it rained earlier. Here are some of the artists that appeared on the weekend of April 24th: Lionel Richie, George Clinton and the P--Funk All-stars, Drake, Ledisi, Terrence Blanchard, Smokie Norful, and Anita Baker.
It's the second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Fest and it is just as good & great as the first weekend, or possibly even better than the first weekend. The people of New Orleans had been wonderful and I wished them the best in the future, especially since the Essence musicfest is coming up 4th of July weekend. Mostly everybody was waiting for Aretha Franklin to close out Friday night at Congo square but found out the she had canceled, stating that the smell of the oil would affect her voice (that's what everybody was saying). So from what I heard, from sources around the fairgrounds, that someone made a phone call and in place of Aretha came the mighty Earth Wind and Fire Band! They closed out the night.
Saturday, my volunteer work started early and so did my attitude. The guy that parked cars where i was to catch the shuttle to the fairgrounds wanted me to park waaaay back in the back. It was pitch black and was not parking back there. Anyway, doing what I was suppose to do, I got a taste of the crew doing sound check just to make sure everything went off without a hitch. I got off work and got me something to eat! Had some Cajun flavored pork skins - off the hook! Them things were so good. Right after the crawfish monica. Oh... your wondering what crawfish monica is? OK. Crawfish, pasta & vegetables. It's like a soup! Gooooood!! Anyways, the artists that were scheduled to play were Galactic, Sugarfoot's Ohio Player, Marcus Miller, Germaine Bazzle and last but not least my girl Teena Marie turned it out! Then I had to hit the highway.
Sunday, I wished i could of stayed because the line up of artists would surpass any concert. With local acts throughout the day, major acts balanced out the rest of the day. Juvenile and Manny Fresh started everything off with Ellis Marsalis, Clarence Carter, and ending out the evening and jazzfest on a grand scale was The Neville Brothers, Wayne shorter, B.B. King, Richie Havens, Defeayo Marsalis and not it but not least Frankie Beverly and Maze.
I had so much fun even though in was volunteering and I have to admit that anyone reading this must go to this jazzfest or for that matter any jazzfest and embrace the culture. I hope everybody enjoyed reading this review.