Today is day! The fine folks at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival released the lineup for the 2017 event, which is scheduled for April 28 through May 7. Big names aplenty are on the schedule including another shot for Stevie Wonder after his rainout last year. Here are my thoughts on some of the undercard acts after my first look. The full lineup with all the big names is here.
Cuba comes to Jazz Fest! This is huge. In years past when the fest has celebrated a specific country, aficionados of the music of that land have occasionally griped about the choices. Not this year!
The cream of the crop of Cuban musicians will appear including Los Van Van, Chucho Valdes, and relative newcomers like Daymé Arocena. Her new album is due in stores on March 10 and has been in steady rotation on my speakers. All in all, twelve Cuban acts are scheduled.
African music is represented as well including a return performance by two of South Africa’s legendary musicians—pianist Abdullah Ibrahim and trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The two greats will be reviving one of the seminal South African jazz bands, the Jazz Epistles. For fans of world music, this is going to be huge! Masekela will also be participating in a Salute to Louis Armstrong with our own Dr. Michael White.
There is a band, Mokoomba, I am not familiar with coming from Zimbabwe and Lakou Mizik of Haiti (another act I have in steady rotation) will be making their Jazz Fest debuts.
The Jazz Tent looks to feature musicians from all across the spectrum including child prodigy pianist Joey Alexander and a special appearance by the all-star SFJAZZ Collective. They will tackle the music of Miles Davis.
With all the deaths in the music world last year, New Orleans lost its share. There will be tributes to gospel singer Jo “Cool” Davis, clarinet legend Pete Fountain, and zydeco proselytizer Stanley Dural, better known across the globe as Buckwheat Zydeco.
All is all, it looks to be another epic fest! Keep this page bookmarked for daily picks, reviews, and more as the festival season unfolds.
