Here we go again! Jazz Fest 2013 will play out over the course of the next two days. Here are my picks for Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5. The full schedule is here.
SATURDAY | Yesterday I gave you some inside information about the Red Hawk Hunters Mardi Gras Indians. Today I do the same. The Black Feather tribe opens the Jazz and Heritage stage on Saturday. The tribe’s Spy Boy is none other than Stafford Agee, the trombonist for the Rebirth Brass Band. Look for him in the purple suit with the full face, oval-shaped mask.
Last year, I took some friends to the New Orleans Bingo Show! After it was over, they looked at me cockeyed with this “what the hell was that” expression. But upon further reflection they decided it was one of the best shows of the fest. They hit on the Gentilly stage at 12:30 PM.
For the past few years, Galactic has been scheduled on the Acura stage. The huge crowd that is usually waiting for some other band, and the general pressure of getting up front and center at that stage, has precluded me from catching their show. They are playing on the Gentilly stage this year at 3:25 PM. I am looking forward to seeing them do it funky outside.
Malê Debalê (pictured above) is back again on Saturday, and this time its on the much more intimate Jazz and Heritage stage at 4:15 PM. I intend to check them out again since it’s not too often that we get to hear authentic roots music from Brazil. If you missed them yesterday, don’t miss them today.
In case you didn’t know it, Saturday is most likely going to be the most crowded day of the entire 2013 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. I don’t think it will rival 2001 when the Dave Matthews crowd on the Acura stage literally bumped right up against Mystikal’s crowd on the Congo Square stage. But it could be close with Fleetwood Mac against Frank Ocean on the same respective stages.
There’s no telling where I will be, but the Free Agents Brass Band or the Stanley Clark/ George Duke Project are possibilities. I may also just roam and get a taste of everything.
SUNDAY | The last day of the Jazz Fest always leaves me feeling wistful, worn, and wonderful. Last year, it was strange not having the Radiators closing things out. But I got to check out the Neville Brothers for the first time in ages.
This year, the Brothers are gone, with Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave. set up to be the heir apparent on the Acura stage. Brother Aaron Neville will be doing it solo on the Gentilly stage. But I have gotten ahead of myself. Here are my picks for the rest of the day.
I usually go to see Otra! every time they play, but given that it’s the last day, I may opt for some mellow jazz early. The Heritage School of Music (Lagniappe stage at 11:15 AM) are the next, next generation of jazz players in New Orleans. They are all still in school, but you will be amazed at how good they are.
The New Orleans Classic R&B Recording Review kicks off a long set on the Gentilly stage at 12:30 PM. Though we have lost many of the greats from the 1950s era over the years, Frankie Ford, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Robert “Barefootin’” Parker, and Al “Carnival Time” Johnson are still with us. I don’t know why Ford doesn’t have his hit song, “Sea Cruise,” as his middle name like the others, but he still brings it.
I have yet to see the Meter Men, and this may be my chance. This Meters offshoot band features George, Leo, and Zig with Page McConnell of Phish filling in for Art. If you don’t know their last names, shame on you.
Hall and Oates, the Black Keys, Wayne Shorter, or Pete Fountain? The penultimate slot may in fact be tougher than the last. I tend to prefer the smaller stages, so the TBC Brass Band may be the place to be. They are just tearing it up every time I see them.
However, if you want to be in front of a smaller stage, and prefer a little humor with your music, head to the Lagniappe stage for Bobby Lounge. He’s not really my cup of tea since he seems to play all of his songs in the same key, but people really love his act. I believe there will be an iron lung and a nurse on stage while he belts out his songs. The only thing better than that would be an ironing board.
When it’s all said and done, where will you be?
