Blue impression from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage anniversary festival 2019: Photos, Full concert video

New Orleans singer Ernie K-Doe once said something like, “I’m not sure, but I’m almost positive, that all music came from New Orleans.”

Maybe he’s not right that all music comes from New Orleans, but New Orleans and Louisiana hold a lot of blues. “The Blues tent” sums up good atmosphere and good music during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Last weekend in April and the first weekend in May, they celebrated their 50th festival with a musical supermarket with a focus on food and crafts.

Kary Perry, Diana Ross, Van Morrison, Tom Jones, John Fogerty, Santana, Doobie Brothers and Dave Matthews were at the top of the poster. The jazz was represented by, among others, Herbie Hancock and Gregory Porter, and the soul with Al Green, Mavis Staples and Gladys Knight. But also “Blues Tent” had a distinguished program. Many of the international artists happily visit Scandinavia, and here are allowed to play whole concerts. In JazzFest’s tightly packed program, however, time was strictly measured.

The amount of artists allows you to be lucky if there is room for guests. For example, Kenny Neal had the aging but musically vigorous pianist Henry Gray, and Lil Buck Sinegal had the Ironing Board Sam as a guest. Artists like Robert Cray, Mr. Sipp and Toronzo Cannon rushed through their sets, while veterans such as Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal seemed to be happy with limited time on stage.

Singer / songwriter John Prine got sick, so the blues people got an extra visit from the rousing steel guitarist Robert Randolph and his Family Band and Elvin Bishops Big Fun Trio. The trio lived up to its name and became an unexpected and surprising top experience in the blues tent. Elvin Bishop possesses the experience’s surplus and overview, but also radiates youthful energy.

Mdou Moctar from Niger was the festival’s feature of the monotonous African trance blouse, while veteran John Hammond Jr. At 56 years of age, he acted as if he had just invented the blues. Little Freddie King has reportedly participated in all 50 festivals, but remains “little” with his repetitions. He does not, however, fail his local and international festival. And vice versa.

It wasn’t just the Blues Tent that offered blue tones. Zydeco rocked on Fais Do-Do Stage, Irma Thomas also sang in Gospel Tent, and North Mississippi Allstars, Gary Clark Jr. and Bonnie Raitt routinely demonstrated his art on the larger scenes.

So is the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival worth visiting for blues enthusiasts? Hmm. The program is big and wide, and the audience gets gospel and zydeco music and more on the purchase. But you can’t go anywhere. However, you are allowed to pay for it all, all prices in New Orleans are pre-booked under the Jazz Party.
An alternative can be the Crescent Blues & BBQ Festival, which is free and arranged with money coming in at The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation Inc.