June Columns
Jazz in the Heartland | TJEN Corner | View from Canada |
The annual spring music festival season began in early April and continued in progress as these lines were being written. Because of the large number of activities to be reported, this month's account will be divided into two parts. The following will cover events up to the beginning of Jazzfest, and the remainder will be covered in next month's column.
The annual Old Algiers Riverfest (OAR) took place on the weekend of April 5-6. The weather was beautiful, and the crowds were large and enthusiastically responsive to the abundant music and food on hand. The musical program began each day at noon and lasted until about 6 p.m. Among the groups that performed for a half hour to an hour and a quarter each were bassist/vocalist George French's band featuring singer Germaine Bazzle; the Algiers Brass Band; the excellent gospel choir Shades of Praise; the Panorama Jazz Band; blues singer Walter "Wolfman" Washington; sousaphonist Kirk Joseph and Backyard Groove; trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and his all-star quintet; the Kevin O'Day Trio featuring pianist Joshua Paxton and Dr. Michael White's Original Liberty Jazz Band featuring singer Wanda Rouzan. The ferry boats that carried fest goers back and forth between the Canal Street landing and Algiers Point even had live music at certain points in the day.
The OAR, held at the base of the levee on Main Street opposite the historic Algiers Courthouse, is something of a mini-French Quarter Fest (FQF). The entertainment schedule even included a morning symposium, "Rollin' on the River," on April 5. Norman Robinson of WDSU TV moderated a panel consisting of Ellis Marsalis, Patty Gay, Dr. Jack Stewart, Kevin Herridge and Tom Morgan. They explored the topic of the development of jazz along the banks of the Mississippi in New Orleans. They also toured major jazz sites in Old Algiers. Inaugurated in 2004, the OAR has quickly become one of the must-see springtime events in New Orleans.
The 25th annual FQF got underway on Friday, April 11, under sunny skies. The beautiful weather conditions prevailed throughout the weekend, and this event may well have been the biggest and best ever. Music could be heard on 17 stages located throughout the French Quarter, but, of course, mainly on Bourbon and Royal Streets. Space limitations obviously prevent a discussion of all the bands and performances. I will merely try to touch upon some of those that drew the largest crowds.
As usual, the event opened on Friday morning, with a performance by Connie Jones and the FQF All-Stars at the Jackson Square Stage. Truly an all-star outfit, the band comprised Jones, cornet and vocals; Tim Laughlin, clarinet; Otis Bazoon, tenor sax; Rick Trolsen, trombone; David Boeddinghaus, piano; Ed Wise, bass; and Richard Taylor, drums. Special guest was Pete Fountain, who joined in on four numbers. Banu Gibson followed with a band composed of many of the same players, except for cornetist Jon-Erik Kellso, who was in town from New York for a few days.
Taylor and his Dukes of Dixieland opened up on the same stage the following day. Cornetist Jamie Wight was back in the band replacing trumpeter Mike Fulton, who has left town for a job at Disneyland in Tokyo. The versatile Wight, who has also played piano with the Dukes, explained with a chuckle, "I just fill in wherever they need me."
Other noteworthy groups on Saturday were Duke Heitger's New Orleans Wanderers featuring Kellso and clarinetist Evan Christopher; Clive Wilson's Original Camellia Jazz Band and reedman Louis Ford's New Orleans Dixieland Flairs featuring young trumpeter Jamelle Williams. Incidentally, the versatile and talented Richard Scott was on trombone in the Ford band after earlier playing piano (and singing) with the Dukes. As always, several of the city's best musicians appear in a number of bands over the weekend.
June 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag
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