New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will mark its 34th year April 24 - May 4

Jazz Fest ^ | 2/16/03

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The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, known worldwide as “Jazz Fest,” will mark its 34th year by opening one day sooner, both expanding and intensifying its legendary presentation of Louisiana’s historic and contemporary contributions to world culture, Festival organizers said today when they announced the 2003 music lineup. The Festival is set for Thursday, April 24 through Sunday, May 4.

Jazz Fest Producer/Director Quint Davis said, “Adding a day to Jazz Fest has given us the ability to go even deeper into the culture, highlighting both the classic and the current like never before. From Fats Domino to Lil’ Romeo; from the Neville Brothers to its next generation in Ivan Neville. Terence Blanchard and Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews; Cowboy Mouth and Galactic; Allen Toussaint and Henry Butler; Nicholas Payton and Kermit Ruffins; Olympia Brass Band and the Rebirth Brass Band; Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and Chris Thomas King; The Hackberry Ramblers to the Red Stick Ramblers; Buckwheat Zydeco and Sean Ardoin; Irma Thomas and Glenys Rogers; The Zion Harmonizers and Tehillah; the Klezmer All-Stars and the Iguanas; the exciting blend of Mardi Gras Indian Chief Monk Boudreaux collaborating with Anders Osborne. We’re pleased to welcome home Sam Butera, Lucinda Williams, and Vernel Bagneris with “One ‘Mo Time” & his tribute to Jelly Roll Morton. This year’s Festival makes its most powerful statement ever about how Louisiana music stands alone in America in its indigenous diversity, vitality and cultural importance.”

Davis said that, as always, Jazz Fest will spice up the party with the appearance of very special guests in each musical category, creating what’s been called America’s most important annual presentation of roots music: Bob Dylan, LL Cool J, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Gladys Knight, Ornette Coleman, Joe Cocker, Carlos Vives, Al Jarreau, Buddy Guy, The O’Jays, John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Ben Harper, Angelique Kidjo, the Herbie Mann Reunion Band, Richard Smallwood & Vision, the Crusaders Reunion, Mavis Staples, Gerald Levert, Cassandra Wilson, Keb’ Mo’, Kassav, and Los Lobos, among others.

The Evening Concert Series will present Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bob Dylan, India.Arie, Musiq, Carlos Vives, Widespread Panic, Lucinda Williams, Michael Franks, Angela Bofill, Sam Butera, Youssou N’Dour, North Mississippi Allstars, and others at the Morris F.X. Jeff Municipal Auditorium, the Mahalia Jackson Theatre of Performing Arts, the Palm Court Jazz Café (1204 Decatur Street), and the House of Blues (225 Decatur Street).

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Something like nine different stages, check out the schedule. Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Anders Osborne, D.L. Menard and the Louisiana Aces, and food that you have no right to even think about eating.

[Sir_Ed]

I go to the Medford Jazz Festival every year, and last year I saw a group that was the BEST group I have ever seen, in any Jazz Festival.

They're named Cornet Chop Suey, outta St. Louis, MO, and they won first place in the Sac'to Jazz Festival and numerous other places.

If you ever get a chance to hear these guys, GO!!!!!

Ed