[Dixielandjazz] New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Write-Up

[Steve barbone]

Yeah Pat, I hear you. ;-) VBG

My feet are in poor shape and I can't walk more than a half mile or so at a
time without pain. Nor can I stand and play, without foot pain, having to
use a stool these days. I also do not go to Festivals or venues where I have
to walk. Nor would I go to hear multiple bands etc.  And, there are just a
few performers that I go out of my way to see/hear these days.

The Showboat gig was all I could do physically and I must admit the forced
exercise helped me to overcome some physical limitations, which is one
reason I did it. 

These days, I still gig a lot, but demand close parking, help with carrying
my sound system and chairs for the band. It takes courage to grow old and
remain active. :-) VBG.

The neat thing about our "young people gigs" is they they offer such help,
can't do enough for us and make sure we are comfortable when playing for
them. At University of Pennsylvania this Friday, they will carry all our
gear, watch our cars while unloading and help us park. All the while calling
us "sir" and being genuinely glad we are there. One of my older friends upon
seeing this and hearing the applause and cheers, last month asked the band
members; "How do you handle all this adulation from the kids?" It doesn't
get any better than that, believe me.

On the other hand, I'll drive 250 miles round trip to a venue where I can
sit and hear folks like Davern, Randy Reinhart, Ed Metz, Evan Christopher
and the other "next level up" jazz musicians at a club date, or jazz society
gig. They are on the cutting edge of "here and now Dixieland" and by
listening to them, one can still learn.

Pet peeve? Folks who ask me why I wear "soft' shoes to gigs instead of
snappy dress shoes.

Why indeed? . . . "Because my feet hurt, don't look at them if they offend
you!" 

Cheers,
Steve Barbone



on 5/30/06 1:08 PM, patcooke77 at yahoo.com at patcooke77 at yahoo.com wrote:

     I guess I'm getting too old for some kinds of festivals.  I remember
when I was a teenager I would walk 6 miles to go to a mardi gras parade, and
then walk back.  (This was back when it was safe to walk around New Orleans
streets at night).  Now I get too tired to endure a multiple-venue, or an
on-your-feet festival.  We played the Jazz and Heritage festival a few years
back.  As performers, we had special parking and valets to shlep us and our
gear to the stage.  But I never went back.  As a spectator, one has to
usually park a few miles away and take a shuttle to the Fair Grounds, where
he will walk a few miles outdoors between the various stages, where some
performances are outstanding;  others may be gospel, zydeco, R&B,
Springsteen, or who knows what.  When you get there, there may or may not be
a place to sit.
    The FrenchQuarter Festival until just a couple of years ago,used to be
one of my favorite festivals; but now I find myself to be exhausted by the
end of the first day.  Parking at the FQF is not too bad if you go early
enough (at least 2 hours before the first performance).  You will walk a lot
between the stages to see the performers you most want to hear.   And unless
you're athletic, better shlep a folding chair.  I used to do the walking,
but now it's a chore.   This past FQF, I went the first day and left before
the last set.  I showed up the second day, but left by noon.  I didn't even
go the third day.
     I still enjoy the Pensacola festival....it's easy to park if you  go a
little early, and there is only one venue.  You can sit in the same spot for
the entire festival.  In addition to a few student groups, there are usually
some world class performers, and always some I haven't seen before.  Also,
it's FREE!      
     Jazz festivals (mainly OKOM fesivals) are attended mainly by mature
adults.  Creature comfort is more important than at a Woodstock festival.  I
now like a festival that is indoors and air conditioned, like in a hotel;
and all the venues are in the same building.  I don't want to ride shuttles,
or walk great distances outdoors.  But creature comforts alone are not
enough....there must be performers that I really want to see.