[Dixielandjazz] New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

[TBW504 at aol.com]

A part of the relevant entry in Brian Wood's coruscating "The Song for Me"  -
 
JAZZ FEST (or New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival)
Allegedly, these  days by most contemporary accounts, started in 1970 by 
George Wein, and directed  by Quint Davis, in Congo Square as a relatively modest 
affair. However, since  there was an earlier festival in 1968 marking the 
250th anniversary of New  Orleans's founding, I prefer the earlier date. There was 
a second "New Orleans  International Jazz Festival" in 1969. By 1972 the 
Wein-led version had become  successful enough to move to the Fair Grounds, and 
become the world's largest  jazz festival. The very first performance of the 
Festival on April 22, 1970 was  a concert aboard the S.S. President, featuring 
Pete Fountain and Clyde Kerr and  his Orchestra. The following year, Fountain 
again opened Jazz Fest on the  riverboat, this time joined by Louis Cottrell's 
Dixieland Jazz Band. The last  Jazz Fest riverboat concert took place on the 
President on April 29, 1988. Full  name: the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage 
Festival. This takes place over two  weekends - the last in April and the first in 
May at the New Orleans Fairgrounds  racetrack. Go via Esplanade and Gentilly 
and go early (Thursday is marginally  the quietest) as it gets extremely 
crowded. We queue; the locals stand in line;  either way it's worth it. For me the 
Gospel tent is a must, but there's  something for everyone. Do not take 
recording devices (other than still cameras)  - they frisk you as you enter!