[Dixielandjazz] NOJ&H commentary-- Steve Barbone

[Norman Vickers]

To:  Musicians and Jazzfans list;  DJML

From: Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola

 

More about New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2011. Original post is
appended should anyone wish to review.  Vickers' comment at end.





Jazz saxophonist/bandleader of Philadelphia area writes:

 

 

IMO there is PLENTY of JAZZ at NO J&H Festival. I think that fact gets lost
because there are so many musical performers there, Jazz and otherwise.

 

Here a short (and probably in complete) list of jazz performers for 2011:

 

Ron Carter Trio - Ron Carter Quintet - Anat Cohen Quartet - Dr Michael White
- Clive Wilson's New Orleans Serenaders with Butch Thompson - Connie Jones
and the Crescent City Jazz Band - Tulane Jazz Ensemble -  Lionel Ferbos and
the Palm court Jazz Band -  Pete Fountain - Ahmad Jamal - Iwvin Mayfield &
The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra - Preservation Hall - Rebirth Brass Band -
Banu Gibson & The All Stars featuring Bob Havens - The original Tuxedo Jazz
Band - Bob Wilber & The Crescent City Cats - Julliand Jazz Ensemble - Keb Mo
- Bonerama - Kermit Riffins & The Barbecue Swingers - Sonny Rollins - Lars
Edegran & The New Orleans Ragtimers - Terrence Blanchard - Dirty Dozen Brass
Band - Lino Patruno - Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble - Delfeayo Marsalis
Uptown Orchestra - New Orleans Klezmer Allstars -  Loyola University Jazz
Ensemble - Delgado College Jazz Ensemble - Dillard University Jazz Ensemble
- Sammy Rimington International Band - Maceo Parker - Don Vappie - Tommy
Sancton New Orleans Quintet - Doreen's Jazz New Orleans - Thelonious Monk
Institute of Jazz Ensemble - Dr. John - Tim Laughlin - Dukes of Dixieland -
Ellis Marsalis - Frad Jazz Tribute to Mahalia Jackson - Mingus Big Band -
Mighty Clouds of Joy - Trombone Shorty - UNO Jazz Allstars - NOCCA Jazz
Ensemble - New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra -  Nicholas Peyton -
Xavier University Jazz Ensemble - Orange KJellin;sNew Orleans Deluxe
Orchestra - Greg Stafford's Jazz Hounds - Panorama Jazz Band - 

 

Sounds like a great jazz party to me. (if you can stand the crowds) <grin>

 

Cheers,

Steve Barbone

www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband

 

 

 

 

From: Stephen G Barbone [mailto:barbonestreet at earthlink.net] 
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 10:13 AM
To: Norman Vickers
Subject: Re: NOJ&H commentary-- Doug Ramsey

 

 

On Jan 24, 2011, at 9:31 AM, Norman Vickers wrote:





To:  DJML and Musicians and Jazzfans list

From: Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola

 

Doug Ramsey's blog has commentary on New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
and briefly reviews the history.

I was impressed with the initial list of performers in 1968.  He also lists
current players and discusses how the mix has changed--- more "heritage" and
less "jazz"   but they still call it JazzFest.

 

Be sure to scroll down-past the story about the two pianist John Williams
-that's worth reading, too-to get to the NOJ&H story. For a bonus, you can
refresh yourself with the 3 minute Louis Armstrong-Earl Hines duet on West
End Blues.

 

Here's the link:   http://www.artsjournal.com/rifftides/

 

Norman comments:  the Jazz Society of Pensacola would charter a bus for the
day ( 200 miles to N.O. from Pensacola on I-10) for the NOJ&H festival.
But as it got more popular, with increasing attendance in a closed space (
Fairgrounds Horse Race Track) then individual space became more and more
restricted.  If a popular act were performing in one of the tents, then
patron would need to go to that tent to catch the previous act, just to get
a seat for the desired act.

The REALLY popular acts would be on open air stage at each end of the
racetrack oval.  There would be so many others that one might be so far back
that musicians would  appear very small on the stage.

 

There is no natural shade on racetrack infield, of course.  If the sun
shines, it's hot and muggy, if it rains-mud.

 

Parking is also problematical-The racetrack is in Gentilly area  so natives
make their driveways and yards available for parking for a few bucks.  Some
of downtown hotels run a shuttle-bus to Fairgrounds Racetrack during NOJ&H
Fest.

 

There is also sound overlap.

 

One is searched ( bags anyway) so that no food or drink is brought it. One
must buy from vendors inside.

 

These comments based on last visit 15 years ago when JSOP members
rebelled-no more!  

 

We now take a bus -for the day--to New Orleans' French Quarter Festival- in
mid-April a week or so before NOJ&H Fest. it's free and  with stages
scattered within the French Quarter and along the waterfront.  As FQF gets
more popular, then crowding increases, but one is not "penned up" as in
NOJ&H festival. And, there is  more New Orleans music.

 

About half our bus passengers are newbies-never having attended a Fr.
Quarter festival before.  Those wanting to spend big bucks and enjoy the
three days-Friday-Sat-Sun of FQF then pay the elevated weekend hotel prices.

( New Orleans hotels raise prices on festival weekends and sometimes require
2-3 day stay.)  We see lots of jazz friends at the FQF.  Potomac River Jazz
Club members, for example,  are regular attendees to FQF.

 

Lest this note be interpreted as "sour grapes,"  as relates to NOJ&H
festival, I pass this along as a dose of realism.  We're glad for New
Orleans and New Orleans musicians who are invited to perform at NOJ&H
festival.  But, as they say in New York, " It's so crowded, nobody hardly
goes any more!"

 

Norman

 
--end--