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| New Orleans 2008 Jazzfest by Vincent Sylvain / The New Orleans Agenda  Times-Picayune music writer Keith Spera writes, "They didn't intend for it to be this big. Thanks to good will, good fortune and a goodly investment of cash, producers of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell have unveiled perhaps the deepest talent pool in the festival's 39-year history. Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow, Keyshia Cole, Robert Plant with Alison Krauss, and the previously announced Tim McGraw are all headed to the Fair Grounds for the first time. From April 25 to 27 and May 1 to 4, they'll join Jazzfest veterans Jimmy Buffett, Santana, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Widespread Panic, Randy Newman, Diana Krall and Al Green, along with the hundreds of Louisiana acts that comprise the festival's foundation."We've got a lot of people that want to play this festival, " said Jazzfest producer/director Quint Davis. "I felt more of that this year. Some of it is New Orleans, and some of it is Hurricane Katrina... In the early 1970s, Stevie Wonder made a surprise appearance with the Meters at the Fair Grounds, and sat in with Ella Fitzgerald at a nighttime concert. But he has never staged his own show. " Other national acts include jazz singers Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea, Patti Austin and the Count Basie Orchestra, Al Gree, Keyshia Cole, and the Berklee College of Music Jazz Ensemble. On the final day, Irma Thomas pays tribute to Mahalia Jackson, other performers on that day includes Santana, Bob French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band as the Neville Brothers reclaim their traditional closing slot at Jazzfest. From the local scene, on Saturday, May 3rd, jazz vocalist Stephanie Jordan who "enthralled a national PBS NPR audience of millions" presents the Stephanie Jordan Large Band, accompanied in the Jazz Tent by Mike Esneault on piano, a rhythm section and five horns promise to showcase a style which many have compared to the late Shirley Horn and Nat "King" Cole. Earning the label "JAZZHOT" and "The Classy Lady of Jazz", Jazz at Lincoln Center notes, "every so often a new voice stands up and proclaims itself, but few do so with such supreme depth and understated soul" as Stephanie Jordan. On that same day, New Orleans trumpeter James Andrews gets a chance to display his unique style which transcends from Louis Armstrong to Treme funk, while his brother Troy Andrews, leader of Trombone Shortly & Orleans Avenue unleash the forces of virtuosity and exuberance with his brand of funk/pop/hip-hop jazz one day before. Trumpeter Terence Blanchard and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra recreate their acclaimed "A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina)" show in the Jazz Tent on Friday, May 3. JAZZIZ 2007 Person of the Year Donald Harrison performs on Thursday, May 1. Other acts includes local jazz singer Phillip Manuel salute to Nat King Cole, the Heritage School of Music under the direction of Kidd Jordan, Ellis Marsalis, Michael Ward, Lillian Boutté, John Boutté, Tricia "Teedy" Boutté & Ytre Suløens Jass-Ensemble of Norway, Germaine Bazzle, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Deacon John, Wanda Rouzan, Legacy – the students of Alvin Batiste, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, a tribute to Max Roach featuring Herlin Riley, Jason Marsalis, and Shannon Powell, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, each paying homage to jazz during the 7-days, 2-weekend festival. Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint are scheduled to revive their post-Katrina collaboration while Art Neville makes his first solo appearance at Jazzfest, showcasing his 50-year career. "And in a Jazzfest first, popular local deejay Captain Charles is slated to spin old-school funk and soul records on the Congo Square Stage between the Rebirth Brass Band and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. And, Davis said, "we want to bring a whole year's worth of music here in a week." Jazzfest tickets for Thursday, May 1, are $30 plus service charges in advance or $40 at the gate. Tickets for all other festival days are $40 in advance, $50 at the gate. Tickets for children ages 2 to 11 are $5 in advance and at the gate. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster outlets. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |