UPDATED May 5: Tens of thousands watched Stevie Wonder perform Friday, May 1, on the main Acura Stage at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Unless you camped out in front of the same stage the entire day, chance are you watched Wonder on one of the giant screes like we did. A downpour came shortly after this photo was taken. Photo by Phil Bardi.
Walked out on Stevie Wonder's highly anticipated performance Friday at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Was having too much fun getting down with Trombone Shorty at the Congo Square stage to pull away. By the time we made it to the Acura stage area the crowd swelled to what appeared to be about 50,000. We were so far back that the jumbo screen monitors even looked small. Wonder came out, gave a rambling Barack Obama endorsement, and then launched into a series of slow, R&B numbers that bordered on smooth jazz. Wasn't feeling it.
The about-to-get-soaked crowd watching Stevie Wonder.
Went over to the Gentilly Stage and enjoyed a set from singer-songwriter John Prine, who nearly brought me to tears with his tender reading of the Vietnam War vet tragedy "Sam Stone." It rained through much of Prine's set but his energy kept us from splitting early.
Richard Thompson turned in an equally stirring set on the same Gentilly stage earlier in the day. Florida sacred steel band the Lee Boys rocked the blues tent and our Friday started in the WWOZ Jazz Tent with a blast of tuba funk led by Kirk Jospeh.
Trombone Shorty performing at the Congo Square "My Louisiana Stage."
The Bad plus performing Friday at the WWOZ Jazz Tent.
Who says Jazz Fest can't be sexy?
Left to right: My brother Joel Tatangelo, me and our buddy Thomas Stevenson walking in between downpours with friend Alex and Leilani trailing behind.
Jimmy Buffett headlines today but the big rumor is that M.I.A. (pictured), who released my favorite CD of 2007, will be sitting in with the Roots, which would totally make my weekend. Well, running late, gotta go see if it happens.
M.I.A. photo from her MySpace site.
This article appears in Apr 30 – May 6, 2008.