NO Jazz Fest lineup announced

[Jeff R]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Stevie Wonder has not performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 35 years, and has never headlined the event. Organizers want to change that this year.

Wonder is scheduled to headline the second weekend of the 2008 Jazz Fest along with Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow and Louisiana native and country music star Tim McGraw, festival promoter Quint Davis said Thursday in announcing the lineup. Joel, Crow and McGraw are all festival first-timers.

"Stevie was a Meters fan ... he got on stage and started playing the keyboard, then he got on drums. He's so talented it's beyond comprehension," Davis said.

The outdoor festival spans seven days over two weekends — April 25-27 and May 1-4. Wonder is slated to perform May 2. His hits include "My Cherie Amour," "Superstition," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" and "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life."

Davis said he could not be more excited that Wonder is one of this year's main acts.

"Over the past 20 years, he hasn't really been touring, so we feel really fortunate," Davis said.

The death of Wonder's mother in 2006 may have prompted Wonder's recent return to the touring circuit, he said. "His mother always told him 'You should get back up there and do what you do,'" Davis said.

Jazz Fest is held at a horse racing track where organizers will set up 11 stages and tents for the more than 1,000 musicians slated to perform, including festival veterans Jimmy Buffett, Santana and Dr. John.

This is the first year since Hurricane Katrina that organizers have restored Thursday to the festival's second weekend, making the event a total of seven days. Jazz Fest was scaled back to six days the past two years because of the storm and subsequent recovery.

Davis said the extra day will mean an addition of more than 50 acts.

Headliners for April 25, the festival's opening day, are Crow, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Also performing that weekend are Dr. John, Joel, Al Green, Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint.

The second weekend will highlight performances by Randy Newman and the rock group Widespread Panic, Trombone Shorty, Marcia Ball, Buffett, Aaron Neville, Santana and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.

The Neville Brothers are scheduled to close the festival on May 4 for the first time since before Katrina struck in August 2005. The group had been the festival's closing act for more than a decade prior to Katrina.

Davis said this year's lineup features "one of the greatest collection of jazz singers in one place." On tap to perform are Patti Austin, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall and Ruby Wilson.

The festival also features food, arts and crafts and other cultural exhibits unique to South Louisiana.

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[thecajunboy]

And sponsored in part by corporate giant Shell. So y'all get out there, fill up dem SUVs, and help pay my salary.

[DavidE]

I don't think you meant it this way, but your title really sums it up. It's a NO jazz festival. Where's the jazz????? When I think jazz, I don't think of Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw Jimmy Buffett, Santana, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Al Green, Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint, Randy Newman, Widespread Panic, Aaron Neville, The Neville Brothers, and Dr. John.

At least the Nevilles and Dr. John have the 'Nawlins thing going on. I'm not saying the lineup is bad, but it ain't jazz. They should just change the name to the New Orleans Music Festival and be done with it.

I don't know who Trombone Shorty, Marcia Ball, and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly are, but are they Jazz?

As for Patti Austin, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall and Ruby Wilson, well the blurb says they are jazz singers. My son, the jazz purist, doesn't have alot of good to say about the jazz stylings of Diana Krall, but she's done will with it.

[Jeff R]

You're correct the festival has evolved over the years to reflect a lot more than jazz and heritage. It still has plenty, it's just branched out over time to reflect a lot more genres of music. Because they did that, the festival grew to hosting over 500,000 visitors from around the world each year, instead of a big pack of locals and jazz heads seeing musicians the masses have never heard of.

As for changing the name to reflect the festival's evolution over time, that's correct for correct's sake but there are big marketing and branding issues to consider.

[MCChris]

As for changing the name to reflect the festival's evolution over time, that's correct for correct's sake but there are big marketing and branding issues to consider.

It's kind of like how Kizanski wanted to promote the Cajun Jam using imagery of the Superdome, only to have Cajunboy shoot it down in favor of using a picture of a fucking sugar cane field or some such shit, since the jam wouldn't be held anywhere near the Superdome.

Let's see. What do most people associate with Louisiana? The Superdome or one of the state's agricultural products?

CB knows how to take pisses in gas tanks and stuff, but he don't know dick about marketing.

[Jeff R]

I work in marketing and my idea of imagery promoting the Cajun Jam involves a swamp, boiled crawfish, beer kegs, a shitload of guitars and maybe a stripper or two.

Depicts the event accurately, and sure as hell makes me want to attend.

[MCChris]

I work in marketing and my idea of imagery promoting the Cajun Jam involves a swamp, boiled crawfish, beer kegs, a shitload of guitars and maybe a stripper or two.

Depicts the event accurately, and sure as hell makes me want to attend.

Certainly better than a goddamn sugar cane field.

[thecajunboy]

It's kind of like how Kizanski wanted to promote the Cajun Jam using imagery of the Superdome, only to have Cajunboy shoot it down in favor of using a picture of a fucking sugar cane field or some such shit, since the jam wouldn't be held anywhere near the Superdome.

Let's see. What do most people associate with Louisiana? The Superdome or one of the state's agricultural products?

CB knows how to take pisses in gas tanks and stuff, but he don't know dick about marketing.

Jeez MC, I'd like to think I know a bit more about it than you're giving me credit for. If my memory, the HFC search feature, and my e-mail archive are all working correctly, what you are referring to is a discussion that took place via private e-mail and was never discussed here. But since its been brought up, I'd like to defend what I said. I don't care to make public the entire content of that e-mail exchange, but here's the statement I made that you are gleaning the sugar cane comment from.

Lots of stuff to include, like planation homes, sugar cane fields, swamps, cajun dance halls, the state capital, bonfires, etc.

Go ahead and ask the question again. I could rest my case right here, but let me just take a few moments in time to tell folks that the three members, Jeffro, Foodermon, and myself, that are the folks behind Cajun Jam, are all country boys. Our parents come from families that were poor as dirt. We grew up stompng through the swamps and cane fields, chasing alligators, turtles, and all sorts of animals, and sharing many of the cajun traditions. Cajun Jam is about the HFC cajuns throwing a party for fellow members. Everything from the food, hospitality, and location are all genuine cajun warmth, not city slicker Superdome.

[MCChris]

Jeez MC, I'd like to think I know a bit more about it than you're giving me credit for. If my memory, the HFC search feature, and my e-mail archive are all working correctly, what you are referring to is a discussion that took place via private e-mail and was never discussed here. But since its been brought up, I'd like to defend what I said. I don't care to make public the entire content of that e-mail exchange, but here's the statement I made that you are gleaning the sugar cane comment from.

Lots of stuff to include, like planation homes, sugar cane fields, swamps, cajun dance halls, the state capital, bonfires, etc.

Go ahead and ask the question again. I could rest my case right here, but let me just take a few moments in time to tell folks that the three members, Jeffro, Foodermon, and myself, that are the folks behind Cajun Jam, are all country boys. Our parents come from families that were poor as dirt. We grew up stompng through the swamps and cane fields, chasing alligators, turtles, and all sorts of animals, and sharing many of the cajun traditions. Cajun Jam is about the HFC cajuns throwing a party for fellow members. Everything from the food, hospitality, and location are all genuine cajun warmth, not city slicker Superdome.

Boy you sure know how to take the fun out of a ball-bustin'.

[DavidE]

So.... more Waterboy and less Saints? ;-)

I don't think anyone marketed cajun country better than John Fogerty. Here's a guy from California who makes everyone think he's from the swamps of the bayou. I wonder if he's ever even been there. ;-)

[thecajunboy]

Boy you sure know how to take the fun out of a ball-bustin'.

Well with comments in two posts, it didn't seem like an old fashioned ball bustin' to me. That left the possibility that others wouldn't see it that way either, so I thought I'd clarify. I'd bet I can do marketing better than I can identify ball busters. No harm, no foul, but if you wake up getting teabagged at Cajun Jam, it ain't my fault.

[MCChris]

Sorry, I guess I shoulda used a few smileys.

[Brewmaster]

and maybe a stripper or two.

uh...hopefully more!!!!

[Buzzy Fretts]

the lineup includes plenty of jazz and quite a bit of local color. if the promoters focused on the jazz headliners, the attendance would easily drop to 15% of current swells. sad but true. I could live w/o billy joel (and probably will) but it will fun to see little stevie again.

You're correct the festival has evolved over the years to reflect a lot more than jazz and heritage. It still has plenty, it's just branched out over time to reflect a lot more genres of music.

[Stike]

I work in marketing and my idea of imagery promoting the Cajun Jam involves a swamp, boiled crawfish, beer kegs, a shitload of guitars and maybe a stripper or two.

Depicts the event accurately, and sure as hell makes me want to attend.

And it sounds way cooler than a fuckin' football game.

[kizanski]

I work in marketing and my idea of imagery promoting the Cajun Jam involves a swamp, boiled crawfish, beer kegs, a shitload of guitars and maybe a stripper or two.

Five things (unlike the Superdome) that can be found in places other than the state of Louisiana.

[Brooks]

instead of the NO jazz fest, jeffro recommended the french quarter fest to me & the wife,

which we attended awhile back (the year after katrina).

it consists of ALL local acts, so as you can imagine, it was mostly

great jazz, blues, cajun, & dixieland music. it's held in the french quarter,

complete w/ local vendors dishing out cold local brews and tasty cajun cuisine.

highly recommended!!! jeffro was our gide the day before the fest, hanging

w/ us and showing us the sights. heres the best of the pics from the trip;

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v63/brooks/FQF/

me & jeffro (shown giving the cajun salute);

[SteveB]

I work in marketing and my idea of imagery promoting the Cajun Jam involves a swamp, boiled crawfish, beer kegs, a shitload of guitars and maybe a stripper or two.

I'm glad to see our visions coincide.

[atquinn]

Aren't the Marsalis's from around there? I would assume they would be participating in some form?

[ctrixie]

Aren't the Marsalis's from around there? I would assume they would be participating in some form?

I got the email from the fest yesterday, and yeah, there are family Marsalises in the lineup, just not Winton & Bradford. We were there once, in '90 or '91 hand had an absolute blast, just were never able to make it back. I'd love to make it back this year.

My friend Myra's niece Abby Washburn is playing with Bela Fleck during the 2nd weekend. Lot's of incentives to go (besides, of course the CB clan & JeffR)

[kizanski]

Boy you sure know how to take the fun out of a ball-bustin'.

Well with comments in two posts, it didn't seem like an old fashioned ball bustin' to me. That left the possibility that others wouldn't see it that way either, so I thought I'd clarify. I'd bet I can do marketing better than I can identify ball busters. No harm, no foul, but if you wake up getting teabagged at Cajun Jam, it ain't my fault.

Not to be argumentative, but I am of the opinion that a Fire-breathing Godzilla REE-shard raining licks down on an unsuspecting Louisiana Superdome (not to mention thecajunboy urinating in public) is a home run.

It sure as hell says "Louisiana" to me.