New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival Ready To Roar

By I Apr. 22, 2002

From April 26–May 5, the musical beast known as the New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival will take over the Big Easy. In New Orleans, music is celebrated as an integral part of folk culture, so at Jazzfest you’ll enjoy more than 100 food booths, 100 craft booths, parades, artist demonstrations, photography exhibits, a kids tent and—especially attractive—explanatory kiosks about the stuff you’re seeing, such as Mardi Gras Indians and brass bands. In its 32nd year, the Soul Daddy of all jazz festivals features not only jazz, but blues, gospel, zydeco, and American roots music of nearly every description, particularly if it’s native to the South. The 35-acre New Orleans Fairgrounds accommodates 75,000 people on a sunny day and up to 45,000 fanatics in the pouring rain. Twelve tent stages present acts simultaneously, with over 600 bands appearing throughout the week. The crowd is especially outgoing, so don’t be surprised to find yourself in an animated discussion with total strangers about which act to hit or miss.

Some of the hundreds of acts at the fest this year are: Wynton Marsalis, Neville Brothers, String Incident, Wayne Shorter, Abbey Lincoln, Count Basie Orchestra, India.Arie, Taj Mahal, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Los Hombres Calientes, Wild Magnolias, Nicholas Payton, Blind Boys of Alabama and so much more indigenous Louisiana music that it’s impossible to get bored.

For complete lineup information, go to www.nojazzfest.com.