New Orleans Sunday evening after the Fest...

On my way back to the streetcar line from the fairgrounds. Bayou St. John is beautiful in the evening, and the streetcar was ready to depart as soon as I got on. I was home in about 12 minutes... beats waiting for a cab hands down!!! And it only costs $1.25!! This streetcar wasn't named Desire, but it WAS marked "Cemeteries" which is another Street Car Named Desire reference. Now to get ready for my big night out... DUMPSTAPHUNK at Tipitina's!!

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday... on the way home...

On the walk back to the street car line, I was lucky enough to pass by Shell Fest. I had been told about Shell Fest the night before, but had to see it to believe it. An entire Shell gas station had closed down during the Fest days, and during the Fest itself was using it's property as a pay parking lot. After the Fest the parking lot was transformed into a mini-dance party, with a live DJ and peoples favorite disco music to keep the party rolling! Hilarious!! I was looking forward to heading home to a cool shower after a HOT day at the Fest, and anxious to get some aloe on my horrid sunburn! No Shell Fest for me, but I did get a few photos to prove the existence of this wacky party!

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

BIG CHIEF BO DOLLIS with Queen Rita dancing behind This is a fitting photo to be my final Fest photo of the year. The Wild Magnolias set was quite emotional.... Bo was in obviously weak health, struggling to complete songs and unable to stand for the entire performance. His voice was still strong and full of grit and emotion when he was busting out, and his energy was felt very strong.I hope Bo recieved as much energy from the crowd as he gave to all of us! Jazz Fest 2007.... I can't wait until next year!!!

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

The Wild Magnolia Mardi Gras Indians Queen Rita in the yellow suit. They are world famous representatives of the Indian street culture of New Orleans, and Queen Rita is a sweet dancer who always gets the crowd energized and hyped up! In the white is the famous tamborine lady, usually found pounding it out in the Gospel Tent she appeared on stage with the Wild Magnolias. Behind her, also in white is Marva Wright.

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

PAUL SHAEFFER Yes... THE Paul Shaeffer. He sat in with the Wild Magnolias for their performance Sunday evening, closing out the Fest at the Jazz and Heritage stage. I only knew of him from David Letterman, but it turns out he is a seriously good organ master! He was funkin it up with the Wild Mags... he and June sounded so good together! I was briefly introduced to Paul before the set, which was pretty weird... but cool for all the obvious reasons.

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

MARVA WRIGHT in the Blues Tent. I got a text message from my friend Elizabeth informing me that Marva was rockin and that I should get to the Blues Tent ASAP. I tore myself away from Dottie Peoples and headed over to hear some sweet New Orleans blues singing from the "Queen of New Orleans", as Marva was introduced. She had most of the Wild Magnolias band playing as her back up band. June Yamagishi on guitar (in the green hat behind Marva), Jon Gros AND the female organist from the Wild Mags on keys, as well their rippin bass player. In my opinion you could NEVER go wrong with June on guitar!! She WAS totally rocking, and I found myself with goose bumps yet again. Big Chief Bo Dollis came out and sang one song with Marva. He is in poor health and struggled to perform, but it is great to see his heart and dedication. Those are the backs of Bobby and Elizabeth with Bo Dollis, who is a friend of theirs, on stage in the background.

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

Somebody Better Testify!!!... I spent an hour Sunday afternoon getting the hair on the back of my neck electrified by DOTTIE PEOPLES! This is Gospel the way it should be... make a blind man see... make an atheist testify...

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

Sometimes when you walk past the Gospel Tent on your way to somewhere else, the sound and energy coming out of there pulls you in. I was pulled in on my way to see Marva Wright, by the most powerful female voice I had ever heard.... DOTTIE PEOPLES!!

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

In the folk life village you can see a huge variety of art, handy-crafts, and cultural exhibits about the bayou region. Traditional Cajun wooden boat makers, people demonstrating how a Mardi Gras float is built, seamstresses working on Mardi Gras gowns, traditional instrument makers etc.. These small tents are well worth strolling through. Another case where you never know what you may find going on. Here I was looking at a display on the strong role that Catholic Italians have had in shaping the unique culture of New Orleans, something I was unaware of. A woman had created a huge altar to St. Joseph, and this loaf of bread in the shape of an alligator was part of her altar.

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

The Native American Village is an interesting zone to walk through several times during the course of your Fest, as the displays, performances, and folk crafts are always changing. It is a small and relatively shaded area that usually is not packed with people. If your lucky, as I was a few times, you may catch a dance or music performance going on. There are folk craft demonstrations on-going, and many tribes are represented. Choctaw Nation is always present!
The hand containing one open eye, encircled by serpents is an ancient symbol from this region. I read it was very significant in all the different tribes from this area, and though no one knows it's true origin, each tribe understands it to be very ancient, coming from a previous culture of people. Though it's significance is slightly different from tribe to tribe, it is always protective and spiritual in nature.

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

The Inter-Tribal Dancers of the South Eastern United States, and their drummers. There is an astounding amount of variety at Jazz Fest.... really in New Orleans period! The new discoveries and exotic cultural experiences never stop here!

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

In the Native American Village. The Inter-Tribal Dancers of the South Eastern United States. There are several performances here throughout the day, and I happened to catch this colorful number! Choctaw Nation was definately representing, as well as the Chippewa, Haoma, and Seminole Nations, amongst others.

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

First on my list to check out today was Germaine Bazzle in the Jazz Tent. I was not sure what she would be like, but I read a brief article on her the night before. She is a professor of music at Loyola, and, after her performance I can tell you that she is one of the few living female masters of "jazz scat". Her style was similar to Ella Fitzgerald... VERY smooth yet complex jazz music with outbursts of vocal scat masterfully woven in. She was playing with another older and respected New Orleans bass player, George French. He was spectacular as well, playing beautifully rich, yet understated bass lines, as well as singing the lead on several songs, and sharing several duets with Germaine. The sax player she had with her is a man I have seen MANY times over the past 8 years of coming to New Orleans... I have seen him sit in with numerous amazing musicians, and he always floors me with his talent, and his ability to be so versatile and fit in so well with so many varied styles of music. I am ashamed to say that I do not know his name.... YET! Germaine Bazzle's performance turned out to be a highlight of my Fest experiences this year!! I went to simply check it out, and wound up staying glued to my seat for her entire performance! I learn so much at Jazz Fest every year, and never leave New Orleans without discovering a new musical favorite..... or two...... or three..... or.......

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Sunday

I rode the street car from my guesthouse to the Fest on Sunday. It was fun and WAY convenient. It lets you off at the end of the line near City Park and Bayou St. John, about a block from the Festival entrance. Along the way there were some classic New Orleans sights, such as this cemetary, displaying the above ground tombs for which New Orleans is famous.

New Orleans 2007.. Rock and Bowl

There is a sweet full-room mural here, of a typical street scene in mid-town New Orleans from the 1950's. Bobby was making friends with the neighbors on their front porch. It's always good to get to know the locals!

New Orleans 2007.. Rock and Bowl

Saturday night/ Sunday morning.... So, this place is called the Rock and Bowl because you can do both things at the same time. It is a bowling alley with a large stage and dance floor behind the lanes. The whole bowling set up looks as if it hasn't been updated since 1975, but it all runs smooth and provides a unique and fun time! I was here to see Monk and his band tonight/ this morning!

New Orleans 2007.. Rock and Bowl

Saturday night/ Sunday morning Monk is the MAN! To be in your 70's and not start your set until 2 AM is admirable!! On guitar, on the far left, is Eric Lindell, sitting in for the night. It was a fun set of music, played to a crowd of only about 50 people! Monk was looking good and feeling great!

New Orleans 2007.. Full Moon over Frenchmen Street

Frenchmen Street is a popular hang out zone during Jazz Fest. There are about a dozen bars along this 4 block stretch, that all cater to live music fans during the Fest. There is literally music all night long til the break of dawn! Tonight I was down here to see Astral Project at Snug Harbor, and to catch a little of a musician I had just heard of this year... David Batiste and the Gladiators... old school funk, popular in the early 70's... they were a good. solid funk band and I only caught a few songs, but they were standard funk covers, played very well, none the less. Frenchmen Street is within a block of the French Quarter, so it is well within walking distance to go between the 2 zones. After the Gladiators, I made my way over to Cafe du Monde for some refreshening!

New Orleans 2007.. I got Astral Project-ed

Saturday night...after getting placed in a full body trance by the Astral Project... Snug Harbor is a great venue... a very intimate and quiet setting. I was seated in the front with my ears a mere 1 foot away from the smokin hot drum set of Johnny Vidacovich, and directly in front of the stand up bass weilded by James Singleton. There was nowhere else I would have rather been that night!!

New Orleans 2007.. Cafe du Monde

After seeing Astral Project at Snug Harbor, I was in need of some coffee to get me through the rest of the nights activitites. Astral Project are phenomenal jazz musicians... they always leave me feeling as if I am in a trance. So coffee and sugar were a necessity, if I was going to make it to the Rock and Bowl to see Big Chief Monk Boudreoux and Eric Lindell. I had never been to Cafe du Monde... but now I see what all the fuss is about... it's about the 3 inches of powdered sugar they pile on top of your fresh, hot beignets!! It's also about the unique chicory root/ coffee blend they serve here! The perfect midnight snack! After this, I was ready to make my way out to midtown to the Rock and Bowl and get my groove on for some late night Monk!!

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Saturday...

Deciding what to eat is ALWAYS tough... everything is excellent! Today I went with the Seafood Mirliton casserole and crab cakes with jalapeno dippin sauce... both of which were OUTRAGEOUSLY good!!

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Saturday...

2007 suit worn by the Zulu King during Mardi Gras

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Saturday...

SNOOKS EAGLIN with Goerge Porter Jr. in the Blues Tent. He also added Jon Gros on keys to his soulful mix. Jon Gros has his own band called Papa Gros Funk, and they are a New Orleans staple bar funk band. He sounded great backing up Snooks!

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Saturday...

SNOOKS EAGLIN with the legendary bass master George Porter JR. The Blues Tent was packed, but I got there early and snagged a 6th row seat!

NOLA JAZZ FEST...Saturday...

Gangbe Brass Band of Benin West Africa
These guys were interesting to see and compare to the brass bands of New Orleans that I have seen many, many times in the past. The music was very similar, with the addition of several African drums of different styles, that definately added some tribal flavor to the familiar sounds of a brass ensemble.

Mt. Ashland, last days of 2006-07 season, 65 degrees, soft, fast slush