Jazzfest 1st Weekend Photos
Click here to view the photoset on Flickr.
« March 2007 | Main | May 2007 »
Click here to view the photoset on Flickr.
Honestly, I didn't plan to write so much this year about the fest, but... well, what can I say. The spirits moved me. Those kinds of things happen in New Orleans.
I've been down here since Tuesday, and hadn't seen a bit of music. Nothing, nada. This is very unlike me, but a combination of jetlag and my brain probably not really believing it's fest conspired to keep my enthusiasm level low. On Thursday night, after picking up Mike, Joe, and Alex from the airport, we went to the Howlin' Wolf for a late show, only to wait for an hour until 2am and they still hadn't opened the doors. We went home.
Yesterday, I hit the fairgrounds, and I still wasn't feeling it. This is extremely unlike me. Usually, the minute my feet hit that sand around the racetrack, the butterflies go a-flapping. Yesterday, nothing. We had some food (Prejean's pheasant/quail/andouille gumbo, if you must know), and headed over to see some of Zachary Richard. Who was delayed by almost an hour. Seriously -- I'm thinking at this point that I might not ever get to see some music.
So we wander around over to the Acura stage, and finally -- FINALLY -- get to hear some music. It's George Porter, Jr., and it's good, but I'm still not feeling it. This is a really bad sign. If nothing else, George's enthusiasm is infectuous. So I go through the motions for a couple of numbers, and then... well then George plays his cheesiest song... and all of a sudden I'm feeling it. The butterflies kick in during the opening conga-line bars of George's "Happy Song." He screams, "Happy Jazzfest," and all of a sudden I'm here as much in mind as I am in body.
The rest of the day was a blast, a rapid-fire succession of great music (James Carter Trio was the highlight) and great food (it's going to be hard to beat the aforementioned gumbo in the food ratings).
On the way home, another stop at the airport to pick up Manolo and his cousin, and I'm really here. Then, exhausted, off to the Maple Leaf for Papa Grows Funk, where former Galactic frontman Theryl "Houseman" De Clouet sits in on a couple of numbers. The band leans in to the Meters' "Ain't No Use," and now I'm really here, feeling it. Feeling it all.
I'm feeling tired, but I don't care. I'm feeling a little bit sick, to be honest, but I don't care.
It's jazzfest, and I'm feeling the music. At last. And on that account, I care very much.