Within minutes after you arrive at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, you become aware that you are in for some great music. Lineups for all the eleven venues are almost overwhelming. The “Jazz Fest,” as it is fondly known, consists of two four-day weekends, starting on Thursday, the last weekend of April, and continuing through the first weekend in May.


Jazz Fest takes place at the 131-year old Fair Grounds Race Course, at outdoor stages and tents. The music ranges from traditional and contemporary blues and jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, Cajun, country, Latin, and everything in between. One could really live it up by checking out continuous entertainment all day at the festival, and then partying at the clubs at night.


Entertainers such as Kenny Neal, and also his brother, “Lil Ray” Neal Band, who appeared at another time, Keb’Mo,’ Chris Thomas King, Duke Robillard Blues Band, Anson Funderburgh and The Rockets with Sam Myers, Buddy Guy, Dr.John, Fats Domino, and many others, kept the audiences cheering at this year’s festival. Bob Margolin had an Allstar Jam, which featured Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith.



Marching bands that struted through the crowds added to the excitement. There were also from one to six parades during the festival in different places. There was a variety of groups, including Mardi Gras Indians and Zulu Walking Warriors, all decked out in their colorful attire, and often accompanied by a brass band. Evidently people there celebrate any and all events. Jazz Fest is one of America’s favorite annual events. Now in its 34th year, and attended by music lovers from around the world, this is a preeminent showcase for serious musicians. For more information, contact the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation 1205 N. Rampart Street, New Orleans, La. 70116. Phone: 504-522-4786 or check website: http://www.nojazzfest.com .

Also, not to be missed is the Festival International de Louisiana, considered by some to be one of the top one hundred events in North America. This is one of Lafayette’s incredible global offerings. This festival is a five-day event held annually the last full week of April in the heart of the Cajun country. Historic Lafayette, about five hours from New Orleans, is transformed into an entertainment complex. There are food areas, street musicians, arts and crafts, boutiques, art galleries, beverage stands, cultural workshops, and international cooking demonstrations, among other things. Even though Lafayette is more built up now, it is still the place for fans of Cajun food, music, and culture.



Most importantly there are five music stages. This year, for this seventeenth annual event, over fifty acts were from many places in the world, including Ghana, France, and Quebec, and of course Louisiana and the United States.



Featured musicians this year included the Aaron Neville Quintet with Charles Neville, Kenny Neal, Geno Delafose, Marc Broussard, Los Lobos, and Yerba Buena, to name a few. For more information, phone 337-232-8081 or check the website at: http://www.festivalinternational.com . Tony Zanoff