Jazzfest reunites New Orleans
This past weekend was the first weekend of Jazzfest in New Orleans, and it featured Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Herbie Hancock and Elvis Costello. Even if you've never been to Jazzfest before, you might enjoy this review of the weekend, which relates the emotional atmosphere of this year's event.
But the heart of the festival wasn't in the visiting stars: not in Mr. Springsteen's set, or in having the Edge, U2's guitarist, jamming with the Dave Matthews Band, as he did on Saturday.
Jazzfest's essence was in the gathering of a 50-woman choir from the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, which sustained $9 million in damage and now holds services for part of its congregation in Houston, part in Baton Rouge and part in New Orleans. Some choir members had not seen one another since the hurricane. They, and other performers at the festival, kept saying, "It's like a reunion."
The Mahogany Brass Band was playing for its first time since the storm, and it was the first time all its members — dispersed as far as Phoenix and San Francisco — had seen one another. Brice Miller, its leader, started a strikingly emotional "St. James Infirmary" alone as a tearful solo trumpet dirge; when he sang the lyrics, about seeing a lover's dead body, he interjected, "My baby's New Orleans!"
Jazzfest continues next weekend.
Comments
Well, all that's mildly interesting, at best. But since this is a political blog, I thought, what the heck, how about some political news.
Jim Holt has illegally been using left over campaign funds from his Senate account to run for Lt. Gov. He's also been illegally painting over all signs, also paid for by that Senate account.
An Ethics Commission complaint will soon be filed and the EC may well order Holt to remove those signs.
That will be tough for Holt who has raised almost no money and needs that signage. Being reamed out by the EC will also cut into his support among NWA conservatives.
Posted by: b | May 1, 2006 04:30 PM
Just got back from the Big Easy yesterday on a little trip. You can tell the damage is still present: there are water marks on homes, potholes and roof damage (similar to tornados) are also rampant.
However, there's rebuilding going on everywhere with lots of vacant stores- entire areas are empty, especially the outskirts. They say they don't have enough workers to either do the construction or staff the JazzFest past 7:00 pm.
The food is still phenomenal and the people are really accomodating (not like it used to be there). I'm glad I visited. I'm also pleased to report there are drunk people on Bourbon, beignets at the French Market, strippers along with street performers in the Quarter and there's jazz and coffee filtering throughout. Welcome back New Orleans!
Posted by: New Orleans Believer' | May 1, 2006 04:40 PM
I think a lot of people who normally would have been in New Orleans are spending their time on Beale Street this year. We went to Memphis Friday (stayed at the great new Hampton Inn right off Beale) and spent Friday night on the Beale from about 8:30 till 2 a.m. The clubs were packed with people from Chicago, Texas, all over. It was a lot of fun.
Posted by: Patrick, Pocahontas | May 1, 2006 07:27 PM
Whew! "St. James Infirmary" will make your blood run cold, even when performed without such a true-life tragic context. What a sad note to say that body on the slab is New Orleans. I hope the Jazzfest dollars help heal real New Orleans people and prop up their businesses so they can get a toehold again. I think it's amazing that it was held at all and I believe its a sign that you can't keep the real city down.
Posted by: mag | May 2, 2006 01:17 AM
Having lived on the coast of MS and having seen and felt the wrath of Katrina, I would have loved to been in New Orleans this past weekend. Not only to see Dave Matthews but to see everyone coming together. There is nothing more spiritual and healing than music. Just the thought of the church choir performing gives me chills. I agree with mag, I hope the money revitalizes the city as the music revitalizes their spirit.
Posted by: GrlNxtDr | May 2, 2006 09:47 AM