EVENT INFO: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

It's hard to believe but Spring is almost here (March 20th to be exact) ... and besides Spring Break, Easter, Proms and Graduations, one major event (in Louisiana anyway) every spring is JAZZ FEST!


It's two weekends of the best jazz, blues, R&B, zydeco and every other non-mainstream or rock-n-roll music ever invented ... all converging in the Crescent City for non-stop entertainment.


Sooooo .... Of course you know, I'm here to prepare you for one of the biggest musical events of the season .... so here's a sneak peek at some of the artists that will be gracing the stages at this year's Jazz Fest:



Weekend One (April 24 - 26)


Friday, April 24th -- Wynton Marsalis, Marc Broussard, Tribute to Mahalia Jackson feat. Irma Thomas, Mavis Staples; Zydeco Express, the New Orleans Society of Dance, McDonogh #35 High School Gospel Choir, New Orleans Night Crawlers Brass Band, Semolian Warriors Mardi Gras Indians, Xavier University Jazz Band, UNO Jazz Combo (and many more).



Saturday, April 25th -- James Taylor, Erykah Badu, Third World, Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Pete Fountain, Rebirth Brass Band with guest Kermit Ruffins, The Anointed Jackson Sisters, DJ Jubilee with 5th Ward Weebie and Ms. Tee, Crescent City Allstars feat. James Andrews, Mahogany Brass Band, N.O.C.C.A. Jazz Band, Nineveh BC Mass Choir, Archdiocese of New Orleans Community Choir, Collage, and many more ...



Sunday, April 26th -- Dave Matthews Band, Earth, Wind & Fire, Etta James & the Roots Band, Mavis Staples, Better Than Ezra, Allen Toussaint, Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, The Mighty Chariots of Fire, Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble, Zulu Male Ensemble, Guitar Slim, Jr., SUBR Jazzy Jags, Higher Dimensions of Praise, Ninth Ward Navajo Mardi Gras Indians, Loyola University Jazz Band, Heritage School of Music Band ...





Weekend Two (April 30 – May 3)




Thursday, April 30th -- Relentless7, Jakob Dylan, Mississippi Mass Choir, Marva Wright & the BMWs, the Zydeco Playboys, Michael Ward, the Bayou Blues Band, the Greater Mount Calvary MBC Choir, Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp Alumni Band, McMain High School Gospel Choir, Eddie “Chops” Paris, Red Hawk and Black Seminoles Mardi Gras Indians, Tulane University Jazz Combo, Inspirational Gospel Singers, Dillard University Jazz Band, and many more ...




Friday, May 1st -- Sugarland, Tony Bennett, Bonnie Raitt, Common, Julian Marley; Dirty Dozen Brass Band; Glass House Reunion w/ Rebirth Brass Band, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Filé Gumbo, New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Rhythm Section, 101 Runners, Mt. Hermon BC Mass Choir, New Wave Brass Band, Fi Yi Yi; the Mandingo Warriors, Young Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians, SLU Jazz Ensemble, Eric McAllister, Young Audiences Performing Arts Showcase… and lots more ...



Saturday, May 2nd -- Bon Jovi, Kings of Leon, The O’Jays, The Whispers, Cowboy Mouth, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Aaron Neville Gospel, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Treme Brass Band, Pinstripe Brass Band, Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Voices of Distinction, Mario Abney Quintet, Morning Star BC Choir, White Cloud Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, N’Fungola Sibo West African Dance Company, Javier Juarez, Trouble Nation and Ninth Ward Hunters Mardi Gras Indians… and much more.




Sunday, May 3rd -- The Neville Brothers, Neil Young, Allen Toussaint, Los Lobos, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Ellis Marsalis, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Jonathan Batiste, the New Orleans Storyville Jazz Band, the Zion Harmonizers, DJ Soul Sister, Elysian Fieldz, Ebenezer Baptist Church Radio Choir, The Gospel Stars, Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indians, Highsteppers Brass Band, Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Band, Wild Apaches Mardi Gras Indians, Original Prince of Wales and Original Lady Buckjumpers, Lady Rollers, Young Traditional New Orleans Brass Band ... and others.




And of course, along will all this amazing music, there are hundreds of food booths and vendors to enjoy. Good music, unique culture and amazing food -- what more do you need?

• For a complete list of performers, booths and all the 411 on this year's Jazz Fest ... go to www.nojazzfest.com
  
  
• If you're just ready to buy your tickets right now ... go HERE to get them ...
  
  
  
  

OH -- And I haven't forgotten about New Orleans' other major musical event ... ESSENCE ... so stay tuned for the 411 on that big weekend!!! :)