Hello All-
I am still breathing (barely) after a beautiful first weekend of Jazz
Fest. The weather was amazing and there was some stellar moments of music over
the three days. Some HIGH points for me include: my friend Theresa Andersson
who got to play on the main stage on Saturday (she also had Robert Mache from
the Continental Drifters who played Fore Free with his wife Candace at PazFest
last year). Mega PA System with Jumbotron Video Projection Screen. There was a
huge crowd at 12:30 when she started that were waiting for the Funky Meters
and the Wallflowers, so she got to play to alot of folks and they really liked
her. I also got to check out my buds in the Funky Meters (including guitarist
Brian Stoltz who played with me at PazFest last year). Always one of the best
moments at Jazz Fest for me.On the Lagnaippe Stage (which is where I am most
of the time) we had an incredible line up, most of them being locals and good
friends. Kim Prevost and Bill Solley (also Pazfest vets) played with a full
band and they were so good as usual. Danzig and Wooley (who played Trouble
Child and The Priest at Pazfest) sat in with my other pal Gina Forsyth and
they were great. They made up a song about a local icon at the Jazz Fest named
Beatle Bob. He is a DJ from St. Louis, who is always at Jazz Fest dancing in
his own eclectic way with his mop top haircut (hence the name), gaberdine
sport coat, stove pipe pants, and Beatle Boots. The song was a huge hit with
all of us because Bob is always a big part of the whole show, with his catchy
enthusiasum for great music. Another friend and someone I have recorded is
local jazz and rhythm and blues singer Sharon Martin. She lit our stage on
fire with her set and was followed by a new band called Cronk, that I first
got to hear on Jukebox a couple weeks ago (sort of
hip-hop-acid-jazz-brass-band). WAY COOL! On Sunday I checked out Dr. John on
the main stage and spent the rest of the day on my stage enjoying a flamenco
dance troupe (that my long time friend from Honduras is a dance in), New
Orleans Pianist Henry Butler, and a new Modern Jazz group called Derek Dabbs
LED. We closed the day out with The New Orleans Nightcrawlers (the best brass
band in New Orleans). Which brings me to Van Morrison. Ah yes Van the Man as
they call him. As you know we have the night shows at the Municipal Auditorium
and Van played Sat. night. He was in one of his moods and demanded that his
front of house engineer turn down the PA to where it was barely on. This
really pissed off the crowd who payed $50 a head to get in. In a large
auditorium there is usally a certain amount of reflection off the back wall of
the arenas and it is really disturbing to some artists and Van being an artist
who has a very selfish reputation was NOT willing to deal with it and
therefore made everybody miserable. I did not attend the night show there
cause I went to participate in the memorial for my friend Trisha Chanana that
died in LA last month. The whole family was there and all my old college
friends came and we played music and cocktailed it up till about 4am (what am
I nuts????). Anyways I digress as usual, but that's redundant! I HAD to go
check out Van at the fest site. At the front of house position (about 150' in
front of the stage) his engineer had him at an even 96 db. It was a incredible
mix as far as sound goes, but it was just not loud enough for most folks at
the stage. To the rear of the audience Brian McKnight (who was playing on the
Congo Square stage) was louder than Van. I also heard that this is Van's third
band this year and the year is only four months old. hmmmmmmmm!! He DID pull a
couple of chestnuts out like Moondance and Brown Eyed Girl and he played
acoustic guitar which I haven't seen him do in quite some time. Anyways that's
about it as far as the fest goes. I missed so much more than I saw which I
won't even begin to list for you. I will say I have 54 gigs on the books from
April 27-May 8. This does not include the Fest Jam that I will go play at
tonight or the gig I booked at the Ugly Dog on Friday night. I don't attend
everyone from start to finish except for the daytime Jazz Fest shows and the
video productions I am involved with. I do usually do a courtesy call on every
event. But to give you an idea of HOW crazy my life is right now, here is a
breakdown: 10 Days (50 Bands) at Tower Records), 7 Days Jazz Fest site
Laginappe Stage, 5 Days of Video Shoot with Michael Murphy Productions for a
ten hour documentary with Branford Marsalis hosting, The Radiators 7 Shows,
Dr. John at Tips 3 Shows, Garage a Trois on the Cajun Queen, Injuns a Comin'
at Tipitinas feat. Gallactic, Anders Osborne, Cyril Neville, and Irvin
Mayfield, Deep Banana Blackout, Ozomatli, Femi Koti, Zoo To Do with The Ojays,
Brian McKnight and Chante Moore, Van Morrison and BB King, Widespread Panic,
Paul Simon, Govt' Mule, Joshua Redman, Superjam with Carter Beauford-John
Medeski-Meshell Ndegeocello-Joshua Redman-Marc Ribot, Karl Denson's Tiny
Universe at Howlin Wolf, Jim Belushi at Generations Hall, and Two nights with
the Neville Brothers on Monday and Tuesday next.
AGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH!!!!!!!!!! I AM so blessed to be able to have
all of this, but I need a good shot of Geritol today. Julius and May show up
tomorrow and Diane Evans has checked in and they will all be at Jukebox this
Thursday. Still waiting to hear from Willy the Shake and everyone else who
said they were coming. I hope everyone is doing well in your lives and I will
catch up with the list when I get a chance to breath again. I am leaving out
so much but it's too long already!
Love
Paz
NP-Silence AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
