Bonnie Raitt is no stranger to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and judging by the large crowd that came out to see the singer-songwriter close the Gentilly Stage, Raitt is clearly a festival favorite.
The bluesy, Grammy-winning artist mixed a set of originals, including her early-'90s hits "Something to Talk About" and the emotional "I Can't Make You Love Me," with a number of tunes by other artists. John Prine wrote "Angel from Montgomery," but Raitt has made the song her own since the '70s. Similarly, Raitt put her own soulful spin on Gerry Rafferty's "Right Down the Line" and Bob Dylan's "Million Miles" (both songs appeared on Raitt's "Slipstream" album).
Raitt also brought out a couple of guest artists during her show. Pianist Jon Cleary joined Raitt to sing "Unnecessarily Mercenary," a song originally recorded by Cleary and then covered by Raitt. And Raitt invited Ivan Neville to join her for the closer, Chaka Khan's "You Got the Love."
From the right-side of the stage, Raitt sounded great, but there may have been a speaker or two out on the left side. The sound, especially Raitt's vocals, were low on that side of the field, and music from the Fais Do-Do stage bled over.
Gambit will be out each day of the fest to capture all of the music, food and sights.
Tower of Power, which headlined the WWOZ Jazz Tent, will be celebrating their 56th anniversary in August, but they’re still funkin’ it up with the same energy and skill they had in the late '60s and early '70s.
That is no small feat, and not simply because they’re getting on: only one of the original members remain in the band, founder Emilio Castillo. And while he's still the heart of the soul band, unlike other classic bands that have one only one or two members left, the Tower of Power’s current lineup is carrying on the tradition in fine form.
The band kicked it off with “We Came to Play,” and over the course of the set cranked through a host of tunes, including “Soul With a Capital S,” “Soul Vaccination” and “Squib Cakes,” which featured an extended jam from the band’s rhythm section.
The overflow crowd at the Jazz Tent was all in, dancing in the streets and singing along, a fun way to close out two weeks of music and partying.
Meanwhile, Earth, Wind & Fire also had the crowd grooving at the Congo Square Stage. Dressed in matching metallic green ensembles, they played their greatest hits, opening with “Shining Star.”
Around halfway through, they had an electric run of “That’s the Way of the World,” “Boogie Wonderland” and “Let’s Groove.” They then launched into their “September” which came surprisingly early in the set.
But the group wasn’t afraid to dabble in their lesser known tracks as well.
“True Earth Wind & Fire fans don’t mind hearing songs that weren’t at the top of the charts because they’re top in their hearts,” singer Philip Bailey said.
Artist Philip Cooper unveils a Jazz Fest ancestors painting of Jimmy Buffett as Buffet's family, friends and fans watch during the seventh day of the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Earlier in the day, Roddie Romero and the Hub City All Stars made it clear why they’re one of Louisiana’s best zydeco bands around right now — and why they’re Grammy nominees — on the Fais Do Do stage.
The crowd was grooving and all smiles through most of the set and didn’t need the prompt to party in Romero’s great stomper “Party Down,” but he was happy to oblige.
The spirit of Jimmy Buffett was present all over Jazz Fest, where the late singer-songwriter was a fixture both on the stage and as a man of the people known for having a great time in the crowd.
Buffett died last September at 76 from an aggressive and rare form of skin cancer, and the 2024 festival honored his legacy in a few ways, including with a photo exhibit in the Grandstands, and a second-line parade yesterday.
But the biggest tribute of all was the penultimate show at the Festival Stage on Sunday by his longtime band The Coral Reefer Band.
Throngs of Parrotheads turned out to celebrate Buffett’s life and music, while a roster of high-profile artists made cameos on stage to honor their friend.
The Coral Reefers kicked off the set with “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” Buffett’s collaboration with Alan Jackson.
The group then played a catalog of hits celebrating the lighter side of life, including “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” “Son of A Son of A Sailor,” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise” as well as the more romantic and soul-searching tune “Southern Cross,” originally written by Stephen Stills.
The band dedicated the love song “Come Monday” to Buffett’s widow, Jane.
Louisiana artist Sonny Landreth, who had toured and recorded with Buffett, joined in for “I Will Play For Gumbo,” alongside Irma Thomas.
Trombone Shorty made an appearance for “Pencil Thin Mustache,” and members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band joined in for an especially festive version of “University of Bourbon Street.”
Throughout the set, bandmates shared stories and fond memories of Buffett, who by all accounts was a generous man with a zest for life.
In his earlier days when he was a relatively unknown artist singing in small bars, they noted he always made sure his fans’ beer mugs were full.
"New Orleans is where Jimmy Buffett figured out how to be Jimmy Buffett," a bandmate said.
Unsurprisingly to anyone who has ever been to a Buffett show, the mood at the Festival Stage was one of celebration, not of sadness.
Jazz Fest’s executive director Quint Davis, a longtime buddy of Buffett, joined members of his family on stage toward the end.
Buffett’s daughter said, “We’re gonna show you how much we love you,” before the band finished the tribute with “Fins” and, of course, “Margaritaville.”
It was obvious from the set just how much Buffett fully embraced New Orleans and how it embraced him right back.
Many of the bands visiting Jazz Fest from Colombia have blended traditional sounds, like salsa and cumbia, with contemporary, global sounds, e…
