The 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival opened with Locals Thursday, a first for the festival and a move to make sure The Rolling Stones get the full royal treatment next week. And despite the move — and spurred on by some beautiful weather — a hearty crowd turned out for the festival's opening day (although probably nothing compared to the numbers the festival will see on Friday and Saturday).
Headliners Widespread Panic, The Beach Boys and Stephen Marley split the crowd at the end of the day, but judging by the sea of people singing along to "Kokomo" at the Gentilly Stage, it seems The Beach Boys were the bigger draw.
More than 60 years in, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston lead this iteration of the band (Brian Wilson and Al Jardine in the past have toured together playing Beach Boys songs), with several younger touring musicians, including Love's son, Christian Love, and actor John Stamos. Yeah, the "Full House" heartthrob has occasionally played with The Beach Boys since the mid-'80s, and he was holding it down on percussion and guitar on the Gentilly Stage. At one point, he stepped to the front to sing The Beach Boys' "Forever," a song that appeared several times on "Full House." Stamos dedicated the tune to the late Bob Saget, and clips from "Full House" were interspersed with other video playing on the screen — a touch that was kinda sweet but also kinda goofy.
The Beach Boys' set was a hits catalogue: "God Only Knows," "Sloop John B," "Barbara Ann," on and on. It was pure nostalgia, and the crowd was all for it as they sang along.
Reggae artist Stephen Marley also dipped into nostalgia during his set on the Congo Square Stage as he slid in songs made famous by his father, Bob Marley, and The Wailers among his originals. Backed by a photo of his father, a gold lion, a portrait of Haile Selassie and greenery, Marley and his band sat for the performance. The result was a laidback vibe, and the crowd grooved to the set.
New this year is a big, yellow umbrella near the Cultural Exchange Pavilion. New Orleans-based Colombian-American artist Basqo Bim created the piece.
Before Widespread Panic launched into its two-and-a-half hour set on the Festival Stage, Afro-Cuban funk artist Cimafunk made the stage his own. The charismatic funk singer drew big crowds in 2022 at the Jazz & Heritage and Congo Square stages, and the festival must have noticed he needed more space. Again, he pulled in a substantial crowd for his high-energy set (which started late due to soundcheck; a bummer given he only had an hour).
It's hard to resist moving to Cimafunk's propulsive, Cuban funk music. He's a showman, and gave time for his tight band, La Tribu — drummer/musical director Dr. Zapa, trombonist Hilaria Cacao, saxophonist Katy Cacao, keys player El Wao, percussionists Machete and Big Happy, bassist Smokes and guitarist Bejuco — to shine. Cimafunk in recent years has made New Orleans a second home, and his local shows shouldn't be missed.
CimaFest NOLA starts at 9 p.m. Friday, April 26, with Chucho Valdes, La Dame Blanche, X-Alfonso, Big Freedia and other surprise artists.
Gregorio Uribe, of Colombia, performed on the Fais Do-Do Stage during the first day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Earlier in the day, zydeco musician Corey Ledet and his band drew a sizeable crowd to the Fais Do-Do Stage, and a number of couples along the outskirts could be seen dancing to Ledet's energetic music. Last year, Ledet released "Medikamen," his first album in Louisiana Kouri-Vini, but most of his set was in English and drew from his Grammy-nominated album "Corey Ledet Zydeco." He also included in a few lines of a great, zydeco-fied "Do Whatcha Wanna" and "Hey Pocky A-Way."
The festival this year is highlighting the music and artists of Colombia in its Cultural Exchange Pavilion. When Colombian singer and accordionist Gregorio Uribe took over the stage, backed by a percussionist and guitar player, he packed the dance floor with his big personality and charm.
Uribe addressed the crowds in both English and Spanish and said that he was excited to be back at a festival he attended a decade ago as a spectator. Before he played a song about “defining love in your relationships however you want,” he told the crowd that in Colombia, the word for “soulmate” translates loosely to “my half orange,” although in his personal opinion, “it should be more like my half avocado.”
The Headhunters are celebrating 50 years this year. The jazz-funk band played the Jazz & Heritage Stage on Thursday, April 25.
The great jazz-funk group The Headhunters is this year celebrating its 50th anniversary, and co-founders Bill Summers and Mike Clark with NEA Jazz Master Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr., bassist Chris Severin and keyboardist Kyle Roussel played a lively set on the Jazz & Heritage Stage. They pulled songs from recent releases, like the New Orleans-inspired "Rocking at the Mole House," and older cuts, like "Butterfly." At one point, Summers cracked a bottle, blowed into it while humming, and started up a rhythm that was easily matched by first Harrison and then the rest of the band. It was a masterful performance to watch.
A new booth at Jazz Fest is dedicated to the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition. There's a recording booth inside for New Orleanians to share their memories of the fair.
New Orleans crooner Martha Wood and Her Goodtime Gang played an afternoon set at the Rhythmporium, bringing a classic country sound to the fest. Fittingly, all members of the band sported cowboy hats.
A fixture at smaller dives downtown, her powerful voice can, and did, draw in a crowd, and got some up on their feet for some two stepping.
Later, The Crybabies also took the Rhythmpourium stage for their Jazz Fest debut to “play something called music,” in their words. “We’re going to play some of the stupidest jazz we know because it makes us happy,” a member told the crowd.
Despite some minor technical difficulties that were no fault of their own, the all-string, all-women group handled them with grace and humor, cracking jokes and laughing. The group played songs ranging from old jazz classics to a cover of The Searchers’ “Love Potion No. 9” from the 1960s and original material.
Even though the ladies don't always seem to take life too seriously, they are seriously talented musicians who each bring their own unique sound to the mix. Keep an eye on them.
Kaylee Poche and Sarah Ravits contributed to this story.
In New Orleans, you’re always either eating or planning your next meal.
Gambit previews the first weekend of Jazz Fest 2024.
Gambit will be out each day of the fest to capture all of the music, food and sights.
