The 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival marked the return of pre-Katrina level attendance. Despite the national recession, the festival announced sales of more than 400,000 tickets for the seven-day event over two weekends. As usual, producer Quint Davis did a masterful job blending the various musical components, including New Orleans jazz, national jazz acts, blues, rhythm & blues, gospel, folk, rock, cajun, zydeco, and international artists with a link to New Orleans.
Also as usual, Mr. Davis endured criticism for bringing in national acts with little connection to New Orleans, such as the rock star Bon Jovi. However on the day Bon Jovi performed, 90,000 people turned out, and undoubtedly this helps support the festival and translates into literally thousands of gigs for New Orleans and Louisiana musicians both at the festival and around town during the festival period. The national acts also bring in audiences who would otherwise not be exposed to the music and culture of New Orleans, and this also benefits the local artists.
The controversies add spice to the festival stew, and here's a taste: