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2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

By Mark Robbins
May 24, 2024
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The first thing a first time attendee to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival learns is that no matter how much planning is put into creating a schedule so no favorite acts are missed is impossible. The festival, celebrating its 54th birthday, runs the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May. Historically the April weekend was Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the May weekend added Thursday. The last couple of years Thursday was added to the April weekend to give Louisiana residents a reduced ticket price of $50. There are 14 stages in constant use hosting jazz, blues, gospel, rock, zydeco, soul, funk, R&B, Americana, Mardi Gras Indians, jam bands, add to that cultural pavilions, arts and crafts and the best food in the world it soon becomes apparent that the best-laid plans end when the gates open. Want to hear

Samara Joy

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Samara Joy in the Jazz Tent and

Rhiannon Giddens

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Rhiannon Giddens in the Blues Tent? Joy went on at 4:10pm, Giddens at 4:15pm and so it goes every day. The best plan is just go and have a good time, wherever you are will be music to your ears.

This year's second weekend started with a special appearance that had been years in the making. The

The Rolling Stones

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">The Rolling Stones were to appear in 2019 but had to cancel due to

Mick Jagger

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Mick Jagger's heart surgery. Their next appearance was to be in 2021 but the festival was cancelled because of Covid. This was their year. All stages were shut down at 3:00 and, except for a few news outlets, no media was allowed.

Friday started with rain but not enough to delay the start of the schedule. For newer attendees, the rain was a major issue, for seasoned fest goers the rain was nothing more than a sprinkle. There have been years when it rained so hard the festival grounds became nothing more than a hungry field of mud, eating the shoes off people's feet. As long as there is no lightning the festival goes on.

Peter Harris

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Harris and his group Firm Roots is a New Orleans super group led by bassist Harris and features

Herlin Riley

drums
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Herlin Riley on drums and trumpeter

Ashlin Parker

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Ashlin Parker. Following them on the Jazz stage was local favorite, 92 year old

Germaine Bazzle

" data-original-title="" title="">Germaine Bazzle. Joining her for a couple of songs was saxophonist

Victor Goines

woodwinds
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Victor Goines who would have his own set Sunday morning. Even at Bazzle's age, she can still deliver a ballad and scat with the best of them.

The Amina Figarova Sextet and the Matsiko World Orphan Choir were next up. The sextet included Figarova's husband, flutist

Bart Platteau

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Bart Platteau, saxophonist

Wayne Escoffery

saxophone, tenor
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Escoffery,

Rudy Royston

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Rudy Royston on drums and bassist

Yasushi Nakamura

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Yasushi Nakamura but the real stars of the set, and maybe the highlight in the Jazz tent for the day was the Matsiko World Orphan Choir. They have been referred to as "the greatest children's choir." Their exuberance and pure enjoyment in performing was felt in the entire tent. Their performance resulted in a prolonged standing ovation.

Terence Blanchard

trumpet
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Terence Blanchard with the E-Collective and the

Turtle Island Quartet

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Turtle Island Quartet followed performing mostly from his 2004 album Flow. Blanchard is a hometown favorite whose fest appearances always get the crowd up and dancing. Closing out the day was

Stefon Harris

vibraphone
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Stefon Harris and Blackout. Joined by his longtime band of drummer

Terreon Gulley

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Terreon Gulley, bassist

Dezron Douglas

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Dezron Douglas, and pianist

Christian Sands

piano
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Christian Sands, Harris began the set with a tribute to long time member saxophonist

Casey Benjamin

saxophone
1978 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Casey Benjamin who recently died while recovering from surgery. Harris is a phenom on vibes and he and the band performed a dazzling set to end the day.

Saturday was filled with blue skies and comfortable temperatures. The New Orleans humidity had not made its appearance which made for a pleasant day at the fairgrounds. The James River Movement is led by jazz/funk saxophonist who also doubles on bagpipes

James Rivers

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">James Rivers. A long-time jazzfest performer, River has always been a crowd favorite. Besides his playing, he is an outstanding composer who scored

Clint Eastwood

piano
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Clint Eastwood's movie, Bridges of Madison County.

For the last 10 years, pianist

Jesse McBride

" data-original-title="" title="">Jesse McBride has led the Next Generation Big Band, taking over after the death of leader Harold Battiste The band is comprised of high school kids who love jazz and judging from their sound these will be the jazz stars of the future! As their set went on, more jazz fans filled the tent for the next artist. By the time Samara Joy hit the stage it was standing room only. Backed by an eight piece band Joy showed why she has become a crowd favorite. Far from the shy performer from just four years ago she now owns the stage.

Closing out the Jazz Tent was the Legacy of

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter with

Danilo Pérez

piano
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Danilo P��rez,

Brian Blade

drums
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Blade,

John Patitucci

bass
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">John Patitucci and special guest

Chris Potter

saxophone, tenor
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Potter. No saxophonist could fill Wayne Shorter's shoes but no saxophonist could be better suited for the job than Potter. The quartet presented a rousing tribute to Shorter, one that even he would have cheered on.

Sunday, the final day of the eight day festival, had the

Victor Goines

woodwinds
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Victor Goines Quartet perform an early set. Goines was the jazz program director at the Julliard School of Music and has been a long-time member of

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the

Wynton Marsalis

trumpet
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Wynton Marsalis septet. Following Goines on stage was

Amina Scott

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Amina Scott, an upright and electric bassist, composer and arranger. An adjunct professor at Llyola University in New Orleans she is also the bassist for

Dee Dee Bridgewater

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Dee Dee Bridgewater's DDB Big Band.

Local favorite

Quiana Lynell

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Quiana Lynell presented more of a gospel/blues set than jazz. Lynell won the

Sarah Vaughan

vocals
1924 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition in 2017 but has not been built much of an audience outside of New Orleans. She has the pipes, can deliver a song and deserves a larger audience.

Trombonist, arranger, composer

Delfeayo Marsalis

trombone
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Delfeayo Marsalis filled the stage with his 14 piece

Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra. Playing heavily from their album Uptown on Mardi Gras Day the band had the 500-plus crowd on their feet for nearly the engtire set. Finishing off the day was

Tower of Power

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Tower of Power. Formed 56 years ago, this group's energy is as strong as ever.

With the average day consisting of close to 70 sets, that's 200 plus sets over a three-day weekend and if Thursday had been a normal day, the count would have gone up to 300 sets. Oh well, there's always next year. View Slideshow

Herlin Riley

Quiana Lynell

Peter Harris

Jaleel Shaw

Samara Joy

Brian Blade

Max Moran

Terreon Gully

Khari Allen Lee

Amina Figarova

Derzon Douglas

Irma Thomas

John Patitucci

Delfeayo Marsalis

Christian Sands

Germaine Bazzle

Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra

Amina Fifarova and theMatsiko World Orphan Choir

Yasushi Nakamura

Wayne Escoffery

Chris Potter

Donald Harrison with Eric Lindell

Danilo Perez

Turtle Island Quartet

James River

Charlie Gabriel

Terence Blanchard

Stefon Harris

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