Remember what Jazz Fest used to be like? A kinder, gentler festival, where you could relax and see all your friends, chill, pig out on great food for not a lot of money, have a brew or two (or three)? Enjoy the late spring weather in New Orleans and hear some of the music you hadn’t had a chance to hear for a while.

Well, it ain’t like that anymore, as locals and a lot of visitors know. It’s still a great time, but it’s really crowded now (even on the Thursday and Fridays), and there’s a lot more non-local music than there used to be. Food’s gotten pretty expensive too. It’s a great festival, but, like Mardi Gras, it’s gotten really big, crowded, and expensive to attend, and lately has been overrun by people more interested in throwing a Fairgrounds frat party than enjoying the local musical culture. Pity.

But then there’s the French Quarter Festival-it’s about half as old as the Jazz Fest, it still only has local musicians playing, none of the food is more expensive than $4.00 a serving, it’s a lot more comfortable and friendly…and you’ve got the Quarter to enjoy, too (beats eating dust on the racetrack). And getting in costs you nothing, nada-it’s free! It’s what the Jazz Fest used to be. If you haven’t been in a while, and think the FQ Festival is just trad jazz, think again. Check out the schedule for the Fest on April 20-22 in this month’s OffBeat, and make your plans to attend, or see their web site at www.frenchquarterfestivals.org. You’ll be real glad you did.

Why Don’t We Have a Museum Here?

Organizers are planning a Louisiana Delta Music Museum in Ferriday to display memorabilia from musicians born and raised throughout the region.

Ferriday leaders have been working since early 1999 to organize a museum in the former post office building on Louisiana Avenue. A smaller museum has been located in the Chamber of Commerce’s office on E.E. Wallace Boulevard since 1995.

The current museum features exhibits of Ferriday native musicians Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, blues and jazz artist Leon “Pee Wee” Whittaker and others. The new museum would feature memorabilia of musicians and other famous people from throughout the Louisiana Delta, all the way to the Arkansas state line.

On a recent trip to Austin to the music conference SXSW, I noticed that numerous tributes to musicians, including musical instruments, Grammy Awards, clothing, sheet music, etc. are located throughout the airport. The New Orleans airport has wonderful murals of musicians by local artist Richard Thomas, and some pictures of Louis Armstrong and jazz musicians, but nothing like the Austin Airport. In this city which is so immersed in music, wouldn’t it be great if we had something similar in public places like the New Orleans Airport, for nothing else but to showcase our pride in our local music and culture. Sounds like a good project for the New Orleans Music & Entertainment Commission to me.

Higher Education

DJ Davis Rogan, bandleader and host of the “New Orleans Music Show” every Thursday on WWOZ since forever, will not be broadcasting (until further notice) because he has accepted a full-time position teaching at John Dibert Elementary School. I guess now we can call Davis the “Ellis Marsalis of Funk.” Let’s hope the boy grooms some new little funksters at Dibert.

Fess Returns? Leaves? Returns?

There was quite a brouhaha last year when Professor Longhair’s image was removed from the very corporate Acura Stage at the Jazz Fest. There was definitely a local outcry (and from abroad, if you took a peek at the OffBeat Message Board). OffBeat has learned that Fess may be returning to the big stage this year, after some renegotiations with Festival Productions. But our calls to FPI were unreturned. Let’s hope this tradition returns!

Piano Night

More news of note: WWOZ’s annual Piano Night is moving this year away from Tipitina’s Uptown to Generations Hall in the Warehouse District. This year’s fundraiser takes place on Monday April 30, and will feature Eddie Bo, Huey “Piano” Smith, Hadda Brooks (who will also play a gig during Jazz Fest time at the Shim Sham), Earl King and much more. Should be a blast!

Enjoy the weather, see ya at the French Quarter Fest!