It’s done. Gone. Jazz Fest 1998 is a memory.
As I once again surrender to the miasma of heat that means another summer is here, I always reflect on the Jazz Fest just past. It was a good one, no, let’s say a great one — the best in years. The weather was perfect. The new layout kicked butt, making record crowds seem much less claustrophobic than usual. I saw and heard some unbelievable music; saw some old friends and made some new ones; and came upon some surprises in music that keep reminding me how lucky we are to be able to live in New Orleans and experience Jazz Fest first-hand.
But let me get rid of a bit of negativity first. I hate the new shuttle bus pickup. I’ve used the Jazz Fest Express for years, and have found it to be the most convenient means of transportation to the Fest. The dropoff and pickup point has been moved to the far Gentilly Road side of the Fairgrounds. It must be half a mile from the shuttle busses to the Fest entrance — and that’s going in (coming back sweaty, tired and with swollen feet, it seems like twice as far!). Find another closer point for shuttles, please, oh powers-that-be!
My only other negative point was the sound bleed at the Jazz Tent. But knowing that this was the first time the tent was moved to its new location, I’m sure this problem will be adjusted in coming years.
My favorite hangout this year was the Grandstand, which I admit, I hadn’t frequented much in the old days. The BellSouth Mobility Stage was definitely the Grandstand’s hidden gem. Breezy, comfortable, balconies overlooking the stage area, seating, and even an oyster bar adjacent to the stage. It was great, brilliant.
One of my musical “finds” performed at this stage every day during the first weekend: Osvaldo Ayala y su Grupo from Panama. I don’t think I’ve ever seen more shaking from a the collective crowd’s rear ends. These guys rocked the house down every day. My favorite set, though, has to have been John Mooney & Bluesiana at the House of Blues. His first Jazz Fest performance since 1996, Mooney really blew the crowd away. The music was inimitably Mooney’s, but the vibe from the crowd, which was overjoyed to see him back, was wonderful to experience, both as an audience member, and to observe how it affected Mooney’s playing. It was one of the all-time classics of how a musician and an audience meld into one. Just beautiful!
The Mighty Chariots of Fire at the Gospel Tent were amazing; I believe everyone in the audience got the spirit with that performance. I could go on and on, but then I’m not really a music writer; read on in this issue’s columns and our Jazz Fest review feature for the Best of this year’s Fest from our writers — the dudes that know.
This year’s LMNOP (Louisiana Music, New Orleans’ Pride) Music Conference was well-attended, both at the workshops and at nightly showcases. I particularly liked the Songwriters’ Nights at Kerry Irish Pub and the opening event at the Howlin’ Wolf. We don’t showcase enough songwriters in New Orleans, and there are some great ones here. Gina Forsyth stands out (other must think she’s great too — she’s a two-time winner of our Best of The Beat Award for Singer/Songwriter). Another great New Orleans songwriter is Cowboy Mouth’s Fred LeBlanc, who performed some of his songs solo at the Wolf. Stunning. (Check out his new album “…Playing The Game of My Life.”).
LMNOP appears to be definitely going places. It’s well-run, well-coordinated and the quality of guest speakers was impeccable. Snafus were few and far between. More on LMNOP will appear on OffBeat in upcoming months, so stay tuned. If you attended any of the LMNOP events, I’d like to hear your feedback — both positive and negative — on the conference. Write me c/o the magazine or email me at [email protected].
For the second year in a row, Cox Communications has won a CableACE Award for its local “Louisiana Jukebox” show, which is now seen not only in the New Orleans metro area, but in several other cities as well, including Memphis, TN and Cleveland, OH. Jukebox just lost one of its hosts, Don Roussel, who has left the show to pursue other production opportunities in television. At press time, Jukebox was still searching for a personality to share the show’s host duties with Nicki Reyes. More on that next month.
If you didn’t win the Powerball lottery, you may have better luck here: Rhino Records, the music industry’s leading pop culture label, is instituting the Insane CD Exchange Program, a marketing campaign that will allow consumers to exchange one of their various artist, best-of, or reissue CDs — from any label or mail order house — for a high quality Rhino disc of their choice, absolutely free. This program runs through December 31, 1998 and is limited to one CD exchange per household. Call 1-888-615-3885 to get all rules and details, or contact the Rhino web site at www.rhino.com.
See you next month!
