I love Jazz Fest as much as the next music freak. One of the highlights of my Fest this year was accidentally sitting next to Hadda Brooks at the Economy Hall Tent, and getting to visit with her a bit. Hadda was in town to play the Shim Sham and the WWOZ Piano Night Fundraiser. Sadly, the Jazz Fest did not book Ms. Hadda, but she sat in just the same at Economy Hall that day, and the audience gave her a standing ovation!
But I didn’t go to the Fest the second Saturday, I thought it might be too crowded. Boy, was I right! The Jazz Fest is just too damn crowded to be enjoyable anymore, and now it’s gotten to the point of being downright dangerous. The Jazz Fest has become more and more like Mardi Gras—not such a great thing, from a local music-lover’s point of view. More people jammed in (the last Saturday crushed in literally an additional full day’s worth of attendees—about 70,000 more than the 90,000 as usual for a Saturday), and much less enjoyment; much less appreciation of the music, and more “party-who-cares-what-music-is-playing” attitude. The more people, the more “territoriality”: less good vibes, more “get out of my way so I can see the stage” and “don’t step on my blanket or on my portable chair” stuff. The real potential for some volatility—and violence—in a crowd of people drinking beer our in the hear all day.
Let’s face it: the Jazz Fest’s raison d’etre over the past few years is the number of attendees they bring in every day (just check follow-ups post-Fest from year to year and note the news “Attendance Records Broken”).
I have a few problems with this. One, I guess I’m an old-timer and I just don’t enjoy the Fest as much as I used to. It’s just too damned crowded to get around comfortably. One of the great joys of the Fest was floating from stage to stage and hearing music I haven’t heard before, discovering (or rediscovering) music. That’s the beauty of the Jazz Fest. And you can’t get around easily anymore. The trend I see is the tendency for some people to park themselves in front of a stage (like Acura), and not move. What’s worse, these guys stake out “territories” with oversized blankets (when’s the Fest going to outlaw this anyway?) and chairs that are taped together (again, shades of Mardi Gras?). Unfortunately, I think this is particularly true of some of the people who come to the Fest specifically to see the big draws, like Dave Matthews, Mystikal, and Van Morrison. They don’t have the real spirit of the Jazz Fest in mind anymore. It’s just like another arena show for them. Too bad!
Because of the attendance this year, Festival Productions is “discussing” an extra weekend, or another day tacked on to the weekend. I realize that the Fest has grown, and with growth comes change, but a lot of that change has not been positive in terms of the musical and cultural experience. It’s been plenty positive in terms of money, honey. But I’m convinced that if the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is to live up to its mission statement to “promote, preserve, perpetuate, and encourage the music, arts, culture and heritage indigenous to the New Orleans area,” they have to do just that. If you MUST bring in acts like Dave Matthews and Sting and Paul Simon to pump up the attendance numbers (equals more ticket and sponsorship money), the make sure the money is spent towards your fulfilling your mission statement (and make it a bit more public, please). How about pumping some money into the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Archives? This archive has existed for some years, and yet most people don’t even know it exists (it’s in a small building at the corner of Toulouse and Dauphine). What better contribution could there be to preserving our culture and heritage than to develop the archives into a world-class archival facility and historical center for the Festival’s 30+ year history?
If you MUST book acts that draw the crowds we had this year, then please use better judgment than putting big-draw acts on the same day (wow, who made the Mystikal/Dave Matthews decision?). Better yet, set up a separate location for the big name acts—put ’em at Marconi Meadows or something. Or at least put some worthy local acts that people are not that familiar with on the big stage too (I’m not talking Dr. John or the Nevilles or the funky Meters) so that the stage-parkers will be exposed to some of the other talent we have here. Isn’t that what the Fest should be about?
CH-CH-CHANGES
Papa Grows Funk leaves their Old Point Bar gig and are now at the Maple Leaf every Monday night…A fond farewell and bonne chance from the local music community goes out to Kevin Aucoin as he leaves as general maanger of the local Tower Records store and goes on the road to pursue his first love—playing music. Aucoin has drummed for many groups around town, including Rockin’ Jake’s Band and Marva Wright…Jerry Brock has left the Louisiana Music Factory to pursue solo projects. Brock worked with cinematographer/producer Michael Murphy to create an upcoming Jazz Fest special on the Trio cabelchannel network. The 10-hour special will be broadcast beginning Labor Day, according to Brock.
HAPPY ENDINGS…AND BEGINNINGS
To keep it a surprise, I alluded to the proposal in the Jazz Fest issue (if you have the issue, check out page 145: Doug Panero’s proposal to his-long sweetheart, Natalie, whom he met a Jazz Fest some years ago). I was dying to find out what happened, and Doug sent me this email:
“WelI, I just want you to know that it went better than I ever could have imagined. Thanks for everything. We were at the Acura Stage and seated beside each other. I kind of sensed her looking over my shoulder as I was reading OffBeat. I passed by page 145 once and then back and she must have caught a glimpse of her name and mumbled something that it was a coincidence that someone named Natalie was in the paper, then she saw my name, then suddenly saw what was in between , then the ring, tears, the big bang. It was fantastic. If your OffBeat issues seem to running low around town, we took ’em. We introduced ourselves to two staffers handing out the paper. It was very cool being a celebrity. Some people we met had seen it too. I guess a few hundred thoursand people maybe? Anyway, you’re officially part of our lives forever. Nice huh? Sincerely, Doug.”
Doug, honey, this is what makes it all worthwhile! Congratulations to you and Natalie.
