Welcome to the last-and best-Jazz Fest of this century. I think the lineup this year is one of the best we’ve had in years: Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Santana, Branford Marsalis, Dr. John, the Nevilles and the Rads, of course, and those are just the high notes. I’m gonna be sure to check out Jon Cleary, John Mooney, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Anders Osborne, Lillian Boutte, Cowboy Mouth … oh, damn, the list is endless.

It’s so hard to be five places at one time (but I’ll try!). The real appeal of the Jazz Fest has always been the opportunity to hear bands that I’ve managed to miss throughout the year, and to catch new acts that I may have never heard before, I always leave Jazz Fest astonished and awed by the musical wealth in New Orleans and Louisiana (l suppose I would never have entered this business if I felt otherwise).

For all you out-of-towners let me say this: I pity you! You only get to experience this stuff when you come in for Festival; we in New Orleans are so damned lucky to be able to tap into a musical vein that just gets deeper and richer every year. One thing I must say to all you Jazz Festers: I know you’re here for a good time – if you can’t have a party in New Orleans, then shame on you – but I’d ask that you continue to appreciate and respect our music and traditions. It’s really what makes New Orleans totally unique and keeps you coming back for more.

I’ve noticed a trend over the past ten years or so – the decade in which the Jazz Fest has really mushroomed into a blockbuster that attracts half a million people over the ten-day Jazz Fest period. It’s sort of what I see as a “Mardi Gras-ization” of the Jazz & Heritage Festival. When the festival began, it was created in homage to our musical tradition.

It was small, intimate, and for the first ten years or so, it remained that way. But now it’s business, big business. The same thing has happened to Mardi Gras. ‘The “party” has taken over, And in that case, the “heritage” has got to suffer. Hey, don’t get me wrong, Jazz Fest visitors: we want you here! It’s great to be able to introduce you to fantastic music, deep indigenous culture crawfish bread (and Crawfish Monica – I just had to mention that name!) and Uglesich’s.

But please help us maintain our heritage and culture while you party in town. Be respectful of our music and musicians. Please buy their CDs – for a lot of musicians, this is the only time they really get the opportunity to sell enough to make a little money. Please patronize our local music retailers. I know you’ll be going to our great music clubs and restaurants. Have a good time, and come back again. We want you to love our music and our city!

Okay, on to another rant. If you’re reading this, you obviously have obtained a copy of OffBeat (and thank you for reading). We’re currently in a “controversy” with the city, which has passed an ordinance disallowing free distribution of OffBeat on city streets during Jazz Fest in the area around the Fair Grounds. We’re currently contesting this ordinance legally, and have elected to try to distribute the magazine in the “forbidden zone” from private property.

Why would the city do something like this? Well, we’ve been told by the producers of the Jazz Fest that OffBeat hurts the sales of their official programs; the Jazz Fest brings in lots of money for the city …you make the connection. So, thank you for reading, and for all the people who’ve called and written letters and email supporting our (and their) first amendment rights.

We’ll keep you posted on this issue. If you can’t find your free copy of OffBeat, subscribe!! (we’ll make you a deal with a free CD and more… ). If you’ve read any of OffBeat’s recent Letters to the Editor, you’ll see there’s another controversy brewing in the French Quarter between live music practitioners (street musicians and performers, and music, clubs) and the city.

It seems there’s a proposed ordinance to close down music at 2 a.m. and clear the street musicians and performers off the streets by 4 p.m. Frankly, we think this sucks, and we wonder why the city is pushing this. If you’re interested in taking a stand on this issue (hopefully for maintaining our musical heritage in the Quarter), please get in touch with us and with city officials. See pertinent addresses on the Letters page this month or email me at [email protected].

Please take a side trip to the Contemporary Arts Center at 900 Camp (which, by the way will host a very rare Randy Newman show on May 1). We have our second annual “FotoFest” up in the CyberCafe, featuring incredible shots by local photogs and by our own readers… maybe your photos will be on display.

Anyone who is interested in networking with music biz executives or improving their music business skills should definitely attend the LMNOP (Louisiana Music New Orleans Pride) conference at Le Meridien Hotel from April 25-28. The complete showcase and workshop schedule is published in this issue (see pages 29 and 197).

We’re particularly interested in the “Women in Music” part of the program that will feature locals Irma Thomas, Banu Gibson and yours truly as well as such luminaries in the music biz as Barbara Orbison and Holly George-Warren (of Rolling Stone Press). Call (504) 592-9800 for more info.

This year, we honor the great Allen Toussaint on our Jazz Fest issue cover, which is also our annual collector’s Festival poster (see page 13 of this issue). Besides ‘being a genius songwriter, musician, and local treasure, Allen is a great gentleman.

Thank you, Allen, for allowing us to use your image on the cover of our Jazz Fest issue!

Singer Tricia “Sista Teedy” Boutte has recovered, we’re glad to report, from her recent surgery and is back wowing them all over town. Stay well, Teedy, we love you lots.

Be among the first to get the new CD that supports the New Orleans’ Musicians’ Clinic (which was the healing force behind Teedy’s surgery). The new CD (Get You A’Healin), released on April 20, will be available at Tower, Virgin and other local record stores, and at Jazz Fest in the Virgin MegaTent for $16.99.

This great CD, which is a one-of-a-kind effort with cuts from the Nevilles, Dr. John, Maria Muldaur, George Porter, Jr., Donald Harrison, Jr., Wardell’ Quezergue, Phish, and many more. It supports a worthy effort, too, as proceeds from the CD support the clinic. Moon Town Disc pressed the CD on short notice in time for a Jazz Fest issue date, and should be lauded for their support of the project.

One last note: Eddie Bo, another of New Orleans’ musical treasures, and one of the sweetest human beings on Earth, recently lost both his home and business to fire in early April. Everything was lost. There will be a benefit for Eddie at Mid City Lanes on Sunday May 16 from 5 p.m. ’til, and I hope all local music lovers will be able to attend to help Eddie.

There has also been an account opened in Eddie’s name at Liberty Bank and Trust to provide financial aid. The account has been named “Barn Raising for Eddie Bo” and donations can be sent to 380 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119, attention Fran L. Pradd, phone (504) 483-6618.