Jazz Fest 2022 came to an end on May 8. It’s been a whirlwind. Two weeks of the city running on all cylinders, and the weekends at the Fair Grounds witnessing the giant carousel of local acts bringing their best out, big names playing on our turf and long nights of both mingling here and there.

The festival has returned after two years of absence, and it has felt as familiar an experience as it was fresh. Now is time for rewinding and taking a look back at what we saw there. You can see all of OffBeat’s best captures of the madness here. A visual recap of the Night Shows we caught will be published later this week, and as always the magazine’s June issue will have its usual “Jazz Fest Redux,” full of anecdotal gold from the fest.

 

Until then, here are some takeaways:

 

I. Tank Takes the Cake

We must acknowledge what a crazy Jazz Fest Tarriona “Tank” Ball of Tank and the Bangas had this year. Outside of the incredible Bangas set at the Congo Square stage, she kept popping up as a guest, always rocking crazy and elaborate looks and putting out her infectiously positive energy. She returned to the Congo Square stage for a rowdy Big Freedia set on May 5, and a third time joining Pell’s crazy outing on May 6. Finally, she graced the stage under the Jazz Tent joining Norah Jones on her big hit “Don’t Know Why.” Kudos to one of today’s most vibrant performers in New Orleans on this beautiful run.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TARRIONA TANK BALL (@thinktank20)

 

II. Pell and Co. Wild Out

Speaking of Pell… inviting Freedia and Tank to rock out on the Congo Square Stage was but one of the moves that made his performance special. Pell’s recent ascension toward becoming  a staple New Orleans act starts making a ton of sense when you witness the energy he brings on stage. Not only that but the team that surrounds him makes it obvious that, in true New Orleans fashion, they run this show as a family. Led by artist Kr3wcial, said family flooded the stage at the end of the set making way for an explosion of youthful, driven, earnest joy to perform for their home crowd. One of the most fun and thrilling sets this year.

 

 

III. Queen Badu Is Sacred

Last tale from the Congo Square stage. What a sight to be waiting on Erykah Badu on May 6 and look at a technician getting the stage ready by saging it, thus cleansing the energy plane and giving the space a fresh start for her to inhabit. Mayor Cantrell was later spotted in the crowd singing along to Badu’s iconic songs.

 

IV. The Dollises Came Out

The Wild Magnolias had a good run also, which they kicked off by invading the Gentilly Stage for Lauren Daigle’s set, led by Bo Dollis Jr. and alongside Trombone Shorty on May 6. They came back in full force again the next day to do their thing on the Jazz & Heritage stage, still mighty big and mighty pretty. During that set came a very moving moment with Queen Rita, great matriarch of the family, recognized a loved one in the crowd and proceeded to pluck a feather from her giant pink and blue suit to hand over to them. It was a highly symbolic and meaningful move that the recipient will most likely remember for a long time.

 

V. Quiana Speaks

 

Quiana Lynell had the Jazz Tent at her feet during her set on April 29… What’s new? There was something really quite powerful in her interpretation of Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday” — intentionally echoing Ellington’s 1958 recording with Mahalia Jackson — which she followed in an abrupt but graceful transition into Nina Simone’s “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free.” Both of these being anthems and tributes to the plight of black people in the US, from different eras and with different musical approaches, attitude and outlook, still resonate through the ages when placed in the hands and voices of the most apt of artists.

 

 

 

VI. Irma, Always

 

Irma Thomas is always a highlight of Jazz Fest, no matter how many times you’ve seen her. This year, she brought back an old classic to “remind people who really did it first. Because some of y’all don’t seem to understand.” Lo and behold, “Time is On My Side” ensued. What a joy.