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June 10, 2005

All That JazzFest (Saturday)

I awoke on Saturday morning to dark skies and sombre weather. Though I didn't get to sleep until 4am, I managed to wake up around 10. I was unnerved by rain, thunder and lightning as I dressed for my first day at JazzFest. I had determined that I would plow on despite the weather as long as JazzFest would still open. The three girls with whom I shared a room were fast asleep as I made my way to the lobby to meet my UK boyfriend and some of our guy-friends that had also come on the trip. We went for a bit of lunch and then finally...off to JazzFest.

The music was fantastic! The weather began to clear as we walked through the fest trying to get our bearings amidst the many booths of food, drink, and collectibles and hearing echoes of music from the various tents throughout the fest.

Our first stop was the Economy Tent to hear Topsy Chapman and Solid Harmony.. They played some good old fashioned Lousiana Jazz. The Harmonies were fantastic. I even managed, with much prodding to get a dance out of my UK Man on the little dance floor at the side of the tent. At the end of the set, the trombone and trumpeter led a Jazz Parade with people from the audience dancing under colorful umbrellas behind them throughout the tent. Ahh. It's good to be in the South again....

We also saw Astral Project in the Jazz Tent (some great authentic improvisational Jazz), and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band at the Congo Tent (I didn't like them much but they weren't "The Original Dirty Dozen Brass Band" which was to play somewhere else later. Perhaps they were better. In general I didn't like anything I heard at the Congo Tent.)

One of my favorite sets of the day was Walter Wolfman Washington and the Roadmasters at the Blues Tent. At this point it was good just to have a seat under a tent, close your eyes and feel the blues. We'd been at the Fest for a few hours and the music, like a good massage, was slowly kneading our tension and troubles away. By Walter Wolfman and the Roadmasters' set, my skin had been moisterized, my muscles had been tenderized and my whole body seemed ready to soak up every bit of every musical note and moment. I was free of my world and in that place of What If's and Maybe's and Dreaming that the artists in me crave.

During this band's set, the girls I shared a room with finally made it out to catch the last few hours of JazzFest. I don't really get that. Maybe it's a sign of age, but I think I felt the same way when I was younger. I can get ass-faced drunk in my own city but I would have been sorely disappointed to have gone all that way and only made 2.5 hours of JazzFest. I think they had a great time in New Orleans even without the full day. It's a great gift to be able to travel with people and still go down your own road when it's necessary. This way both I and the girls managed to have a pretty good trip. We all got what we wanted...well, mostly but that's another story.

For the last set, we listened to the beginning of Dave Matthews' at Acura Stage. I have to say I was a little disappointed. To this day Dave Matthews gave one of my favorite concerts ever. I was in South Carolina and his performance was riveting. Just him and the band and some kick ass lights. The entire coliseum could have stayed for hours. At JazzFest I felt there was something a little lackluster in the performance, a little "phoned-in". It made me wonder if Dave Matthew's has become "one of them". When I saw him in Columbia, SC, he was a young musician on his rise to fame. At JazzFest he was THE Dave Matthew's playing another gig. It may not seem like much but it is a big difference. Perhaps he was having an off night. I hope he was just having an off night.

After a few songs of Dave Matthews' we decided to make our way over to the other mainstage to check that act. The absolute highlight of the day, and perhaps the highlight of the whole festival, was this artist that I'm quite surprised I enjoyed as much as I did. Elvis Costello at the Sprint Stage was so good it hurt. That man is a true showman. He never let the audience get bored or tired or care about fat raindrops foretelling a watery end to the day's festivity. His energy was constant; his skills consummate. And I left inspired to get every CD he's done. (Even the ones that don't have "Every Day I Write the Book" on them.) I'd see Elvis Costello again, anytime.

After JazzFest, we went to the hotel. Most everyone went to their rooms to clean up and rest up before the evening. I somehow convinced UK Man to come with me to see one more show. This one was across the street from our hotel at the Harrah's. We went to see the late night showing of Earl Turner. Earl Turner's show was a favorite nighttime excursion with my family when I was a teenager in Texas. We'd dress up and go down to the Holiday Inn in Dallas where he had a nightly performance. He had such energy and charisma and the music was so good it was sure bet that we'd be out of our seats and gettin' down before the night was over. But we hadn't seen Earl Turner in years. There were rumors he was making it big in Vegas; but as far as we knew they were just rumors. A few months ago I had heard he was playing in New Orleans and in fact the rumors were true; he had made it big in Vegas. Harrah's had built the New Orleans theatre specifically for his show.

While the theatre was a little odd, the show was fantastic. I so enjoyed hearing him sing and remembering a different time. I don't think I can really be a fair critic. UK Man wasn't that impressed. He felt the show was a little contrived and lacked any spontaneity. I tried to disagree but I did see his point and I know that Earl will always be a sentimental favorite for me; no matter the contrition and spontaneity.

After Earl Turner we met up with the rest of the gang and went to dinner at The Pelican Club. I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant. The food was great and the ambience was interesting. I highly recommend this little diversion from the main street if you are in need of a good meal in New Orleans.

After our meal and a strong cup of coffee it was off to Bourbon Street again. Not much to say about Bourbon Street that hasn't already been said somewhere. Suffice it to say, I did see tits, I did see ass, dueling pianos, hurricanes, and my favorite Jazz place in Nola that I'm keeping secret because it's small and I don't want it to get too crowded. (If you want to know where it is, just take me to New Orleans and I'll show you.) I drank a shot from some girl's chest, and watched a half-naked woman on a balcony screw around with a shudder, some ice cubes, and a rather bored-looking older man whilst a crowd gathered on the street below. woohoo. party.

The next day, I will say goodbye to my pals and spend one day of JazzFest solo. I'm really looking forward to this......

Posted by mermu at June 10, 2005 03:41 PM

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