Weekend 2 of the Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans kicked off on May 1 for Locals Thursday and continued for four days through May 4. Headlining sets were performed by Santana, Cage the Elephant, Morris Day & The Time, and more.
Memphis, Tennessee native Cedric Burnside brought some electric blues guitar to the Blues Tent. Burnside is the son of blues drummer Calvin Jackson and grandson of blues singer and guitarist R. L. Burnside. While Burnside’s guitar playing is simple, it embodies all the classic elements of Mississippi Hill Country.
The cultural focus of this year’s festival was Mexican, inviting various Mexican artists to share their unique cultural sounds. La Insistencia Norteña Cultural delivered their traditional party anthems at the Exchange Pavillion. Norteña is a subgenre of regional Mexican music in a quick meter whose lyrics deal with socially relevant topics and love. They sure know how to get the party started!
On the Congo Square Stage, Damon Batiste and NOSACANN (New Orleans South African Connection) All Stars put on an impressive show. Band members took turns jamming out on the melodica, horns, and guitar. Batiste comes from a long line of esteemed musicians deeply embedded in New Orleans culture. He has been a part of the Batiste Brothers Band since 1978 and is the son of keyboardist David Batiste.
David Shaw of the rock band The Revivalists took to the Gentilly Stage, playing his more stripped-back solo music. The performance showed a much softer side to Shaw’s vocals and musicianship compared to the powerful rock vocals he usually delivers with his band, who performed during Weekend 1.
Alternative rock and NOLA native band, Better Than Ezra rocked out with fans in the afternoon. The band consists of Kevin Griffin on lead vocals, Tom Drummond on bass, James Arthur Payne Jr. on guitar and keyboards, and Michael Jerome on drums. Griffin, in a white t-shirt and blue jeans, sang his heart out to the crowd. The band is currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of their album Deluxe.
Trumpeter Shamarr Allen was one of the last to perform on the Congo Square Stage before the headliners. Allen is best known for his music roles in Willie Nelson’s band, The Underdawgs, and Galactic. In an all white suit and yellow NY Yankees hat, Allen played his tiny golden trumpet expertly. Allen’s 14-year-old son Dante joined him on stage, playing trumpet just like his dad.
Specialising in Chicago Blues, it was only right that guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks performed in the Blues Tent. Brooks was born into the jazz community as the son of the acclaimed Lonnie Brooks. As a child, he watched his father perform and learned skills from him and his fellow musician friends. His current guitar skills make it apparent that he has learned all he knows from some of the best.
San Francisco based band Santana closed out on the Main Festival Stage for the evening. Carlos Santana, the group’s lead and one of the greatest guitarists of all time shredded on the guitar as his bandmates accompanied his playing. Vocalist Andy Vargas put all of his energy into a stellar performance for the thousands of fans at the Fair Grounds.
Closing out the Gentilly Stage was Cage The Elephant, a rock band who played a whopping 22 songs to an incredibly excited crowd. The band currently consists of vocalist Matt Shultz, his older brother Brad Shultz on guitar, Nick Bockrath on lead guitar, Matthan Minster on guitar and keyboards, Daniel Tichenor on bass, and Jared Champion on drums. Vocalist Shultz poured out his energy to the crowd, screaming out the words to his songs. The band ended with their hits “Cigarette Daydreams” and “Come a Little Closer” as the crowd sang along to every word.
Famous Funk band Morris Day & The Time kept the Congo Square Stage groovy. Day looked slick in a shiny maroon suit with its band members also dressed in a dapper fashion. The Time’s sound is a psychedelic mash-up of funk, rock, soul, synth-pop, ’80s pop, and dance music. The band was originally created by Prince, having a relationship with many of the band members. The only remaining original band member is Jellybean Johnson, the band’s guitarist who can still rock out with his fellow band members.
Stay tuned for more Jazz Fest Weekend 2 coverage this week!