Last weekend of April & First weekend of May

Among the hundreds of festivals that span the state of Louisiana, the most anticipated is a culmination of music, food and cultural experience – the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell.

It is hosted by the very city that is considered the epicenter of southern hospitality, good times, great food and the birthplace of jazz. Where else can you sing along to familiar tunes, experience new sounds, try boiled crawfish, or even find yourself waving a hankie high above your head in a spontaneous second line?

HISTORY

The concept was born in 1969, the brainchild of the well-known jazz promoter George Wein. He envisioned bringing a jazz festival, such as the one he established in Newport, Rhode Island, to the very city where the sound was created.

He enlisted two New Orleans locals to book the musical talent. Quint Davis and Allison Miner were only in their early twenties, but they were well-versed in jazz and very familiar with the music scene in the Crescent City.

Simply relying on their personal contacts to build the first lineup, Davis and Miner succeeded in bringing Wein’s vision to life in 1970 as a small outdoor event with only one stage. According to popular legend, famous gospel singer and New Orleans local Mahalia Jackson was in attendance and joined in on a second line started by the Eureka Brass Band. Her impromptu performance, along with appearances by jazz greats Duke Ellington and Fats Domino, set the tone for the festival experience.

It is a lively celebration of art, music, tradition and diversity which continues to set it apart from the average musical festival. During the inaugural event, a crowd of only 350 enjoyed an April weekend of free admission while they sampled local dishes from the city’s most popular restaurants.

As its reputation and attendance grew, the festival adapted and expanded. It eventually moved to its present location at the New Orleans Fair Grounds and extended its venue to cover two weekends, seven days total, that includes international talent.

As Jazz Fest celebrates 40 years in 2009, the impressive repertoire of performers from festivals past included Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers Band, Lenny Kravitz, Willie Nelson, the Temptations, Miles Davis, Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews Band, Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, LL Cool J and Billy Joel, along with a slew of other megastar musicians.

But keeping true to its original mission of providing local entertainment, the backbone of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the event still proudly offers an array of homegrown artists and musical genres.

GENERAL INFORMATION

There are some “lagniappes” or extra tidbits of information to keep in mind. Firstly, Jazz Fest attracts a sizable crowd. An estimated record number of 400,000 attended last year. Tickets can be purchased at the festival, but purchasing them ahead of time means cheaper prices and no ticket lines.

Single day tickets for both weekends are $40 in advance or $50 at the gate. Admission for children 2 – 12 is $5 daily. There are tickets available through several VIP packages, including the Big Chief VIP Experience.

Packages and prices vary, but can include admission, private viewing stands, bathroom facilities, concessions and parking. Makeshift lots are set up around the vicinity for public parking, but they usually charge a daily rate. There is parking available within New Orleans City Park for a daily fee with roundtrip shuttle service to the festival grounds.

MUSIC

Jazz Fest boasts 11 music areas, simultaneously offering traditional to contemporary sounds. Visit the Congo Square Stage and dance to the rhythms of an African beat, or enjoy the Cajun and zydeco sounds of the Sheraton Fais-Do-Do Stage.

Traditionally, the Acura and Gentilly Stages host the main headliners of the fest, which means they usually attract large gatherings. But if you want to escape the crowds and the heat, there are a number of tents and smaller stages that satisfy the musical tastes of jazz,gospel, Latin, blues, rock and funk.

There are even opportunities to see live interviews with performing artists offered daily on the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage, named after a deceased festival founder. Even the youngest music enthusiasts are invited to join in on the entertainment provided at the Family Kids Tent.

FOOD

To compliment the sounds are the tastes of Jazz Fest, reflecting the unique cuisine found around the state. Traditional favorites, like crawfish bread, meat pies and alligator sausage po-boys, are just a few menu items found in booths scattered around the festival grounds.

Sure to please any pallet, from the daring to simple, or the vegetarian to the meat lover, the wide selection promises never to disappoint. Become acquainted with native Louisiana dishes, like jambalaya, red beans and rice, catfish almondine, Creole hot tamales and fried green tomatoes.

Discover the seafood selection of the Gulf of Mexico with fresh fish, oysters and shrimp. There are plenty of international choices, including sushi, Cuban sandwiches, shrimp tacos and Jamaican chicken. Of course, numerous beverages are always on hand to wash it all down, including fresh squeezed lemonade, flavored iced teas and an assortment of alcoholic refreshments.

ARTS, CRAFTS & COLLECTIBLES

The festival features an assortment of arts, crafts, jewelry and clothing, along with a showcase of daily exhibitions and demonstrations that illustrate the rich Louisiana culture. At the Louisiana Folklife Village, catch live demonstrations of artists handcrafting musical instruments and quilts.

Louisiana tribesmen are also on hand at the Native-American Village to demonstrate basket weaving, woodcarving and other traditions. In addition to all of the arts and crafts, there is also an assortment of famous memorabilia.

Probably none is more coveted than the Official Jazz Fest Poster, released annually. Artists, usually with local ties, are commissioned to capture the spirit and culture of Jazz Fest in their own original creation.

Once the year’s poster is chosen, a limited amount of the prints are signed and numbered by the artist. These are usually considered the rarest and most valuable. If you want to keep the sounds of the festival alive, get live recordings of Jazz Fest performances past and present that are available.