Day 18 – April 23

Saturday night and I just got paid
Gonna fool about ain’t gonna save
Some people gonna rock some people gonna roll
Gonna have a party to save my soul
Hard headed woman and a soft hearted man
They been causing trouble since it all began
Take a little rice take a little beans
Gonna rock and roll down to New Orleans – Speed King – Deep Purple

Jazz Fest – Day Two

Finally got the washing done. It is going to be a hot one today. Sad news (yet again) as I just read that Lonny Mack has passed. Still remember seeing Lonnie a long time ago with Mr. Smith. Who is ‘Going to  Satisfy Susie’, now that Lonnie is gone?

We got to Iggy’s right on time for the shuttle. The first order of the day once inside the fairgrounds is some food for me. The girls loaded up on vegemite toast before we left. Two Natchitoulis Meat Pies for me and then some fresh fruit at WWOZ and I am ready to go into battle. There is not a cloud in the sky and a hat and sunblock are going to be mandatory as well as staying hydrated.

We went over to the Gentilly Stage for Bobby Cure & the Classic R’n’B Revue. Guest vocalists are  the legends of 50’s N.O. music. Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, Robert Parker, Al ‘Carnival Time’ Johnson, Sammy Ridgley and Jo ‘Cool’ Davis. All are in the late 70’s or older and age has wearied then but they are all up to each sing two of their classic songs. Another good start to the day.

We stayed at Gentilly for Big Sam’s Funky Nation. It is around 1:15 and the crowd is building up. You can feel the sun torching any bare skin and I must remember to keep applying sun screen.
1:50 and the girls go off for some food and I chill in the Grandstand where you can escape the sun and do some serious people watching. I am pretty sure there would be no better city in the world to people watch when there is a gigantic party in play.

We are back to the Gentilly for Wendy to watch her hunk perform. The Cajun heart throb Tab Benoit. Just so happens he is an incredible musician and I always enjoy seeing him play.

Overhead a small plane has just drawn a big smilie face which is most appropriate as there are not many here that ain’t smiling.

Back to the Blues Tent for John Hammond. Very surreal to see him up on stage in front of thousands and to think back a little in time to when we were privileged at WOW to have the very same blues legend on our small and humble stage. John put on a passionate set and the crowd lapped it up.

Wendy is staying in the Blues Tent for Boz Scaggs while Kate and I head back to the Gentilly for Van ‘the man’ Morrison. The crowd is as big as I have ever seen on this the second largest of the Jazz Fest stages. The race track is also packed but we managed to get a vantage spot. Van was terrific and his band was spot on. He eased his way into the set and then brought the crowd to a frenzy as the the first strains of ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ rang out which segued into ‘Baby, Please Don’t Go’ then into Parchman Farm and finishing back with ‘Brown Eyed Girl’.

Another great day at Jazz Fest. We didn’t stay at Iggy’s when we got back as it is starting to get a little dark and we wanted to get back to the apartment for a much needed shower.