Fleetwood Mac, Frank Ocean, Black Keys & Hall and Oates Top Jazz Fest Lineup
A first look at this year's day by day talent lineup.
The reunited Fleetwood Mac, Maroon 5, and New Orleans-raised R&B star Frank Ocean are among the biggest names signed to play at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, presented by Shell, which takes place this year April 26 to May 5. Hall and Oates, Phoenix, Andrew Bird and Patti Smith are among the first time performers at Jazz Fest, and Bill Joel, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer and Widespread Panic are just some of the returning out of town artists.
Here's the daily rundown:
Friday, April 26
John Mayer, George Benson, Band of Horses, Dr. John, Gary Clark Jr., Joshua Redman Quartet, Campbell Brothers, Sonny Landreth, George Porter, Jr. & Runnin' Pardners, Terrance Simien with Special Guest Queen Ida, Chris Owens backed by Her Hot Rhythms Band, Jeremy Davenport, The New Orleans R&B Diva Revue feat. The Dixie Cups, Jean Knight, and Wanda Rouzan w/ the Brian Quezergue Band, Donald Harrison, Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, John Mooney & Bluesiana, Tricia Boutté & International Friends, Le Vent du Nord of Canada, Charmaine Neville Band, New Orleans Suspects, Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show, The New Orleans Bingo! Show, Doc McKenzie & the Hi-Lites, The Soul Rebels, John Lawrence & Ven Pa’ Ca Flamenco Ensemble with guests Antonio Hildago and Javier Heredia of Spain, The New Orleans Guitar Quartet feat. Jimmy Robinson, John Rankin, Phil DuGruy, and Cranston Clements, Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, Stoney Creek Indian Dancers, Jamal Batiste presents JAM-ALL, Flow Tribe, The Breton Sound, Corey Ledet and His Zydeco Band, Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, Bryan Lee & the Blues Power Band, James Rivers Movement, Leroy Jones & New Orleans’ Finest, Fredy Omar con su Banda, True Man Posse, Mark McGrain & Plunge, St. Joseph the Worker Music Ministry Choir, Zulu Gospel Male Choir, Brice Miller & Mahogany Brass Band, Semolian Warriors Mardi Gras Indians, Comanche Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, T’Monde, Los Po-Boy-Citos, Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Tommy Sancton & the New Orleans Legacy Band, The Mashup feat. Terence Higgins, Ike Stubblefield, Grant Green, Jr., with special guest Ron Holloway, Chris Clifton & His Allstars, Young Pinstripe Brass Band, Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church Mass Choir, Geronimo Hunters and Creole Osceolas Mardi Gras Indians, OperaCreole, Xavier University Jazz Band, Guitar Slim, Jr., Henry Gray and The Cats, Donnie Bolden, Jr. & the Spirit of Elijah, Friendly Travelers, Zulu, Big Nine, Keep N It Real, and We Are One Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Young Audience Brass Band Throwdown, Shamarr Allen presents music clinic students and Upset, McMain High School Talented-in-Theater Performers, Pastor Terry Gullage & the Greater Mt. Calvary Voices of Redemption, The ISL Circus Arts Kids, Soulfruit, Black Mohawk and Black Foot Hunters Mardi Gras Indians
Saturday, April 27
Billy Joel, Jill Scott, Allen Toussaint, Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite, Rebirth Brass Band, Andrew Bird, Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Charles Bradley, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Jon Cleary, Daryl Coley, Anders Osborne, Dwayne "Dopsie" & The Zydeco Hellraisers, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Deacon John, Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, A Tribe Called Red, Magary Lord of Bahia-Brazil, Gerald French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band: A Tribute to Bob French, Astral Project, Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, Stoney Creek Indian Dancers, Lionel Ferbos & the Palm Court Jazz Band, Big Chief Walter Cook & Creole Wild West, Alex McMurray, Lil Buck Sinegal’s Blues Band, Michael Ward, Tribute to Sidney Bechet feat. Dr. Michael White, Donald Harrison, Brian “Breeze” Cayolle, and Roderick Paulin, Herbert Hardesty Presents, Jason Marsalis, Mississippi Rail Company, Classie Ballou & the Family Band, Jambalaya Cajun Ban, Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, John Michael Rouchell, The Kid Carsons, Alexis & The Samurai, Tim Laughlin, Wendell Brunious, Lance Ellis, Zena Moses & Rue Fiya, Robin Barnes, Gregg Stafford & his Young Tuxedo Jazz Band, Johnny J and the Hitmen, Sharon Martin, Panorama Jazz Band, Storyville Stompers Brass Band, Tyronne Foster & the Arc Singers, Loyola University Jazz Band, Ted Winn, Tonia Scott & the Anointed Voices, New Wave Brass Band, Voices of Peter Claver, Dumaine Gang, Divine Ladies and Family Ties Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, 101 Runners, Golden Comanche and Seminoles Mardi Gras Indians, Treater “Le Traiteur de Bayou”, Stephen Foster’s Foster Family Music Program, Real Untouchables Brass Band, The Jones Sisters, The Bester Singers, Dynamic Smooth Family Gospel Singers, The Voices of Distinction, Nine Times Men, Single Ladies, Single Men, and Lady Jetsetters Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Ashe Cultural Arts Center Kuumba Institute, Red, White & Blue and Wild Mohicans Mardi Gras Indians, First Emanuel Baptist Church Mass Choir, Young Band Nation Blues Project, Algiers Charter Schools Association Torch Bearers
Sunday, April 28
Dave Matthews Band, Earth, Wind & Fire, B.B. King, Gipsy Kings, Juan Luis Guerra y 440, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Dianne Reeves, The Nevilles, Better Than Ezra, Little Joe Y La Familia, Calexico, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Honey Island Swamp Band, Little Freddie King Blues Band, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians, Treme Brass Band’s Tribute to Uncle Lionel Batiste, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Martha Redbone, The Selvy Singers, Brother Tyrone & the Mindbenders, Luther Kent & Trickbag, Magary Lord of Bahia-Brazil, Kristin Diable & The City, Andrew Duhon, Rumba Buena, Gregg Stafford and the Jazz Hounds, Tribute to Kid Ory: Hot Trombones, The Zion Harmonizers, Midnite Disturbers, Raw Oyster Cult, Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band, Khris Royal & Dark Matter, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders, Clive Wilson’s New Orleans Serenaders with guest Butch Thompson, Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, Stoney Creek Indian Dancers, AsheSon, Jo “Cool” Davis with guests BJ Crosby and Barbara Shorts, Famous Rocks of Harmony, Vivaz!, Smitty Dee’s Brass Bad, Ninth Ward Hunters and Ninth Ward Navajo Mardi Gras Indians, Natalie Mae and Her Unturned Tricks, The Blues Masters feat. "Big Al" Carson, Jesse McBride presents the Next Generation Big Band, Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners, The Shannon Powell Quintet feat. Charlie Gabriel, Bamboula 2000, Kid Simmons’ Local International Allstars, The Session, Tuba Skinny, Tornado Brass Band, Calvin Johnson, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Mass Choir, Kim Che’re, Dog Hill Stompers, Culu Children’s Traditional African Dance Company & Stiltwalkers, Big Steppers, Furious Five and Untouchables Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Johnette Downing and Scott Billington, Tulane University Jazz Ensemble, “Sundays in Congo Square “ presented by the Congo Square Preservation Society, Rising Dragon Lion Dance Team, Kai Knight’s Silhouette Dance Ensemble, The First Division, Olympia Aid, New Look, and Men of Class Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Golden Star Hunters and Big Chief Kevin Goodman & the Flaming Arrows Mardi Gras Indians, Nineveh Baptist Church Mass Choir, McTeggart Irish Dancers of Louisiana, Rose Anne Ste. Romain, Bishop Sean Elder & The Mt. Herman Baptist Church Mass Choir, Shawee Indians and Black Eagles Mardi Gras Indians
Thursday, May 2
Widespread Panic, Patti Smith, Kem, Roy Ayers, The 35th Anniversary Celebration of “One Mo’ Time!”, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Henry Butler, Theresa Andersson, Lil’ Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers, Shamarr Allen & the Underdawgs, Glen David Andrews, Pura Fé, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, Hot 8 Brass Band, Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, Banu Gibson & Hot Jazz Feat. The Anderson Twins, Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns, Pokey LaFarge, Drink Small, Ingrid Lucia, Blended Voices feat. Germaine Bazzle, Phillip Manuel, and Leslie Smith, The Bolton Brothers, Mia Borders, Dee-1, Kirk Joseph’s Backyard Groove, Balfa Toujours, Maggie Koerner, Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone, Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, The Honeypots, The Mercy Brothers, Orange Kellin’s New Orleans Deluxe Orchestra, Gravy, Native Nations Intertribal, Salio from the Republic of Georgia, Fi Yi Yi & the Mandingo Warriors, The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders, Mark Brooks & Friends with guest Barbara Shorts, Original Pinettes Brass Band, Kid Merv & All That Jazz, Kidd Jordan & the Improvisational Arts Quintet, J. Monque’D Blues Band, Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys, Quinten Corvette, Big Chief Iron Horse & the Black Seminoles Mardi Gras Indians, Kumbuka African Dance & Drum Collective, Grupo Sensacion, Louisiana Repertory Jazz Band, The Last Straws, Woodshed: Hammond B3 feat. Kyle Roussel and Joe Ashlar, UNO Jazz Allstars, Lyle Henderson & Emmanu-El, Grayhawk presents Native American Lore & Tales, Forgotten Souls Brass Band, Ms. Lala, Revolution, Ladies of Unity and VIP Ladies Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Jesuit High School Jazz Band, Josh Kagler & Harmonistic Praise Crusade, Delgado Community College Jazz Band, The Chapman Family, Angela the Yarnspinner, Cheyenne and 7th Ward Creole Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Pocket Aces Brass Band, McDonogh #35 High School Gospel Choir, Eleanor McMain “Singing Mustangs” Choir, O. Perry Walker Charter High School Gospel Choir, Young Audiences Performance Arts Showcase, Pastor Tyrone Jefferson, The Adams Middle School Players
Friday, May 3
Maroon 5, Willie Nelson & Family, Jimmy Cliff, Marc Broussard, Tab Benoit, Laura Bell Bundy, Marcia Ball, Ana Popovic, Papa Grows Funk, The Mavericks, Jerry Douglas, Irma Thomas’ Tribute to Mahalia Jackson, Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, The Iguanas, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet with special Guest Jo-El Sonnier, Malê Debalê of Bahia-Brazil, Los Hombres Calientes feat. Bill Summers and Irvin Mayfield, The Cookers feat. Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, David Weiss, Craig Handy, George Cables, Cecil McBee, and Billy Hart, Holly Williams, Nicholas Payton XXX, Brushy One String of Jamaica, Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue, Coco Robicheaux Tribute feat. The Spiritland Band, Spencer Bohren, Bill Miller, Ms. Ruby Wilson, Leah Chase, Fleur Debris Superband feat. Zigaboo Modeliste, George Porter, Jr., Nicholas Payton, and David Torkanowsky, Corey Henry & Treme Funket, Kirk Joseph’s Tuba Tuba, Stooges Brass Band, Shades of Praise, The Branchettes, Patrice Fisher & Arpa with guests from Germany and Mexico, New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra, Royal Teeth, David Egan and 20 Years of Trouble, Grayson Capps, Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express, Kim Carson, Aurora Nealand & the Royal Roses, Topsy Chapman & Solid Harmony, A Tribute to Hadley Castille feat. Sarah & the Sharecroppers, Pinstripe Brass Band, Native Nations Intertribal, Oneida Longhouse Singers and Dancers, Christian Winther - Soul House, Murder The Stout, Kora Konnection, Bari Koral Family Rock Band, University of Miami Jazz Band, New Orleans Indian Rhythm Section, Young Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians, Jamil Sharif, Betty Winn & One A-Chord, Golden Sioux and Young Cherokee Mardi Gras Indians, Connie & Dwight with The St. Raymond & St. Leo the Great Gospel Choir, Andrew Hall’s Memories of New Orleans, 21st Century Brass Band, Scene Boosters, Lady Rollers, Original Big Seven, and Original Four Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Jonté Landrum Thomas, Calliope Puppet Theater, KID smART Showcase, Young Fellaz Brass Band, Sensational Chosen Voices, New Orleans Hispano-America Dance Group, Voices of Fannie C. Williams Charter School Choir / Recorder Ensemble, Red Hawk and White Cloud Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, City of Love Music & Worship Arts
Saturday, May 4
Fleetwood Mac, Phoenix, Little Big Town, Frank Ocean, The Little Willies, Los Lobos, Galactic, Stanley Clarke / George Duke Project, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Mutemath, Vashawn Mitchell, Terence Blanchard, Cowboy Mouth, Bonerama, Davell Crawford, Robert Mirabal, Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-stars, Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band, Jonathon “Boogie” Long & the Blues Revolution, Eric Lindell, Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band feat. Thais Clark, Germaine Bazzle, The Revivalists, The Boutté Family Gospel, Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots, Red Stick Ramblers, Joe Krown Trio feat. Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Russell Batiste, Jr., The New Orleans Hip Hop Experience feat. DJ Mike Swift, DJ Poppa, 3D Na'tee, Dobama and N.O.V., Sharde Thomas & the Rising Star Fife & Drum Band, Luke Winslow-King, Kevin Gordon, Kenny Neal, Tonia & the Left Field Band, Reggie Hall & the Twilighters feat. Lady Bee, JD & The Straight Shot, Yvette Landry, Bill Summers & Jazalsa, Malê Debalê of Bahia-Brazil, Paulin Brothers Brass Band, Lars Edegran & the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, Dukes of Dixieland, Native Nations Intertribal, Oneida Longhouse Singers and Dancers, Kinfolk Brass Band, Mariachi Jalisco, Aaron Fletcher, Goldman Thibodeaux & the Lawtell Playboys, Cha Wa, Tom Saunders & the Tomcats, Naydja CoJoe, Black Feathers Mardi Gras Indians, Mohawk Hunters and Cherokee Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, The Johnson Extension, Curtis Pierre, the Samba Man & the Samba Kids, Minister Jai Reed, The Mighty Supremes, Free Agents Brass Band, Westbank Steppers, Valley of Silent Men, and Nine Times Ladies Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Rev. Jermaine Landrum & the Abundant Praise Revival Choir, The Wimberly Family Gospel Singers, Al Berard Family Band, Young Guardians of the Flame Mardi Gras Indians, Jeannine Pasini Beekman, SUBR Jazzy Jags, Baby Boyz Brass Band, Archdiocese of New Orleans Gospel Choir, Tione Johnson, DJ Raj Smoove, New Generation, Undefeated Divas, Pigeon Town Steppers, and Uptown Swingers Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, NORDC Crescent City Lights Youth Theater, The RRAAMS, Versailles Lion Dance Team, Big Chief Trouble & Trouble Nation and Wild Red Flame Mardi Gras Indians
Sunday, May 5
The Black Keys, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Irma Thomas, Aaron Neville, Jeffrey Osborne, Taj Mahal & The Real Thing Tuba Band, The Meter Men with Page McConnell, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Wayne Shorter Quartet feat. Danilo Perez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade, The Del McCoury Band with Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ellis Marsalis, Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters, Pete Fountain, New Orleans Classic R&B Recording Revue feat. Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Frankie Ford, Robert Parker, and Al “Carnival Time” Johnson with Blue Eyed Soul Revue, Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias, John Boutté, Tucka, Kathy Taylor, New Birth Brass Band, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Satan & Adam, Brass-A-Holics “Gogo Brass Funk” Band, Creole String Beans, Pine Leaf Boys, James Andrews & the Crescent City Allstars, Feufollet, Ernie Vincent & the Top Notes, New Orleans Klezmer Allstars, Brushy One String of Jamaica, George French & the New Orleans Storyville Jazz Band, Savoy Family Cajun Band, TBC Brass Band, Bobby Lounge and the Reclinders with Sister Ruthann Kerr, D.L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces, OTRA, Oneida Longhouse Singers and Dancers, Hot Club of New Orleans, Mark Braud’s New Orleans Jazz Giants, Wild Tchoupitoulas and Wild Apaches Mardi Gras Indians, New Orleans Nightcrawlers, Julio y Cesar Band, The Grayhawk Band, Blodie’s Jazz Jam, Leo Jackson & the Melody Clouds, Quiana Lynell & Lush Life, N’Kafu African Dance Ensemble, Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans, Connie Jones & the Crescent City Jazz Band, New Orleans Spiritualettes, DJ Captain Charles, Jeff Floyd, Native Nations Intertribal, Val & Love Alive Mass Choir, Prince of Wales and Original Lady Buckjumpers Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, War Chief Juan & Jockimo’s Groove, N.O.C.C.A. Jazz Band, The Heritage School of Music Band, David & Roselyn, Watson Memorial Teaching Ministries Choir, Cynthia Girtley, Buffalo Hunters and Apache Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Craig Adams & Higher Dimensions of Praise, Uptown Music Theater, Highsteppers Brass Band, Javier’s Dance Company, Original CTC and Ole N Nu Style Fellaz Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Adella Adella the Storyteller, E’Dana & Divinely Destin, Hobgoblin Hill Puppets
Tickets are on sale now for $45 through January 29, after which the price goes up to $50. Tickets will be $65 at the door. Tickets and VIP packages will be available through NOJazzFest.com, Ticketmaster, the Zephyr Field Box Office and the UNO Lakefront Arena Box office through February 5. The New Orleans Arena Box Office will open on February 5 after the Super Bowl.
A first take:
- The second Friday is clearly Country Day with Willie Nelson, The Mavericks, Jerry Douglas and Holly Williams. I'm always surprised that producers don't schedule country on Saturday when country fans from around the Gulf South could make the show. Perhaps that would swamp the Fair Grounds.
- Glad to see the booking of retro-soul singer Charles Bradley, the reunited Mavericks, and the return of Calexico and Kevin Gordon.
- It's not obvious who'll close the Acura and Gentilly stages on the second Sunday? Aaron Neville plays that day, but the rest of the Nevilles perform earlier in the festival. Will he be at one end while Trombone Shorty closes Gentilly, or will the tradition of local acts finishing the festival on those stages end, to be replaced by The Black Keys and Hall and Oates? It looks like Jeffrey Osborne will close Congo Square.
- Great name band that everybody's going to want to check out: Brushy One-String.
- I'm glad to see Mark McGrain and Plunge among the jazz bookings this year, but once again New Orleans' partly and fully improvised jazz community is almost entirely shut out. Kidd Jordan gets an obligatory nod again, but the modern jazz bookings remain sadly dated. But I say this every year, others say this every year and we get another lineup like this every year. Clearly, we are seeing the festival's notion of the sort of jazz you need to know about and hear. *sigh*