Jazz Fest: Friday's Schedule and Picks

My Spilt Milk has a downloadable schedule for you with our picks marked on it.

Last night, the conversation centered on what Prince covers we'll hear this weekend at Jazz Fest. It seems like his surprising passing would make him a natural subject for tribute covers when the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell starts today, but my guess is zero--for today, anyway. After that, somebody--likely a brass band--will play something. My guess is "Kiss" because it fits so neatly in well-established, well-known funk modes. My suspicion is that many of Prince's songs are hard to cover, and that few today will have had the time to get one ready. 

His shocking passing is the cloud under which Jazz Fest starts, more so than the threat of rain, which is down to 20 percent. We should have a pleasant, overcast day, which is a nice way to start. For me, the day starts well musically as well, with Sarah Quintana, My Spilt Milk Award winners The Deslondes, and Sweet Pain from Belize. Then the schedule thins a bit before a strong series of closing sets that may require a grand tour to see parts of Steely Dan, Christian Scott, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and Baby Bee before ending at Janelle Monae. 

For the second year in a row, we have provided a downloadable schedule with our personal picks as well as our Louisiana picks color-coded on to the grid. It tells you what has our attention, and what local artists we think ought to be on your radar. Download it to your phone or tablet or print it out and take it with you. 

For more picks for the weekend, I wrote about six artists who may fly under your radar that merit a look for Nola.com.

See you out there. I'll be the one in the hat.