But when temps are in the 70s with a breeze, there’s no better place on the planet for this photographer. The pace of covering multiple stages on the 1-mile track in every kind of weather is exhilarating and exhausting. Few musical families are as tied to Jazz Fest as the Nevilles, and the twisting, dancing sax lines of “Yellow Moon” will always remind us of Charles’ ease and grace both on and off the stage. Another loss (not unexpected, he had been quite ill with pancreatic cancer), that reminds us how damn temporal it all is (yet, again), and as a photographer, the importance of capturing something special along the way. The passing of Charles Neville, the “horn man”, the day before Fest started, was ever present on the Fair Grounds. I take a lot of pride in contributing to this historical effort, as I did again this first weekend. With the Fest on the cusp of 50, the Archive’s mission is nothing short of remarkable and a 366 day a year deal.
STEEL CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL 2018 LINEUP ARCHIVE
Now, I‘ve been shooting for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival & Foundation Archive since 2008.
The playing was loose, but kicking, with Collier’s sacred steel, and Boogie being Boogie, tangy punctuation to Hendrix (and a “Down by the River” thrown in). Fueled by a bellyful of BBQ pork and house brew, this was a boatload of fun with plenty of room to move in the beer warehouse by day room. This photographer is fortunate to have a few ease in days ahead of Fest and we got in the mood Thursday night with Tony Hall, Terence Higgins, Roosevelt Collier and Jonathon “Boogie” Long funking up Jimi at NOLA Brewing on Tchoup.
who knew the place would be abuzz over Socks in a Frying Pan from Ireland? Aah, but I digress… While this year was solid with the likes of Sting, Rod Stewart, Beck, Jack White et al. And, as any Fest vet knows, it ain’t about the BNAs (“big name acts”). Yes, Aerosmith at Jazz Fest had some folks head scratching when announced, but they went over big at their only gig of the year. Best Jazz Fest ever? It’s a tie between the last one and the next one.
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