2023 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest Second weekend
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, New Orleans, LA, USA
May 4-7, 2023
by Mary Aandrews
Fans had many moments to relish on the second weekend of the 2023 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. There were four days for fans to devour multi-genre music with the Dead and Company being the highlight. Although, many fans would argue with us on that point.
The weather ‘Gods’ caused challenges for festival goers due to strong thunderstorms on Saturday morning that caused a two hour delay in opening fest. Otherwise everything went as planned.
“Locals Thursday” had many people taking advantage of the “$50” ticket discount for Louisiana residents. The highlights of the day had Santana headlining on the main stage. Santana came on stage starting with “Soul Sacrifice,” “Black Magic Woman,” and “Evil Ways.” He played long, clean runs with his eyes closed as he soared through fan favorites. As a note, Cindy Blackman, Santana’s wife, is the drummer for the band.
Chicago blues giant, Buddy Guy, was on the main stage after spending several years closing the blues tent. Guy is presently touring with his ‘Damn Right Farewell Tour.’ He festured his son, Greg, playing some great solo guitar. Guy always seems playful often making his guitar do the ‘talking.’ He picks guitar with his tongue and often plays with his guitarheld toward his back. His guitar styling is often imitated by many other instumentalists. Guy played snippits of songs that he loves from John Lee hooker, Hendrix, and Clapton.
Larkin Poe gave a very informative interview prior to their set closing the Blues tent on Thursday. The sister act rocked out to tunes like “Strike Gold,” “She’s a Self-Made Man,” and “Preachin’ Blues.”
Thursday was also the day that the festival honored Walter “Wolfman” Washington, native New Orleans performer who passed away in December 2022. The members of his band, the Roadmasters, reminisced about him during an interview at the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage. Later, they fired up a set of Wolfman favorites at the Blues Tent with some very special guests including Irma Thomas, Deacon John, John “Papa” Gross, Alex McMurray, and Mem Shannon.
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John Batiste closed the large stage on Friday and many fans will testify that his was the best show of this year. His set included “Tell the Truth,” “I Need You,” and “Rain Dance.” Batiste was there to show his hometown folks how his talent has grown.
Country singer, Kane Brown, thrilled throngs of young women during his set on Friday. Brown seemed disappointed that he wasn’t able to utilze his typical concert laser beams and backdrop videos. That said, he danced across the stage singing everyone’s favorite Kane Brown songs with aplomb. It was a fun set from a probable future country superstar.
H.E.R. aka Having Everything Revealed aka Gabriella Wilson is an R’n B artist that mesmerized the crowd from the moment she took the stage. It helped that the rain that came down on festers all day had stopped. She bagan without any of her guitars and moved across the stage as if she owned it. Songs performed included “Cheat Code,” “Best Part,” and “Make It Rain.”She donned her guitar later in the set.
Bob Weir, Jay Lane, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, Mickey Hart, and John Mayer took the stage as Dead and Company. They easily had the largest crowd on the last Saturday after a day of constant rain had stopped. Fan favorites included “Truckin,’” Cumberland Blues,” and “Uncle John’s Band.” It was a set for the partying crowd that lasted for two hours.
The final day of fest had Mumford and Sons, Tom Jones, Melissa Etheridge, Trombone Shorty, and Ne-Yo among many others. Tom Jones is one of the few remaining survivors of the British Invasion of the 1960s. He has performed at Jazz Fest many times and always delivers the best. Jon Batiste made a surprise appearance during Trombone Shorty’s set. Fans left feeling that they could not wait until next year’s festival. Only 345 days to go! Maybe we will see Ringo Starr next year
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