Picture Memories From JazzFest Weekend One

More From Weekend Two

Jazzfest -- Weekend Two Highlights

Greetings, everybody. Apologies for being so tardy in my postings. Probably take a few postings in all to capture all the memories, but here is the first downpayment, with a primary focus on music!

Six outstanding days of music, beginning on Tuesday when Noam and Elise arrived. Check this out for a first night: dinner/Hornets games at Vaughan's; Treme Brass Band at Ray Ray's; Dragon Smoke (Ivan Neville, Eric Lindell, Stanton Moore and guests) at DBA; nightcap at Donna's to see Kid Chocolate with special guest including Maurice Brown! A night to remember!!!! Plus late night delicacies from Nelly Deli.

Wednesday highlight: Troyfest 08 in Bill and Pat's neighbor's backyard. Only snafu, no one remembered to bring a PA and there were no lights! So we listened to the band in the dark with no vocals! Other than that...a splendid time was had by all! Lovely dinner at Maximo's with beignets to follow.

Thursday: we biked to JazzFest, weather was glorious. Highlights were Bonerama on the big stage; Deacon John who did a tremendous big band show; Steve Riley who once again did a shout out to Renee and me; and the Nightcrawlers who rocked the house (and are going back into the studio shortly).

Friday: another beautiful biking day. Highlights included The Bluerunners, Soul Rebels, Trombone Shorty at Congo Square, John Boutte, and Michael Franti in the rain!

Saturday: it poured all night..and we were fearful that Jazzfest might be cancelled. But the weather broke about 12:30 and it was a glorious day! Highlights included Alejandro Escovedo on the big stage when the weather was way iffy early in the morning, the Storyville Stompers, the Crescent City Allstars featuring James Andrews, Troy Andrews and Walter Wolfman Washington, the beautfiul Stephanie Jordan, and a tribute to Max Roach featuring Shannon Powell,Herlin Riley and Jason Marsalis.

Sunday: Crowd was huge. Music was amazing. Highlighs included the Derek Trucks Band, the Raconteurs, Santana, Rebirth, Snooks Eaglin, Ivan Nevill's Dumpstaphunk, Jonathan Batiste and Sonny Landreth.

Leaving out so much stuff...Eric Lindell at One Eyed Jack's, California Pizza Kitchen, Hornets game, Mona Lisa, gumbo, hangin' with Noam and Elise. And multiple tots at 13.

One item of note: an invention -- The Gelfond -- was created one day one by Noam. Pictures to follow...but it is the seminal move for navigating one's bike down a narrow alleyway or through the bike maze at JazzFest.