This is my second New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and once again I will be at all days. Here are highlights from the first day, Friday, April 25. I plan to post my highlights for each day.
I started off with Tommy Singleton, a long time New Orleans R&B singer. He had a great band including our friend Dereck Huston joined him on sax.
Next was another New Orleans blues great, Little Freddie King, who I have seen many times. I never get tired of his hard edge blues.
Staying in the blues tent I next saw Chris Thomas King, I saw Chris doing a solo gig at the Ogden Museum. This time he brought a strong band and turned in the best performance up until then.
We briefly stopped by the Fa Do Do Stage to see long time Cajun favorite, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. He showed is usual strong Cajun delivery with a Zydeco flavor.
Switching styles we saw New Orleans’ Tricia Boutte doing strong trad jazz vocals with a solid band from Norway where she now lives.
We listened to Santana’s interview. He was preaching good things and shared some of his favorite music including Little Walter, Muddy Waters harmonica player who also had his own band.
Next stop was jazz vocalist, Gregory Porter, whose deep voice has earned him several Grammies.
We closed out the day with Joe Lewis Walker, the San Francisco blues man, who had the audience dancing in the aisles. He is on the right below.