The Super Bowl isn't for two weeks, Mardi Gras ain't until after that, and the iPad won't be here until the end of March or sometime in April. But the Jazz Fest schedule was released today, and here is who I would see if I had a Brass Pass:
Friday, April 23
Lionel Richie, Dr. John, Elvin Bishop, Jon Cleary, Deacon John, Bob French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band’s 100 Year Celebration, The Joe Krown Trio with Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Russell Batiste Jr., Anders Osborne, New Orleans Night Crawlers, James Rivers Movement
Saturday, April 24
Simon & Garfunkel, Better Than Ezra, the funky Meters, Cowboy Mouth, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Walter “Wolfman” Wahington & the Roadmasters, Papa Grows Funk, Tab Benoit, Terence Blanchard, Davell Crawford and One Foot in the Blues with special guests Dr. John and Jon Cleary, Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, Bonerama, Bounce Extravanganza feat. Big Freedia
Sunday, April 25
Allman Brothers Band, Anita Baker, Jonny Lang, The Levon Helm Band, Keely Smith, Blind Boys of Alabama, Marcia Ball, Donald Harrison, Voice of the Wetlands All Stars, Theresa Andersson, Louisiana LeRoux feat. Tab Benoit, The Radiators – Pre-War Blues, Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong feat. Wycliffe Gordon, James Andrews, and Victor Goines, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Jeremy Davenport, Mark Braud’s New Orleans Jazz Giants, Guitar Slim, Jr., Tribute to Juanita Brooks feat. Germaine Bazzle, Leah Chase, and Betty Shirley,
Thursday, April 29
Widespread Panic, Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes, Gov’t Mule, Average White Band, Blues Traveler, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Dee Dee Bridgewater: A Celebration of “Lady Day”, Shannon Powell’s Organ Combo feat. Charlie Gabriel, David Torkanowsky, and Peter Bernstein, Bobby Lonero’s Tribute to Louis Prima with Johnny Pennino & the New Orleans Express
Friday, April 30
Aretha Franklin, Gipsy Kings, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Stanley Clarke Band feat. Hiromi, the subdudes, John Mooney & Bluesiana, Buckwheat Zydeco, Nicholas Payton Sextet, Louis Prima, Jr., The Iguanas, Astral Project, John Boutté
Saturday, May 1
Jeff Beck, Galactic, Sonny Landreth, SRebirth Brass Band, The Allen Toussaint Jazzity Project, Cyril Neville & Tribe 13, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Anders Osborne, Henry Butler, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Chris Thomas King, Banu Gibson with Swing Out & Tap!, Germaine Bazzle, Mem Shannon & the Membership, Russell Batiste & Friends feat. Jason Neville, Driskill Mountain Boys, Evan Christopher and Tom McDermott, New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, Paula & the Pontiacs
Sunday, May 2
Van Morrison, B.B. King, Irma Thomas, John Patitucci, The Radiators, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Ellis Marsalis, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Benny Grunch & the Bunch, Tribute to Juanita Brooks feat. Wanda Rouzan, Barbara Shorts, and Topsy Chapman, Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, John Rankin, Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders,