New Orleans Jazz Festival is often called the Jazz Fest and is annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. It is celebrated every year on two weekends, the last in April and the first weekend in May.
Mahalia Jackson, often referred as the greatest gospel singer, returned to her hometown to appear at the first New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April of 1970. While attending the Louisiana Heritage Fair in Congo Square, she and Duke Ellington, came upon the Eureka Brass Band leading a crowd of revelers through the Festival grounds. George Wein, the producer of the festival, handed Ms. Jackson a microphone, she sang along with the band and joined the parade and this is how the spirit of New Orleans Jazz Festival was born. In 1970, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, a non profit organization, was established to oversee the Festival. The Festival is currently produced by Quint Davis and is currently held on the New Orleans Fairground. It has become inseparable from the culture it represents.
With 12 stages of soul-stirring music—jazz, gospel, Cajun, Zydeco, blues, R&B, rock, funk, African, Latin, Caribbean, folk, and much more—the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is a singular celebration.
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The event has showcased most of the great artists of New Orleans and Louisiana of the last half century: Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, The Neville Brothers, Wynton Marsalis, Dr. John, Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., Ellis Marsalis, The Radiators, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Better Than Ezra, Vernel Bagneris, The Zion Harmonizers, Beausoleil and many others.
The Festival has always blended a wide mix of internationally renowned guests, like Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Santana, Sarah Vaughan, Paul Simon, Jimmy Buffett, Max Roach, B.B. King, Dave Matthews Band, Patti LaBelle, Tito Puente, Joni Mitchell, Sonny Rollins, Bonnie Raitt, James Brown, Celia Cruz, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hugh Masekela, Cassandra Wilson, Willie Nelson, The Temptations, Burning Spear,Van Morrison, Erykah Badu, Dave Brubeck, Gladys Knight, Youssou N'Dour and many others.
The New Orleans Jazz Festival features a great deal of fun and excitement. It also features vendors with local foods and crafts, exhibits of crafts and photography and there is an interview stage where singers are interviewed.
The ticket prices at the New Orleans Jazz Festival are $35 for adults and $5 for child. Premium ticket packages with a lot of facilities are also available.
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