Lenny Kravitz, Buckwheat Zydeco, Ry Cooder
An odd trio, but one that worked -- Buckwheat, as his fans know, plays the blues just fine through that squeezebox, and all three took turns on vocals, which made for one funky yet downhome threesome. Points to Kravitz for taking "When The Levee Breaks" away from Led Zeppelin and giving it back to Algiers native Memphis Minnie. (Just for tonight.)
Grade: A-
Jimmy Buffett
You're either a Parrothead or you're not at this point, and if you were, you enjoyed this show, heavy on regional color ("Pascagoula"). Having Louisianian Sonny Landreth on guitar is always a big plus, as well. Only God could explain Dave Matthews' decision to show up and do his best Neil Young imitation on "Heart of Gold," though.
Grade: B
John Fogerty
Possibly the best performance of the evening. Anyone who's seen the former Creedence Clearwater Revival leader in recent years knows that
something has rekindled his love of performing, and this night was no exception, even if his voice strained a bit (but again, that could be the soundman's fault). He unspooled seven or eight of everyone's favorite CCR songs, and at least one surprising album track ("Keep On Chooglin'"), but, frankly, he's performing these chestnuts at least as energetically, if not more so, than he did when the band was alive. This is called working the crowd.
Grade: A+
Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dave Bartholomew, Elvis Costello
Fats Domino couldn't make it to the show, unfortunately, so his co-writer/arranger/bandleader/producer Dave Batholomew stepped up. With the Dirty Dozen behind him, they kicked up quite the brass-band storm.
Grade: A
Kermit Ruffins, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Trombone Shorty
For trad-jazz heads, this was unquestionably THE performance of the evening, as the city's finest gave their all. This wasn't some musty museum piece, either: this was a living breathing art form, fresh as yesterday, not just revitalizing eighty-year-old chestnuts like "St. James' Infirmary" but resurrecting them right there in the Garden. And, given the context of the show, that means everything.
Grade: A+
The Neville Brothers with the Meters
This was billed by host Ed Bradley as the first meeting of New Orleans' first family of soul and their first family of funk, but in reality, they've been playing together in different combinations for years around New Orleans. Just not all at once. The result wasn't exactly a revelation to those who've been following the city's musical scene, but it was a solid run-through of both groups' biggest hits.
Grade: A
Rebirth Brass Band
Ending the show with the funky future of New Orleans brass band music was a brilliant move; ending the set with the city's last great antedeluvian party anthem, "Do Watcha Wanna," was even more so. After the somber march of the first few hours, Rebirth and crew provided the perfect trip back. And the perfect beginning to a new day.
Grade: A+
