New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2007 Guide

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is an embarrassment of riches for music lovers, touching not just upon jazz music but also lots of R&B, blues, rock, gospel, world music, hip-hop, and cajun/zydeco. So how can an oldies fan best spend his time at the 2007 "Fest"? Here's a handy day-by-day guide from yours truly, who's been going since he was a child.

Friday, April 27

11:30 am - 12:25 pm: Eddie Bo
Gentilly Stage
His "I'm Wise" became Little Richard's "Slippin' And Slidin'," and he's also responsible for mid-Sixties funk classics like "Pass The Hatchet."

12:45 am - 1:45 pm: J.J. Grey and MOFRO
Acura Stage
They're a jam band, but with a heavy swamp influence that belies their Floridian roots.

2:10 am - 3:10 pm: George Porter, Jr. & Runnin' Pardners
Acura Stage
Horn-driven funk from the legendary Meters bassist.

3:45 am - 4:55 pm: Dr. John
Acura Stage
The man behind "Right Place Wrong Time" and "Such A Night" has a long history inextricably tied to New Orleans rock and R&B.

5:55 am - 6:55 pm: Percy Sledge and Blue Eyed Soul Revue
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
Sledge is the master of country soul responsible for "When A Man Loves A Woman," but his whole repertoire is nearly that good.

Saturday, April 28

11:15 am - 12:00 pm: Rockie Charles & The Stax Of Love
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
The "President of Soul" was a key player in the New Orleans, Nashville, Detroit, and Mississippi soul scenes of the Sixties.

12:35 am - 1:35 pm: Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen
Acura Stage
A Bonnie Raitt sideman to most of the world, but a perennial blues-funk favorite for locals. (And beloved of Dr. House himself, Hugh Laurie!)

1:30 am - 2:15 pm: Burnside Exploration
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
R.L. Burnside's backing band (and family) that also backed Samuel L. Jackson in Black Snake Moan.

2:20 am - 3:20 pm: Henry Butler
Gentilly Stage
Called "the greatest living proponent of the classic New Orleans piano tradition."

5:55 am - 7:00 pm: Crescent City Allstars featuring James Andrews
Jazz & Heritage Stage
A new supergroup featuring the cream of modern New Orleans funk. Lots of rock and jamband influences, too.

Sunday, April 29

11:15 am - 12:00 pm: Guitar Slim Jr.
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
Son of the famous "Things I Used To Do" bluesman, Jr. has a special blend of soul and modern blues all his own.

12:35 pm - 1:25 pm: Jean Knight & Her Knights Of Rhythm
Congo Square / Louisiana Rebirth Stage
The sassy R&B diva behind "Mr. Big Stuff," and, later, "My Toot Toot."

2:40 pm - 3:40 pm: John Mooney & Bluesiana
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
A straight blues guitarist who nevertheless takes a lot of cues from New Orleans' classic boogie-woogie and funk.

3:50 pm - 4:55 pm: Jerry Lee Lewis & The Killer Band
Acura Stage
Yes, the Killer's at Jazz Fest -- along with his latest "comeback" band!

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & The Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians
Jazz & Heritage Stage
The most important living link to this uniquely New Orleans tradition, steeped in funk and classic R&B.

Friday, May 4

11:30 am - 12:20 pm: Batiste Brothers Band
Acura Stage
If you need a second first family of Crescent City funk, this augmented trio is it.

12:35 pm - 1:40 pm: Lil' Band O' Gold
Acura Stage
Another local supergroup, but one that replicates the classic sound of the state's "swamp pop" genre.

2:45 pm - 4:00 pm: Sunpie & The Louisiana Sunspots with guest Al "Carnival Time" Johnson
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
Sunpie is simultaneously one of the region's great blues harp men and also one of it's greatest zydeco accordionists!

3:45 pm - 4:50 pm: Luther Kent & Trickbag
Acura Stage
The local R&B band of the Seventies, featuring a singer who once fronted Blood, Sweat and Tears (!).

5:35 pm - 7:00 pm: ZZ Top
Acura Stage
That little ol' band from Texas plays what will no doubt be a very rootsy show focusing on their timeless '70s boogie.

Saturday, May 5

11:20 am - 12:05 pm: Henry Gray & The Cats
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
Howlin' Wolf's main pianist and a feature on those classic Excello sides of the Sixties.

12:20 pm - 1:10 pm: Morning 40 Federation
Gentilly Stage
Local faves who mix punk, funk, and jazz with irreverent humor.

2:45 pm - 4:00 pm: Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste & Zigaboo's Funk Revue Band
Gentilly Stage
The ex-Meters drummer gets down to some serious groove.

4:10 pm - 5:20 pm: The Holmes Brothers
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
This trio sings like gospel and plays like blues, and naturally lands right in an old-school soul bag.

5:50 pm - 7:00 pm: Deacon John
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
He played guitar on almost every famous New Orleans R&B hit of the 60s, and now John's singlehandedly keeping jump-blues alive in the city.

Sunday, May 6

11:15 am - 12:00 pm: Washboard Chaz Blues Trio
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
Local legends and one of the strangest acoustic blues trios you'll ever hear.

12:25 pm - 1:10 pm: Frankie Ford
Acura Stage
"Sea Cruise" is only the beginning of this R&B/swamp-pop legend's contributions to music.

1:45 pm - 2:55 pm: Allen Toussaint
Acura Stage
The songwriter behind so many of the city's national R&B hits of the Sixties and Seventies, and one of the city's few remaining piano masters.

4:10 pm - 5:10 pm: Marva Wright and the BMWs
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
The city's greatest blues singer, with a heavy gospel bent.

5:45 pm - 7:00 pm: Harry Connick, Jr.
Acura Stage
The actor/singer came on the national scene like a knockoff Sinatra, and his attempts at straight rock are horrible, but at the Fest Harry usually leans on what got him noticed -- his outstanding boogie-woogie piano.