New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2008 Guide (Week Two) - - Oldies Music

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 for Week One from yours truly, who's been going since he was a child.

Thursday, May 1

11:15am - 12:00pm: Mem Shannon & the Membership
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
Accomplished New Orleans urban blues and funk from a former French Quarter cabbie.

12:20pm - 1:10pm: Ernie Vincent & the Top Notes
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
The inventor of "dap funk" and a rare groove legend in a rare performance.

1:25pm - 2:15pm: Sammy Ridgley & the Untouchables
Gentilly Stage
Brother of New Orleans Soul legend Tommy carries on his sibling's legacy.

2:55pm - 3:45pm: Phillip Manuel's Tribute to Nat King Cole
WWOZ Jazz Tent
One of Aaron Neville's favorite singers, Manuel really is smooth enough to pull this one off.

4:10pm - 5:10pm: Gene "Duke of Earl" Chandler
Congo Square "My Louisiana" Stage
Chandler's career extends for decades past his "one hit," and his show demonstrates why.

5:45pm - 7:00pm: Tower of Power
Congo Square "My Louisiana" Stage
Perhaps the greatest of the big, horn-driven Seventies R&B bands, most notable for "Down To The Nightclub" and "So Very Hard To Go."

Friday, May 2

11:15am - 11:55am: New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Rhythm Section
Jazz & Heritage Stage
A solid introduction to the "parade" rhytms that inform the city's funk.

12:45pm - 1:45pm: Theryl "Houseman" de'Clouet
Congo Square "My Louisiana" Stage
Former lead singer for jam-band Galactic. Adam Duritz of Counting Crows calls him the "last great soul voice of the proud New Orleans tradition."

2:25pm - 3:35pm: Richard Thompson
Gentilly Stage
Yes, that one -- folk legend and performer with a pronounced connection to Louisiana music traditions.

3:25pm - 4:25pm: Art Neville
Acura Stage
Aaron's brother was his chief rival in the Sixties, but Art went on to form the Meters, as well.

5:15pm - 6:45pm: Stevie Wonder
Acura Stage
If you don't already know...

Saturday, May 3

11:25am - 12:25pm: Lil' Nathan Williams, Jr. & the Zydeco Big Timers
Gentilly Stage
Can zydeco music find a place in modern hip-hop? Yes.

12:50pm - 1:50pm: Lil' Buck Sinegal with guest Rudy Richard
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
Buck is a South Louisiana legend for his guitar work on the Excello label.

2:15pm - 3:15pm: Henry Butler
Gentilly Stage
Called "the greatest living proponent of the classic New Orleans piano tradition."

3:45pm - 5:00pm: Marcia Ball
Gentilly Stage
Her Tallness is one of the great soul-blues draws of the Fest, year in and year out. A must-see.

5:45pm - 6:55pm: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
Sheraton New Orleans Fais-Do-Do Stage
Nathan is possibly the world's greatest living zydeco songwriter.

Sunday, May 4

11:25am - 12:25pm: 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.

12:35pm - 1:30pm: Sonny Landreth
Gentilly Stage
Eric Clapton considers this Mississippi slide guitarist one of the best on the planet.

2:15pm - 3:15pm: Snooks Eaglin
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
A local legend and R&B master so authentic he used to bill himself as "Little Ray Charles."

3:45pm - 4:55pm: Keb' Mo'
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
This Grammy-winning modern bluesman is one of the most forward-thinking musicians in the genre.

5:40pm - 6:55pm: The Neville Brothers
Acura Stage
Wrap up the Fest on a high note with this First Family of New Orleans Funk, Soul, and R&B, reuniting for the first Fest performance since Hurricane Katrina scattered them.