Jazz Fest is a fantastic event that I look forward to every year – I typically begin to anticipate the next ‘Fest about a week after leaving New Orleans.

It’s not just the food. . .it’s not just the party. . .or the city and it’s history. It’s all those things – yes. . . .but what I get a huge kick out of is the fact that you can turn a corner while walking the city’s streets or strolling past a stage at the fairgrounds on the way to another destination and hear something that you’ve never heard before that will simply blow your mind. It’s those random, accidental moments of musical goodness that keep me coming back.

Yes – I heard many great national touring acts this year. . .acts that we all know and love. But – my hope is that by reading this and the subsequent posting from this year’s 2010 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, you’ll discover something new to you – something that may hopefully blow your mind.

My 2010 ‘Fest kicked off on Wed night of the second weekend as I went looking for my buddy Doc (who had just arrived). I found him at Lafayette Square, where Irma Thomas was breaking it down for a free, early-evening, outdoor concert. Apparently, the city puts these free shows on every Wed evening (ah – gotta love New Orleans). Beyond that, though, the rest of the evening was fairly mellow. . . .oysters and a few drinks in the French Quarter and early to bed so as to get in a full first day at the fairgrounds (after all, the key to New Orleans – at least for me – is proper pacing).

Thursday the 29th kicked off at the Acura Stage with the R. Scully Rough 7. A self-described garage-gospel band, Ryan Scully and his Rough 7 delivered a delightful New Orleans sound – clearly grounded in the local tradition. However, their songs nudged the old school styles forward by adding sounds from 60’s/70’s rock, soul and R&B. They created a very cool altogether new and unique vibe. Friend them at Facebook.

(NOTE: Hey Ryan – please get some mp3’s posted somewhere – I’d love to direct people toward your music, but I can’t find any.)

After R. Scully, we rambled on over to the Blues Tent to get some Coco Robicheaux & The Swamp Monsters’ swampy blues. His smokin’ band delivered musical shades of Dr. John behind Coco’s gravelly vocals – which were often reminiscent of a love child born of Howlin’ Wolf and Tom Waits. It was quite a treat to experience this rootsy local legend.

Give a listen:

Hear more at Coco’s MySpace page.

Doc was anxious to hook-up with some friends over at the Gentilly Stage (folks he met at the 2009 JazzFest), so we headed out from under the Blues Tent and back into the sun. On our way, we passed by the Jazz & Heritage Stage and got drawn in by a down-right PARTY going on – hosted by Chief Iron Horse & The Black Seminoles Mardi Gras Indians. Good gravy – there must have been more people up on that stage than at a P-Funk show. . .drummin’, percussin’, groovin’, movin’, rappin’ and rhymin’. Cyril (center – red and yellow feathers) directed the madness from his “iron horse” (wheelchair) while his Black Seminoles whooped it up – second-line style. Everyone was having such a darn good time, the staff had quite a time clearing the band off to make room for the next act.

Photo credit: Glen Muñoz

After much cajoling, the Jazz Fest crew finally managed to clear the stage. . .so with a spring in our step and smiles of satisfaction on our faces, Doc and I made our way to Gentilly.

Whew – it was barely Noon on Day One and we had already taken in 3 excellent (and very different) acts.

Much more to come. . . .

Lean more about Charlie Hunter at his website, CharlieHunter.com.

Sloan Marshall (Keyboards) and Glen Muñoz (Vox, Perc and Harp)

After singer/guitartist Jason Gallagher explained to the full house that they were about to see The Steve Miller Band, Josh Karis (Drums) and Bradley Wegner (Bass) lit up the infectious toe-tappin’ rhythms of the first tune. And from the opening “Whoa” of “Swingtown” to the final verse of “Fly Like and Eagle” (featuring guest guitarist Scott Metzger), the crowd was 100% “in” for the entire set. . . .singing right along, making tons of noise and showering their praise upon the band after every Steve Miller classic.

Sloan, Glen, Josh, Jason, Bradley Cavanaugh and Bradley

After a quick break, the band re-took the stage with Scott in tow to run through a blistering set of originals (sprinkled with a couple of choice covers).

Sloan, Scott, Josh and Jason

What a night! What a freak-show (hey – c’mon – its the Village on Halloween Night!).

Yes, indeed!

The location will be NYC’s legendary The Bitter End on Bleecker St. just west of LaGuardia.

The date & time will be at Midnight on Halloween night.

The occasion will be a rippin’ performance by Leroy Justice.

The vibe will be:
– 1st set – a channeling of The Steve Miller Band and most of their Greatest Hits (during which yours truly will be contributing vocals, percussion and harmonica).
– 2nd set – LJ will proceed with what will surely be a smokin’ set of their bourbon-fueled, swaggerific original material.

So – put on your costume, come on down and join the freak show (we’ll be just blocks away from the Village Halloween Parade). It’s shaping up to be a great night!

3 smokin’ sets. . .

Leroy Justice - Sloan, Jason, Josh, Bradley and Brendan

The weather couldn’t have been more gnarly on Saturday – but just as well. The rain outside kept us inside, focused on the task at hand – nailing Steve Miller’s greatest hits (or most of them anyway).

The rehearsal space in the Berkshires

Jason and Josh made a stellar dinner happen (pasta with beef and sausage tomato sauce, garlic-bread and salad – followed by Jason’s apple crumb dessert).

By the time Sunday AM concluded, we got back to it. Over the next 4 hours, we worked the set through a few more times and tweaked a few endings before the boys considered it ready to go.

Sadly, the time had come to pack up the gear, load up the van and Sloan’s truck and head back to NYC. Fortunately, the weather on Sunday was fantastic and the views through the rolling valleys of the Berkshires were spectacular – reds, yellows and oranges against a light blue sky. As Moose said “F*CK ME – that’s BEAUTIFUL!”.

A great way to wrap an excellent weekend of music making with excellent people.

– I loved closing out my family’s Christmas Eve by reading Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nick” (aka “T’was The Night Before Christmas”). Surely my brothers (all older then me – and much more experienced at the Christmas thing) would roll their eyes and let out heavy sighs when I announced that the time had come for me to do my reading, but my parents insisted that they dutifully participate.

But first, I need to give a shout out to my boys Bradley, Brendan and Sloan (Wegner, Cavanaugh and Marshall respectively) for jumping right in and bringing their considerable talents to bear on this year’s free mp3 Xmas goody.

(Didn’t get yours? Then click the Xmas tab at the top of this page.)

It’s difficult to express how great it feels to give someone a ring, say to them “Hey – listen – I know you’re busy. . . .but maybe you and the guys would like to come down to the studio and work on a song idea of mine” and then pause and wait for the “Well. . . .you know. . . .gee. . .um. . .I’m, um. . .”. BUT INSTEAD, each of them replied with a “Yeah, man – sounds cool. Let’s look at calendars and lock in the date”.

FANTASTIC!

Bradley, Brendan and Sloan (a KCJP regular) play together in a smokin’ group called Leroy Justice (you may recall their tasty Beatles cover for the “Christmas Sessions” release). Be sure you check them out when in their hometown of NYC (they play the Bitter End fairly regularly), or if you’re lucky enough to have them visit your city.

Thanks, boys – I enjoyed working with you in the studio and appreciate you bringing your A-game.

You can now click below to download your free mp3.

[drain file 5 show download]

ENJOY!

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