Will Jazz Fest Revive the Big Easy?
April 25, 2006 — -- Displaced musicians are making their way back home to New Orleans to celebrate their roots at the 37th Annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which runs April 28-30, and picks up again the following weekend, May 5-7.
Jazz Fest usually draws crowds of about a half a million over seven days (this year's festival has been cut to six days), and is second only to Mardi Gras in feeding this city's largest industry, tourism.
Aside from supporting the tourist industry, the festival holds a strong cultural importance, as jazz was born in the Crescent City and music remains dear to the hearts of its residents. The musicians participating this year recognize the importance of the festival to the city and its culture.
Trumpet player and cultural ambassador Irvin Mayfield lost his father during the storm and says he knows the value of musicians to New Orleans.
"The important message of Jazz Fest is that we are trying to do as much as we can to have the musicians come back and understand that this city is not forgotten about and that we understand that they are an important part of this rebuilding process," Mayfield said. "And not just an important part, but the most important part."
Many of the local acts that will fill the festival's stages have struggled to come back or are still displaced, returning only to perform at Jazz Fest. New Orleans singer Marva Wright, still relocated in Maryland, has only returned once.
"[Jazz Fest] should be important for everybody. This will be my second time back in the city. The first was Christmas at Tipitina's [music club]. I cried the whole time I was there. Every time I saw somebody I haven't seen for a long time, I was glad everybody was OK," Wright said.
This year's festival features huge names such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon, along with a host of other local and national acts. Pianist and notable New Orleans character Dr. John, who has been watching the politics of New Orleans unfold while touring the country, has been looking forward to returning.
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