I know its not mongering, but I am thinking of hitting NOjazzfest this year for the second weekend. This will be my 7th Jazz fest but I haven't been to Jazzfest since the big K. I usually travel with some mates but they can't make it this year. So is anyone thinking of hitting the big show?

Isawal,
I used to go to the fest every year, usually for both weekends. I attended 14 out of 15 years straight. But I have not been there in a long time. Some of the best music I have every enjoyed was during "the fest". The coolest thing about it is all of the musicians in town and they all meet up in the cool clubs and sit in with each other. One night, Bonnie Raitt, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Bill Wyman, Chuck Leavell all showed up at Tipatinas for the Nevelle Brothers gig. I was happier than a green-headed fly on a freshly dropped doggie turd.
Good music and plenty of it.

The best treat, however, was enjoying my all-time favorite pianist, James Booker, playing solo in a second-tier club. He was sorta hot or cold in his later years, but when he was on he defied the limits of a piano. As a guy who has tormented keyboards for over 50 years, it was the greatest performance I have ever experienced. I have tried to think of something that you can do with your clothes on that was more fun than that night but I cannot. It was more fun than pulling a greasy string out of cat's butt.

James was found dead less than 36 hours later, victim of his own excesses. But his last hoorah deserved unlimited exclamation points.

I have not been to new orleans in a long time. I do not live far from there but it seems far away...(drifts into dream sequence, spills beer...falls out of chair)...uh what?

(climbs back into chair, attempts to regain his cool, graceful demeanor)

So, have fun in the big easy, bud. But please share your stories of the one of the greatest parties in the world.

I live only about 4.5 hours by car from NO...3 hours if I ride Lucretia (my motorcycle) late at night...

PS: These days, if I have time to go to new orleans I usually go much further south, even or just a couple of days. Probably won't make it again this year, sigh...

Thanks for jolting up some fond memories.