Jazz and burgers by the River

5th September 2017   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

In March 2017, Jazz in the Park, renowned for its Thursday evening concert series in Armstrong Park, kicked it up a notch by presenting a nighttime show featuring national stars including vibraphonist Roy Ayers and vocalist Michael Franks. The beautiful and spiritual Congo Square was packed with music-loving members of the New Orleans community. The show was so successful that the People United for Armstrong Park (PUFAP) organization that presents Jazz in the Park, decided to put on another night concert but this time in the roomier space of Crescent Park.

To kick off its inaugural, two-day Burger Fest, Jazz in the Park presents two, nationally renowned vocalists, Stephanie Mills and Deniece Williams to perform at a ticketed, nighttime show on Friday, September 8. Each artist will be bringing in her own band for their performance. That’s always a plus for a singer and audience as the musicians know the material and are in tune with the headliner.

Stephanie Mills, who closes the show that starts at 7 p.m. with our own wonderful jazz singer Stephanie Jordan, gained fame on stage performing the part of Dorothy in the original, 1975 production of “The Wiz,” which was, of course, an African-American take on “The Wizard of Oz.” The tune, “Home,” from the musical became Mills’ signature song. Mills and Williams, whose infectious hit “Let’s Hear It For the Boy” reverberates with a huge cross section of audiences, share deep roots in gospel music as well as accolades in rhythm and blues. They’ve both gone home Grammy winners.

A beautiful night under the oaks in Congo Square for the Ayers/Franks concert was perfect. Yet an evening by the Mississippi River, where there’s often a pleasant breeze, complete with a unique view of the French Quarter and the river’s winding shape certainly offers its own magnificence. Besides the larger space, the Crescent Park also offers a large structure, the “Mandeville Shed,” that provides shelter from the elements. Rain won’t stop the show and for Saturday’s, all-day, free festival event it offers shade from that hot September sun.

For those who haven’t been to the Crescent Park, it’s located at 1708 N. Peters Street in the Faubourg Marigny. The box office and entrance for the Burger Fest will be located at the bottom of the elevator and stairs that go up to the pedestrian bridge that takes you across the railroad tracks. That in itself is a unique experience.

On Saturday, September 9, the Burger Fest continues with a musical line-up that is, well, juicy and offers a variety of musical condiments. Cyril Neville’s Swamp Funk headlines as the closing act of the event which starts at 11 a.m. and goes through about 8 p.m. The N’awlins Johnny’s jump out first and should be on stage when the “Burger Battle” begins. One thing should be noted: There’s a very good reason that this event is called the Burger Fest rather than the Hamburger Fest as there won’t necessarily be beef found nestled between the buns. Offerings by the 10 participating food vendors will include lobster burgers, shrimp burgers, vegan burgers and more.

Back to the music… As mentioned before thoughts of all the delicacy jumped in, the scheduled artists at the festival are impressively top notch. That, actually, is in keeping with the quality of musicians that Jazz in the Park presents during it Thursday evening concert series. The organization , along with the Covenant House “Sleep Out Against Homelessness” campaign, will benefit from the proceeds from the festival.

It remains amazing that the great, internationally renowned saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr. can be experienced at this free concert as well as so many other gigs and functions in New Orleans. He’ll be blowing out front of a quintet that includes two of his former students at the Tipitina’s Internship Program, bassist Jasen Weaver and drummer Thomas Glass. The group is rounded out with pianist Shea Pierre and guitarist Detroit Brooks. “We’ll be playing the history of jazz, soul, hip-hop and New Orleans music,” says Harrison. “All music informs each other,” he adds, stating that he teaches his pupils all styles of music so their “opportunities are vast and they can choose what to play.”

There will also be a too-rare appearance by the always rhythmically exciting Los Hombres Calientes featuring percussionist and vocalist Bill Summers, once with the legendary Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, and trumpeter Irvin Mayfield.

OTRA, a New Orleans fav, will move the rhythms to a Latin tempo and sway while the Caesar Brothers Funkbox featuring Big Chief Juan Pardo, goes for, as the name of the band suggests, New Orleans funk and Mardi Gras Indian streets beats.

Tickets to Friday night’s performance by Stephanie Mills and Deniece Williams are available at www.evenbrite.com. Saturday’s all-day event is free.

This article originally published in the September 4, 2017 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.