Essence Festival 2015 – Dance lovin’ crowd

13th July 2015   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
personal loans lilburn ga Contributing Writer

The Essence Festival has changed since its early years, though in many ways it remarkably stays the same. Oh yes, like Jazz Fest, the price of admission has gone way up, making the nighttime shows in the Superdome inaccessible to many. The daytime events, however, that include panel discussions with many notable speakers and musical performance that this year included some great gospel artists were, as always, free.

In the past, it seemed that many of the acts that arrived on the big stage early in the night tended toward more romantic, contemporary rhythm and blues vocalists. Kinda mushy for 7 p.m! This year, Kem kicked the evening and festival off with excitement. His energy got the crowd into the spirit that would follow through for the rest of the night that boasted a line-up fit for an Essence Festival closing Sunday, rather than a Friday show.

India.arie, wearing a turban worthy of the late, great actress/dancer/singer Carmen Miranda though it sported flowers and butterflies rather than tropical southern pacific personal loans fruit, prevailed with her optimistic aura. She was one with the audience as she asked her people, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” and the crowd shouted back, “Yes, I am!” The intimacy and warmth she created came from within herself as she spun around in an inviting sense of joy. As she picked up her guitar, it was reminiscent of a folk singer, an African griot really, who would offer a gentle message, as heard on “I Believe in Open Doors.” Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela rejoice!

The first night of the full Essence Festival schedule (Thursday’s event didn’t include the superlounges), kept the old-school dancing tradition alive with back-to-back performances by the literally lit-up Charlie Wilson – LED lights made him gloriously twinkle with every step – and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. Old-school was the equivalent of fun this night and throughout much of the Fest. If an artist gave it whether from the main stage or the superlounges, they got it right back.
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Talk about good times, Tank and the Bangas, an on-the-rise New Orleans group had the entire superlounge beaming. Tank, leader Tarriona Ball, a super-talented slam poet, singer, drama queen and bandleader, just killed the crowd heading her expanded and very tight — and much improved since its earlier days — band. Her big, expressive eyes just glowed with happiness throughout her impressive set that included startlingly fast raps, sudden tempo changes while vocally, and seemingly effortlessly, she’d hit some super high notes. Tank would often wipe her eyes giving the impression that she was so happy she might cry. And why not? Tank and the Bangas, which celebrated and obviously enjoyed its first appearance at Essence Festival will soon be heading to England for a prolonged period, not returning until fall.

Groups like Tank and the Bangas and Maze – one newcomers, one veterans – inspire dancing that makes everybody energized. It just seems like there was more booty-shakin’ at this year’s Essence Festival than during some past same day installment loans for bad credit years. Certainly, power-rapper Missy Elliot got the audience on its feet and moving. Her exuberance compelled it. She represented a real-deal sister with her straight-on, in-your-face style.

Instrumentation beyond a rhythm section and keyboards — and maybe a guitar — appears to have become a of a much welcome trend in contemporary Black music. At the festival the movement was led by New Orleans artists. The Bangas included two saxophonists and of course Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews fronted his hard-hitting Orleans Avenue band wielding a ‘bone and trumpet with a couple of saxes behind him. He and his group also fit into the “more dancing” category though admittedly it took the crowd a minute to catch on.

Unlike tunes performed by other, more established artists like Bey­oncé or Charlie Wilson on which everybody seems to know all the words, Andrews’ material was newer to the crowd. But Shorty got ‘em when he attacked the trumpet for an elongated circular breathing demonstration on “For True,” the title cut of his 2011 album. payday loans waipahu hawaii The longer he blew, the more people stood up and took notice and once they did, they were with our homeboy until the end. The guest appearance of another one of our own, rapper Mystikal, complete with his own hot dancers, boosted Trombone Shorty’s set to another, truly New Orleans level. Go Shorty!

If the trend for the Essence Festival means more dancing, more instruments, more meaningful and musical hip-hop and fun, then that works. Oh yeah, throw some jazz and brass bands back in there too.

Patrice Rushen Brings Her Expertise to Jazz Camp Students

As if the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, which was established in 1995, doesn’t have enough talent on its faculty – saxophonist Kidd Jordan, vocalist Germaine Bazzle, saxophonist Roderick Paulin and many more – it also brings in renowned national musicians to mentor the students of the three-week program. This year, Grammy-nominated pianist, composer and producer Patrice Rushen will not only share her musical wisdom to those dedicated students who participate in how to take out personal loans the intense study but also headline a benefit for the Camp on Wednesday, July 15 at the Little Gem Saloon, 445 S. Rampart Street. She will be backed by members of the Jazz Camp faculty including drummer Herman Lebeaux and percussionist Jonathan Bloom plus bassist Roland Guerin with Stephanie Jordan adding her voice as a background vocalist.

The Camp’s musical director, saxophonist Kidd Jordan, will also play a set with faculty members bassist Brian Quezergue, keyboardist Darrell Lavigne and drummer Lebeaux.

The wonderful jazz vocalist Germaine Bazzle, who’s taught at the Camp since its onset, will also lead her own set. Opening the fundraiser at 7 p.m. are members of the Jazz Camp alumni with pianist Dr. Courtney Bryan, reedman Gregory Agid and bassist Quezergue. A bit of lagniappe includes the arrival of trumpeter/vocalist Kermit Ruffins who has long supported the Camp’s educational activities.

Tickets are $35 and all proceeds benefit the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp.

This article originally published in the July 13, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.