It’s Jazz Fest Time

10th May 2011   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
The Louisiana Weekly Contributing Writer

Jazz Fest. That’s what we call the annual musical extravaganza that this year falls later in the spring than usual: April 29-May 1 and May 5 – May 8, 2011. It’s a shared experience that people embrace individually and in groups and that means something different to everyone.

For veteran fest-goers, just stepping on the infield of the Fair Grounds Race Track on the first day is exhilarating. They generally arrive early and stand in the lines of folks waiting for the gates to open. Once inside the venue, a moment occurs when these regulars just stop, look around and realize gleefully, “Yes, I made it again.”

For musicians, it’s a time to make money and hopefully get spotted by a festival producer or a record company executive who thinks they’ve got what it takes. Sleep deprivation is part of the package for artists (as well as attendees) who are often spotted running from tent to tent at the Fair Grounds – think of the late great Clyde Kerr Jr. who’d often play traditional and avant garde jazz and rhythm and blues all in one day. When the sun sets, some of these same musicians have been known to head out to perform two or three gigs.

With money tight and ticket prices formidable ($45 in advance plus handling fees, $60 at the gate), many people who once attended the festival every day are forced re-think their approach to the event. Fondly remembering when a mere $8 or so would get you in the gate, they now narrow down their options, carefully choosing one or two “must go” days. The festival is a long way from the time when one could bring in coolers full of beer and soft drinks, so planning ahead is an important aspect to prevent serious wallet drain. Wisely eating a big breakfast or lunch solves the yen for hitting an excessive number of the alluring food booths.

Still a bargain in comparison to a single concert ticket, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival certainly offers an abundance of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to hear artists that one might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. This first weekend in particular boasts a myriad of Haitian musicians as the entire 2011 Jazz Fest celebrates the New Orleans/Haiti connection. In doing so, the fest also helps maintain an awareness of the continued hardships in the country following 2010’s catastrophic earthquake.

A massive immigration to New Orleans of whites, free people of color and enslaved Africans from Haiti occurred during and following the Haitian Revolution of 1804. Significantly, it doubled the city’s population. These new residents brought with them their culture, food, music, language, religion and architecture.

“It was another infusion to the Franco-African culture that already existed,” says clarinetist Dr. Michael White who performs on Friday, April 29 with an ensemble led by Haitian-born, New Orleans resident Dr. Jean Montes and that includes vocalist Emeline Michel, known as the “Queen of Haitian Song.” The set promises to demonstrate the kinship between the two locales.

“New Orleans is, in many of ways, an international city,” White continues. “I think one of the things that makes us so magic is the way we’ve taken and absorbed influences from other cultures. Of all the places, our connection to Haiti is one of the strongest, if not the strongest, things that influenced our music, attitude and culture.”

White’s primary focus will be on the New Orleans traditional jazz’s relationship with Haitian music. He explains that one of the island nation’s most popular songs, “Haiti Cherie” shares a similar structure with tunes such as “Panama” and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” In recording tunes such as his original “Caribbean Girl,” White had previously recognized the musical commonality of New Orleans and Haiti as did, he points out, the legendary Sidney Bechet as heard on several of the soprano saxophonist’s recordings.

On White’s latest CD, New Adventures in New Orleans Jazz, the clarinetist contributes a song that demonstrates the relationship between this city’s second line traditions and Haiti’s rara. It can be realized at the festival on Sunday, May 1 with a performance by the costumed, rhythm-heavy Brook­lyn-based group DJA-Rara of Haiti. Traveling the world, it dedicates itself to keeping the cultural music of Haiti vital throughout the Diaspora. The name rara comes from the elongated horns that are played – think of the blazing trumpets at social aid and pleasure club parades.

Shades of Louisiana’s zydeco tradition can be detected in the group Ti-Coca & Wanga Neges, which plays on Friday, April 29. Led since 1976 by vocalist David “T-Coca” Mettelus, the instrumentation of the band includes a banjo or guitar, accordion, upright bass and drums.

Haiti’s most well-known musical exports include the renowned Wyclef Jean, who first made waves with the band The Fugees. The vocalist gained a huge, international following not only for his music but for his political activism especially since Haiti’s devastating earthquake. He even ran for president of the island country in 2010 as alluded to by his latest CD, If I Was President.

On Sunday, May 1, Boukman Eksperyans, one of Haiti’s most celebrated bands of the last 20 years, makes a much-anticipated New Orleans appearance. It’s noted for blending Haitian traditional music and rock with political and socially conscious lyrics. Ultimately, it’s all about dancing.

The Haitian celebration continues during Jazz Fest’s second weekend as well though not quite to the extent that it does this weekend. Just two groups — the modern touched kompa rhythms of Djakout #1 on Friday, May 6, and the rara-driven tradition meets modern instrumentation of the energized ensemble RAM on May 8.

Jazz Fest. It is an overflowing cornucopia of music, food and culture whether experienced for one day or, if one’s lucky enough, every day. The Jazz & Heritage Festival embraces our own great, homegrown talent while bringing the world of music to our doorstep.

This story originally published in the April 25, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.