Ahhh....so, you like Jazz

[Bill/KC]

This just happened to me again over the weekend. How many times have you told someone that you're going to Jazzfest in New Orleans and they give you that kinda funny look and say "Ahhhh...so, you like Jazz". Used to try to explain the Fest....but now, it's just easier to change the conversation. :)
BTW, in 12 years of Festin', I can count on one hand the times I've been in the Jazz Tent. Nothing wrong with it....jus' not ma thang.

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

I like most kinds of music including jazz, classical, gospel, roots, folk, new orleans funk. But my heart and soul is the Blues. I have a major weakest for the slide guitar. Ex: Sonny Landreth, Dave Hole, Derek Trucks, Warren Waynes, Eric Sardinas, Roy Rodgers and several others. But, like you, everyone thinks I go to JF just to see Jazz.

[festivalgirl]

I tell people it's the Jazz and Heritage Festival - American roots music.

[Bill/KC]

All they hear is "Jazz"....<sigh>.:rolleyes:

[Zydekitten]

I love Jazz (and the Jazz Tent), but I love pretty much everything else there too . . . IAG!! :D

[Corona]

I call it the huge music festival in New Orleans to those I don't feel like explaining it to if they haven't heard of it lol....just easier that way....I feel your pain Bill...

[Staxsun]

All they hear is "Jazz"....<sigh>.:rolleyes:

I've gone from trying to explain to saying, "cool, less people to have to deal with" to trying to explain again. The folks in N.O. need the word to get out there. Jazz is not at the top of my dance card, but over the years the fest has introduced me to some great jazz music and musicians. I would have never have gone to see some of these folks if they played down the street from me, but at Jazzfest you get to sample them at no real risk. Due to that, I have become much more versed and interested in jazz.

[swag]

I get that a lot too. Instead of explaining, I usually just rattle off the headliners. When they hear Dylan, Springsteen, Buffett, DMB, Paul Simon, they generally figure out for themselves that the moniker is misleading.

Then when they ask who was best, I tell them, "oh, i didn't see any of those guys. I saw Kermit and Etta and Bonerama instead." :D

[bluesgirl]

I get that a lot too. Instead of explaining, I usually just rattle off the headliners. When they hear Dylan, Springsteen, Buffett, DMB, Paul Simon, they generally figure out for themselves that the moniker is misleading.

Then when they ask who was best, I tell them, "oh, i didn't see any of those guys. I saw Kermit and Etta and Bonerama instead." :D

I always tell people that I heard a lick or 2 on my way to the Fais-Do-Do stage and they sounded OK. :D

[Belle]

I know what you all are saying. The don't have and clue crowd but I keep on trying. Oh well

[bluesgirl]

I know what you all are saying. The don't have and clue crowd but I keep on trying. Oh well

My friends are used to me listening to music that they have never heard of, but they end up liking it. Last summer, Rosie played at a local blues fest, and the people sitting near me were about to head to the second stage with the local bands, but as soon as they heard the first accordjun (and the men got a look at Rosie), they stopped and stayed and even DANCED!!!!

[Michelino]

I'm most likely to say..."Yes, I LOVE Jazz and New Orleans is where it was born." Then I tell them that I also really, really like classical music and that Tchaikovsky's violin concerto takes me places that they only dream their dreary corporate pop could go...which usually gets them to avoid bothering me again.

Cause when people act so proud in announcing to the world what they don't like or who they can't stand...and why they'll swallow a chicken embryo scrambled on a muffin but need to issue loud condemnations at the sight of a cooked oyster (or maybe even broccoli), I can't help myself....I file them under "buffoon" until proven otherwise.

Life IS diversity. If you don't get that, best SHUT UP around me.

[Belle]

I'm most likely to say..."Yes, I LOVE Jazz and New Orleans is where it was born." Then I tell them that I also really, really like classical music and that Tchaikovsky's violin concerto takes me places that they only dream their dreary corporate pop could go...which usually gets them to avoid bothering me again.

Cause when people act so proud in announcing to the world what they don't like or who they can't stand...and why they'll swallow a chicken embryo scrambled on a muffin but need to issue loud condemnations at the sight of a cooked oyster (or maybe even broccoli), I can't help myself....I file them under "buffoon" until proven otherwise.

Life IS diversity. If you don't get that, best SHUT UP around me.

I LOVE YOU!!!

[stynger]

I use to go to The Long Beach Blues Festival for many years when I lived LA. I can't tell you how many people would say something like this to me "so how was that jazz festival"? I guess the word "jazz" must stick in a lot of people's mind.

[Jada]

I call it the huge music festival in New Orleans to those I don't feel like explaining it to if they haven't heard of it lol....just easier that way....I feel your pain Bill...

Ditto. I hear ya!

[funkkjunkie]

The guy who teaches next to me is a music lover. I give him a few cd burns every once ina while. Yesterday I said hey, come in here and look at this. I had my cubes, highlights and all. I said check this out and we looked at the closing acts on acouple days. He was impressed. Then he pointed to my highlights and said but how are you gonna see all these bands youhave highlighted at the same time? LOL! So Im not but it's fun to dream.

[Chicago Fest Fan]

This just happened to me again over the weekend. How many times have you told someone that you're going to Jazzfest in New Orleans and they give you that kinda funny look and say "Ahhhh...so, you like Jazz". Used to try to explain the Fest....but now, it's just easier to change the conversation. :)
BTW, in 12 years of Festin', I can count on one hand the times I've been in the Jazz Tent. Nothing wrong with it....jus' not ma thang.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I ran into an old friend that I have not seen in over 10 years and the first thing he says to me is "now I know what you guys are talking about". Me and my friends would always talk about Jazz fest and he would say "Whats the big deal, its Jazz". Then he went one year and has not missed one since, 7 years straight.
The only problem now is he goes 1st weekend and we go 2nd. One year I'll have to do both.

[swag]

Careful. Once you do both, you'll be stuck doing it every year.

I used to do one weekend. Then one year I came down on Wed for 2nd weekend. The next year, Tues. The year after, I came 1st Sunday. Then the whole thing, thru 2nd Sunday night. Then thru Monday morning. And now, with no more Jazzfest left to add, I am forced into French Quarter Festival as well.

[pgh_girl]

Sounds like a terrible fate Swag! :) I also emphasize the [U]Heritage[U] part and talk about what a great cultural mecca NOLA is - I also throw in the big names if they insist on talking Jazz (which is not my personal favorite)

[Lester_leaps_in]

I'm a jazz and blues guy myself, and I always check out the other stuff. My family thinks I'm going to jazz (only) fest. Some people, you just can't tell'em.

[ncfunk]

Careful. Once you do both, you'll be stuck doing it every year.

I used to do one weekend. Then one year I came down on Wed for 2nd weekend. The next year, Tues. The year after, I came 1st Sunday. Then the whole thing, thru 2nd Sunday night. Then thru Monday morning. And now, with no more Jazzfest left to add, I am forced into French Quarter Festival as well.

Uh-oh, I think that's already happening to me. Started with a weekend...then Wednesday through second Sunday...then started coming earlier and earlier in the week. Last year we got there in time for first Sunday and stayed through the following Monday and this year we're coming Thursday before the first weekend and staying through second Friday. I can see the writing on the wall, it's probably already too late for me.

Of course, one can do worse than to follow in the footsteps of swag.

As for the "Jazz" fest, I LOVE jazz, but I see so much more FUNK in New Orleans than jazz. And as hard as it is explaining how diverse Jazzfest is, explaining New Orleans FUNK to the Top 40 crowd is for all intents and purposes, impossible.

[funkkjunkie]

YYR, ncfunk, I used to say yes, I like jazz but I love funk. Huh? what did you say? Aw, never mind.

[Corona]

lol Swag...sounds like our build up...last year we missed 1st Friday but this year we're not missing a day.....just can't deal with the pain anymore :)

[Corona]

Uh-oh, I think that's already happening to me. Started with a weekend...then Wednesday through second Sunday...then started coming earlier and earlier in the week. Last year we got there in time for first Sunday and stayed through the following Monday and this year we're coming Thursday before the first weekend and staying through second Friday. I can see the writing on the wall, it's probably already too late for me.

Of course, one can do worse than to follow in the footsteps of swag.

As for the "Jazz" fest, I LOVE jazz, but I see so much more FUNK in New Orleans than jazz. And as hard as it is explaining how diverse Jazzfest is, explaining New Orleans FUNK to the Top 40 crowd is for all intents and purposes, impossible.
oh jeezus, I hear ya on that one...I love the funk more than any other genre down there. There is NO WAY to explain it....ya gotta FEEL it to understand...and ya need to feel it live. God, I can't wait to see my newbies when they get it first hand :)

[Orleansnj]

Careful. Once you do both, you'll be stuck doing it every year.

I used to do one weekend. Then one year I came down on Wed for 2nd weekend. The next year, Tues. The year after, I came 1st Sunday. Then the whole thing, thru 2nd Sunday night. Then thru Monday morning. And now, with no more Jazzfest left to add, I am forced into French Quarter Festival as well.

Swag - please tell me that you're staying in New Orleans from April 13th - May 8th or some fantastic vacation like that so that I can turn green with envy.

[funkkjunkie]

Shoot, what are you talkin about, ornj? We're already green with envy over the length of your stay!! How many daze?

[Orleansnj]

Shoot, what are you talkin about, ornj? We're already green with envy over the length of your stay!! How many daze?

I'm not stayin; as long as Swag might be planning......and besides, my stay was totally unplanned........but hell - I am SOOOOOO happy about it....no doubt.

[swag]

Swag - please tell me that you're staying in New Orleans from April 13th - May 8th or some fantastic vacation like that so that I can turn green with envy.

Flying home on the 16th, then back on the 27th. If I stayed thru between the Fests this year, how would I expand my trip again next year?

[McGregor]

This is a good place to ask this. I'm not a huge jazz fan but do appreciate it and would like to catch one act at least.

I'd like to see someone on the second weekend in an early afternoon slot. Any recs?

(sorry for the thread hijack)

[Orleansnj]

Flying home on the 16th, then back on the 27th. If I stayed thru between the Fests this year, how would I expand my trip again next year?

you wouldn't need to expand your trip - you'd need to repeat it - and then in year three -just freakin' move to New Orleans already...... LOL

[sophisticated sissy]

This is a good place to ask this. I'm not a huge jazz fan but do appreciate it and would like to catch one act at least.

I'd like to see someone on the second weekend in an early afternoon slot. Any recs?

(sorry for the thread hijack)

Just one? Then you gotta be at the Woodshed @ 12:15 on 2nd Saturday.

[saturn]

This is a good place to ask this. I'm not a huge jazz fan but do appreciate it and would like to catch one act at least.

I'd like to see someone on the second weekend in an early afternoon slot. Any recs?

(sorry for the thread hijack)

Not sure what kind of jazz you want to hear, but I would recommend the New Orleans Jazz Vipers -- Economy Hall, second Sat.

[windowman]

I'd like to see someone on the second weekend in an early afternoon slot. Any recs?

1. Ellis Marsalis, Friday, 5/4, Jazz Tent@1:25

2. Maurice Brown, Sunday, 5/6, Jazz Tent@ 11:30A
If you get there early enough, go see this very talented young trumpet player.

3. Danza feat. Evan Christopher and Tom McDermott, Sat. 5/5, Economy Hall@12:30. The N.O. Jazz Vipers precede them at 11:20.

[Zbonnie]

I tell people it's the Jazz and Heritage Festival - American roots music.Yeah, I do too, but all they hear is the JAZZ part. I do love jazz, and find myself sitting in the Jazz tent or Economy Hall more and more every year.

[McGregor]

Not sure what kind of jazz you want to hear, but I would recommend the New Orleans Jazz Vipers -- Economy Hall, second Sat.

I think I'll take this rec up. I dig that name, Jazz Vipers, very cool! I already want a shirt and I've never heard them! :D

[Zbonnie]

As for the "Jazz" fest, I LOVE jazz, but I see so much more FUNK in New Orleans than jazz. And as hard as it is explaining how diverse Jazzfest is, explaining New Orleans FUNK to the Top 40 crowd is for all intents and purposes, impossible.Likewise, trying to explain NOLA brass band music to anyone who's never heard it and heard it LIVE AND DOWN AND DIRTY AND FUNKYYY with that distinctive snare drum beat (a fair amount of people have heard of the Dirty Dozen though, and that's a good place to start).

[NOLA]

I think I'll take this rec up. I dig that name, Jazz Vipers, very cool! I already want a shirt and I've never heard them! :D

I think you'll like the Jazz Vipers.

[NOLA]

lol Swag...sounds like our build up...last year we missed 1st Friday but this year we're not missing a day.....just can't deal with the pain anymore :)

Next year it'll be FQF too!

[mymecca]

love the dancefloor...live music rawks!...i just say it's the best of the best on 10 stages all day long...same people play night gigs...what not to like?...and we haven't even mentioned the food or the vibe or the bliss!

[jhjpotter]

Careful. Once you do both, you'll be stuck doing it every year.

I used to do one weekend. Then one year I came down on Wed for 2nd weekend. The next year, Tues. The year after, I came 1st Sunday. Then the whole thing, thru 2nd Sunday night. Then thru Monday morning. And now, with no more Jazzfest left to add, I am forced into French Quarter Festival as well. Sounds like us. We came 2 years ago for the patry and second weekend, last year we were gonna do the same but upped it to first sunday when we saw the lineup, and we were already on the east coast, so no reason to fly home and back. Now we're thursday first weekend through tuesday after fest.....DOH!!!

[Frosty]

I get that a lot too. Instead of explaining, I usually just rattle off the headliners. When they hear Dylan, Springsteen, Buffett, DMB, Paul Simon, they generally figure out for themselves that the moniker is misleading.

Then when they ask who was best, I tell them, "oh, i didn't see any of those guys. I saw Kermit and Etta and Bonerama instead." :D

I had to laugh at that one. That's just like me. I don't tell them who I saw, I tell them who I skipped out on (Dylan, DMB, etc.).

[barry10016]

Careful. Once you do both, you'll be stuck doing it every year.

I used to do one weekend. Then one year I came down on Wed for 2nd weekend. The next year, Tues. The year after, I came 1st Sunday. Then the whole thing, thru 2nd Sunday night. Then thru Monday morning. And now, with no more Jazzfest left to add, I am forced into French Quarter Festival as well.


same here bro, we came for 2nd weekend only for years and years, then started to come in a day or so earlier to catch PDKK parties, then it was let's try the whole shebang and now we're stuck on it.

[ozzie]

I had to laugh at that one. That's just like me. I don't tell them who I saw, I tell them who I skipped out on (Dylan, DMB, etc.).

Yep, I was skipping around the office today with the LMF in-store schedule in hand. A colleague who is actually interested in the whole deal said, "oh, so who would be there that I would know?" Are you kidding me! He seemed to miss the comparison of our chain, sanitised record stores to an experience of NOLA magnitude. P'raps he's not that interested after all! Fool.

[brooklyngal]

I get that a lot too. Instead of explaining, I usually just rattle off the headliners. When they hear Dylan, Springsteen, Buffett, DMB, Paul Simon, they generally figure out for themselves that the moniker is misleading.

Then when they ask who was best, I tell them, "oh, i didn't see any of those guys. I saw Kermit and Etta and Bonerama instead." :D

I do this too Swag and it does help explain. I used to live in KC, Bill, and I used to get that a lot there but I think a lot of people just hear "jazz" when you say Jazz Fest or Jazz and Heritage Festival--although the latter should help some.

[mariena]

I love jazz, blues, cajun, zydeco, classical, rock anything really. So the festival is perfect for me. I don't bother trying to explain it to people. If the person is a music lover like myself, I will give them a better idea of the diversity that is Jazz Fest.

And like Swag, I am finding myself more immersed in this beautiful thing every year. We used to be 2nd weekenders only. This will be the first year for both weekends. Starting to look at FQ fest and daze in between, too. I am volunteering at Ms. Lena's beer tent and going to more night shows than ever before. I can't wait for Fest and also to meet you all.
Mariena