New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest 2010

Opening Night

Fair Grounds Race Course
New Orleans, LA
April 23, 2010

Irma Thomas

Lionel Richie

George Clinton

Story by Andy Argyrakis & Mike Kane
Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The summer concert season is officially up and running now that New Orleans kicked off its annual Jazz & Heritage Festival. Not only has this Crescent City tradition endured throughout changing musical fads and natural disasters, but it continues to flourish thanks to a well-balanced mixture of local luminaries with the top names in national and worldwide talent spanning its core genres, plus pretty much every other musical style in existence.

Though the day was packed with rain that reached a near torrential downpour during its most tumultuous moments, music lovers were fearless and the entertainers rose to the occasion. Headliner Lionel Richie, who returned to the extravaganza following a post Hurricane Katrina appearance, helped transform the puddles into a sweaty dance party loaded with a plethora of dance pop pleasantries. The longtime leader of The Commodores (not to mention Louisiana native) is back on the scene thanks to a red hot new album called Just Go (Island/Def Jam), which includes modern production values from Akon, but also packs plenty of his old school soul sensibility.

Though he tipped his hat towards material from the 2000s (like the rhythmic "Just For You"), staples of the 1970s and '80s made up most of the 90 minute throwdown. Classics like "Penny Lover" and "Running With the Night" have since translated to every generation that's come after, while disco era favorites like "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" and "Brick House" transformed with the help of a slickly oiled backing band. To highlight his reputation as a songwriter, several piano ballads were on display ("Easy," "Three Times a Lady," "Sail On"), though upbeat affairs like "All Night Long" sent the masses home singing loud and proud.

Across the enormous field, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic turned in a set of trippy funk filled with robust horns, chunky bass lines, outrageous apparel and even more over the top interludes. Though she performs every year, local hero Irma Thomas turned in a rare set honoring the late Mahalia Jackson, which reverently honored the gospel great and interjected an inspirational tone amidst the revelry.

Hometown hero Dr. John & the Lower 911 also continued in its roots rockin' tradition, all the while upholding the city's consistently compelling musical gumbo. Additional variety came courtesy of Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, who paid tribute to the genre's forefather Rockin' Dopsie, Sr., plus Lena Prima, daughter of the late great Louis Prima, who upheld his swingin' sophistication.

If the first evening of the marathon celebration was any indication, chances are this year's Jazz & Heritage Festival will land in the history books as one of its best. All the action picks up right back up where this weekend left off, spanning Thursday, April 29 through Sunday, May 2 and boasting the likes of Aretha Franklin, Pearl Jam, Jeff Beck, the Neville Brothers, Van Morrison, B.B. King and The Dead Weather. For tickets and additional details, visit www.nojazzfest.com.