Jazz & Heritage Festival

Jazz & Heritage Festival. The Jazz & Heritage Festival, also known as New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, is an annual celebration of music, food, and culture in New Orleans, Louisiana, featuring performances by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. The festival showcases a diverse range of genres, including Jazz, Blues, Gospel, R&B, and Rock, with past performances by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Stevie Wonder. The event is produced by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the music and culture of Louisiana, in collaboration with New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation and Louisiana Department of Tourism.

Introduction

The Jazz & Heritage Festival is a 10-day event that takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana, typically in late April and early May, featuring performances by Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., and Dr. John. The festival is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, a historic horse racing track in New Orleans, and attracts visitors from around the world, including France, Canada, and Australia. The event celebrates the unique cultural heritage of New Orleans, which is reflected in its music, food, and festive traditions, with influences from Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. The festival also features a range of activities, including food vendors, craft booths, and kids' activities, with participation from New Orleans Museum of Art, National WWII Museum, and New Orleans Botanical Garden.

History

The Jazz & Heritage Festival was first held in 1970, with performances by Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, and Fats Domino, and was founded by George Wein, a Jazz promoter and producer, in collaboration with New Orleans Mayor Victor Schiro and Louisiana Governor John McKeithen. The festival was created to promote and preserve the music and culture of New Orleans, which was facing decline in the 1960s and 1970s, with support from National Endowment for the Arts and Louisiana Division of the Arts. Over the years, the festival has grown in size and popularity, with attendance increasing from a few thousand in the early years to over 400,000 today, with visitors from United States, Europe, and Asia. The festival has also expanded to include a range of genres and activities, including Blues, Gospel, R&B, and Rock, with performances by Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith, and participation from New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Preservation Hall.

Lineup_and_Performers

The Jazz & Heritage Festival features a diverse range of performers, including Jazz legends like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Wayne Shorter, as well as Blues and R&B artists like B.B. King, Etta James, and James Brown. The festival also showcases local New Orleans talent, including The Neville Brothers, The Meters, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, with appearances by Aaron Neville, Art Neville, and Cyril Neville. In addition to music performances, the festival features a range of other activities, including food demonstrations by Emeril Lagasse, Paul Prudhomme, and Leah Chase, and craft workshops by New Orleans Craft Guild and Louisiana Crafts Guild. The festival also includes a range of kids' activities, including face painting, storytelling, and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park's Jazz Kids program, with participation from New Orleans Public Library and Louisiana Children's Museum.

Festival_Grounds_and_Activities

The Jazz & Heritage Festival is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, a historic horse racing track in New Orleans, which is transformed into a vibrant festival grounds for the event, with support from New Orleans Parks and Parkways and Louisiana Department of Agriculture. The festival features a range of activities, including food vendors offering traditional Creole and Cajun dishes, as well as craft booths selling local handicrafts and artwork, with participation from New Orleans Arts Council and Louisiana Arts Council. The festival also includes a range of kids' activities, including face painting, storytelling, and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park's Jazz Kids program, with appearances by Sesame Street characters and New Orleans Pelicans players. Visitors can also explore the festival's many sponsored areas, including the Coca-Cola Stage, the Bud Light Stage, and the Gentilly Stage, with support from New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau and Louisiana Tourism Development Commission.

Impact_and_Legacy

The Jazz & Heritage Festival has had a significant impact on the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana, generating millions of dollars in revenue and attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, with support from New Orleans Mayor and Louisiana Governor. The festival has also helped to promote and preserve the unique cultural heritage of New Orleans, which is reflected in its music, food, and festive traditions, with participation from National Park Service and Smithsonian Institution. The festival has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the National Medal of Arts, with honors from Congress of the United States and Louisiana State Legislature. The Jazz & Heritage Festival has also inspired a range of other festivals and events, including the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park's Jazz in the Park series and the French Quarter Festival, with support from New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Category:Music festivals in the United States