Jazzfest line up disappoints

It's a sign of the passing years that the line up at this year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival announced today ( see http://www.nojazzfest.com/schedule/index04.html ) is weak compared with earlier years. The highlight is, of course, Fats Domino who plays over the second weekend, but although many of the surviving New Orleans artists are there, there is little that catches the eye for the rock and roll or soul enthusiast. The first weekend features Bob Dylan, plus the Meters, Allen Toussaint with Elvis Costelllo, Dr John, Keb Mo, Snooks Eaglin, Clarence Frogman Henry, Walter Washington, Sonny Landreth and Eddie Bo plus the usual plethora of local or little known artists. Second weekend highlights, apart from Fats, include Lionel Richie, Jimmy Buffett, Paul Simon, Irma Thomas, Doug Kershaw, Koko Taylor, Frankie Ford, the Dixie Cups and Jean Knight. If I was going this year it would be for Fats Domino - and to show my support for New Orleans in its struggle to recover. But I won't be going. And sadly, the line up will only deteriorate still further as the great artists of the past pass away.