The Vinyl Word: Jazz Fest memories 1993

Here's the conclusion of my diary entries for my trip to New Orleans Jazz Fest in 1993, with accompanying photographs.
'Wednesday, April 28. Spent most of the early afternoon at Goldmine Records hunting through millions of 45s and LPs. Eventually bought half a dozen singles and three albums - another 50 bucks gone. It was Black Top night at Jimmy's so a real hard night's blues. After a burger the show started with Lynn August who was excellent. Next was Bobby Parker - 'Mr Bent Out of Shape' - who was pretty good but didn't do 'Watch Your Step'. The low point was Maria Muldaur, who was followed by Carol Fran, who didn't seem on top form. Guitar Shorty was good fun, with amazing acrobatics while still playing his guitar. Finally Robert Ward (pictured above), formerly of the Ohio Untouchables, who was excellent again, with his unusual guitar sound produced by his Magnotone amplifier By now it was 3.30 so we left without seeing Earl King.
Pictures below show Guitar Shorty, Maria Muldaur and Carol Fran with Clarence Holliman.

Thursday. Jazz Fest second weekend. Weather still good. A quiet day at the Fest, but enjoyable. Watched Boozoo Chavis, who was OK, then some good quality Cajun music with the Savoy Doucet Band. A quick look at Snooks Eaglin, then to Lenny McDaniel, a white blues band. Nina Simone was magnetic on 'I Put a Spell on You' but didn't really suit the festival. Saw a little of the excellent Paula and the Pontiacs and some blues with Troy Turner. Finished off with some New Orleans R and B fun with Clarence 'Frogman' Henry - looking well. In the evening went to the Dew Drop Inn Revisited concert at the Sheraton: Roland Stone, who I had never seen before, turned out to be white and looked like an accountant; George French; Bobby Marchan - a real pro; Benny Spellman, whose 'Lipstick Traces' is one of my favourite records, crippled on his left side from a stroke but trying hard; the ever impressive Marva Wright and the excellent Lloyd Price. Too much of Wardell Querzerque's orchestra perhaps, but superb overall. Finally on to the Lion's Den for more of Irma. Great as ever.

Pictured below is Benny Spellman. Others show Benny with Marva Wright and Roland Stone, and Lloyd Price.

Friday. Day five of the festival and a wet one. After breakfast went to the car hire place at the airport finding yet another record shop - Memory Lane - on the way. At the festival saw Tommy Ridgley with Al 'Carnival Time' Johnson and Chuck Carbo and then a bit of Henry Gray before the rain came down hard. Got soaked watching the Meters, who were good, and Lloyd Price again, who was excellent. Fortunately the rain stopped for Delbert McClinton, who was also very good. In the evening went to Tower and bought some CDs and had crawfish and shrimp creole in a restaurant on Decatur St. Tried to get into Snug Harbor but couldn't because it was full so walked with John, Jonathan and Adrian, finding an interesting book and record shop on Royal, and finished with a couple of drinks.

Saturday, May 1. Another wet day eventually culminating in a quagmire at the Fairgrounds and an early finish because of a thunderstorm. Spent the morning shopping in the French Quarter. Eventually made it to Jazz Fest and did a quick interview with WWOZ Radio with Jonathan. Saw some rock and roll with Kenny Bill Stinson, followed by a bit of Deacon John, an interview with Walter Washington, a quick look at Buddy Guy, some fun with the Dixie Cups (pictured below) and some gospel with Johnson Extension. By then the weather was appalling and a halt was called. Still very wet in the early evening but went with John J and Jonathan for a nice steak in Metairie and then went to a bar in Hessmer where, quite unpublicised, Jimmy Elledge, famed for 'Funny How Time Slips Away' was singing and playing piano. Spent the rest of the evening (until 3) in various bars and low down joints in Metairie.

Sunday. More heavy rain around so decided against going to Jazz Fest. Dropped John J off at the Fairgrounds and set off with Jonathan for Lafayette, meandering through Opelousas and Scott on the way. In the evening had a pleasant Cajun meal at Prejean's and then went on El Sido's Zydeco Club - a wonderfully authentic place. Zydeco Force were playing and we were virtually the only whites in the place.
Photo shows Sid Williams, owner of El Sido's, with his brother Nathan of Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas.

Zydeco Force at El Sido's.

Overall, I guess this trip hasn't quite lived up to previous ones because of the rain, higher prices generally, a little bit of staleness and perhaps too much chauffering. All the same, there were plenty of highlights: in no particular order Bob Dylan, Tyrone Davis, Fats Domino, Robert Ward, Lloyd Price, Benny Spellman and of course Irma, no matter what Dave or John H may have said about her doing cabaret. And of course there was the evening in Metairie and, not least, El Sido's. I may give New Orleans a miss next year (I didn't) - maybe go to another festival. But I'll be back - I hope!'

Here's John Jolliffe, Nick Cobban and Jonathan Coke-Smyth at Jazz Fest.