New Orleans Jazzfest day 4

After a day of sightseeing and record hunting around Lafayette the evening was fairly quiet with dinner at the Bon Temps Grill with music by Shauna Sias Landry and sax man David Mouton followed by some folky music at the Blue Moon. Next day it was back to New Orleans with music from Little Freddie King at Gasa Gasa on Freret, a new venue to me.

Thursday saw us back at Jazzfest for another day which was very good on the whole. I had a look at a band called The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr in full Mardi Gras attire which someone had recommended. They proved to be a rock/funk/rap ensemble which didn't appeal so I stage surfed for a bit catching Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet, Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns, featuring nine female dancers, and local group J and the Causeways.

Things began to pick up with David Batiste and the Gladiators, who I remember seeing at the Ponderosa Stomp a few years back. David formed the band in 1962 and they scored with 'Funky Soul'. David is a keyboard player who plays regular keyboard, a keyboard slung around his neck and the medolica. Celebrating his 75th birthday David's band includes four of his sons and is mostly an instrumental band playing N'Awlins funk but included a female singer who sang 'Blue Bayou' as a tribute to Linda Ronstadt and an impressive male singer who did 'There Is something On Your Mind' as a tribute to Bobby Marchan who David played with way back when. They finished with "New Orleans Is Coming Back' which David wrote post Katrina.

Next up was soul singer Durand Jones who I had heard good things about. He has a great voice as he showed on 'Miss Sadie' and tracks from his brand new album "Wait Til I Get Over', including 'I Want You', 'I'll Be Good To You' and "See It Through '. Definitely one to watch.

Biggest blues star of the day was Louisiana born Buddy Guy who looks and sounds amazing for his 86 years. He began with 'Damn Right I Got The Blues' and then teased the audience with brilliant guitar playing and tricks including playing the guitar on his sleeve and with a drumstick before launching in to 'Hoochie Coochie Man'. He had a smile on his face throughout, a rather lascivious one on the song '19 Years Old', and included snippets at the least of 'I Just Want To Make Love To You', 'Skin Deep', 'How Blue Can You Get' Bobby Rush's 'Chicken Heads', 'All Around The World', 'Take Me To The River', 'Boom Boom' and 'Fever'. It was a remarkable set by one of greats of the blues.

There was more blues back in the Blues Tent with the Roadmasters tribute to Walter 'Wolfman' Washington. There were guest appearances from Jon Cleary (playing guitar for a change), Deacon John, Ivan Neville, Mem Shannon and John Papa Gros, but the highlight of the entire day was Irma Thomas's impassioned rendition of 'Even Now', a song she recorded with Walter. It earned her a well deserved standing ovation.

From there I moved to the Gentilly Stage to see up and coming soul singer Leon Bridges. He has a silky voice and a big, young fan base judging by the huge crowd but on first hearing didn't stand out.

Final act was the rocking Cajun accordion player Jo-El Sonnier. This was high quality and at times exciting stuff with songs including 'Knock Knock Knock', Fats Domino's 'You Hurt Me So', 'Tear Stained Letter', 'Raining In My Heart ', 'Jole Blon', 'Louisiana 1927' and Cleveland Crochet's 'Sugar Bee'. A good way to close the day.