Junior & Sugar at Jazz Fest 2009

Robert Jr and Sugar Mae with “Silvertone” their Airstream Land Yacht, 1970 Tradewind in the Bayou Segnette Park in Westwego, Louisiana“Junior thought Tab said, “Bayou's Up!” and brought his board”..Sugar

So much to do...so little time! Here we are in New Orleans again for the 40th New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest ival..The first weekend was weather perfect and we northerners loved the sun and Jazzfest as always inspires us and kicks off summer festival season. Wow there are so many highlights--Spencer Bohren, Roy Rogers with surprise guest Marcia Ball, Trombone Shorty, Booker T., Wynton Marsalis, Tab Benoit, Joe Cocker, Henry Gray & The Cats with special guest Carol Fran, Lil Buck, Pete Seeger, Ivan Neville & Dumpster Phunk, Tony Braunagel, Terrance Simien, John Mooney, Johnny Winter, Rockie Charles, Guitar Slim, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Sonny Landreth, Robert Cray, Etta James, Mavis Staples, Sharon Jones & Dap Tone Kings. And of course youu have to eat some too between the 12 stages--Jama Jama, Crawfish Monica, Po Boys, Oyster Spinach Salad, Stuffed Crawfish Bread, Spring Rolls and wash it down with Strawberry LemonadePlus we had an evening at uptown Tipitina's with Charlie Musselwhite who sat in with The Blind Boys of Alabama(They still got it !).

Tuesday
After talking to Bill Wax on Sirius/XM, Junior took Sugar to the NO airport and went to the NEW and IMPROVED Rock N Bowl..Formally the home of many danced-inspired shows with the leader John Blanchard leading the way..The new place is better and has the old vibe..bigger is better sometimes..I got in to see the good doctor-Dr John and the Lower 911

Tuesday Night was part one of the Ponderosa Stomp..
highlights:Otis Clay, Hi Rhythm section, Texas Johnny Brown, Little Willie Littlefield
Wednesday Sugar was back and we went to the Stomp with the help of Lazy Lester and Dave Keyes..
highlights: Lazy Lester, Little Freddie King, Jerry McClain and again Little Willie Littlefield we met a new New Orleans bluesman-Guitar Lightnin Lee who will be out there

Thursday was Jazzfest again
Highlights: — Jumpin Johnnie Sansone, Little Freddie King, Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials, Tribute to Snooks Eaglin featuring Allen Toussaint and George Porter and finally our bishop Solomon Burke

Thursday night was Tipitinas French Quarter
with Cyril Neville's Cd release party, "Brand New Blues"Opening was Bo Dollis and Monk Boudreaux, two Big Chiefs reunited as the Wild Magnolias, Big CityRhythm& Blues Orchestra was allowed to open the show..led by Deak Harp wsg Little Freddie King and Wacko Wade also New Orleans bluesman Ready Teddy and gospel diva Julia Magness from Austin..The Show was standing room only, bumper-to-bumper happy people who seemed to be surprised with the opening "laginappe"..Thank you Backbeat foundation

Friday another hot sunny day..
Highlights: — Washboard Chaz, J'Monque D., Walter wolfman Washington, Marcia Ball, Bonnie Raitt and the great Tony Bennett

SaturdayMay 2, Highlights Largest crowd since Katrina
JD Hill, Sherman Robertson, Bryan Lee, Chris Thomas King, John Mayall and the doctor of funk-Dr John

Sun May 3,
Highlights: — Kenny Neal & family, the 2-man wrecking crew-Cedric Burnside and Lightin Malcolm, Eric Lindell, Buddy Guy..also Chuck Brown, Mr GO-GO, Los lobos and Neil Young (and then it rained)

Jazz Fest 2009 Photos Week 1
Photos by Robert Jr Whitall

Joe Cocker had it going on on the Acura stage.

Roy Rogers was really saying something! Blues Tent (Left).
Still a beauty, Etta James singing the Word in the Gospel Tent.

Roy Rogers' special guest, the beautiful Marcia Ball, Jazzfest producer, Quint Davis, and Sugar.

90 year old Pete Seeger warmed up the crowd with his songs of hope and truth (Left). Mavis Staples is still #1 belting out her heart at the Gentilly Stage.

Between Jazzfest weekends
Tuesday April 28

5704 Otis Clay & Teeny Hodges of the Hi Rhythm Section Tuesday April 28 Ponderosa Stomp

5733 Dennis Coffey, Millie Coffey & Johnny Powers Tuesday April 28-Ponderosa Stomp - House Of Blues, New Orleans

5749 A "card" girl at Ponderosa Stomp

5735 James Burton, Johnny Powers, Dale Hawkins Ponderosa Stomp Tues April 28 House Of blues - New Orleans

5768 Dr John breaking in the New Rock N Bowl on Tuesday April 28th

Wednesday April 29

5783 Wednesday April 29 Ponderosa Stomp - Lazy Lester, Lil Buck Senegal and the great James Burton

5779 Ponderosa Stomp Wednesday April 29 Jerry Boogie McClain and Dave Keyes - House Of Blues

Thursday April 30

5860 King Solomon Burke had the crowd in his hands at Congo Square

5876 Thursday April 30th Tipitina's French Quarter, Sugar Mae bringing on the Big City Rhythm & Blues Orchestra-Wacko Wade, Deak Harp & Little Freddie King

Friday May 1

5906 Too bad the shades cover her beautiful eyes - Bonnie Raitt

5896 Big City Blues Magazine had a place in the sun at Jazzfest 2009

5918 Friday May 1- Jazzfest - Much better!

5985 Tony Bennett nailed it at the Gentilly Stage

Saturday May 2

5995 Sugar Mae giving JD Hill a Gimme 5! check and making his day in the Blues Tent Jazzfest

6043 John Mayall still teaching the blues - Blues Tent Jazzfest 2009

6012 The Good Doctor is still upholding the Old New Orleans tradition Jazzfest 2009

Sunday May 3

6064 Kenny Neal, looking good, had his whole family with him, Raful is so proud!

6087 Jazzfest - Neil Young Brought Out The Crowds

6112 Buddy Guy closed out the Blues Tent in the rain - Sunday May 3 Jazzfest

Very Happy and emotional reunion of sorts, Dick Waterman and Bonnie Raitt, back in Como, Mississippi to honor their old friend Mississippi Fred McDowell