Post by Edith Grove on Jan 12th, 2015 at 11:16am
New Orleans Jazz Fest 2015 headliners: Elton John, The Who, Ed Sheeran, No Doubt, Pitbull
Roger Daltrey, left and Pete Townshend of The Who, seen here at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix F1 Concert on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, are coming to the New Orleans Jazz Fest 2015. (AP photo/Baiju Sunder)
Keith Spera, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
January 12, 2015
The lineup of the 2015 New Orleans Jazz Fest boasts Elton John, The Who, Ed Sheeran, Pitbull, Jimmy Buffett, No Doubt, T.I., Tony Bennett paired with Lady Gaga, Keith Urban and Wilco. They'll join Widespread Panic, Maze, the O'Jays, Hozier, John Legend, Alison Krauss, Chicago, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Guy, Steve Winwood, Jimmy Cliff, Ryan Adams and Kacey Musgraves, plus the original Meters and hundreds of other Louisiana artists at the Fair Grounds this spring.
The 2015 Jazz Fest -- officially it's the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell -- is April 24-26 and April 30-May 3.
Over the past decade, the festival has significantly amplified its roster of "guest" artists, i.e. marquee acts that are not necessarily from Louisiana. Even by these more ambitious standards, this 46th edition of the festival is especially top-heavy.
The top talent level, comprised of the Acura, Congo Square and Samsung Galaxy stage headliners, is laden with classic and contemporary heavyweights in rock, rap, pop and R&B. The second tier - the artists that populate the beefed-up Sheraton Fais Do-Do Stage and the Blues and Jazz tents - is also deep and wide.
The New Orleans Jazz Fest is owned by the non-profit New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. It is produced by Quint Davis and his Festival Productions Inc.-New Orleans, in conjunction with AEG Live, the second-largest promoter of live concerts and festivals in the world.
A pair of British legends will close out the festival's main Acura Stage on successive Saturdays. The Who, featuring founding guitarist Pete Townshend and vocalist Roger Daltrey, stops at the festival the first weekend as part of the band's 50th anniversary tour. According to the archival web site thewholive.net, the band has not performed in New Orleans since a gig at the long-since-demolished Warehouse on November 29, 1971, which was six months after the second Jazz Fest.
The Who's 50th anniversary tour is being promoted by AEG Live. AEG has helped facilitate the booking of many of the major names that have appeared at Jazz Fest over the past decade.
Elton John has long been on Jazz Fest's wish list, and will finally make his debut on the second Saturday. Aside from his obvious commercial appeal, he is an avowed fan of New Orleans piano players, especially Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint. During his hit parade at the Smoothie King Center in March 2014 - his first New Orleans concert in 13 years -- John dedicated "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" to Toussaint, thanking him for the "countless hours, days, months of pleasure he's given me."
http://youtu.be/6fYzSN1SYiM
If the weather is favorable, look for Elton John Saturday to draw one of the festival's largest crowds.
The British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is among the most successful new artists to emerge in the past four years. Indicative of his popularity in his native England, he's booked for three consecutive nights at London's 80,000-capacity Wembley Stadium in July. He concludes a South American tour in Brazil on April 30, then heads to New Orleans for what is, for now, his only announced North American show.
Living legend Tony Bennett made his Jazz Fest debut in 2009 with a swingin' set on what was then called the Gentilly Stage; the following year, he painted the festival poster depicting Louis Prima. Now 88, Bennett returns with a far younger collaborator: Pop provocateur and avowed Bennett fan Lady Gaga. The unlikely duo released an album of jazz standards called "Cheek to Cheek" in 2014; it hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart. They starred in a PBS special, but their only announced joint concert appearances so far this year are two dates in Texas leading up to their Jazz Fest show.
Southern California ska-pop band No Doubt scored a massive hit with 1995's "Tragic Kingdom." The band has spent much of the past decade on intermittent hiatus, as singer Gwen Stefani has released solo albums, had children and, until recently, served as a judge on the NBC talent show "The Voice." She and the band return to action in 2015 with shows at Jazz Fest and, later in May, Rock in Rio USA in Las Vegas and at the Bottlerock festival in Napa Valley, Calif.
Pitbull, born in Miami to parents of Cuban descent, has built himself into a global brand via high-energy hits that draw on hip-hop, Latin music and dance. He's also ubiquitous as a pitchman for various products and a familiar face at high-profile televised events.
Jimmy Buffett, a longtime friend of the festival and Quint Davis, generally attends even if he's not on the bill. Last year, he joined Toussaint onstage and showed up in line at the Prejean's Restaurant booth to buy pheasant, quail and Andouille sausage gumbo. This year, he'll work for his gumbo by performing for the first time since his unplugged set at the 2012 festival.
Living legend Tony Bennett made his Jazz Fest debut in 2009 with a swingin' set on what was then called the Gentilly Stage; the following year, he painted the festival poster depicting Louis Prima. Now 88, Bennett returns with a far younger collaborator: Pop provocateur and avowed Bennett fan Lady Gaga. The unlikely duo released an album of jazz standards called "Cheek to Cheek" in 2014; it hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart. They starred in a PBS special, but their only announced joint concert appearances so far this year are two dates in Texas leading up to their Jazz Fest show.
Ferriday native and rock 'n' roll founding father Jerry Lee Lewis, who recalled his oft-tumultuous 79 years of life in writer Rick Bragg's recent biography, returns to Jazz Fest this year. He last performed at the festival in 2007.
The Irish singer-songwriter Hozier was among 2014's breakout artists. His massive hit "Take Me to Church" is nominated for a Grammy as song of the year.
Jazz Fest veterans Wilco are stopping at the Fair Grounds during their 20th anniversary tour through the South.
Texas blues-rock stalwart Delbert McClinton underwent emergency bypass surgery a month before his scheduled show at the Blues Tent during the 2014 Jazz Fest, forcing him to cancel. He'll try again this year.
New Orleans trumpeter Terence Blanchard is among the world's foremost practitioners of straight-ahead hard bop; he's also an accomplished composer of film scores. Ever-restless, Blanchard has embarked on a fresh creative path with his new band, E-Collective. He plays trumpet and keyboards. He's joied by Cuban-born pianist Fabian Almazan, winner of the 2014 DownBeat critics' poll for rising star pianist and a Blanchard collaborator since 2007; guitarist Charles Altura, best known for his work with Chick Corea and Ambrose Akinmusire; bassist Donald Ramsey; and drummer Oscar Seaton. After playing to sold-out rooms across Europe, the E-Collective made its American debut at Snug Harbor in December, and will make its Jazz Fest debut this spring.
For the first time, the original Meters will be featured on the festival's closing Sunday. Keyboardist Art Neville recruited guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Zigaboo Modeliste in the 1960s to play French Quarter clubs. Together, the Meters epitomized New Orleans funk on their own records and as the house band at Allen Toussaint's SeaSaint studios, backing everyone from Dr. John and Lee Dorsey to Robert Palmer. They disbanded amidst financial turmoil in the late 1970s. In 2005, Quint Davis brokered a reunion for the 2005 Jazz Fest, followed by additional gigs. They split up, then reunited for several shows in 2011. Their last local appearance was a sold-out nighttime show at the Howlin' Wolf during the 2012 Jazz Fest.
"It's great that Quint asked us to do it," Nocentelli said of the upcoming Jazz Fest gig. "We've had our differences, but I have to applaud him for supporting the original Meters. He realizes what we've contributed."
http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2015/01/new_orleans_jazz_fest_2015_hea.html#incart_breaking
Roger Daltrey, left and Pete Townshend of The Who, seen here at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix F1 Concert on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, are coming to the New Orleans Jazz Fest 2015. (AP photo/Baiju Sunder)
Keith Spera, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
January 12, 2015
The lineup of the 2015 New Orleans Jazz Fest boasts Elton John, The Who, Ed Sheeran, Pitbull, Jimmy Buffett, No Doubt, T.I., Tony Bennett paired with Lady Gaga, Keith Urban and Wilco. They'll join Widespread Panic, Maze, the O'Jays, Hozier, John Legend, Alison Krauss, Chicago, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Guy, Steve Winwood, Jimmy Cliff, Ryan Adams and Kacey Musgraves, plus the original Meters and hundreds of other Louisiana artists at the Fair Grounds this spring.
The 2015 Jazz Fest -- officially it's the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell -- is April 24-26 and April 30-May 3.
Over the past decade, the festival has significantly amplified its roster of "guest" artists, i.e. marquee acts that are not necessarily from Louisiana. Even by these more ambitious standards, this 46th edition of the festival is especially top-heavy.
The top talent level, comprised of the Acura, Congo Square and Samsung Galaxy stage headliners, is laden with classic and contemporary heavyweights in rock, rap, pop and R&B. The second tier - the artists that populate the beefed-up Sheraton Fais Do-Do Stage and the Blues and Jazz tents - is also deep and wide.
The New Orleans Jazz Fest is owned by the non-profit New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. It is produced by Quint Davis and his Festival Productions Inc.-New Orleans, in conjunction with AEG Live, the second-largest promoter of live concerts and festivals in the world.
A pair of British legends will close out the festival's main Acura Stage on successive Saturdays. The Who, featuring founding guitarist Pete Townshend and vocalist Roger Daltrey, stops at the festival the first weekend as part of the band's 50th anniversary tour. According to the archival web site thewholive.net, the band has not performed in New Orleans since a gig at the long-since-demolished Warehouse on November 29, 1971, which was six months after the second Jazz Fest.
The Who's 50th anniversary tour is being promoted by AEG Live. AEG has helped facilitate the booking of many of the major names that have appeared at Jazz Fest over the past decade.
Elton John has long been on Jazz Fest's wish list, and will finally make his debut on the second Saturday. Aside from his obvious commercial appeal, he is an avowed fan of New Orleans piano players, especially Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint. During his hit parade at the Smoothie King Center in March 2014 - his first New Orleans concert in 13 years -- John dedicated "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" to Toussaint, thanking him for the "countless hours, days, months of pleasure he's given me."
http://youtu.be/6fYzSN1SYiM
If the weather is favorable, look for Elton John Saturday to draw one of the festival's largest crowds.
The British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is among the most successful new artists to emerge in the past four years. Indicative of his popularity in his native England, he's booked for three consecutive nights at London's 80,000-capacity Wembley Stadium in July. He concludes a South American tour in Brazil on April 30, then heads to New Orleans for what is, for now, his only announced North American show.
Living legend Tony Bennett made his Jazz Fest debut in 2009 with a swingin' set on what was then called the Gentilly Stage; the following year, he painted the festival poster depicting Louis Prima. Now 88, Bennett returns with a far younger collaborator: Pop provocateur and avowed Bennett fan Lady Gaga. The unlikely duo released an album of jazz standards called "Cheek to Cheek" in 2014; it hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart. They starred in a PBS special, but their only announced joint concert appearances so far this year are two dates in Texas leading up to their Jazz Fest show.
Southern California ska-pop band No Doubt scored a massive hit with 1995's "Tragic Kingdom." The band has spent much of the past decade on intermittent hiatus, as singer Gwen Stefani has released solo albums, had children and, until recently, served as a judge on the NBC talent show "The Voice." She and the band return to action in 2015 with shows at Jazz Fest and, later in May, Rock in Rio USA in Las Vegas and at the Bottlerock festival in Napa Valley, Calif.
Pitbull, born in Miami to parents of Cuban descent, has built himself into a global brand via high-energy hits that draw on hip-hop, Latin music and dance. He's also ubiquitous as a pitchman for various products and a familiar face at high-profile televised events.
Jimmy Buffett, a longtime friend of the festival and Quint Davis, generally attends even if he's not on the bill. Last year, he joined Toussaint onstage and showed up in line at the Prejean's Restaurant booth to buy pheasant, quail and Andouille sausage gumbo. This year, he'll work for his gumbo by performing for the first time since his unplugged set at the 2012 festival.
Living legend Tony Bennett made his Jazz Fest debut in 2009 with a swingin' set on what was then called the Gentilly Stage; the following year, he painted the festival poster depicting Louis Prima. Now 88, Bennett returns with a far younger collaborator: Pop provocateur and avowed Bennett fan Lady Gaga. The unlikely duo released an album of jazz standards called "Cheek to Cheek" in 2014; it hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart. They starred in a PBS special, but their only announced joint concert appearances so far this year are two dates in Texas leading up to their Jazz Fest show.
Ferriday native and rock 'n' roll founding father Jerry Lee Lewis, who recalled his oft-tumultuous 79 years of life in writer Rick Bragg's recent biography, returns to Jazz Fest this year. He last performed at the festival in 2007.
The Irish singer-songwriter Hozier was among 2014's breakout artists. His massive hit "Take Me to Church" is nominated for a Grammy as song of the year.
Jazz Fest veterans Wilco are stopping at the Fair Grounds during their 20th anniversary tour through the South.
Texas blues-rock stalwart Delbert McClinton underwent emergency bypass surgery a month before his scheduled show at the Blues Tent during the 2014 Jazz Fest, forcing him to cancel. He'll try again this year.
New Orleans trumpeter Terence Blanchard is among the world's foremost practitioners of straight-ahead hard bop; he's also an accomplished composer of film scores. Ever-restless, Blanchard has embarked on a fresh creative path with his new band, E-Collective. He plays trumpet and keyboards. He's joied by Cuban-born pianist Fabian Almazan, winner of the 2014 DownBeat critics' poll for rising star pianist and a Blanchard collaborator since 2007; guitarist Charles Altura, best known for his work with Chick Corea and Ambrose Akinmusire; bassist Donald Ramsey; and drummer Oscar Seaton. After playing to sold-out rooms across Europe, the E-Collective made its American debut at Snug Harbor in December, and will make its Jazz Fest debut this spring.
For the first time, the original Meters will be featured on the festival's closing Sunday. Keyboardist Art Neville recruited guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Zigaboo Modeliste in the 1960s to play French Quarter clubs. Together, the Meters epitomized New Orleans funk on their own records and as the house band at Allen Toussaint's SeaSaint studios, backing everyone from Dr. John and Lee Dorsey to Robert Palmer. They disbanded amidst financial turmoil in the late 1970s. In 2005, Quint Davis brokered a reunion for the 2005 Jazz Fest, followed by additional gigs. They split up, then reunited for several shows in 2011. Their last local appearance was a sold-out nighttime show at the Howlin' Wolf during the 2012 Jazz Fest.
"It's great that Quint asked us to do it," Nocentelli said of the upcoming Jazz Fest gig. "We've had our differences, but I have to applaud him for supporting the original Meters. He realizes what we've contributed."
http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2015/01/new_orleans_jazz_fest_2015_hea.html#incart_breaking
