By Jerry Shriver, USA TODAY
NEW ORLEANS � Kid Rock may have been the key national act, but Sunday's seventh and final day of the 42nd New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival belonged to veterans who had earned their closing slots.
By Patrick Semansky, AP
Kid Rock helped close the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans on Sunday.
By Patrick Semansky, AP
Kid Rock helped close the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans on Sunday.
Another hot and steamy day featured late afternoon sets by the Neville Brothers (formed in 1977), jazz sax legend Sonny Rollins (age 80), Bob French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band (now in its seventh decade) and a farewell set by eclectic funk/swamp rockers The Radiators, whose leader Ed Volker is bowing out after 33 years.
Among the Sunday highlights:
Swedish gun-slinger:�Guitarist Anders Osborne came to the city 25 years ago from Sweden, and after a rock singer/songwriter career plagued by personal troubles, he is enjoying some national success with his critically acclaimed American Patchwork album. Songs from that set featured prominently in the Grammy winner's day-opener at the Acura Main Stage, most notably Love is Taking Its Toll. His band featured amazing interplay between three and sometimes four guitars, most notably a furious, fuzz-toned workout on Cortez the Killer, the epic from Neil Young & Crazy Horse. Osborne also gave a Mother's Day shout-out to his wife and their two children with Fair Weather Friend, then closed with a raucous version of his popular Stoned, Drunk and Naked.
Daddy-O:�Ellis Marsalis, the 76-year-old patriarch of the famous jazz family, is often described as ageless since he has mastered the styles and standard songs of multiple generations. But effortless is an equally apt word. During his Jazz Tent set with son Jason on vibes, he quickly settled in behind the keys and spun out elegant runs and cogent accents as the band percolated behind him. Standards by Thelonius Monk and Lionel Hampton and an original composition by Jason highlighted the set.
Like a knockoff:�Detroit's original blue-collar rocker, Bob Seger and his Silver Bullet Band, hit town last week and played well but to a less-than-packed arena. But successor Kid Rock showed there's plenty of life still left in the genre during his set before a jam-packed crowd at the Acura Stage. Opening with Rock N Roll Jesus and party anthem God Bless Saturday (from his recent Born Free album), the white-T-shirted Kid worked the sweaty audience hard. His gruff, between-the-eyes vocals were supported by no-nonsense backing from his band, and Rock didn't let up in the early going. But in the wake of earlier Jazz Fest sets by local rapper Mystikal and rocker Osborne, Rock came off as a wee bit tame. Rock earned his stripes toward the end when he invited Trombone Shorty onstage to play mega-hit All Summer Long. He followed that with the spirited, defiant closer, Born Free, making the American flag backdrop seem extra appropriate.
Rollins on the river:�Jazz saxophone titan Sonny Rollins, one of the few remaining active links to the Charlie Parker bebop era, was "in the zone" from the get-go during his Jazz Tent show. He and a quartet opened with "D. Cherry," a simple, breezy, Caribbean-inflected riff and they worked and worked it for nearly a half-hour, earning a standing ovation. They followed that with a languid blues groove that approached the 10-minute mark. Truly remarkable.
What a long Rad trip it's been:�For years, hometown rock icons The Radiators have more or less split the main-stage crowds for the festival-ending sets with The Nevilles. This year, The Radiators likely had the edge since their show was announced as a farewell for founding member Volker. The faithful and the curious packed the Gentilly Stage area and were treated to a typically eclectic, high-spirited set of what has come to be known as "fish-head music." It's a heady blend of rock, swamp pop, blues, funk, brass, cover songs and lovable goofiness that has won the band a Grateful Dead-like following. Sunday's show featured a stream of guests, including guitarist Warren Haynes, members of Bonerama, Little Feat's Paul Barrere and Michael Doucet of Beausoleil. Though the set ended 10 minutes past the 7 p.m. deadline (with Wild & Free), festival CEO Quint Davis cajoled the ensemble to return for a rowdy version of Chris Kenner's I Like It Like That.
Trista Rehn Christina Milian Tina Fey Brittany Snow Tessie Santiago
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