Ozomatli let the good times roll...

Prince played

Creep from Radiohead live at Coachella.

My cousin Helen was sending minute-by minute text
messages on the state of her quiveration. Goose bumps and chills.

She thought he was amazing. Best. Coachella show. Ever.

Disputable, yes?

I did want to see Poor-tis Head although the rumor is they sucked the energy out of the crowd.

Besides, it was too hot to be in California last weekend and

New Orleans was

calling its siren song to me. The first notes of big horns,trumpets, reeds, clarinets, piccolos, drums and percussion had a rebirth vibe.

Rebuild and celebrate music, culture, food.

A good year to start a new tradition.

JazzFest. I flew out to opening weekend.

Friday, I caught Big Sam's Funky Nation at Congo Square stage. Then the Acura Stage to hear Robert Plant and Alison Krauss feat with

T-Bone Bennett. It was his new style. Really country. But he was still packing hard vocally.

Instead of staying for Sheryl Crow, I headed to the other side, the Gentilly Stage for Ozomatli. The band's ability to go across many musical genres never dissappoints.

Still-evolving, they hit their brand of Spanglish with, "City of Angels and "After Party" and latest release "Don't Mess with the Dragon".

Chali 2Na of Jurassic 5 was on stage with them for several songs as well as members of the marching band from St. Augustine High School for “Let the Good Times Roll”.

By far they killed their set. Ozomatli was joined by St.Augustine marching band for a very moving performance of the Hurricane Katrina ballad "Magnolia Soul" The spirited and original MC was on stage, a reunion 10 years in the making. Best of the weekend.

Viva Ozo!

JazzFest first weekend wrapped up.

Friday began with musky humidity and loads of sunshine. The sky grayed into the afternoon with breaks of light showers. But it was all good.

Saturday, the rain grew unbearable around the second set of Cowboy Mouth's show.

I lickety-split it for dryer pastures. Most of the crowd and the vendors were already scurrying for cover. I joined in the exodus.
The faithful diehards stayed for Billy Joel. It hailed, they said with a straight face.

I thawed out at the Hotel Monteleone and met up with friends for dinner at Mandena on Canel Street, all of which were the aforementioned Billy Joel/hail diehards.

We hopped around bars in the French Quarter and ended up on Bourban Street to witness the very talented Big Al show at the Howlin' Wolf.

Hurricanes are for tourists. Sazeracs are for natives

New Orleans is acknowledged by many as the home of the cocktail, and the original and quintessential New Orleans cocktail is the Sazerac Cocktail.

Said to be invented by a Creole apothecary from the West Indies named Antoine Amadie Peychaud. In the early 1800s, while setting up shop in the French Quarter, Peychaud became popular for a toddy he dispensed to his friends consisting of a proprietary mix of aromatic bitters. It consisted of French brandy mixed with his secret blend of bitters, a splash of water and a bit of sugar.
Rumored to be served in the large end of an egg cup called a coquetier which led to the Americanized pronunciation of this as "cocktail"

1 teaspoon of simple syrup (or 1 sugar cube or 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar)
4 dashes Peychaud's bitters
1 small dash Angostura bitters (optional; it helps open the flavors, but hardcore traditionalists may leave it out).
2 ounces rye whiskey.1/2 teaspoon absinthe, or Herbsaint (a New Orleans brand of anise liqueur)
Strip of lemon peel

The other festival: food faire

Coachella was drawing celebrities and club kids last weekend but I joined the crowd of hundreds and danced my goofy ass off in the Big Easy.

The Jazz Festival, had savory mouth watering food.

Culinary delights awaited beyond long lines of hungry people.

The unmatchable cuisine had a dizzying array of choices

such as crawfish po boy, alligator pie, hot sausage, turkey guardinieria, muffeletta, fried oysters, spicy Cajun roasted duck, stuffed artichoke, fried green tomatoes, Creole file Gumbo, gator po boy, sweet potato pie, bread pudding, cannoli, Roman chewing candy, fried pork chop sandwich, shrimp cocktail, boudin balls, fatty pork cracklins and zucchini bisque and meat pie.
Samples of signature dishes from local chefs were offered at the Grandstand.
This week I’m detoxing from all the indulgences. Worth the extra curves.

Gone Fishin'

Been away for awhile.. Back tommorow with New Orleans Jazz Festival posts...