Issue Articles — Features
Rethinking the Roots of Jazz
For many years a debate percolated among writers and historians about the origins of jazz: Did America’s “native art form” truly arise from New Orleans? The late Leonard Feather, and […]
Fest Focus: Dukes of Dixieland
The Dukes of Dixieland have maintained their preeminent position in jazz community for nearly half a century. From the original group founded in 1949 by the Assunto Brothers (Frankie on […]
Jazz Crafts ’96
Some of the greatest pleasures of the Jazz Fest aren’t musical. No, believe it or not, there are people who come to the Fair Grounds for the crafts alone. Over […]
Fest Focus: Raymond Myles
When Raymond Anthony Myles takes the stage at the Gospel Tent he is usually accompanied by the sound of screaming women. At the sight of this extravagantly dressed man, a […]
Fest Focus: Bobby Rush
If live performances were subject to the rating system used by The Motion Picture Association of America, the stage show of blues man Bobby Rush would definitely qualify for an […]
Through Time with Joan Baez, the Indigo Girls and Joan Osborne
In technology, synergism is a doctrine that regeneration is effected by a combination of human will and divine grace. In song, synergism couldn’t be better personified than a Jazz Fest […]
Fest Focus: The Iguanas
Iguanas’ guitarist Rod Hodges will never forget the first embraces of their New Orleans fans. “There was a certain period during one summer in New Orleans, and I don’t remember […]
Marcia Ball: The Life and Times of a Circuit Queen
Just me and the TV sittin’ here glowin’in a lonely roomStill wearing my spurs and a quarter’sworth of someone else’s cheap perfume …I know I’ll always get the Maybellinestares from […]
Fest Focus: Betty Shirley
As a jazz singer, Betty Shirley has more in common with Billie Holiday than just a finely tuned voice. She’s had hardships too, but unlike her great predecessor, Shirley overcame […]
