The close ties between Newport and New Orleans continue to thrive through their respective jazz festivals. With the return to live performance after the long pandemic quarantines, the Crescent City made its mark on the 2021 edition of the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island.

While Wynton Marsalis withdrew from the lineup a few weeks before the event, New Orleans was well represented by Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah and his drummer Joe Dyson, singer Ledisi’s Nina Simone tribute project, and bassist-saxophonist Morgan Guerin with drummer Terri Lynn Carrington + Social Science. And much like he does at Jazz Fest, Troy Andrews, better known as Trombone Shorty, closed out an evening with his energetic band Orleans Avenue.

For many artists on the bill, the Newport Jazz Festival was the first emergence from their pandemic winter.

“It’s been an interesting year and a half-two years,” Adjuajh told the crowd. “The ability to play for you is such a pleasure.”

Other outstanding performers this year included a Vibes Summit with Warren Wolf, Joel Ross and Sasha Berliner; saxophonists Kenny Garrett, Charles Lloyd, Chris Potter and Kamasi Washington;  the Kenny Barron-Dave Holland-Johnathan Blake trio, singer Andra Day, keyboardist Robert Glasper, harpist Brandee Younger and The Jazz Gallery All-Stars.

This year’s festival, now surpassing the 67th year of its founding, was limited to two stages rather than the usual four, offering 30 bands rather than the usual 50. Attendance was capped at 6,000 per day—or 60 percent of capacity at Fort Adams State Park. Nobody got inside the gate without proof of a COVID vaccination or a negative test within 48 hours. Masks were encouraged in close quarters or high-traffic areas.

Festival founder George Wein, now 95, didn’t make the trip from his home in New York City because of age and travel considerations. While it pained him to miss the festival, he did keep tabs on what was happening. He even introduced good friend Mavis Staples’ Saturday afternoon set via telephone hookup.