Jazz Fest at 50

In 2019, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates its 50th birthday! We'll be updating this page all year long with WWOZ Jazz Fest Time Capsules, Jazz Fest Flashbacks, plus historic photos, videos, and much more. 

The Helis Foundation
The Goldring Family Foundation
The Remedy Room
The Ruth U. Fertel Foundation
The Derbes Foundation
Goldfarb Financial
The National World War II Museum
New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation
Special thanks to The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation

 

John Mooney: Jazz Fest Flashback

Sun, 04/28/19
Authored by Carrie Booher
In this WWOZ Jazz Fest at 50 Flashback, blues musician John Mooney recalls seeing an Ironing Board Sam set at Jazz Fest that involved a cherry picker, flaming drumsticks, and a water tank. Read more

Pete Hilzim: Jazz Fest Flashback

Sat, 04/27/19
Authored by Carrie Booher
Meet the man behind Crawfish Monica! His dish wasn't always so popular at Jazz Fest but a surprise move in the mid-1980s catapulted them to festival fame.  Read more

Photo highlights from Day 1 of Jazz Fest 2019

Thu, 04/25/19
A few photo highlights from a (mostly) wet first day of Jazz Fest 2019! Special thanks to our contributing photographers Black Mold, Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee, Leon Morris, David Stafford, Michele Goldfarb, and more to come!  Read more

Parades: Jazz Fest at 50 Time Capsule

Thu, 04/25/19
Authored by Carrie Booher
From the beginning, parades have been an essential part of Jazz Fest -- and because it’s New Orleans, there are no passive spectators at these parades. Everyone joins in. Find out more about the parading culture of New Orleans, and the history of parades at Jazz Fest. Read more

Charlie Halloran: Jazz Fest Flashback

Fri, 04/26/19
Authored by Carrie Booher
As a younger New Orleans musician, trombonist Charlie Halloran never expected to end up on the Acura Stage supporting Allen Toussaint at Jazz Fest. But it happened! Find out how in this Jazz Fest Flashback.  Read more

Big Chief Tyrone Casby: Jazz Fest Flashback

Thu, 04/25/19
Authored by Carrie Booher
Big Chief Tyrone Casby of the Mohawk Hunters Black Indians of Mardi Gras shares what it's like to mask at Jazz Fest, why the Indians are present at the Fairgrounds, and more in this Jazz Fest Flashback.  Read more

Reggie Scanlan: Jazz Fest Flashback

Wed, 04/24/19
Authored by Carrie Booher
Reggie Scanlan has performed with Professor Longhair, James Booker, Snooks Eaglin, and The Radiators at Jazz Fest. In this WWOZ Jazz Fest at 50 Flashback, he recalls a festival in the 1970s when he was watching the Jimmy Smith Trio play and B.B. King hopped onstage, too! Read more

2006: Jazz Fest at 50 Time Capsule

Wed, 04/24/19
Authored by Carrie Booher
The first post-Katrina Jazz Fest in April 2006 was a beacon for New Orleanians. Read more

Opening the Vaults: The Fire Benefit

Mon, 04/22/19
In April 1974, just weeks before the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Professor Longhair’s house burned — he lost everything he owned but the clothes on his back. So on April 22, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation staged a benefit concert for him at the ... Read more

Allison Miner and the Music Heritage Stage: Jazz Fest at 50 Time Capsule

Tue, 04/23/19
Authored by Carrie Booher
The chance to hear artists from French Louisiana was one of the "musical experiences" promised by Jazz Fest in its early years. And though it doesn't seem so today, in 1970 New Orleans, it was unusual for "country" musicians to play such a high-profile event in the city. Read more

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