Coral Reefer Band Welcomes Irma Thomas, Trombone Shorty & More For Emotional Jimmy Buffett Tribute At Jazz Fest

A tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett was among the highlights of the final day of 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Sunday. Buffett was honored throughout Jazz Fest culiminating with the penultimate set on the Festival Stage featuring his longtime band the Coral Reefer Band and an impressive array of special guests.

Jimmy Buffett, a fixture at Jazz Fest, sadly died at age 76 last September from skin cancer. The Coral Reefer Band kicked off the set honoring Buffett with “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” a song written by Jimmy and Alan Jackson. After rolling through “Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes” and “Son Of A Son Of A Sailor,” renowned NOLA vocalist Irma Thomas emerged to front the ensemble on a version of Buffett’s “I Will Play For Gumbo” that also featured acclaimed Louisiana-based guitarist Sonny Landreth.

Buffett collaborator Sonny Landreth also contributed to “U.S.S. Zydecoldsmobile” a few songs later before New Orleans’ own Preservation Hall Jazz Band joined the Coral Reefer Band on “University Of Bourbon Street.” Next, Will Kimbrough, who wrote several songs recorded by Jimmy Buffett, helped out on his own “Piece Of Work” which Buffett recorded with Toby Keith. Longtime Jimmy Buffett friend and collaborator Jake Shimabukuro took the stage next to deliver a ukulele tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator.

The tribute set continued with a string of three covers Buffett often performed: the Grateful Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias,” Crosby Stills & Nash’s “Southern Cross” and Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” Kimbrough handled lead vocals on the latter. From there, Crescent City trombonist Trombone Shorty — who closed the main stage action backed by his Orleans Avenue ensemble — teamed with the group on “Pencil Thin Mustache.”

Members of the Coral Reefer Band shared tales and remembrances of Jimmy Buffett at various points of the set. Jimmy’s daughter, Savannah, took the stage late in the set and noted “We’re gonna show you how much we love you tonight” to her father ahead of “Fins,” the penultimate song of the performance. Then, other members of Buffett’s family and Jazz Fest executive director Quint Davis joined the Coral Reefer Band, Scotty Emerick and Will Kimbrough on the “Margaritaville” finale.

Watch audience-captured footage of Savannah introducing “Fins,” the “Margaritaville” closer and more from the Jimmy Buffett tribute at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival below:

Photos by Susan Weiand