New Orleans Jazz Fest 2022: Weekend 2 Recap & Highlights

After three long years, the world-famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival returned to the friendly and familiar Fairgrounds in the heart of the Crescent City. A trio of cancellations (spring 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021) was enough to make any festgoer heartsick.

In the time since the last Jazz Fest, a number of New Orleans musical giants died, including, but not limited to, Dr. John, Art Neville, Charles Neville and the festival’s founder and emeritus spiritual guide George Wein. Tributes to the aforementioned artists were major highlights musically, while long-awaited reunions with old friends and krewes seemed to be the across-the-board peak pleasure point for many of the 475,000 people who attended.

One of Jazz Fest’s strongest suits is the more life around us changes, the more the feel, look and logistical setup of the event stays the same. While vendors, sponsors, artists and krewes come and go, the retention rate across all walks of Jazz Fest is remarkably high, and I often warn people asking me if they should come to Jazz Fest if “they are ready to come for the rest of their life?” Because oftentimes, that’s more or less what they are (perhaps unknowingly) getting themselves into. Given the unprecedented gap between Jazz Fests, the 2022 event had the feel and embedded importance of an all-time classic and after all we’ve all been through, it felt damn good to be there again.

Below are some notes and highlights from my time at Fest Weekend Two.

Thursday, May 5

Leo Nocentelli Presents Another Side :: Festival Stage :: 2:10 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.

The legendary Meter man, guitarist Leo Nocentelli showed off a rootsier, folky side, debuting the newly released Light in the Attic record the guitarist wrote, recorded (and then lost for five decades) way back in 1971. Another Side. The mostly reflective and dare-I-say restrained songs themselves sounded more like Bobby Charles or Arlo Guthrie than your average Meters fare and Nocentelli and his band were mostly seated as the blazing hot Gentilly Stage sun shone across the edge of the Fairgrounds. Understated and earnest, it served as a fine prelude to the stage’s later headlining set by Billy Strings and songs like “Til I Get There” and “Riverfront” highlighted the special performance. Here’s hoping Another Side gets performed at more intimate, indoor theater-type spots around the country so more can enjoy this special set.

Billy Strings :: Gentilly Stage :: 5:30 – 7 p.m.

Perhaps no artist on the lineup has had more of a rocket shot of success during the pandemic than the Locals Thursday headliner Billy Strings, who was making his long overdue and highly anticipated first appearance at Jazz Fest. It seems every week over the past couple of years, we’re reading about a new collaboration (Post Malone, Billy and Kids, recent sit-ins by Bob Weir or with Primus just this weekend to name a few) and/or major milestone booking (appearing high on the bill at this summer’s Lollapalooza, headlining Jazz Fest’s second-largest stage and selling out two nights at Red Rocks). Watching the musical sensation perform, there’s an overbearing sense that everything he’s gotten has been earned, not given and it’s a true joy to watch the incredible ascent and be along for the ride.

In what was likely the last time Billy won’t be headlining the festival’s main stage, the guitarist’s set staked a claim as arguably the day’s finest. Given the wealth of great music, this is not always a guarantee for any headliner at Jazz Fest, an event where musical goodness can be found in any corner, at any time, eight hours a day, for seven days in a row.

The setlist was dotted with covers, The Stanley Brothers’ “A Robin Built A Nest On Daddy’s Grave,” Johnny Cash’s “Big River” and a blazing burndown cover of Johnny Winter’s “Cheap Tequila,” and several tunes from last year’s breakout Renewal album, “Hellbender,” “Love and Regret” and “The Fire On My Tongue” were all included before Strings closed it down with live favorite “Meet Me at the Creek” to send folks home revved up for wherever the night took them.

Thursday Bites, Sights & Lagniappe

• Harmonica sensation Jason Ricci was joined by NOLA blues legend Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Maple Leaf keys stalwart Joe Krown during my first visit back to the shady and misty cool confines of the Blues Tent.

• Sound problems persisted for a lot of the day and caused Elvis Costello to call a do-over just after he joined midway through The Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s set on the Gentilly Stage.

• A quick boogie over for the early (starting just after 8 p.m.) night show at the Maple Leaf was a worthy endeavor and provided one of the week’s big highlights, as guitarist Sonny Landreth, bassist Kevin Scott and NOLA drums legend Johnny Vidacovich held it down over the course of a two-hour performance at the Oak Street uptown classic.

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Friday, May 6

Tribute to Art Neville & Charles Neville :: Festival Stage :: 1:45 p.m. – 3:05 p.m.

Losing not one, but two of the Neville Brothers during the three-year Jazz Fest hiatus and pandemic naturally led to this essential tribute taking place. Fitting that this went down on the main stage where The Neville Brothers played Jazz Fest’s biggest finale on the second Sunday for many years, and included several other family members and extended musical family to rave-up a proper tribute to Poppa Funk and brother Charles, two larger-than-life legends of Jazz Fest hailed around the globe for over a half-century as members of the Meters, Neville Brothers and more. The tribute set featured members of the funky Meters, Ivan Neville, The Neville Brothers Band featuring Cyril Neville and Charmaine Neville and others.

Just before the family (and friends) band overflowed the stage, an image of Art Neville and Aaron Neville beamed on the screen and we read the bummer news that George Porter Jr. was going to miss the rest of the weekend’s shows due to a COVID-19 case. Although they are shoes that cannot be filled, there is no better replacement imaginable than Dumpstaphunk’s Tony Hall, who slotted in and did the absolute best holding down the low end. The set was filled with The Meters standards –“Cabbage Alley,” “Ain’t No Use” and “Cissy Strut,” among others, an Allen Toussaint cover, Jimmy Cliff’s “Sitting In Limbo” and a few New Orleans standards like “Mardi Gras Mambo.” Truly one for the books, the only issue with this legendary tribute was that it wasn’t twice as long (or replicated at length at a special late-night). Consider myself lucky to have been a part of this funky send-up to a couple of New Orleans Jazz Fest legends, it was a damn good time.

Big Freedia :: Congo Square :: 2:55 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.

The Queen Diva’s Congo Square sets have become the stuff of lore over the last decade, a shock-to-the-system for unbeknownst passer-by jazz dads and a can’t miss staple for those in-the-know. Big Freedia’s booty-shakin’ dance troupe burned more calories than any of the tens of thousands of fans who circled the Fairgrounds all day in an hour, busting out some jaw-gaping moves as Freedia ran through the set. A super memorable guest spot by Tarriona “Tank” Ball of Tank and the Bangas highlighted the show that drew one of the larger crowds seen at the festival’s most central stage.

Tonia Scott and the Anointed Voices :: Gospel Tent :: 5:05 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.

One of Jazz Fest’s most unique and special features which makes it stand out from the saturated American festival landscape is undoubtedly the Gospel Tent, one of the truly most joyous places at the Fairgrounds (and maybe the planet). Anointed Voices’ most gifted leader Tonia Scott led the 20+ member choir and brought the house down, delivering a full-on NOLA style jubilee unfolded in the crowd below as people kicked out of their chairs and reveled in the palpable joy in the tent. It felt good!

Friday Bites, Sights & Lagniappe

• Another blazing hot day called for a mango freeze — and then another one. I cannot recommend this slushy, fruity goodness enough.

• The Campbell Brothers blissful sacred steel set at the Fais Do Do before a sparse crowd was one of the hidden gems of the entire weekend.

• A rare sight outside of Jazz Fest and Jam Cruise, The Word supergroup consisting of John Medeski, Robert Randolph, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson and Rayfield “RayRay” Holloman”, held it down for a marathon set at Tipitina’s and were joined by Sunday main stage headliner Trombone Shorty for a quick sit-in before he exited back into the night stage right.

• Cuban music has been a burgeoning sensation at Jazz Fest over the last decade and the set’s first hour provided two different flavors of the island nation’s music exports. In the paddock stage of the Fairgrounds (Lagniappe), the harp-led Patricia Fisher & Arpa were joined by a trio of Cuban artists for a pleasant afternoon set in the shade as the bombastic Cimafunk! laid down some very high energy dance music and got people moving at the Jazz & Heritage Stage. It was one of many Cimafunk! shows over the two weekends of Jazz Fest, both at the Fairgrounds and around town. Definitely a band I’d like to seek out next time they do a big stateside tour, just pure-unadulterated fun and a perfect style and energy for Jazz Fest.

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Saturday, May 7

Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band :: Fais Do Do Stage :: 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

A superstar of the cajun zydeco world, Bruce Daigrepont has been gigging around the Crescent City for decades (for ages held down a well-attended weekly cajun dance party) at the Maple Leaf Bar and before becoming Tipitina’s all-time performance champ. Singing in cajun French and flanked by his wife on washboard and spoons, the renowned accordionist blazed through the midday set under the Louisiana sun, singing songs about the Tickfaw River’s famous Prop Stop bar that can only be reached by boat, crawfish and life on the bayou, ya know, cajun stuff. His wife is a longtime teacher at an all-girls private school and many of her enthusiastic students were parked in front of her stage left, one of those homey little moments you’d only see at the Fairgrounds. An elder statesman of the south Louisiana music scene, Daigrepont is a can’t miss staple for zydeco lovers and he put in his 10,000 hours (and then some) on the live stage, perhaps more than once.

Dottie Peoples :: Gospel Tent :: 3:55 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.

I’m not sure there’s a gospel artist JamBase readers have more familiarity with than Dottie Peoples, who, along with her “Peoples Choice Choir,” famously appeared with Widespread Panic at the inaugural Bonnaroo nearly 20 years ago and put on such a blazing sit-in on “Tall Boy” and “Testify” that it made it on the festival’s DVD of festival standouts. Of the several gospel sets I took in over the weekend, Peoples was easily one of the best and served as the perfect lead-in to seeing one of my all-time gospel-rooted soul singers to close out Saturday over at the Blues Tent.

Mavis Staples :: Blues Tent :: 5:55 p.m. – 6:55 p.m.

While the late cancellation of Melissa Etheridge due to COVID-19, which also took out Willie Nelson and his Family Band, George Porter Jr. and others at various points in the weekend, was a disappointment, the replacement of the classic blues singer and guitarist with the incomparable and irreplaceable Chicago legend Mavis Staples was about as nice of a surprise as anyone could ask for. Staples’ set was heavy on covers and the energy the 82-year-old singer brought to the Blues Tent was given back by the enthused crowd. Running through a set that included her heartwarming original “Friendship,” a cover of Talking Heads gospel-tinged freakout “Slippery People” – a setlist staple of hers and The Staples Singers since just after the song was released, Funkadelic’s “Can You Get To That,” Buffalo Springfield’s iconic “For What It’s Worth” and The Staples Singers iconic hit single “I’ll Take You There” closed out the set and was perhaps the biggest and happiest singalong I saw all weekend long. We are lucky to live at the same time as Mavis, and I count each opportunity to share the same space and marvel at her talent, energy and generally sunny disposition as a huge blessing.

Saturday Bites, Sights & Lagniappe

• Reports from around the Fairgrounds about Erykah Badu’s Congo Square Stage headliner set and Stevie Nicks on the main stage were equally positively glowing, a prime example of the Fest’s overflowing abundance and the sheer fact that tough decisions have to be made when these conflicts arise. I’ve never been one to pass up a Mavis set, so could be worse I suppose.

• R. Scully’s Rough Seven played an absolute bruiser of a rock set at BJ’s in the Bywater, a bar frontman Ryan Scully now owns, to end a three-year live hiatus. The group’s other band Morning 40 Federation and RSR7 would also appear at the Maple Leaf at other points in the weekend. They’ve always been one of the world’s most underrated bands and even with some dust to kick-off, put on one of the weekend’s best and most fun sets of music.

• The quail and pheasant gumbo at Jazz Fest is a can’t-miss culinary delight, even on a very hot and humid day it continues to be a top-of-the-line food item at the Fest.

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Sunday, May 8

As is always the case, the Festival’s final day was an embarrassment of musical riches and this year’s one last blowout was no different, with a wall-to-wall schedule that required some deft maneuvering and strategic planning to take in as much as possible before it’s another 51 long weeks until we get to do this again.

A Tribute To Dr. John :: Festival Stage :: 12:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.

Along with the passings of Art Neville and Allen Toussaint over the past few years, the June 2019 loss of Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack reverberated around the world with New Orleans music lovers and the trio’s impact on the sound of this city and Fest simply cannot be overstated. When Jazz Fest’s head honcho Quint Davis takes the stage to make introductions, you generally know the crowd is about to be in for a massive treat. Highlights included Ivan Neville’s fittingly spooky and subdued take on “I Walk On Guilded Splinters,” Jon Cleary taking the lead on an all-star version of “Such A Night” and Davell Crawford’s touching banter giving credit to Rebennack for helping him get his start before “Right Place, Wrong Time.” Among the other performers were Irma Thomas, Cyril Neville and John Boutte.

Dr. John’s late-career renaissance was a treat to get to witness as a former resident here and it felt tonic to see these songs recreated with such a blockbuster lineup of special guests and a mega-talented band to match. Mac had a singular way with words, turns-of-phrase and mispronunciations that’s hard to recreate, and this collection of living legends delivered one for the books. Here’s hoping there are future grandiose tributes to the one-and-and-only Night Tripper in the future at the Fairgrounds, but if not, this is one I’ll treasure for the rest of my days.

The Radiators :: Gentilly Stage :: 4 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.

Back at it again, The Radiators played to the Gentilly as Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band headlined to a massive audience of Parrotheads on the Festival Stage and funk legends Kool and the Gang held it down on Congo Square Stage, one of the weekend’s most brutal conflicts for certain. Quintessential staples like “Cocktail Music,” “Like Dreamers Do” and “Where Was You At?” were well-received as The Rads fans laughed, hooted, hollered and danced standing on the sandy grounds beneath the fest’s second-biggest stage.

Craig Adams & Higher Dimensions of Praise :: Gospel Tent :: 6 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

Serendipitous moments that stick out forever are always around every corner when you least expected it and the Fest’s best moment for me personally happened in the Gospel Tent for those lucky enough to finish off the Fest with Craig Adams & Higher Dimensions of Praise . The band’s frontman had a larger-than-life personality and presence, radiated positive vibes and delivered two of the best covers I’ve ever witnessed in the Gospel Tent, performing an absolute burner of a version of Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is” as well as Joe Cocker’s arrangement of “With A Little Help From My Friends” that felt about as fitting as any tune to send us off. Like a true preacher, Adams bid us adieu with a touching benediction, wishing us safe travels home, a blessed Sunday and leaving most misty-eyed as they ventured outside the gates one last time. These are the types of moments that keep us coming back to Fest.

Sunday Bites, Sights & Lagniappe

• A long tradition of mine is to hit the fried chicken and jambalaya for lunch on Sunday, the perfectly filling soul food has always been a favorite and hit different after three years without it. I’m no food writer or expert, but I can’t recommend it enough.

• The scene over at Maze and Frankie Beverly’s Congo Square finale was as vibrant and overwhelmingly joyous as any I strolled by all weekend. The intensely devoted fanbase was lapping up the soul and R&B classics and only made me wish I could’ve seen the whole set, but there’s always next year.

• Sometimes you have to save the best for last and the after-show down at the new One Eyed Jacks featuring John Medeski, Billy Martin, Skerik, James Singleton (filling in for George Porter Jr.) and DJ Logic was truly a (likely one-off) improvisational masterclass for the ages and one I’m very eager to hear as soon as a recording and/or video goes up on the Internet. Such a night!