It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  No Andy Williams, not Christmas, Day 1 of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the unchallenged greatest music and culture event on the planet.

My hot picks, dedicated to Callie –

Start out with the N. O. Suspects or Freddie Omar; then Paul “The Bard of N. O.” Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show.  We got the Soul Rebels and Anders Osborne back-to-back.  Then the incomparables Leroy Jones, then Dr. John.  A couple under the radar picks – Le Vent du Nord of Canada and the N. O. Guitar Quartet.  They tell me Band of Horses is the future of Rock & Roll, I guess I better see them.  George Benson breezes by closing Congo and also closing Blues are the Campbell Brothers.  Remember to take some time to chill out and listen to the amazing interview stage in the Grandstand.  Special shows for me today by Wayne Toups and Terrance Simien, 2 guys I saw at my very first Jazz Fest who were instrumental (of course the pun is intended!) in encouraging my love of Louisiana Music and moving here.

Remember to practice the “Walk By”, stroll by the many different stages to see bands that you have never heard of for a song or two.  I promise that you will discover something fabulous you never even know existed.