Welcome to the WWOZ Blog! This is where 'OZ staff and beloved show hosts post news, thoughts, information, and of course, music.

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Jazz Lunatique 16th anniversary

Wed, 05/13/09

Authored by:  David Kunian

On Wednesday May 13 and May 20, the Radio Wave Scientists on Jazz Lunatique will celebrate 16 (YES, THAT'S RIGHT!) years on the air in New Orleans on WWOZ FM New Orleans proud to crawl home. The exact date has been lost in the shifting sand, mold, mud, and lost brain cells... Read more

A Jazz Fest Diary: Final Day Blowout, Part 2

Tue, 05/12/09

Authored by:  Hunter King

At least a half hour before Young arrived and as the rain was at its worst, over at the Acura stage there was a thin crowd screaming in anticipation for the Neville Brothers. The rain subsided and the crowd filled up to numbers that the New Orleans favorites deserved. Read more

A Jazz Fest Diary: Final Day Blowout, Part 1

Tue, 05/12/09

Authored by:  Hunter King

As much as I enjoy a local-heavy Jazz Fest, I couldn't turn down an opportunity to see Neil Young performing at the Fairgrounds for the first time ever. When I heard the electric buzz of just the first few chords, I got goosebumps. Read more

The Worst Show of All Time

Thu, 05/07/09

Authored by:  Jamie Dell'Apa

Conspiracy theorists unite! This Saturday night, we will broadcast audio and music that ties Bill O'Reilly, Dick Cheney and Ray Nagin to a common missing link. Audio snippets from Voldemort, Darth Vader, Butterfly McQueen, Paul Harvey, Marlon Brando (Kurtz), Secret Squi... Read more

Sunday: Allen Tousaint and Cedric Burnside

Wed, 05/06/09

Authored by:  Hunter King

The words seem strange as I type them, but Sunday you could really catch some of the best this festival has to offer without moving from the Acura stage. Example: Allen Toussaint sat himself at the piano and belted out a string of classics from the nearly endless collection of... Read more

Non-Stop Saturday Action

Mon, 05/04/09

Authored by:  Hunter King

With everything going on it had been a while since I visited my dependable fallback the Gospel Tent. I was greeted by the Voices of Distinction, an all-female quartet studded in sparkly green dresses. Their foot-stomping soul was an absolute blast, and it felt good to know tha... Read more

Funky Friday

Mon, 05/04/09

Authored by:  Hunter King

Esperanza Spalding has been exploding lately, and with good reason. Her enthusiastic and earthy character is matched by an articulate and proficient style of breezy jazz. The WWOZ Jazz Tent was certainly hypnotized, and I think more than a few crushes were formed. Read more

A Slice of New Orleans Heaven: Rebirth, Dirty Dozen, and John Boutté

Mon, 05/04/09

Authored by:  Hunter King

The Congo Square Stage was just as overflowing as its Festival schedule square for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the Glass House Reunion with the Rebirth Brass Band. Later on, John Boutté put on a refreshing set at the 'OZ Jazz Tent. Read more

Frankie and Fredy On Saturday

Mon, 05/04/09

Authored by:  Hunter King

I'll admit I decided to go see Freddie Ford mostly out of curiosity, but apparently he anticipated this. Twenty-seven Jazz Festivals, and way more since his R&B smash "Sea Cruise", the "New Orleans Dynamo" gladly beat us to every joke about his age that we could have imagined,... Read more

The Meter Men, Theresa Andersson, and Po' Henry & Tookie

Sat, 05/02/09

Authored by:  Hunter King

The Meter Men described themselves as senior citizen funk, but by looking and listening to them it was hard to agree. George, Leo and Zig were tight and together, playing the low-down grooves they were known for in their Meters days but with plenty of vicious shredding from Le... Read more