Photo Credit: Dino Perucci
Yesterday, April 26, marked the second day of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2024. Friday’s programming built on the energy of a thrilling first day, bringing 74 total acts to 12 festival stages and coming to full stride with a range of the selection of this year’s most notable acts. Highlights from this second gleaming, sunny day of music and celebration included performances by Amy Helm, Oumou Sangaré, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Louis Michot, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Revivalists and a pair of show-stopping sets from headliners Jon Baptiste and The Killers.
As a devoted son of The Big Easy, Jon Baptiste’s NOLA homecomings are always the talk of the town. This year, the prolific singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist was tasked with following an incredible set at Jazz Fest 2023, which boasted elaborate choreography, a choir, and members of the St. Augustine High School Marching 100. This year, Baptiste continued his legacy of going all-out for his hometown with his performance on the Gentilly Stage by tapping founding Meters drummer Zigaboo Modeliste and the acclaimed horn section of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for a treatment of his 2022 fan favorite “Freedom.”
Excitement continued with covers of New Orleans legends as Batiste first broached “Tipitina,” showing off his chops and influences with homages to the classic treatments of both Professor Longhair and Allen Toussaint, then moved on to Fats Domino’s timeless proto-rock standard “Ain’t That a Shame.” After saluting the city’s distinct and distinguished culture and the 50-year history of Jazz Fest with Professor Longhair’s “Big Chief,” Batiste finally closed out his set with a soul-stirring cover of the classic Bill Withers torch song “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
View scenes from Batiste’s performance and the broader day’s festivities in the gallery below, courtesy of photographer Dino Perucci. For more information on New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2024 and daily lineups for upcoming shows, click here.
