2024 Jazz Fest Recap- Part Four
A Look Back at the Second Saturday and Sunday
Over the years, a sighting of Jazz Fest producer/director Quint Davis indicates the performance he is at or is introducing is one that is important to him. He is rarely at the smaller stages with the exception of the Jazz and Heritage stage, which is where most of the Mardi Gras Indians perform.
So we knew something unique was going to occur when he introduced the Colombian folkloric group Matachinde in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion. The men in the group came out in painted wooden masks and banana leaf collars and proceeded to stalk around the stage while looking menacing. The women sang as they marched onto the stage. Then the band started up and each woman took a turn singing lead vocals while the musicians played on traditional instruments.
Creole Group, yup that’s their moniker, hails from the Caribbean island of San Andrés. Though part of Colombia, the island is much further north off the coast of Nicaragua. They played music more like that of Jamaica or Trinidad and featured a percussionist on a jawbone and another on a washtub bass. With two guitars, keyboards, drums and a mandolin, the band was a mix of modern and traditional sounds.
Cimarrón blew the minds of everyone who saw the band. With four musicians including a harp player (arguably the best soloist I saw over the entire festival), they brought down the house with a mix of Colombian rhythms and virtuoso string work that had a flamenco, almost classical, flair. The singer intoned and wailed especially when two of the musicians put on veils and brought out ceremonial deer skull whistles. They also battled with maracas and did some impressive rhythmic stomping. My photos don’t do them justice—look for video.
The last Sunday of Jazz Fest is always bittersweet as the long season comes to close. My recaps may seem like I only saw the guest Colombian bands at the Fairgrounds, but I took time to see some local groups as well. First thing in the morning, the Jazz and Heritage stage was hoping with salsa music from Conjunto Tierra Linda. The group was formed by bassist Gabriel Case and features the cream of the crop of local Latin and world musicians.
Sam Dickey played both electric guitar and tres Cubano (shown below) with Gabriel Velasco on timbales.
It’s hard to believe that Funky Monkey was making their Jazz Fest debut. The group, which features vocalist Arsene DeLay, put on a great set on the Lagniappe stage. Trombonist Greg Hicks and guitarist Bert Cotton lead the jazz-funk powerhouse. The rest of the band includes drummer Eddie Christmas, bassist Dave Pomerleau, saxophonist Jason Mingledorff and keyboardist Chris Spies. DeLay tore up “Mojo Hannah,” a song made famous by the Neville Brothers.
