Miscellaneous

 From April 25 through May 4, New Orleans will be the center of the universe. That?s when the Jazz Fest will be happening. A few days ago, the day-by-day, stage-by-stage lineups were released. So with Brass Pass in hand and prayers for good weather and no work-related emergencies, here are my initial plans (subject to change according to serendipity):

• Friday, April 25. The big-name acts are Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (3:30?4:50), followed by Sheryl Crow (5:35?7:00), both at Acura. While I like those folks well enough, I?ll probably opt for Anders Osborne (3:35?4:40, Gentilly), Tab Benoit (4:20?5:20, Blues Tent), and Buckwheat Zydeco (5:50?6:55, Blues Tent). If I arrive early enough, I?ll try to catch Susan Cowsill (11:20?12:05, Acura) and J. Monque?D (12:20?1:10, Blues Tent).


• Saturday, April 26. The big-name act is Billy Joel. I?ll probably skip Billy in favor of Rosie Ledet. Other acts I have circled on my schedule are Wayne Toups & Zydecajun (12:30?1:30), Dr. John (pronounced ?Dahktuh Jawn,? 3:35?4:45), and the New Birth Brass Band (4:25?5:30). Toughest choice: Walter ?Wolfman? Washington (2:20?3:20  at Congo Square) versus Eddie Bo (2:25?3:25 at Fais Do-Do).


• Sunday, April 27. Must arrive early to catch Little Freddie King (11:30?12:30, Blues Tent). Later in the afternoon, our own Grammy-winning Irma Thomas will be on the Acura stage (3:40?4:45). After that, the choices become excruciatingly difficult. The big-name closing acts will be Louisiana-born, married-to-Faith-Hill Tim McGraw (5:30?6:55, Acura) and Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint (4:55?6:55, Gentilly). I will bypass those in favor of one of the following: Al Green (5:45?7:00, Congo Square), Delbert McClinton (5:30?6:50, Blues Tent), BeauSoleil (5:55?7:00, Fais Do Do), or the Hot 8 Brass Band (5:45?7:00, Jazz & Heritage Stage).


• Thursday, May 1. Thursday is usually a relatively low-key day. I?ll try to catch Bonerama (1:15?2:15, Acura), Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers (2:35?3:35, Gentilly), and Randy Newman (4:00?5:15, Gentilly). If I?m not too tired, I?ll stick around for C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band (5:40?6:55, Fais Do Do).


• Friday, May 2. As you?ve probably noticed by now, I usually steer clear of the big-name acts?not because I don?t like them, but because those stages are usually mobbed. But I may have to make an exception for Stevie Wonder (5:15?6:45, Acura). If I?m crowd-weary, I?ll sacrifice seeing Stevie in favor of Sunpie?s Tribute to Clifton Chenier, featuring C.J. Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco, Sonny Landreth, and Leon Sam (5:30?6:55, Fais Do Do). Other acts I have circled are D.L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces (2:10?3:10, Fais Do Do), Trombone Shorty (3:50?4:55, Congo Square), and John Hammond (4:25?5:20, Blues Tent).


• Saturday, May 3. The early afternoon is easy enough: the Dirty Dozen Brass Band (1:50?2:50, Congo Square). But then the choices become most difficult. Blues lovers are forced to choose between Marcia Ball (3:45?5:00, Gentilly) and John Mooney (3:45?5:00, Blues Tent). As if that choice weren?t difficult enough, other acts playing around the same time include Aaron Neville?s Gospel Soul (3:25?4:25, Gospel Tent), Spencer Bohren (3:35?4:35, Alison Miner), the subdudes (3:35?4:45, Acura), and Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea (3:45?5:00, Jazz Tent). Your end-of-day choices includes Jimmy Buffett (5:30?7:00, Acura), Diana Krall (5:35?7:00, Gentilly), Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (5:35?6:55), and Kenny Wayne Shepherd (5:30?6:55, Blues Tent).


• Sunday, May 4. If you love great guitar playing, this is your day. Early arrivals should catch Guitar Slim Jr. (11:25?12:25, Blues Tent), then run over to the Gentilly Stage for Sonny Landreth (12:35?1:30). Then catch your breath, get something to eat, and head back to the Blues Tent for Snooks Eaglin (2:15?3:15). After that, there?s a cruel choice to make: Santana (3:20?5:00, Acura) versus Keb? Mo? (3:45?4:55, Blues Tent). If you want to make it an all-guitar day, close out your Fest with the Derek Trucks Band (5:30?6:50, Blues Tent). Or if you?d like to see the next Alison Krauss (fiddle-playing prodigy who?s growing as an artist by sticking to her roots), then see Amanda Shaw (5:45?7:00, Fais Do Do). Or if you?re a traditionalist, flip a coin between the Radiators (5:35?6:55, Gentilly) and the Neville Brothers (5:40?6:55).

That?s a lot of music, friends. For me, it?s a year?s worth of live music crammed into two weekends. But I?ve only scratched the surface. The Jazz Fest features 11 stages, which means that the acts mentioned above are about 10% of what?s there to listen to.