Miscellaneous

Tomorrow, Jazz Fest starts. The weather will be grand, and I have my Brass Pass in hand. And today I picked up my Jazz Fest Bible. Oh boy! I?ve looked over tomorrow?s schedule; here are some places that I may be found tomorrow:

Must see:

• Tribute to Mahalia Jackson, Gospel Tent, 4:30-5:30. Irma Thomas, Pamela Landrum, and Mavis Staples on the same stage.
• Henry Butler, 2:55-3:55, Congo Square. George Winston?s favorite piano player.
• Tab Benoit, 5:45-7:00, Blues Tent. Too young, too Cajun, too Caucasian to sing the blues. Yet he does?and he plays some hot guitar.

Also highlighted on my schedule:

• Spencer Bohren, 12:20-1:10, Blues Tent. Solo acoustic blues by a local guy, solid citizen, and great musician.
• 19th Street Red Blues Band, 12:35-1:25. I have no idea who these people are, but I like their name.
• Tommy Sancton Quartet, 2:55-3:55, Economy Hall. Tommy has lived in NYC and Paris, but has recently moved home to New Orleans. He grew up listening to the men at Preservation Hall and, as a teen, played in a second-line band. He?s a great writer, and with a bio like his, probably a great traditional jazz man.
• Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave., 3:45-4:50, Gentilly Stage. These guys occupy the space between jazz, blues, and funk. They?re all dynamite musicians.
• Guitar Slim Jr. interview, 4:00-4:45, Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage. An interview with the son of Guitar Slim. Enough said.
• Terrance Simean & the Zydeco Experience, 6:00-7:00, Fais-Do-Do. If only they weren?t playing opposite Tab Benoit!

Good act that I?ll probably miss:

• Joe Cocker, 5:30-7:00, Acura. I wouldn?t mind seeing Joe. But in a head-to-head with Tab Benoit, I must go with Tab.