Miscellaneous

One of my chronic failings is failing to take a real vacation. Since passing the bar and beginning my legal career, I?ve never spent a solid two weeks away from work. And I?ve never traveled for pleasure?to me, ?travel? and ?pleasure? are opposites. I don?t mind being someplace else, but the process of getting there is so much of a pain that, to me, it?s a barrier.

And then I look around at where I am?my New Orleans?and think why go someplace else when there?s so much sensuousness here? Where else can you have your senses of sight, smell, taste, and hearing as gratified as in New Orleans?

Still, time off is a good thing, I discovered last weekend. I had been to Jazz Fest many times before, but that was the first time I spent three solid consecutive days there: three days devoted solely to eating, sleeping, and going to Jazz Fest. A vacation without travel. It did my mental health a world of good.

Starting tomorrow, I get to do it again: Thursday through Saturday will be devoted to Jazz Fest. (Can?t go on Sunday, unfortunately.) So here?s the tentative plan.

Thursday has three acts in the middle of the afternoon that I hope to see: Bonerama (rock-and-roll trombones!) at 1:25, Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers at 2:35, and Randy Newman at 4:00. Before 1:25 and after 4:00, I?ll play it by ear.

On Friday, Stevie Wonder is scheduled for 5:15. Before that, I?ve circled D.L. Menard and the Louisiana Aces (2:10, Fais Do Do) and Trombone Shorty (3:50, Congo Square). The rest of the day, again, I will play by ear.

Saturday presents some difficult choices. Early in the afternoon, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band (1:50, Congo Square) competes with Henry Butler (2:15, Gentilly). Later in the afternoon, at 3:25, Aaron Neville is doing a gospel set in the Gospel Tent. He?ll be competing with Spencer Bohren (3:35, Lagniappe Stage), Marcia Ball (3:45, Gentilly), and John Mooney (3:45, Blues Tent). To close out the day, I?ll probably catch Kenny Wayne Shepherd in the Blues Tent. Other folks playing at the same time as Kenny include Jimmy Buffett, Diana Krall, and Irvin Mayfield.