Fans of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be treated to a half-century’s worth of live performances in a very special commemorative box CD set being released in celebration of Jazz Fest’s 50th anniversary.
In honor of Jazz Fest’s golden anniversary, Smithsonian Folkways is releasing five discs of live performances from past years’ festivals. Jazz Fest: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will arrive on May 10 and is currently available for pre-order, here.
According to Jazz Fest organizers, the box set focuses on “the roots of Louisiana music,” placing emphasis on genres like jazz, bounce, zydeco, brass band, gospel and R&B. Some of the artists featured are Trombone Shorty, Irma Thomas, Big Freedia, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Allen Toussaint (solo and in a duet with Bonnie Raitt), Dr. John, Kermit Ruffins, Terence Blanchard, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Champion Jack Dupree, and Buckwheat Zydeco.
“We are simply delighted with this collaboration,” says Smithsonian Folkways director and curator Huib Schippers. “It immediately made sense to us as soon as we started discussing it. There is a compelling and beautiful synergy between the first fifty years of an iconic music festival and a 70-year old record label committed to documenting and celebrating this country’s sound legacy and keeping it available in perpetuity, in whatever format, for a listenership of 230 million and growing. We are so pleased that we can bring some of the amazing sounds and sights and impressions from New Orleans to new and familiar audiences.”
Accompanying the music is a 135-page book with exclusive photographs from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s archive, The Historic New Orleans Collection and various independent photographers. Keith Spera and Karen Celestan contributed historical essays, as well.
Allen Toussaint and Bonnie Raitt – What Is Success – New Orleans Jazzfest 2000
Bonnie Raitt, who kicked off her 2012 summer tour Sunday at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, did not start slow. After her introduction by festival producer Quint Davis – “Ladies and gentlemen, the great Raitt!” – she tore straight into what was to be pretty much 90 straight minutes of hard-hitting, sharp-toothed rock ‘n’ roll, taking no prisoners with a vicious bottleneck guitar and that sandpaper-and-smoke voice, which seems to age like a good Scotch. At nearly the very end of the 2012 fest, the guitar goddess delivered one of its most memorable shows.
Raitt, who as Davis pointed out in his introduction, was the first non-New Orleans-dwelling artist to perform at Jazz Fest, is no stranger to the city. Her shiny, zebra-striped turquoise shirt, she said, was intended to “honor the spirit of Ernie K-Doe. We drove by the Mother-in-Law Lounge on the way here.” She praised John Mooney and the Malone Brothers’ Saturday performances at Jazz Fest with a “man, it was slammin’.”
“In my long and notorious life,” she said, “I’ve been so glad I always have New Orleans to come back to.”
The guitarist was flanked by a band of veterans. Drummer Ricky Fataar has been with her since 1981; bassist James “Hutch” Hutchinson since 1983, when the two were introduced by the Neville Brothers. Second guitarist George Marinelli joined 20 years ago; road soundman Paul Middleton has been around for 25. Together, they occupied the stage like the old buddies they are, relaxed, chatty and engaging with the crowd, and making it look easy with the music.
Raitt played old-school hits like John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery,” which she popularized in her 1974 “Streetlights” album, and, of course, “Something To Talk About,” from 1991’s “Luck of the Draw.” But for the most part, the set was drawn from her 2012 release “Slipstream” – her first studio album in seven years.
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bonnie raitt–angel from montgomery–jazzfest 2012
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Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 6, 2012 celebr read more
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Jazz Fest 2012 Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Allen Toussaint and Bonnie Raitt
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Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 6, 2012 celebr read more
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Bonnie Raitt with Mike Finnigan, John Cleary and Allen Toussant
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I Believe I’m In Love With You
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Bonnie Raitt with Mike Finnigan, John Cleary and Allen Toussant
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Bonnie plays Gerry Rafferty at Jazz fest 2012.
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Right Down The Line
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Bonnie plays Gerry Rafferty at Jazz fest 2012.
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Bonnie Raitt performs "I Believe I’m in Love with You" as a duet with her former keyboa read more
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Bonnie Raitt, Jon Cleary, and Allen Toussaint – I Believe I’m in Love with You – JazzFest 2012
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Bonnie Raitt performs "I Believe I’m in Love with You" as a duet with her former keyboa read more
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bonnie raitt at jazz fest, 05 06 2012
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Jazz Fest 2012 111 Bonnie Raitt @ Gentilly Stage
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Jazz Fest 2012 111 Bonnie Raitt @ Gentilly Stage
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Jazz Fest 2012 111 Bonnie Raitt @ Gentilly Stage
bonnie raitt–angel from montgomery–jazzfest 2012
Jazz Fest 2012 Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Allen Toussaint and Bonnie Raitt
Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 6, 2012 celebrating their 50th Anniversary with guests Allen Toussaint and Bonnie Raitt.
I Believe I’m In Love With You
Bonnie Raitt with Mike Finnigan, John Cleary and Allen Toussant
Right Down The Line
Bonnie plays Gerry Rafferty at Jazz fest 2012.
Bonnie Raitt, Jon Cleary, and Allen Toussaint – I Believe I’m in Love with You – JazzFest 2012
Bonnie Raitt performs "I Believe I’m in Love with You" as a duet with her former keyboardist Jon Cleary and special surprise guest Allen Toussaint New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2012 May 6, 2012 Gentilly Stage
bonnie raitt at jazz fest, 05 06 2012
Jazz Fest 2012 111 Bonnie Raitt @ Gentilly Stage
Jazz Fest 2012 111 Bonnie Raitt @ Gentilly Stage
“Slipstream” was recorded after a tough year for Raitt, during which she lost her parents, her brother and a best friend. She doesn’t write much, and for “Slipstream,” she chose songs that reflected her pain, and her emergence from it. Some of the album tracks are for an artist who is experiencing loss, and some are for an artist who has known enough of it to treasure love and joy when she finds it. (And at least one – “Down to You,” which she co-wrote with Randall Bramblett and performed Sunday at Jazz Fest, is about putting the first and second experiences together and arriving at a third perspective: taking no mess. As the set’s penultimate song, she rocked it.)
Bonnie Raitt, backed by Allen Toussaint takes a bow after her set at the Gentilly stage during the last day of the second week of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Sunday May 6, 2012
Bonnie Raitt performs with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Allen Toussaint during the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course on May 6, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana
Bonnie Raitt performs with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band during the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course on May 6, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana
Bonnie Raitt performs with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band during the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course on May 6, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana
Bonnie Raitt performs with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band during the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course on May 6, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana
Bonnie Raitt performs at the Gentilly Stage during the last day of the second week of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Sunday May 6, 2012
Bonnie Raitt performs at the Gentilly Stage during the last day of the second week of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Sunday May 6, 2012
Bonnie Raitt performs at the Gentilly Stage during the last day of the second week of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Sunday May 6, 2012
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt performs on bottleneck guitar at the Gentilly Stage during the last day of the second week of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Sunday May 6, 2012
Bonnie Raitt performs at the Gentilly Stage during the last day of the second week of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Sunday May 6, 2012
Bonnie Raitt performs as Quint Davis watches from the wings during the last day of the second week of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Sunday May 6, 2012
Bonnie Raitt performs during the last day of the second week of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Sunday May 6, 2012
Allen Toussaint and Bonnie Raitt performing during the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course on May 6, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ricky Fataar, George Marinelli, James ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson, Bonnie Raitt, Allen Toussaint, Jon Cleary and Mike Finnigan at NO Jazzfest 2012
Maria Muldair, Bonnie Raitt and Steve Earle with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival – Bonnie Raitt, 9 time Grammy award winner with Maria Maldaur (Midnight at the Oasis), Steve Earle, guitar, Mark Braud, centarian trumpet player ‘Uncle’ Lionel Ferbos and clarinetist Charlie Gabriel of the ‘Preservation Hall and Friends’ ensemble. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. May 6, 2012.
Bonnie Raitt sits in with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band during there 50th. Annversary performance at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Day 7 at the Fair Grounds Race Course on May 6, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Bonnie Raitt sits in with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band during there 50th. Annversary performance at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Day 7 at the Fair Grounds Race Course on May 6, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Bonnie & Irma Thomas at New Orleans Jazzfest 2012
Bonnie with show host Paul Ingles at New Orleans Jazzfest 2012
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2012 – Poster
Rain sprinkled the crowd as the band turned Bob Dylan’s “Million Miles” into a gritty, low-down blues, complete with slinky barroom piano solo from keyboardist Mike Finnegan. Before “Can’t Fail Me Now,” another “Slipstream” track written by Loudon Wainwright and Joe Henry, Raitt and Marinelli had to pause to re-tune due to the wetness.
But the sun emerged as if on a timer for one of the show’s few quiet moments. Rays beamed down as Raitt sat atop a stool sans guitar, hands folded in her lap, for the hushed ballad “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Smartphones flew into the air to capture the performance; most folks sang along. After a set of high-octane joking and rocking, it was a lovely interlude of pure emotion.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival :: 04.30.09 – 05.03.09 :: Fair Grounds Race Course :: New Orleans, LA
Grease Is The Word
Bonnie Raitt is happy to have stood the test of time. She’s also at Acura, and even from a great distance I can spot her shocking red hair. She brings plenty of locals to the stage, playing “A Real Good Thing’s About To Come To An End,” with Jon Cleary scorching the piano, followed by an old Sippie Wallace tune from the 20s, “Woman Be Wise” with Glen David Andrews on trombone and his cousin James Andrews on trumpet. More locals add an extra accompaniment, the beer vendors clanging cowbells for every person tipping the jar. Even onstage, it was hot in the afternoon sunshine, prompting Raitt to give the Fest’s best advice yet: “Get into that grease, honey.” She then launched into the lusty “Something To Talk About,” which I sang all the way to the next act.
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Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2, the anticipated new John Prine tribute record from Oh Boy Records, is out today. Stream/purchase HERE.
Created as a celebration of Prine’s life and career, the album features new renditions of some of Prine’s most beloved songs performed by Brandi Carlile (“I Remember Everything”), Tyler Childers (“Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You”), Iris DeMent (“One Red Rose”), Emmylou Harris (“Hello In There”), Jason Isbell (“Souvenirs”), Valerie June (“Summer’s End”), Margo Price (“Sweet Revenge”), Bonnie Raitt (“Angel From Montgomery”), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (“Pretty Good”), Amanda Shires (“Saddle in the Rain”), Sturgill Simpson(“Paradise”) and John Paul White (“Sam Stone”). Proceeds from the album will benefit twelve different non-profit organizations, one selected by each of the featured artists.
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Bonnie Raitt - Write Me a Few of Your Lines/Kokomo Blues
60 years anniversary celebration of Arhoolie
December 10, 2020
Arhoolie Foundation celebrates it's 60th anniversary (1960-2020) with an online broadcast.
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Bonnie Raitt - Shadow of Doubt
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
October 3, 2020
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass celebrates it's 20th anniversary with an online broadcast titled “Let The Music Play On”.
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Bonnie Raitt & Boz Scaggs - You Don't Know Like I Know
Farm Aid 2020 On the Road
Sam & Dave classic written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
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Sheryl Crow & Bonnie Raitt - Everything Is Broken
[Eric Clapton’s Crossroads 2019]
Eric Clapton, one of the world’s pre-eminent blues/rock guitarists, once again summoned an all-star team of six-string heroes for his fifth Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2019. Held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, the two-day concert event raised funds for the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, the chemical dependency treatment and education facility that Clapton founded in 1998.
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'A Tribute To Mose Allison'
Celebrates The Music Of An Exciting Jazz Master
Raitt contributed to a new album, If You're Going To The City: A Tribute To Mose Allison, which celebrates the late singer and pianist, who famously blended the rough-edged blues of the Mississippi Delta with the 1950s jazz of New York City.
NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to Bonnie Raitt about her friendship with the Mose Allison. They're also joined by Amy Allison — his daughter, who executive produced the album — about selecting an unexpected list of artists to contribute songs to the album.
Recorded on tour June 3, 2017 - Centennial Hall, London - Ontario Canada