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Diana Ross reigns supreme on the second weekend
of New Orleans Jazz Festival

2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - Weekend 1
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
New Orleans, LA
May 2-5, 2019

Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

Review and photos by Mary Andrews

This year’s line up was plagued by artists that dropped out including Bob Seger, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Clift, and, on the second week, John Prine. Most of the "MIAs" were due to illness. Elvin Bishop and Robert Randolph were added to the schedule at the last minute to replace Prine.

There was still a plethora of legends and new artists to distract fans from those acts missing and revel in the great entertainment presented. It was a weekend of legendary divas that graced the stage. Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, and Chaka Khan performed on the same weekend. They were all amazing but Ross was the clear winner if there was a contest.

Ross emerged from a blue tent on the side of the stage dressed in a bright yellow floor-length dress with a smile as bright as her dress. She immediately started singing her hits that included songs from her Supremes and solo career.

There were nine wardrobe changes in total during her set. That is a record for any Jazz Festival performance. Gown colors ranged from bright red, gold sequins, silver, and black. Her makeup was impeccable that made it very hard to believe she is 75-years old.

This was a performance that was NOT phoned in. Ross was very engaged and responsive to her fans as she noticed what was going on in the crowd. She was relishing the love thrown her way. The packed field of fans were as much a part of the performance as the musicians, background singers, and Ross.

In Billboard magazine's Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists chart, Ross is ranked 16th as the lead singer of the Supremes and 26th as a solo artist. She is responsible for more that 100,000,000 album sales. It was little wonder that thousands of devotees were so familiar with songs that were the soundtrack of their lives. Ross announced, "This is my Diamond Jubilee. If I can do it, so can you," as she cheered the crowd on to continue clapping and dancing. Ross did it all and went overtime with her set.

Gladys Knight thrilled fans the previous day. Folks not only filled the area in front of the stage, but also the track leading to the stage was impassable on both sides of the Congo Stage. Knight was totally in a space to energetically perform her classic hit songs that included "Midnight Train to Georgia."

Chaka Khan played to the absolutely packed and scorching Congo Stage opening her set with "This Is My Night," with its bright horns, and "Do You Love What You Feel" and "Tell Me Something Good," two more Rufus songs. Khan followed them with "What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me?" Her soaring vocal runs predominated the set. There was a medley of Rufus songs, including "Stay" and "Sweet Thang."

The were many great moments with highly anticipated sets from Kamasi Washington, Ani DiFranco, Chris Stapleton, Mavis Staples, Buddy Guy, Rita Coolidge, Aaron Neville, Trombone Shorty, Dave Matthews Band, Tom Jones, John Fogerty, Herbie Hancock, and many more. It was the most astounding feast of the widest variety of music for everyone to savor.


JazzFest Weekend 1:

Related articles:

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2018
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2016
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2015
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2014
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2013
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2010
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2009
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2008
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2007
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2006

Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
Chaka Kahn
Chaka Kahn
Chaka Kahn
Chaka Kahn
Chaka Kahn
Chaka Kahn
Chaka Kahn
Chaka Kahn
Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton
Cyrl Neville
Cyrl Neville
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Tom Jones
Tom Jones
Tom Jones
Tom Jones
Tom Jones
Tom Jones
Tank and Bangas
Tank and Bangas
Tank and Bangas
Tank and Bangas
Yvette Landry
Yvette Landry
Samantha Fish
Samantha Fish
Samantha Fish
Samantha Fish
Samantha Fish
Samantha Fish
Samantha Fish
Samantha Fish
Shirley Caeser
Shirley Caeser
Shirley Caeser
Shirley Caeser
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples
Little Freddie King
Little Freddie King
Marc Broussard
Marc Broussard
Bryan Lee
Bryan Lee
Big Sam
Big Sam
Big Sam
Big Sam
North Mississsippi Allstars
North Mississsippi Allstars
North Mississippi Allstars
North Mississippi Allstars
Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat
Kamasi Washington
Kamasi Washington
Kamasi Washington
Kamasi Washington
Judith Owen
Judith Owen
John Boutee
John Boutee
John Boutee
John Boutee
CJ Chenier
CJ Chenier
CJ Chenier
CJ Chenier
Anders Osborne
Anders Osborne
Anders Osborne
Anders Osborne
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville

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