TILTING AT WINDMILLS - THE LEGSYBOYS' EURO ADVENTURE

SACRAY BLUR - HE'S BACK!!!

It's only been a year since the last report, so what better time to rekindle tall tales and true. Granted, the Euro Adventures have come to an end (although there are numerous left untold), but I shall rectify the title later. Right now, it's time to report on a very special occasion - Jazzfest 2018.

Why so special? It's not every year one gets to take his daughter along for her first taste of New Orleans - and to celebrate her 16th birthday at the same time! And what a treat it was for me. Aimee and I headed to London for a couple of days where we caught up with friends young and old(er), and visited favourite hangouts and even got to Brick Lane for a dose of hipster breakfast cereal.

Cereal art

Apparently this is meant to be a latte!

Our friend Pablo The Property Mogul joined the LegsyBoys for the trip to Nawlinz.

Pablo's maiden Jazzfest voyage

This was to be Pablo's maiden journey to the USA (let alone New Orleans) and as an affirmed music lover he, too, was very excited. Arriving mid-evening, we quickly located our cohorts Tinno The Rock God, Jacuzzi Jen, Brother Lee and Kelly. Bourbon Street is out of the question (firstly 'cos Aimee's too young and secondly 'cos it's revolting) so we head to the local institution Cafe Du Monde for a cup of crap cawfee and BEIGNETS!

Michelin standard service

What'll we have - beignets perhaps?

Lick your lips Pablo!

Our first full day was all about acclimatising, getting our tickets, and meeting up with the final three members of our gang, Lois, Skull and Bron. Time for Jazzfest - Bring It On!!

Guardians Of The Groove

Preservation Hall

As usual, it's a balancing act, who to see and who to forego. As Guardians Of the Groove,

we all have differing tastes (some better than others!), but our paths cross regularly, particularly when it comes to food and the non-negotiables - Crawfish Monica, Mango Freeze and Strawberry Lemonade.

Yvette Landry sings and looks good through the lens,

and there's time to catch the Batistes, one of several famed Nawlinz funk families, in full cry (Aimster was enjoying the groove),

Strange piano!

whilst moving towards the Gentilly Stage to witness the brilliant Jon Cleary in action (with Big 'D' Perkins by his side).

Big 'D' - in case you didn't work it out!

That was really impressive!

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band were on fire

and then it was time for some blues courtesy of the smokin' hot Samantha Fish (who sounded ALMOST as good as she looked).

Some big names closed out the stages on Day 1. The crowd, including Aimster and others from our group, was massive watching Sting rattle through all the big hits (ho hum, yawn), Bobby Rush was in outrageous form in the Blues Tent,

I'm so hungry I could eat a harp!

Whoa!!!

Whoa again!!!

Lucky I had a wide angle lens!

Pablo was in ecstacy watching Steel Pulse, the Gospel tent was heaving, but the highlight was the mighty alt-country singer Sturgill Simpson and his troupe of dancing boys - outrageously good (even if we were kicked out of the press pit after 12 minutes).

Hal-eh-lou-ya

And amen to that

Magnificent

The future of alt-country

Day two and the gang are hanging over the fence watching Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars go through their paces,

Strangers in the crowd

whilst Aimster took in the Brass-A-Holics set (Congo Square seems to be hitting the spot for Aimee).

Brass and mango freeze - perfecto.

Blues revivalist Jerron 'Blind Boy' Paxton was fantastic in the Blues Tent, although from what I saw he should be called 'Vision Impaired Boy' 'cos he didn't appear to be blind!

The tribute to the late, great Fats Domino was sensational, followed by a nice performance from Bonnie Raitt.

Fats' original horn section

Deacon John

Back at Congo Square, the crowd didn't know whether to watch hip-hop/bounce queen Big Freedia or his/her dancing troupe - you can decide for yourself!

Oh...

...my...

...lawdy...

...Miss...

...Clawdy!

A huge crowd watched legendary saxophonist Charles Lloyd & The Marvels (featuring the equally legendary Greg Leisz on pedal steel) although one suspects many were there to see guest vocalist Lucinda Williams and not the octogenarian jazz man.

Pedal steel legend Greg Leisz

Lucinda

The jazz tent crowd go ape!

Twenty year old R&B singer Khalid seemed preoccupied with grabbing his crutch, which had the Congo crowd of teenyboppers going bananas and others (i.e. moi) just shaking their head in disbelief.

Ah, there they are!

Better check again...

Yep, still got two.

The mighty mod Rod Stewart drew a mega crowd (yep, most of our gang included) whilst Don L:egsy took in a red hot show from Texan quartet The Last Bandoleros (who just happened to be part of Sting's backing band the previous evening).

I told you they were good Kelly!

Day three kicked off with a lacklustre Savoy Family Cajun Band set

before being lit up by a fabulous performance from Irish traditional folk trio Socks In The Frying Pan. Sure, the name is ridiculous, but their collective abilities is anything but.

The crowd went bananas

Louisiana local hero Kenny Neal was good in the Blues Tent

Allen Toussaint's grandson keeps the flag flying

and next door Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & The Golden Eagles (who were wearing red!) did what Mardi Gras indians do (don't ask me!).

The injuns were out in force every day. Truly amazing costumes, all hand sewn. Such pretty boys...

Seventies funksters Chocolate Milk were ok for a few songs,

and Jon Batiste was superb with the Dap-Kings backing him (one suspects that he may have been a replacement for Sharon Jones who unfortunately couldn't make it).

Although many went to see David Byrne (why bother when he doesn't sing 'Psycho Killer'!) the main course was served up by the immortal Godfather of British Blues - John Mayall. Pablo, Skull, Aimee and I had a right royal time of it watching the great man.

Pablo gets up close and personal

The evening was concluded at the House Of Blues to see Los Lobos. To describe it as ramshackle would be an insult to rams, but as rough as it was it was also an exhilarating night.