05.04.2009

Fest Reviews

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"Alex McMurray made a big impression at Jazz Fest "
Times Picayune - Nola.com
The crowd that showed up for his Lagniappe Stage set -- in the high hundreds, at least -- caught him off guard. "I'm just not used to playing for so many people," he said. He should be. Read the rest of the article

French Quarter Festival, New Orleans
Jazz Times
This raw, funky street trio, a crowd favorite, delivered a wealth of rich material ranging from McMurray’s sea chanty
"The Ballad of Cap’n Sandy" and Danny Barker’s "Palm Court Strut", a naughty N’awlins classic full of sexual innuendo,
to covers of Chuck Berry’s "Maybellene" and Cab Calloway’s "The Man From Harlem". 
Read the rest of the article

From Shaky Start to Enduring Tradition - Jazz Fest 2009 article
New York Times
Jazzfest is a one-stop gathering of nearly every ranking local act. This year there were brass bands like the Dirty Dozen and Rebirth, who massed together onstage. There was funk-charged blues from Walter Wolfman Washington. There was brawny, clattering bayou zydeco from Rosie Ledet and C. J. Chenier. There were songwriters like Theresa Andersson, who multiplied her voice through electronics; Anders Osborne, whose bluesy songs hinted at grunge; and Alex McMurray, a droll, raspy singer playing nimble jazz guitar. Read the rest of the article

Chaz Fest Harps, Manicures and Hard Liquor
Enthusiastic Noise
At ChazFest, there is more than local music, there is local flavor. In this case, the local flavor is the "Hard Liquor" stand - one of the mottos of ChazFest. Read the rest of the article (some nice photos too)