What makes Jazz Fest special?
In its humble but pure beginnings, Jazz Fest was all about original New Orleans music. The festival may have blossomed into a much wider celebration of music and culture, but it’s still a special festival for jazz purists. Nowhere is the festival’s jazz tradition more alive than the fabled Jazz Tent, which has staged some of the festival’s most memorable performances. To Baton Rouge jazz drummer Herman Jackson (whose brother happens to be American Idol judge Randy Jackson), “festivals are festivals.” However, Jazz Fest stands apart, thanks to its rich history and rare camaraderie. “It’s special playing because of all the legendary players. You have a chance to interact backstage with everybody that you’ve read about and tried to emulate in your musical career,” Jackson says. But most of all, it’s the home turf. “I’ve done all major jazz festivals throughout the world, but New Orleans is the biggest in the world. It’s a very gratifying experience to be able to play that festival on that
