The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, a.k.a Jazz Fest, is wrapping up this weekend and if you weren’t one of the lucky people in attendance this year we don’t want you feeling left out. This week’s Editor’s Playlist #3 is in the spirit of Jazz Fest, highlighting artists in the jazz and funk scene, both of which dominate most lineups throughout NOLA during this fest each year. This sampling of sorts will range from, hopefully, some artists you haven’t heard of, but also some heavy hitters that headline wherever they play.
With so many great bands making up each respective scene, it was definitely a tall order to try to pick a few standouts. On the funky side of things, I chose to go with the current kings, Lettuce, adding “King of the Burgs” and the live version of “Nyack.” Both showcase this band’s immense capabilities and prove why they’re one of the best out there. Also in the funk-realm is Alan Evans’ Playonbrother, Kung Fu and Zach Deputy. One other band you might not have heard of is Cape Cod’s Funktapuss and we’re featuring a new song from their upcoming album in “Soul Specific.”
On the jazz side, I chose to go with both someone who’s been around and an up-and-coming band who’s made some big waves as of late. The seasoned veteran is none other than Derek Trucks with his now-disbanded band and their song “Pleasant Gardens” from their 1998 album Out of the Madness. The other song featured is a new favorite in Snarky Puppy‘s “Lingus,” which is just an incredible display of musicianship all around.
Stay tuned for the next Editor’s Playlist in the near future, and if you’re still craving some actual Jazz Fest music, check out the Phoncert app for iOS or website as they will be streaming some of the remaining performances through Friday, May 2nd.
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