Dear Listener,

I always tell the novices to pace themselves for Mardi Gras so they can last till Tuesday. But it’s just the opposite with Jazz Fest. The best advice I can give you is to start cutting down on sleep around January say an hour every two weeks - so that by the time you hit April 26th, you don’t need any sleep at all. It’s the Crescent City version of boot camp, just as second-lining and dancing at the drop of a high hat cymbal beat is how we maintain ourselves aerobically.

Just one example of what I’m talking about:

Of course you’ll want to do the whole first weekend of Jazz Fest at the Fair Grounds, along with every great night concert from a slew of venues across the city. But then, that’s when we separate the die-hards from the amateurs.

Racing right from the Fair Grounds as it closes Sunday night at 7 pm, you’ll just have time to join Jon Cleary at 8 pm followed by Papa Grows Funk with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux at 11 pm and capped off with a set by Lightnin’ Malcolm at 3 am all at the smoke-free and sound-level friendly d.b.a club, at 618 Frenchman Street.

As you head into the glorious sunrise you’ll probably want to grab some café au lait and beignets at Café du Monde on your way over to Armstrong Park where the Monk Institute will be presenting a spectacular one-hour program in honor of International Jazz Day. Right from Congo Square you’ll hear among others, Luther Gray and ten drummers, Ellis Marsalis, Dr. Michael White, Bill Summers, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Roland Guerin, Diane Reeves and Herbie Hancock. Oh, yeah—show starts at 7 am Monday morning. (WWOZ will be broadcasting this one live if you can’t make it.)

After that, it’s time for a power nap, then on to the Louisiana Music Factory, 210 Decatur Street for in-store performances of Meschiya Lake and Tom McDermott, Mia Borders, Trombone Shorty, Shamarr Allen and more. Starts at noon, ends at 7 pm.

Then, across the street, hop on over to the House of Blues and take in WWOZ’s 24th annual Piano Night ivory fest featuring a host of famous piano players simultaneously performing from three stages till two in the morning. (WWOZ will be broadcasting this one live, as well.)

Probably time for another power nap, ‘cause on Wednesday, there’s ten hours of non-stop music at ChazFest before hitting the second weekeend at the Fair Grounds Thursday through Sunday! Party till you drop.

Yours in fog horns and lightning storms,

David Freedman
General Manager

We hate broken records here at 'OZ, but let's just make sure you got the message: Jazz Fest is coming! It's like the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa of New Orleans festivals and we want to see you there. So dust off your bicycle, put on your straw hat and we'll see you at the Jazz Fest.

» Jazz Fest: It's happening

WWOZ Live Broadcasts during Jazz Fest

Stay tuned for lots of live broadcasts throughout Jazz Fest.

The WWOZ Online Music Calendar

Get the details on all the special performances going on about town during Jazz Fest.

This highly anticipated event is held every year at the legendary House of Blues and includes an all-star lineup of outstanding New Orleans artists. It celebrates the very best of New Orleans culture, cuisine, artwork, and of course what we do best, music! Piano Night is the flagship benefit for WWOZ 90.7FM and has become a tradition among New Orleans music lovers and loyal fans all over the world. Held each year on the Monday night between the two New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival weekends, Piano Night features New Orleans' best piano players and a host of special guests to put on a one-of-a-kind benefit concert for WWOZ. 

» More info and Piano Night tickets

Join WWOZ this weekend for the French Quarter Festival. One of the largest events in New Orleans, it takes over the entire French Quarter April 12-15 with multiple stages and hundreds upon hundreds of amazing New Orleans musicians. WWOZ will be out there distributing Brass Passes, and selling Mango Freeze as a fundraiser for the station, so come say hi.

» Schedule of French Quarter Festival broadcasts

Pick up Your Brass Pass

We will be distributing Brass Passes at French Quarter Festival and other locations.

Mango Freeze

Mango Freeze helps keeps 'OZ liquid, so don't let it melt away! Get some mango-ey goodness at French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest.

Last year, UNESCO proclaimed April 30th as International Jazz Day, with the intent to celebrate and recognize jazz music as a universal language of freedom.

In New Orleans, the birthplace of this amazing art, UNESCO is hosting a special sunrise performance in Congo Square featuring Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, Ellis Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Kermit Ruffins, and many more to celebrate this special day. Tune into 'OZ to hear these amazing musicians celebrate the last day of Jazz Appreciation Month in the U.S.

» Celebrate jazz worldwide

WWOZ produces the nationally syndicated weekly audio program New Orleans All The Way Live dedicated to everything New Orleans. The 3 year strong program includes live music segments with the likes of Ernie Vincent and The Lost Bayou Ramblers, culinary segments with chefs from establishments like Borgne and Domenica, and event segments about all the festivals and art that New Orleans has to offer. Click through and open your ears.

» Listen to New Orleans All The Way Live

Congratulations to our volunteers Jivin' Gene and Eric Ward for winning this year's Big Easy Awards for On-Air and Off-Air Volunteers! The event takes place April 23 at Harrah's New Orleans. It's tough to choose two folks every year, but Gene and Eric have been exemplary in their tunes and smiles, friendliness and hardwork at the station.

» Read more about these great volunteers

Buy Brass Passes

I've got a golden ticket to Jazz Fest! Do you?

This Is My New Orleans

Check out audio interviews with some of our favorite musicians & culture creators! This series is made possible by Coventry Health Care.

We are secretly in love with anything that involves pre-made cookie dough, soda, cream cheese, strawberries galore and potential for orange liqueur. This month's recipe combines all these things into a pizza-pie style cookie dish that you can slice up and serve to kids (sans hooch) or adults. If you like the recipe, then visit Louisiana Cookin' magazine. Subscribe with the promotion code wwoz2012, and they'll donate $5 to WWOZ.

» See this month's recipe