The Cubes: Welcoming Back the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2022
Charlie Gabriel performs with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Jazz Fest 2019, photo by Jacqueline Marque. Mr. Gabriel will return as a bandleader this year in the Economy Hall Tent on Sunday, May 8, at 12:25.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has endured as a beloved spring tradition since 1970, when the first iteration of the festival kicked off with a welcome address from the legendary Mahalia Jackson, who had returned to her hometown to mark the occasion at the request of festival founder, George Wein.
The legacy of this moment lives on in this year’s triumphant return, after three years since the last Jazz Fest, due to COVID-19. Here are our don’t-miss picks fo both weekends at the Fairgrounds!
APRIL 29 – MAY 1
The first day of the festival’s return kicks off Shake ‘Em Up Jazz Band – featuring Haruka Kikuchi, beloved trombonist and regular on the bandstand at Preservation Hall. Immediately following, a storytelling tribute to festival founder George Wein will also take place at the Lagniappe Stage. The festival will host parades throughout both weekends, including a jazz funeral for Mr. Wein, who we lost in September of 2021 at the age of 95.
FRIDAY, APRIL 29
Shake ‘Em Up Jazz Band
11:30 – 12:15
Lagniappe Stage
“Memories of George Wein” with Quint Davis and Keith Spera
12:30 – 1:05
Lagniappe Stage
Ben Jaffe greets George Wein, founder of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, on stage at Jazz Fest 2012. Photo by Gerald Herbert
Paulin Brothers Brass Band
12:25 – 1:20
Economy Hall Tent
Tommy Sancton’s New Orleans Legacy Band
1:40 – 2:40
Economy Hall Tent
Jazz Funeral for George Wein at 2:00
Enjoy our first afternoon back at Jazz Fest with 79ers Gang, PJ Morton, Doreen Ketchens and Lionel Richie.
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
Clive Wilson’s New Orleans Serenaders
11:15 – 12:05
Economy Hall Tent
Bonerama
12:40 – 1:40
Festival Stage
Lakou Mizik
1:40 – 2:40
Jazz & Heritage Stage
And again at the Cultural Exchange Pavilion, at 4:45
Mia X
2:15 – 3:20
Congo Square Stage
TrumpetMafia
2:50 – 3:50
WWOZ Jazz Tent
Gregg Stafford’s Jazz Hounds
4:35 – 5:35
Economy Hall Tent
Gregg Stafford performs with the Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band at Jazz Fest’s Economy Hall tent. Photo by Joshua Brasted
Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders
5:55 – 6:45
Economy Hall Tent
SUNDAY, MAY 1
Original Pinettes Brass Band
11:20 – 12:20
Festival Stage
Jazz Funeral Parade for Ellis Marsalis at 11:55
Treme Brass Band
12:25 – 1:25
Economy Hall Tent
“In Memory of Ellis Marsalis”
2:30 – 3:35
WWOZ Jazz Tent
Tribute to George Lewis with Tommy Sancton, Sammy Rimington and Dr. Michael White
3:10 – 4:10
Economy Hall Tent
Leroy Jones & New Orleans’ Finest
4:35 – 5:35
Economy Hall Tent
Gerald French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band
5:55 – 6:45
Economy Hall Tent
MAY 5 – 8
The second, extended weekend of Jazz Fest kicks off with two incredible bandleaders, Preservation Hall Foundation clinicians and co-developers of Preservation Hall Lessons: Davis Rogan and Louis Ford. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will host a tribute to Dave Bartholomew on Thursday, alongside Elvis Costello and Al “Lil Fats” Jackson.
THURSDAY, MAY 5
Davis Rogan
12:00 – 12:45
AARP Rhythmporium
Louis Ford & His New Orleans Flairs
1:40 – 2:40
Economy Hall Tent
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s Tribute to Dave Bartholomew with Elvis Costello & Al “Lil Fats” Jackson
3:35 – 4:50
Shell Gentilly Stage
Herlin Riley
4:15 – 5:20
WWOZ Jazz Tent
FRIDAY, MAY 6
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will return to the Gentilly stage at 3:40 on Friday, and the resident brass band of Preservation Hall – the Preservation Brass – will perform Saturday at 4:35 in the Economy Hall tent. Don’t miss Charlie Gabriel & Friends at Economy Hall on Sunday, May 8 – the last day of the festival – just after noon.
Kinfolk Brass Band
11:20 – 12:20
Shell Gentilly Stage
And again at the Cultural Exchange Pavilion at 2:00
Uncle Nef with Shannon Powell and Darren Hoffman
12:15 – 1:05
Blues Tent
Joe Lastie at the Economy Hall tent. Photo by Jacqueline Marque.
Joe Lastie’s New Orleans Sound
12:25 – 1:20
Economy Hall Tent
Steve Pistorius: A Tribute to the New Orleans Rhythm Kings
3:05 – 4:05
Economy Hall Tent
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
3:40 – 4:50
Shell Gentilly Stage
Wendell Brunious All Stars
4:25 – 5:25
Economy Hall Tent
New Orleans Jazz Vipers
5:45 – 6:45
Economy Hall Tent
SATURDAY, MAY 7
New Orleans Nightcrawlers
1:30 – 2:20
Shell Gentilly Stage
Storyville Stompers
2:20 – 3:05
Cultural Exchange Pavilion
Catch the Stompers again at 5:50 at the Jazz & Heritage Stage!
Topsy Chapman & Solid Harmony with Kevin Louis
3:10 – 4:10
Economy Hall Tent
Northside Skull & Bone Gang procession starts at 3:30
Rebirth Brass Band
3:55 – 4:50
Congo Square Stage
The Preservation Brass is the resident brass band of Preservation Hall. Photo by Camille Lenain
Preservation Brass
4:35 – 5:35
Economy Hall Tent
Don’t miss the many appearances by Black Masking Indian tribes on-stage throughout the festival.
SUNDAY, MAY 8
Lars Edegran & the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra
11:15 – 12:05
Economy Hall Tent
Charlie Gabriel & Friends
12:25 – 1:20
Economy Hall Tent
Gregg Stafford & His Young Tuxedo Brass Band
1:40 – 2:40
Economy Hall Tent
Irma Thomas
2:00 – 3:05
Festival Stage
Bill Summers & Jazalsa
2:20 – 3:10
Cultural Exchange Pavilion
New Breed Brass Band
2:55 – 3:55
Jazz & Heritage Stage
Mark Braud’s New Orleans Jazz Giants
3:05 – 4:05
Economy Hall Tent
The Headhunters featuring Bill Summers, Mike Clark and Donald Harrison, Jr.
4:20 – 5:20
Jazz & Heritage Stage
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
5:45 – 7:00
Festival Stage
Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots
6:00 – 7:00
Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage
We hope you have a safe and happy Jazz Fest!