There are only 3 days left for this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the unchallenged greatest music and culture event on the planet, but there is still a plethora of players to appreciate:

As many of you know, I have a particular fondness for beautiful and talented girl performers. If you share this taste, it is an easy-on-the-ears and 0n-the-eyes feast today at the Fairgrounds. Kristin Diable opens Acura, Britain’s Paloma Faith is mid-day, and no doubt Gwen Stefani still has got it going on closing out. Check out another Brit, Estelle, at Congo. I’ll also offer double features on Fais-Do-Do, Gal Holiday and Rosie Ledet, on Lagniappe (where there are chairs and 16 oz. drafts!), Maggie Koerner and Sasha Masakowski. Other acts I’ll catch include Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans, Galactic featuring Macy Gray, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Today’s World Music Appreciation pick is Gurrumul of the Australian Gumatj clan. To close out, don’t miss the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars and a band I have thought cool since starting to play trumpet in 4^th grade, Chicago! Did you know they are the first American rock Band to chart Top 40 albums in 6 decades?

Remember to practice the “Walk By”, stroll by the many different stages to see bands that you have never heard of for a song or two.  I promise that you will discover something fabulous you never even know existed.