As demonstrated in films as broad as “Monterey Pop,” “Woodstock,” and “Summer of Soul,” music festivals can’t help but get some of their vibe from their settings. As musicians from around the world testify in the documentary “Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story,” directed by Frank Marshall and Ryan Suffern, the Louisiana city’s annual jazz festival has an irresistible flavor because it takes place in the cradle of American music. .
The opening cut of the film, which features familiar faces ranging from Tom Jones to Pitbull, is – thankfully – a bit fake. These big names and others get some play (and in what some consider an unfortunate feature Jimmy Buffett gets a lot of play), but the film is conscientiously attentive to the festival’s homegrown eclecticism.
The film explores the musical atmosphere of New Orleans itself and features experts explaining, for example, the distinction between Cajun and Zydeco. While both are dance music that deals in old melodies, the latter has electric guitar and washboard and comes at you “like a freight train”.
Entrepreneur George Wein, who founded the Newport Jazz Festival, had a hand in the creation of Jazz Fest and wisely took the musician Ellis Marsalis (you may be familiar with the pianist’s work, or that of his sons, including Wynton and Branford) as his teacher in New Orleans. The organizational work was soon done by the young music lover Quint Davis, who is still in charge today.
Its lavish history — which also mentions the onsite food tents as a mind-blowing part of the party’s appeal — is brought to tears when Hurricane Katrina decimates New Orleans in 2005. But the music came back like a miracleand the film reports that, after a two-year postponement due to Covid-19, the event is currently back on track.
Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story
Rated PG-13 for a little spicy language. Running time: 1 hour 34 minutes. In theaters.
