About a week and a half ago, I mentioned the Tobago Jazz Festival, and a commenter asked if I was aware of any other Jazz Festivals in the world.

You're kidding, right?

You'd be AMAZED at how many jazz festivals there are.  There's the Monterey Jazz Festival.  There's the Montreux Jazz Festival.  There's the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal.  And there are tons of others too numerous to mention. 

That said, the one I think that has the biggest meaning for me is the New Orleans Jazz Festival -- having lived in Texas, it was the one I was the most familiar with, and the one I have memories of.  Given the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina last year, it's amazing that the festival will still go on. And go on, it will:  this year's lineup includes Bruce Spingsteen, Dave Matthews, Jimmy Buffett, Herbie Hancock, Galactic, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Ani DiFranco, The Ohio Players, and The Meters, just to name a very few.

Unfortunately, I now live too far away to attend -- but if you happen to live around or near Louisiana, do the Jazzfest a favour and pay them a visit -- you won't regret it, and your presence will serve to ensure a wonderful festival continues to flourish.

Filed under: Arts and Culture, North America, United States