Regular programming will be pre-empted on Saturday May 3rd and Sunday May 4th from noon until 8pm as we air, in cooperation with WWOZ in New Orleans, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Hosted by WBAI's 'Suga' in My Bowl' producer, Joyce Jones.

Mahalia Jackson, often called the greatest gospel singer, returned to her hometown to appear at the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in April of 1970. While attending the Louisiana Heritage Fair in Congo Square (then known as Beauregard Square), she and Duke Ellington, who also appeared at the event, came upon the Eureka Brass Band leading a crowd of second-line revelers through the Festival grounds. George Wein, producer of the Festival, handed Ms. Jackson a microphone, she sang along with the band and joined the parade…and the spirit of Jazz Fest was born.

This spontaneous, momentous scene—this meeting of jazz and heritage—has stood for decades since as a stirring symbol of the authenticity of the celebration that was destined to become a cultural force.

From the very beginning, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was envisioned as an important event that would have great cultural significance and popular appeal. The Festival was the culmination of years of discussions and efforts by city leaders who wanted to create an event worthy of the city’s legacy as the birthplace of jazz.

The line up Saturday includes:

Noon:  Lionel Ferbos & Palm Court Jazz Band

1pm:  Nick Sanders Trio

2:30pm: Interview w/ John Batiste 

2:45pm: Geoff Clapp

3:45pm: Aurora Nealand

5:00pm: Jon Batiste & Stay Human

6:30-8pm: Al Jarreau  

The line up Sunday includes:

Noon: Forgotten Souls

1:15pm: Calvin Johnson   

2pm: Jesse McBride presents the Next Generation 

3pm: TBA

4pm: Lillian Boutte & New Orleans Gumbozaire 

5pm: Nightcrawlers    

6:30-8pm: Aaron Neville  

Read more about the festival here: http://www.nojazzfest.com/