Every year, Jazzfest changes a little. Like I said on Friday, the Gospel Tent is now located where the Jazz Tent used to be; in my opinion, not a good switch. Although I love hearing Gospel on the way in, I think that spot has some bad mojo. I remember a few years back, when it was the Jazz Tent, I went up front to see John Boutte, and the old folks sitting in the front row shouted at me for blocking their view. In that tent, no one dances in the front. Similarly, yesterday when I went to check out Shades of Praise, no one was dancing either. No one. Now I suppose sitting is okay when you're listening to some smooth jazz, but no one dancing to the Gospel? Are you kidding me? Hopefully my next visit to the Senior Citizens Tent will be a little more lively. Another change this year involves the new line at the Acura stage. For the first hundred feet or so back from the stage, no one is allowed to stake space with a blanket or tarp. Up front is for dancers and serious fans only, not just the sunbunnies working on their tan. I was there early in the day, for J.J. Gray & MOFRO, getting a little blues-funk-rock under my belt, when the line was firmly in place. Not sure if it stayed blanket-free up front as the day went on; I'm not a big-stage kind of gal, and I could hear Dr. John from the Media Tent, so why battle the crowd?
The coolest change, in my hispanophilian opinion, is the new Crafts of Latin America tent. When I first saw the pinatas, I thought I was hallucinating, but no. Our southern neighbors' renewed presence in New Orleans post-Katrina has led to this vibrant new addition. Not only can you buy a giant Elmo pinata from a Kenner artisan, but you can admire Cynthia Ramirez's Dia De Los Muertos altar and watch her decorate tiny skulls. Dia De Los Muertos, Day of the Dead, allows Hispanic cultures to honor their dead with celebration. Sound familiar, second-liners? The Latin American craft tent also hosted a Colombian tatterer who had her laces on display. Another New Orleans native had his paintings on display as "1000 Latin Faces." Of course, just as in the African Marketplace, you can buy straw hats from the Hispanics. At Jazzfest time, everyone wants to sell hats!
