Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue -- Bringing It Home

Met a young horn player out of Atlanta a few weeks ago in Charleston. He was not impressed when I mentioned that we had a modern-day Louis Armstrong on our hands in one Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews. Asked him if he ever got to New York. Why, he responded? Told him that I would look for him when "Trombone" played the Madison Square Garden again. Might even buy him a ticket, for education is a good thing...

Ponderosa -- Old Gin Road

"Cool Hand Luke" on guitar. Why, because I said so...

Introducing Luther Dickinson

DeucE, Evan and I got to see him in action playing with Anders Osborne at the NOLA Jazz & Heritage Fest last month. They kicked it hard like he does here with his own band, North Mississippi AllStars. I just love Sunday mornings back home, got to get that second cup now before I hit replay for the fifth time...

My Kind Of Festival

That bucket list of mine is around here somewhere...

Mike Zito -- Gone To Texas

New stuff from the Z'man. Legend has it that the old folk used to carve "GTT" on the cabin just before heading west. Hope he makes his way back before long...

Band On The Run -- Nicki Bluhm & Company

My kind of driving...

Red Stick Ramblers -- Made In The Shade

Looks like some fine dancin' goin' on north of Lafayette...

Mark Knopfler & Sonny Landreth

Cheers! Another perfect combination...

Proud Mary -- The Blues

Good reason to smile...

John Lee Hooker & Carlos Santana

To perfect combinations...

Sunday Gospel On A Hill

A good place to be...

Sweet Soul Music -- Arthur Conley

No doubt about it...

George Benson -- Breezin' NOLA Style

Last but certainly not least to close out First Friday 2013, Pika and John loved it!

Band of Horses -- You Know Where

Next up - One of DeucE's favorites and for good reason...

Sonny Landreth -- Decision Rewarded

That little voice in my head convinced me to leave what was turning into an extraordinary performance by Gary Clark Jr. for the Blues Tent so that my son Evan and our friend Bobby I. could experience Breaux Bridge's own Sonny Landreth. Like this performance here, Mr. Landreth did not disappoint. He seems to find his zone right out the gate when performing at the NOLA Jazz Fest each year. He garnered standing ovation after standing ovation and rightfully so. It was a good feeling to have my son by my side and when Bobby told me that he had never seen anything like it before, well you know...

Gary Clark Jr. -- More Jazz Fest Jammin'

Next up on our First Friday, some bad ass Texas blues...

Jazz Fest Jam -- Anders Osborne & Luther Dickinson

This performance alone was well worth the price of admission, hooked DeucE they did...

Guitar Slim Jr. -- Steal Away

Next up Day 1 of the NOLA Jazz Fest was Guitar Slim Jr. at the Blues Tent with none other than the legendary Allen Toussaint as his guest, talk about the place to be...