Photo Postcard from Jazz Fest

After shooting the magazine’s Mardi Gras feature for Traveler’s January/February issue, I found myself officially smitten with NOLA, so I went back last year to experience another of the city’s great events: The annual Jazz & Heritage Festival. I couldn’t make it to this year’s festival, but here are a few photos which offer a taste of what we missed, taken by photographer Chris Bickford, a friend of IT and fellow NOLA-lover.I’m ready to book a hotel right now for next year.

At the Fais Do Do stage, one of the Fest’s twelve live music stages, Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band got people to their feet despite the soggy weather.

Artist Terrance Osborne was commissioned to paint the official posters for the festival this year. Here, he’s pictured with his 2007 Congo Square poster featuring Philip Frazier blowing a tuba emblazoned with the word “Rebirth” (left) and the 2010 Congo Square poster featuring Lionel Batiste of the Treme Brass Band (right). Osborne made an wise decision to feature a member of the Treme Brass Band, given the recent attention being given to the city because of David Simon’s new series “Treme” on HBO. Many of the band’s members are featured in the series along with other artists such as Kermit Ruffins and Allan Toussaint.

From sundresses to embellished hats, funky is the style of the fest.

The New Generation Social Aid and Pleasure Club Second Line parade make their way through the festival grounds under a boding sky on Saturday.

The Jazz Fest experience is not complete without food! My personal favorites are the mango freeze, a sorbet-like dessert, and the cochon de lait (suckling pig) po-boy.

Photos: Chris Bickford