The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In honor of the milestone, Smithsonian Folkways will release a five-disc box set of archival live recordings from the festival, Jazz Fest: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, including performances by Trombone Shorty, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
The set doesn’t just feature recordings; essays, recollections of the Jazz Fest, photographs, and detailed liner notes are all included.
The box set was created by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, which used material from its archive with assistance from radio station WWOZ. The Helis Foundation also provided support.
Jazz Fest: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be available starting May 10. This year’s festival kicks off on Apr. 25 and ends on May 5.
Read a review of the 2018 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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