NEW ORLEANS – The 17th anniversary Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron, a showcase of New Orleans' culture, talent and tenacity, honored New Orleans' most beloved native son, Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong, with three days of music, food, education and authentic cultural events Friday, Aug. 4 – Sunday, Aug. 6, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave.
Armstrong's influence was strongly present at the festival as artists, culture-bearers, community leaders and music lovers from all walks of life came together to celebrate the great man and his legacy, organizers said.
Extreme weather forced festival organizers to close early on Saturday. While New Orleans was inundated with rain, the French Quarter Festivals, Inc. staff kept attendees safe and comfortable, reps said. After the early closure, staff worked tirelessly to prepare the grounds for an on-time opening on Sunday; this tenacity was driven in part by a commitment to the organization's mission to promote the City of New Orleans. It was also illustrated by the attendees who came out on Sunday, Aug. 6 to support the artists, culture and heritage the festival embraces, reps said.
Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron featured more than 100 musicians, including six debuts. On Friday, Aug. 4, Grammy® artist Nicholas Payton made history when he took the Cornet Chop Suey stage, injecting his musical genius and modern approach into a lineup that included New Orleans' most famous and beloved traditional jazz artists and brass bands. Hot 8 Brass Band closed out opening day on the Blue Runner Red Beans and Ricely Yours Stage while charismatic 2017 Spirit of Satchmo winner James Andrews invoked the spirit of Armstrong during his closing set on the Cornet Chop Suey Stage.
On Thursday, Aug. 3, a sold-out Kickoff Party at the Omni Royal Orleans featured music by the legendary Germaine Bazzle. A special appearance by Dee Dee Bridgewater dazzled guests and ended the night on a magical note. That magic was also present at the Sunday Jazz Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Treme, a standing-room only event that drew worshipers from all over the world. The special service was followed by the annual Satchmo Salute a second line that brought together a diverse mix of brass bands, Baby Dolls, social aid and pleasure clubs, and community leaders. Other special events included the Satchmo Symposium with international Armstrong scholars, a Kids' Second Line led by Pin Stripe Brass Band (sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe), the Trumpet Tribute (sponsored by Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen) with Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield, Ashlin Parker, Maurice Brown, Brice Miller, and Jerry Pashin, and a special screening of the 1957 documentary, Satchmo the Great, followed by a Q&A with Satchmo enthusiast and respected historian, Ricky Riccardi.
The festival’s title sponsor Chevron was joined by other sponsors and community partners including Abita Brewing Company, Amtrak, Aunt Sally's Pralines, Bayou Rum, The Berger Company, Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights, Biz New Orleans, Blue Runner Foods, Brown-Forman, Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts, Creole Queen, Cumulus New Orleans, Data News Weekly, Downbeat Magazine, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, ESPN New Orleans, The Fertel Foundation, Finlandia, French Market Corporation, George's Mixes, Hard Rock Cafe, Harrah's New Orleans, Harrelson Trumpets, In the NOLA, Jack Daniel's, JAX Parking, Korbel, Joseph K. & Inez Eichenbaum Foundation, Laurel Communications, Limousine Livery, Louisiana Cookin', Louisiana Cultural Vistas, Louisiana Division of the Arts, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, Luzianne Tea, Nash 106.1, New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Mint, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Magazine, New Orleans Original Daiquiris, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, NOLA.com/Times-Picayune, NOLA Jitterbugs, OffBeat Magazine, Old School 106.7, Omni Royal Orleans, Pepsi, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Rhodes Funeral Home, Rouses, Sonoma-Cutrer, St. Charles Magazine, State Farm, Tequila Herradura, Tour Louisiana, Touro Infirmary, TravelHost Magazine, Uptown Messenger, Vinyl District, WBOK, Westin Canal Place, WHERE Magazine, Windsor Court Hotel, WRNO 99.5, WWL Channel 4, WWNO 89.9 FM, WWOZ, WYLD FM98, Zapp's Potato Chips, and Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.
Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., the 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, which also produces French Quarter Festival in April and Christmas New Orleans Style! in December. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. promotes the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through high quality special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of this unique city, contribute to the economic well-being of the community, and instill increased pride in the people of New Orleans, reps said.
All Satchmo SummerFest merchandise is on sale and available here
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Despite Extreme Weather Closure, 2017 Satchmo SummerFest Prevails As Showcase Of New Orleans’ Culture, Talent, Tenacity
