As Marianne Hawkins Sabrier said so eloquently in yesterday’s post, “… I love how the variation in the entertainment can influence the atmosphere of the part, as well!”
Entertainment has been a considerable part of the Justice For All Ball since the very first one. Music and other forms of entertainment add mood to the evening and can bring even the quietest person to their feet.
We’ve had marching bands and second-lining from Patron Party to the Ball site with the Jazzman Brass Band and the Black Feather Mardi Gras Indians to greet us.
We’ve had a caricaturist, Steven Lindsley to make us laugh, and a fine artist, Alex Harvie, who painted the Ball while it was going on amidst the many oohs and aahs of those watching.
We’ve even had the 610 Stompers – who stole the show at the JFAB 2015, along with the SaintSations and of course, , the Vince Lombardi SuperBowl trophy, which really was the hit of the evening.
The Patron Party, like the Ball, has often featured some great musicians. From jazz to classical and beyond we’ve heard the likes of Leah Chase Kamata, Ovi-G and The Froggies ("Los Ranas"), Dave Hansen & the Garden District Trio and many others along the way. On several occasions, we’ve had the privilege of hearing young up and coming artists from NOCCA.
There’s no end to the variety of entertainment that the JFAB has presented. However, it has always been the dancing that holds the highest priority for those attending the Ball, as party-goers have let us know every year we’ve done the post-Ball survey.
If they got enough mileage on their dancing shoes, they loved the band. If not, it meant we didn’t pay enough attention to the desire for dancing when we were choosing a group. In reality, the music has often been the stage on which all other elements of the evening have played out.
We’ve had so many of New Orleans’ great artists – many who have played the JFAB more than once. Can you guess who our repeat entertainers have been before reading the list?
Charmaine Neville | 1991, 1994
George Porter, Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners | 1993, 2013
Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. & the Zydeco Swingers | 1996, 2018
The Iguanas | 1998*, 1999, 2004
*JFAB 1998 canceled due to floodingThe Bucktown Allstars | 2002, 2017
Deacon John with and without The Ivories | 2003, 2008
Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers | 2006, 2010
Beyond these, the JFAB bandstand has hosted the likes of:
Bobby Cure and the Summertime Blues | 1989
Irma Thomas | 1990
Marva Wright | 1992
The Radiators | 2000
Paula & the Pontiacs | 2001
Sha’ On Success |1997
Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience | 2007
Joe Krown | 2009
Jon Cleary’s Philthy Phew | 2011
Big Sam’s Funky Nation | 2012
Louisiana Spice | 2014
The Yat Pack | 2015
Flow Tribe | 2016
The only group we did not get to hear was Henry Butler & The Game Band who were scheduled for 2005 and were preempted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Check out the Tales of the Ball post, Weathering the Weather.
Music, entertainment and fun are such a part of the JFAB. If you’ve been a regular attendee, then we hope this post brought back many good memories for you and we’ll see you soon. If it’s been a while since you’ve joined us, or if JFAB 2018 will be your first one, we have only one reminder for you – get your dancing shoes ready!
- Joanna Broussard
If you have a JFAB story to share, please send it to CC Kahr
Photo stack left: Photos 1, 3, 4, 5 by The Red M Studio | Photo 2 by George Long Photography
Photo grid below: Thanks to the following photographers | Walt Pierce, George Long, Robert Fleischmann, Joanna Broussard & The Red M Studio
