SiftPop

by Shane Conto, Staff Writer

What is the power of expression? We live in a world where there are so many outlets to express our ideas and feelings. Art has been a great channeling medium for humanity to bring culture and expression to life. But what is “art”? That definition can honestly be as broad and all-encompassing as you want it to be. Music, film, painting, and literature are traditional examples, but that can extend to food and other things. When you have a collective production of expression from one group of people, that is when culture becomes a reality. There are few cities in America that have such a defined sense of culture as New Orleans. 

What is the greatest expression of New Orleans culture there is? The New Orleans Jazz Festival. In Frank Marshall’s new documentary, Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story, the audience is taken on a 50-year journey through the legacy and history of this iconic gathering of cultural expression. This festival has been at the center of New Orleans for decades. Marshall’s largest achievement is that he can capture the gravity and significance of this event on the culture of New Orleans. Every shot shows the grandeur. Each interview expresses the significance for each of those people. When a documentary can show love, understanding, and admiration for a subject without watering down the product, that is something special. 

What is the approach that Marshall takes in presenting this impressive story? One of the lowest aspects of the film is that it is standard from an actual technical standpoint. We have interviews, archival footage, and performances. No surprises there. But HOW they are presented adds some layers. The film is broken into segments with new artists giving their perspectives on the festival. This gives meaning to each artist while building up the greater significance of the narrative. One segment in this film adds so much emotion and adds incredible depth to this film. When Hurricane Katrina comes into play, there is even more depth and emotion that gets added. This is the perfect climax of the film as this was the greatest challenge to the perseverance of this city and its culture.

But what about the music? These performances are incredible. As a music lover, my attention was snared as the film captures the energy of live performances and the passion that these artists are bringing to the table. Earth Wind & Fire start the festivities off and that is perfect with the energy that they bring. I wanted to get up off my couch and dance to this as I watched it. Seeing an artist like Al Green coming back and performing live after decades of not performing was inspiring. Then there is Bruce Springsteen. His post Katrina “sermon” was captivating and deeply emotional. This sequence captures the power of music and artistic expression. This scene will sit with me for a long time after the credits roll on this film.

What is the significance of this film? In a post COVID world, life is crawling back to normal. Longstanding traditions were frozen in time for so many of us. New Orleans and its culture epicenter were frozen for two years. Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story captures the people, music, food, and general personality of one of the most unique cities in our country. Marshall and his crew capture the deep-rooted legacy of all types of music that make up the cultural expression of this city. From the moment the music hits to the ending moments of Jimmy Buffet’s 2022 performance, there is pure cinematic magic at work with flowing emotions.

Grade: 9/10

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