Harvest the Music

The free Wednesday-night concert series concluded last Wednesday with a tremendous triple-threat concert by bluesman Little Freddie King, the Krown-Batiste-Washington Trio (which usually plays the Maple leaf), and then the great Allen Toussaint with special guest trumpeter Nicholas Payton (whose father, musician and educator Walter Payton, had just died this week). An amazing display of the depth and breadth of talent in New Orleans, the closing concert was easily the best of a very, very fine lot.

"Harvest the Music" really outdid themselves this year in ensuring something for absolutely everyone in New Orleans who loves music. The series was kicked off back in September (when it was still hot) with Anders Osborne (who is a great musician but really needs a haircut and a shave!), moved into Cowboy Mouth with its fervent fanbase, then hit the high notes with Rebirth and then Dr. John and the Lower 911 (with the Treme Brass band to open).

As a special teaser to the excited -- and capacity! -- crowd, Allen Toussaint strolled onstage to play piano and sing while Mac played guitar withe vengeance, something he doesn't do that often. (You'd've thought that by billing it as "Dr. John and the Lower 911" that the set would've been all new, angry songs post-K and post-BP, but you'd've been wrong. Mac also played a lot of the old favorites that had the crowd singing along, and, memorably on "Gilded Splinters" the crowd added the appropriate "Oooohh"s at the exact right spots.)

The ever-popular Kermit Ruffins and his band the Barbecue Swingers followed Mac the next Wednesday. I love how Kermit is not afraid to really entertain an audience, and interact and joke with the folks. And now the HBO series "Treme" is bringing him a more national following, a good thing.

After Kermit, it was MOMS revisited with a 2-hour groovin' set by the Radiators. The Rads were, as always, completely into their own groove, and it was a kick to see so many people we know from the MOMS Ball out in the Square (only, with more clothes on than we usually see them!).

Then it was Ivan Neville (yes, Aaron's son) and the aptly named Dumpstafunk, great stuff -- especially Ivan's take on the "Sopranos" theme song "Got Yourself a Gun." Lots of Neville family guesting, which always happens in an Ivan set.

Appropriately, Allen Toussaint was set as the season's closing act, and as always, he did not disappoint. The classics, the beloved old R&B numbers he wrote for Lee Dorsey and Benny Spellman (Allen informed us that Benny is still alive, and living now in Pensacola! Wow! Who knew!), the song that grew into a post-Katrina anthem "Yes We Can Can" (even though it was written years before It happened), and as a special favor to me, "Fortune Teller." I tell you, I sang along with every single word.

I also want to send a shout-out to the great food at Harvest the Music, with special kudos to the fried softshell crab and the char-grilled oysters. Yum and double-yum! The pulled pork over the creamy grits was nothing to sniff at either. Prices were extremely reasonable and two people could eat and drink for about $30.

As Allen closed out the festival and his set, he said how wonderful it was to live "in the greatest city in the world!" and then he started to walk away form the mike, but caught himself, came back and added, "And everybody, come home." Yes, indeed.