New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kicks off

NEW ORLEANS - He danced, drink in hand, to the music of the British artist of rhythm and blues Jon Cleary, but there was one act which attracted Ray Ladonceur to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival the day on Friday. By Gerald Herbert, AP

Saxophonist of jazz New Orleans Donald Harrison performs at New Orleans and Louisiana Jazz Heritage Festival Friday.

By Gerald Herbert, AP

Saxophonist of jazz New Orleans Donald Harrison performs at New Orleans and Louisiana Jazz Heritage Festival Friday.

"Really no matter who is on stage," said Ladonceur, a New Orleans Attorney and accountant. "If you do not find a kind of music you are interested in this festival, then you do not like the music. It is a beautiful, beautiful day. Good food, great people and great music. So what can you most ask? "Festival producer Davis Quint has emphasized the variety in the 2011 festival, call the line-up of the most extensive in the history of the event.Shows sounds floating in the air as lines initially formed at booths offering ice cream cold beer and crawfish and jambalaya.There are some of the largest in the State: George Porter Jr., John Mooney and Bluesiana, Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big and Dumpstaphunk.And of Ivan Neville timers were visitors.English folk and son rock group drew thousands. The group, led by Marcus Mumford guitar, got rabble applause, the crowd with hits like Little Man Lion and the cellar of their first album Sigh No More pumping. "I like them really," said Lisa Podzinger, Savannah, GA. "I love their melody set thing they got going on. "On another scene, Jeff Beck has entertained thousands then more that, in the tent of Blues, Keb' Mo' belted down home blues."Said Janneka Scherrenberg of Holland it was his first time at the festival and she plans to return".Our friends live here and they kept telling us, "you need to go to jazz fest". We have arrived here, "she said, swaying from Cleary." "All that is just great." New Orleans, the people of food. We will be back. "Robert Plant, Wyclef Jean and The Avett Brothers were among the nationally known acts, the first day of the festival, which runs for seven days during two purposes of the fair grounds Race Course of closing week.