Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents Higher Ground : Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert
The lineup of this nationally televised concert, organized by Wynton Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center, ranged from the gospel queen Shirley Caesar to the quiet wunderkind Norah Jones. But the night belonged to the Big Easy’s brethren, including the crawfish cadences of  Buckwheat Zydeco's "I'm Going to Love You Anyway" and the second line strut of Art and Aaron Neville's "Go to the Mardi Gras." Trumpeter Irvin Mayfield's tearful "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" was dedicated to his missing father. The Jordan family: flutist Kent, violinist Rachel, vocalist Stephanie, and trumpeter  Marlon--who was trapped for days on a roof--performed a heartfelt, affirmative rendition of "Here's to Life." Without the Crescent City, American music as we know it does not exist. If enough of you buy this CD, we won't "Know What it Means To Miss New Orleans."--Eugene Holley, Jr.