Providence Journal photo / Frieda Squires
Dr. John performs on opening night of the Newport Jazz Festival at the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Friday. The daddy-o of jazz fests continues this weekend, with the stage moving to Fort Adams State Park. Gallery: See more photos of Friday night's opening acts. Come back to providencejournal.com over the weekend for more photos and reviews.
NEWPORT, R.I. -- The Newport Jazz Festival kicked off Friday night with a loud-and-proud celebration of the music of New Orleans, with the national treasure Dr. John and his band The Lower 911 heading the bill.
John and the group opened the menacing, minor-key sway of the opener, "Locked Down," later mixing in a panoply of danceable rhythms, as well as chestnuts such as "Goodnight Irene" and "Makin' Whoopie," with a guest vocal by Catherine Russell.
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band opened the show with classic horn-heavy Crescent City swings, stomps and strolls. And in the interim, the pianist Jonathan Batiste showed plenty of technique and imagination in a short set.
SUNDAY: More special guests and the meaning of New Orleans