“Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story” is a loving tribute to the now 50-plus-years music gathering. There are some excellent performances highlighted, both historical and contemporary. In a broader context, the film preaches that music is a unifying force in a divided culture.

The movie strives to provide some history for the Festival. Founder George Wein was approached in 1962 about starting an event in New Orleans based on the Newport Jazz Festival. He refused because of the existence of Jim Crow laws, which would have made housing visiting musicians difficult. The Festival thus did not begin until 1970.

While I discovered in research that there have been some controversies and difficult times for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, this is not the picture to watch to find out about those matters. The emphasis is mostly upbeat and focuses on the positives of the annual gathering.

In that sense, it lacks the broader approach of the 2021 Oscar winner for best documentary, “Summer of Soul (…or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised).” That movie offered political commentary about the difficulties of African-Americans living in 1969 Harlem in addition to some stunning concert footage.

“Jazz Fest” has 14 stages for music. Many different genres are featured. The film progresses from stage to stage to highlight each type, interspersed with talking heads. I was disappointed that there was not continuous identification of each speaker with a subtitle. You would get one at the beginning of their commentary and then not necessarily later when other scenes had intervened.

The emphasis initially was to emphasize New Orleans and Louisiana music. The first Festival was held in Congo Square, where slaves used to gather to perform their songs. The influence of Mardi Gras and funeral processions on local musical forms is noted.

The fact that New Orleans historically has been a melting pot of influences expands the types of performances available on the different stages. In a way, the name “New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival” is deceptive as it does not truly represent the wide scope of music, from rap to gospel, present at this event. For moviegoers who are not into jazz, this may mean that they will skip this film, which would be unfortunate.

The idea of the Festival as a unifying cultural force plays out in several ways. First, people may come for one type of music but will hear other types in a safe environment. Second, many types of food representing the varied influences of the region are available which reinforces the positive aspects of multiculturalism. Third, there are diverse arts and crafts for sale.

A prime example of this is the reaction to the Gospel stage acts. The idea is that you can come and hear the music without being pressured to convert or go to a church. For some people, it is their cultural legacy even if they currently are or are not practitioners of the faith. Katy Perry, for example, got her start in gospel and to hear her perform “O Happy Day” with a choir was incredible.

The Festival also was a unifying force after Hurricane Katrina. There was talk of not fixing the levee system and letting New Orleans fade away. The event the following year provided a way for not only locals but others to see that New Orleans was as vibrant as ever. The scene of Bruce Springsteen playing “My City of Ruins” is very moving.

There are many memorable performances. I felt that the film could have highlighted more artists if there was less repetitive praise for the Festival in general. But to see an older Al Green singing “Let’s Stay Together” and Jimmy Buffett playing the Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” are definite highlights.

The net effect after watching the movie is to give hope that it is possible to unite a fractured nation. By emphasizing commonalities such as music and food and by recognizing that differences are not threatening but enhancing, the Festival provides a model on a local scale of how this can be achieved.

Watching the picture, I thought that it would be wonderful if high school students could see it to expand their horizons and dispel myths about immigrants and other cultures. In this current day and age, it seems a remote possibility due to political and cultural tensions. But I always can dream.

Four out of five stars

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, aka “Jazz Fest,” is the signature annual music and cultural event of the city and has been called America’s greatest festival. Celebrating the music, food, and arts and crafts of all of Louisiana since 1970, Jazz Fest is an essential showcase of the rich heritage of the region, and hundreds of thousands attend the event each year. Local music heroes are joined on 14 stages by some of the most important figures in entertainment, highlighting the connections between Louisiana culture and the world.

JAZZ FEST: A NEW ORLEANS STORY weaves together live performances and interviews from the 50th anniversary of the iconic festival, featuring some of the biggest names in the music industry, along with a wealth of archival documentary footage from the past half century. This film not only captures the Festival in all of its beauty and glory, but also delves deep into the rich culture of The Big Easy.

FEATURING: Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett, Katy Perry, Earth, Wind & Fire, and many others.
DIRECTED BY: Frank Marshall and Ryan Suffern