Jazz Fest Veteran Anderson .Paak Wants to Start More Conversations On and Off the Stage
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American history is a pot of gumbo, explains Anderson .Paak. He says it’s no different than hip hop, something that came out of necessity that ultimately created an entirely different way of looking at music. Arguably the heart of Jazz as a genre is the Big Easy, and Anderson has recently teamed up with Expedia to help travelers experience New Orleans like never before, by being at the heart of it all at Jazz Fest 2024.
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As a self-proclaimed “Jazz Fest veteran,” Grammy-winning artist and first-time headliner Anderson .Paak is not only eager to put on a stellar show, but share all the hidden gems, local haunts, and more that he’s discovered along the way from his years of attending the fest. “There’s literally not enough time to see it all,” .Paak told Rolling Stone. “Last time I was here I literally just cruised down the street and would stumble upon so many jam sessions that we stayed up all night.”
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is taking place from April 23 to May 5, featuring headliners like Anderson .Paak, The Rolling Stones, and the Foo Fighters. This year, .Paak, whose relationship with Jazz runs deep, is curating the talent and programming for Expedia’s “Global Jam” event, an evening of music and celebration of the influences that converge in New Orleans. Along with performances from Tank and the Bangas and other surprise guests, this exclusive event will take place on April 26 in New Orleans.
.Paak is playing the opening weekend of the 2024 festival with his band, The Free Nationals, and created a city guide for music lovers planning their Jazz Fest journeys and showcases. Even though he truly encourages travelers to hunt for hidden gems or try the nightlife in other neighborhoods, Anderson recommends starting at Frenchmen Street. “It’s famous for a reason. There are always live performances and spontaneous moments, and it’s where locals and in-the-know visitors are going to be every night.”
To make it easier to plan your trip, Expedia recently launched the new Jazz Fest travel hub which features city guides, travel resources and exclusive offers for One Key members (Expedia’s new loyalty program launched last year) such as hotel discounts and access to giveaways and VIP experiences. Beginning on March 14, they’ll also be offering One Key loyalty members the opportunity to win tickets to the first weekend of the festival and access to the exclusive afterparty, Global Jam, by signing up before April 4.
While Anderson aims to see as many bands as possible himself at the fest, he says the best ones are those that know how to improvise and have musical conversations on stage. “I think people need to have more conversations in general, and people need to learn how to blend more. The lack of exposure is what keeps people from progressing music, and just progressing as humans. So the key is to expose yourself to as much music as possible, and as much music history as possible, to be able to be a top-notch musician.”
We sat down with Anderson .Paak to discuss everything from his craziest Jazz Fest experiences involving clams, to Jazz as an ongoing conversation, and “making it hell” for anybody who comes up on stage after their band.
You’ve said before that New Orleans has its own unique energy magic. Can you expand upon that a little bit?
.Paak: I just think it’s such a special place. And there’s no place really like it, with the people and the rich history of music. The connection that the people in the music space have there, and the pride that the people have for the city. The way that people talk and interact with everyone, the strength of the people — it’s so dynamic. When you’re there, it’s just an infectious energy. I’m from Southern California, LA, and we have a laid back vibe there that’s similar and just connects with New Orleans. But I think the people really make up a lot of the city’s charm and beauty.
When you’re on the road, or heading out to Jazz Fest, what are some quintessential things that you always have to pack or bring with you?
One is my JBL speaker. I have maybe 12 of them in every room because I lose them a lot [laughs]. I just have to have that everywhere. I have to have some sort of snack in my hotel or in the car too — popcorn and coconut water.
Liquid IVs are also pretty good — we’ve been drinking those a lot, especially if it’s been a heavy drinking night. I haven’t been too good on this lately, but usually, I’ll have my gallon jug of water that I try to get through. And then you know, plenty of clothing options. I like to have fit options for pre-show, the show, and for after the show. And then, just an open mind. Yeah, an open mind. That should do it.
What makes the live music scene in NOLA so special?
You know, the place is built around jazz, it’s the foundation of where the genre came from. That, from from the start, puts it in a league of its own. You have things like Second Line parades, and traditions that are really customary to New Orleans, things that are birthed there and originate there. There’s a long, long, long line of rich history with keeping those genres going. That comes from people having to learn about it and passing passing it down, and not doubting the techniques and the traditions that go along with it. That’s one of the hugest things.
What are some live music or nightlife hidden gems that you’ve found yourself?
New Orleans is crazy because like, anywhere you go, it’s a music city. You can go to the lobby of your hotel and see some amazing music, you can go to get some brunch and see some amazing music. Literally somebody’s playing everywhere in every little corner. Downtown, if you get with a local, everybody has their favorite places, but there’s so many little hidden gems like that, man. There’s literally not enough time to see it all. Last time I was here I literally just cruised down the street and would stumble upon so many jam sessions that we stayed up all night.
I know you call yourself a “Jazz Fest Veteran”. Do you have any particular memories or crazy moments that have stood out to you from attending the fest?
Well, this will be my first time playing the fest, but we’ve gotten to come around the city a couple of times when the fest was going on. Last year I was with my boy Maurice Brown, who’s lived out in New Orleans for a number of years. He took me out to get some big clams, some po’ boys. We were just drinking all day and eating clams, and then we had a jam session with this brass band that he knew. We played till like, 3 A.M. and it was amazing. Janelle Monáe, another good friend of ours was also in town, and we partied with her and her squad. We were at this bar, and this guy took us to the back, and he had just a bunch of crawdads. They were cleaned in this cooler, and they just randomly cooked them up for us. That was great.
So what are you looking forward to most this year at the fest?
I just want to see some shows. I’m not sure what time we play or anything like that [laughs]. But the lineup is so good. I want to check out as many acts as I can and get as much food as I can. I’ve just really enjoyed attending as if I was a festival goer, you know? I want to be able to just go and experience some shows. Talk to the people. That’s my favorite part.
It is so different seeing it from the audience’s perspective. Do you have a moment, maybe from one of the first times watching a live jazz performance when you were younger, or listening to a jazz record for the first time that has really stayed with you?
A bunch of stuff. Every time I go to New York, I try to go to the Blue Note, and it’s one of my favorite places to go. I’ve seen Robert Glasper a number of times, you never know who he’s gonna bring up. I’ve seen Roy Hargrove at the Catalina Jazz Club before he passed away — that was a very special Mother’s Day show that he did. Again, with my boy Maurice, the trumpet player, we’ve been to places like Smalls in New York, where we’ve college students just ripping jazz. Some of the best music players I’ve seen have been in small, hole-in-the-wall clubs, where it’s just packed with people swinging. You feel like you’ve been transported to the Forties, and it’s really amazing.
Jazz, as a genre, has such a rich cultural history and legacy, but it’s hard sometimes for young musicians to get into it or feel inspired by it. What would you like the next generation to know about Jazz?
For music — and anything you do in general — a lot of it starts by going backwards and knowing that there’s nothing new under the sun. I think it’s very important that if you are taking an interest in any genre, that you go back and study, and you see what the influences are that brought us to the present day. That’s how you end up making something new. It’s studying how we got here that can open your eyes to a lot of different things that you think can help you in your musical journey.
Cause that’s what jazz is man, it’s the foundation. It’s the culmination of all kinds of different people, struggles, food, and everyone’s journey coming together and creating something different. It really is American history. American history is a pot of gumbo that makes something delicious, and it’s no different than hip-hop — something that came out of the necessity to make something different. It’s one of the genres to where you have to develop the most knowledge and vocabulary within music theory.
When it comes to playing jazz and having chops — jazz chops — it’s the people that studied the music in and out that succeed. They’re the ones that study so much, that know so much about music theory, that they can freestyle and have freeform abilities to improvise and have conversations. I think people need to have more conversations in general, and people need to learn how to blend more. The lack of exposure is what keeps people from progressing music, and just progressing as humans. So the key is to expose yourself to as much music as possible, and as much music history as possible, to be able to be a top-notch musician.
What sort of approach do you take to solo DJing as DJ Pee.Wee that’s different to playing in a group or in a more improvisational environment like with Jazz?
Well, first things first, my number one goal is to just put on a great show. DJing is different, because I feel like you’re more so providing a service for the party. I know people probably expect me to play a lot of my music, which is a part of providing a service and giving the people what they want. But there’s a balance between giving the people want they want and also exposing them to new stuff, while at the same time keeping everyone on the dance floor, which is important to me, too. So when it comes to DJing and doing the solo thing, my main goal is to create an atmosphere that’s conducive to people freeing themselves to dance on the dance floor. I’m teaching on vinyl. I’m exposing them to things that are maybe not Serato, there’s no computers or anything like that. I’m showing them what the roots of DJing are, as far as something grabbing a record and finding where the song is by putting the needle down. There’s people that have never seen that. People who come from a different generation, when they see that they’re like ‘wow’, and I think it’s great to expose people to that.
When I’m with my band, though, there’s more personalities on stage, right? It’s more of a conversation between us, a synergy that we have to have on stage in order to deliver the best show possible to the people that are there in the audience to see us perform. They’re coming to see a show, to hear music that has sometimes helped them get through rough experiences. They’re coming to be entertained. Some people don’t know anything about us. Maybe their friends drove them over to see us. So they’re coming to see what the hype is about. We’re there to shut things down, and want to make it hell for anybody who’s coming up after us.
We’re performing in front of 20-30,000 people, and to have to command their attention, keep them moving, and challenge their energy is something great. But I think there’s a little bit of a different expectation from us on the stage. We have to balance that out with the expectations we have with ourselves, and we have to create a synergy onstage that comes from preparation, rehearsals and constructing a show that has levels of dynamics that tells a story for the people. We want to take care of the people that are coming to see us and have entrusted that we’re going to give them a world class show, and a lot of preparation goes into that.
Planning a trip to Jazz Fest? There are still plenty of hotels with availability starting around $223 during the festival dates. Start exploring with these top-rated New Orleans hotels here, and for more information on the full terms and conditions for the sweepstakes, click the link here.
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