The pipe was passed as soon as I was picked up from the airport.
Over oysters and muffaletta and a pitcher of Abita Purple Haze
(mmmmmmm… Purple Haze!) the big question was George or Stanley?
George or Stanley?
You see, George Porter, Jr. was playing at Jimmy's, and the legendary
solo guitarist Stanley Jordan was at Tipitina's. We knew we'd
be seeing George with the Meters the next day, but George with
the Runnin' Pardners was another story entirely. Well, the decision
- a la Dion in that Pizza Hut commercial - was a resounding BOTH!
Tips was packed by the time we got there, completely inundated
with Phishy looking pholks. We knew immediately that this year's
Fest would not be like those in the past. Phish was opening the
Festival on the main stage, and it looked like the tour rats had
come to town in droves.
Stanley Jordan took the stage a little after 11 and upon plugging
in his guitar every jaw in the house dropped. It's that simple.
No one -no one-plays guitar quite like that man. Both
hands flying up and down the fretboard as if it's some kind of
magical piano. I don't think he plucked a string once, except
maybe for a few bass finger slaps. Pure genius. He was laying
down the law.
Still in amazement after Jordan's set, we made it over to Jimmy's
for the end of Porter's show. George laid down the groove with
"Happy Song," "Soul Island," and a "Sneakin'
Sally Through the Ally" that shook our bones. As always,
George and his horn section injected that good ol' N'Awlins funkin'
R&B into the sweat-soaked beer-drenched dance hall.
Well, on to a few hours of shut eye before the big day.