Jazz Fest 2019

Family Portrait: Jazz Fest at 50
By Scott Guion

Note: Rosa Lee Hawkins, an original member of the Dixie Cups portrayed in this print, passed away in 2022. The ReMarque, C-Marque & Proof editions are signed by her.

We typically use this space to describe the Jazz Fest Poster subject. But recounting the career of everyone in the rich tapestry of America’s most enduring indigenous art form - showcased for fifty years by the world’s greatest festival - would require a book. We’ll let Scott Guion’s brilliant family portrait speak for itself and just list those portrayed in his iconic assemblage, left to right, and note their highlights. Those previously celebrated on Jazz Fest & Congo Square posters include links to their posters and bios. Those appearing for the first time on this poster are marked with an asterisk (*). As with all family portraits, some worthies are regrettably absent.

Left top: Philip Frazier & Kermit Ruffins (ReBirth Brass Band, tuba & trumpet: CS07, CS08); Joseph Pierre "Big Chief Monk" Boudreaux (Big Chief of Golden Eagles, member of Wild Magnolias, CS06); “Uncle” Lionel Batiste (Assistant Leader of Treme Brass Band, percussion & kazoo: CS10), “Big Chief“ Theodore Emile "Bo" Dollis (Big Chief of Wild Magnolias: JF15); Matthew “Fats” Houston (definitive Grand Marshal: JF76, CS11). 

Riding the Streetcar: The Marsalis Family (JF16): Ellis (Patriarch, bandleader, educator, piano); Branford (composer, bandleader, saxophone); Wynton (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, composer, bandleader, trumpet: JF02), Delfeayo (producer, composer, trombone); Jason (Los Hombres Calientes, bandleader, composer, vibraphone, drums); Mahalia Jackson (preeminent gospel singer: JF03); Ernie K-Doe (singer, disc jockey, Emperor of the Universe: CS14).

Second line (left section): Charles Neville (Wild Tchoupitoulas. Neville Bros, saxophone: JF97); Aaron Neville (Wild Tchoupitoulas. Neville Bros, composer, vocalist: JF94, JF97, JF13); Cyril Neville (Meters, Neville Bros, Galactic, percussion: JF17, JF97); Ivan Neville* (Dumpstafunk, composer, keyboards, vocalist); Art Neville [seated] (Hawkettes, Meters, Neville Bros, singer, composer, keyboards: JF97, JF17); George Porter, Jr. (Meters, bass: JF17); Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste (Meters, drums; JF17).

Front line: Irma Thomas (singer: JF94, JF08); Allen Toussaint (songwriter, arranger, producer, singer, piano: JF09); Antoine “Fats” Domino (singer-songwriter, piano: JF89, JF06, JF18); Louis Armstrong (bandleader, composer, vocalist, actor, trumpet, cornet: JF95, JF01); Henry Roeland "Roy" “Professor Longhair” Byrd (singer-songwriter, piano: JF94, JF99); Malcolm “Mac” John “Dr. John” Rebennack (singer-songwriter, producer, arranger, guitar, piano: JF94, JF98); Harry Connick, Jr. (singer, composer, arranger, actor, television host, piano: JF04)

Line above Front line: The Dixie Cups: Barbara Ann Hawkins*, Rosa Lee Hawkins*, Joan Marie Johnson* (singers); Ben Jaffe (Preservation Hall Jazz Band, bandleader, producer, tuba, double bass: JF14); Alois Maxwell “Al” Hirt (bandleader, trumpet: JF00); Louis Prima (singer-songwriter, bandleader, actor, trumpet: JF10); Stanley Joseph “Buckwheat Zydeco” Dural, Jr. (vocalist, bandleader, accordion: CS13); James Carroll Booker III* (vocals, teacher, keyboards)

Second line (right section): Jon Batiste (Stay Human, singer, composer, arranger, bandleader, television personality, keyboards: CS17); Pierre Dewey “Pete Fountain” LaFontaine Jr. [seated] (Lawrence Welk Orchestra, Dukes of Dixieland, Pete Fountain Quintet, Half-Fast Walking Club, bandleader, clarinet: JF94, JF96); Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews (Orleans Avenue, producer, arranger, bandleader, actor, trombone, trumpet: CS09, JF12); Freddie “Big Freedia” Ross (hip-hop / rap artist, author, TV personality: CS18); Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (Singer-songwriter, guitar, violin, viola, mandolin, drums, harmonica, piano: CS05); James William “Jimmy” Buffett (Coral Reefer Band, singer-songwriter, author, actor, entrepreneur, guitar: JF11); Clifton Chenier (Zydeco Ramblers, Red Hot Louisiana Band, bandleader, songwriter, accordion: JF94)

Balcony: Documentary photographers: Jules Cahn* & Michael P. Smith*; Festival progenitors: Allison Miner*; Quint Davis* (Jazz Fest Producer / Director); Joyce Wein*; George Wein* (Newport Allstars, Executive Producer Emeritus, piano).

Statuary: Buddy Bolden (jazz innovator, composer, bandleader, cornet: JF05); Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe “Jelly Roll Morton”* (jazz innovator, composer, bandleader, piano).

About the Artist

Scott Guion is an artist & musician born in New Orleans in 1971. His murals and paintings are in museums, entertainment venues, and private collections coast to coast; yet he remains the ultimate insider’s secret. His large-scale commissions for the House Of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, B.B. King’s Blues Cafe and The Grand Ole Opry are widely admired for their idiosyncratic fidelity, color tone and visual harmonies. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, People, Billboard and NY Arts magazines, among others. His individual patrons include Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow, Amy Grant and many more. Now you know what they know - what your eyes already told you: Guion’s synthesis of music, personality and paint is nothing short of brilliant. The 50th anniversary poster deserved nothing less - doubling up in every way on the last such landmark: the sold-out 25th anniversary poster by Peter Max (JF94).

Katrina blew Guion out of New Orleans. He currently resides in Nashville with his wife and son. 

Each poster comes with an outline key identifying each person and a brief description of their accomplishments.

Editions:

10,000 Numbered prints on archival paper, 36” x 25”, Originally sold for $95

2,500 Artist-signed by Guion & numbered prints that include an alligator imprint designed by Guion on 100% rag paper, 36” x 25”, Originally sold for $245

750 Artist signed and including an alligator imprint designed and hand-overdrawn by Guion, signed by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Irma Thomas, Ben Jaffe (Preservation Hall), Two original Dixie Cups, Kermit Ruffins & Phil Frazier (ReBirth) and Big Freedia; estate stamped by those pictured who have passed; numbered Remarque prints on 100% rag paper, 36” x 25”, Originally sold for $595

350 Artist-overpainted and signed, signed by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Irma Thomas, Ben Jaffe, Two original Dixie Cups, Kermit Ruffins & Phil Frazier and Big Freedia; estate stamped by those pictured who have passed; numbered C-Marque canvas screen prints, 36” x 25”, Originally sold for $995

Framing Options:

All our frames are crafted from archival materials, and are finished in beautiful satin black. The framed Unsigned print uses a 1.25" profile frame. The Signed and ReMarque edition frames have a .875" front profile with a 1" depth, creating an elegant shadowbox effect. The float-mounted ReMarque edition showcases the edges of the archival print in a gallery-quality presentation. All matted prints feature a 1-1.5" wide white neutral pH matte. Although Art 4 Now's oil-based silkscreen inks are highly stable, our glass-clear acrylic adds additional protection, blocking 87% of UV rays. All framed prints come fully assembled and ready to hang!  Art 4 Now does not provide retail framing services onsite.

 * Frames shown are digital simulations.

Poster specifications & digital image may vary slightly from actual print.

Image ©2019 Art4now, Inc. & New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation, Inc. / Text ©2019 Art4now, Inc.

New Orleans Jazz Festival is a trademark of NOJ&H Foundation, Inc. FATS DOMINO™ is a trademark of Fat Man Brands, L.L.C.