In what’s become a beloved annual event, members of Lettuce and Wil Blades took the stage at the sold out Howlin’ Wolf for an loving take on the music of Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder to close out the ten days of non-stop music mayhem that is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Lettuce’s Eric “Benny” Bloom showed off his MC skills as well as his outstanding trumpet talents throughout the night, telling jokes and sharing stories about drawing inspiration from these two great musicians. Bloom’s bandmates, Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff and Adam Deitch kept things cooking on the guitar and drums respectively, while occasional Lettuce member Nigel Hall showed off some skills on the bass guitar and vocals. Bloom’s Shady Horns sax-playing partner Ryan Zoidis popped up for some powerful licks, while Wil Blades kept the organ pumping all night long.
Check out some of the highlights from this special evening, captured by our own Rex Thomson for this one-of-a-kind performance.
Love Having You Around
Human Nature
Another Star
Rock With You
Man In The Mirror
Working Day & Night
Setlist: Michael Jackson vs. Stevie Wonder at The Howlin’ Wolf, New Orleans, LA – 5/1/16:
Setlist: The Way You Make Me Feel, Love Having You Around, Human Nature, Have a Talk With God, PYT, Off The Wall, Another Star, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Rock With You, Man In The Mirror
Encore: Working Day & Night