Despite weather reports calling for the end of the world, and wouldn’t you know it, the MTA doing construction on the 7 line, and LIRR deciding to not stop at the Mets/Willets Point stop (making mass transit to the festival difficult), Louis Armstrong’s Wonderful World Festival was a great success. While things were slow at the beginning of the day, with people holding off to see what the weather would bring, the heavy rains never came and people gradually made their way to Flushing Meadows Corona Park to enjoy the likes of Antibalas, Shannon Powell’s Traditional All-Star Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Ozomatli, and headliner Ms. Lauryn Hill.

DJ Cochon de Lait began the day with a traditional Louis Armstrong/NOLA-inspired set of music that brought the right vibe to the festival from the get-go. Brooklyn’s Antibalas crossed boroughs on this day to deliver a powerful performance that had an early, small crowd moving and grooving. It has to be said that Flushing Meadows Corona Park is a massive park with many good spots to walk around and discover, relax, and enjoy a festival such as this. While there weren’t many people in the main stage area in the early portion of the day, plenty of people could be seen waiting on line at one of the many food trucks on site, sitting at a picnic table with friends, under one of the massive trees in the park, or enjoying a libation at the Queens Theater or Queens Museum (where DJ Cochon de Lait, DJ Rekha, and DJ Sultan Balkanera were spinning sets throughout the day).

Virtuoso jazz drummer and New Orleans native Shannon Powell brought along his Traditional All-Stars Band to pay homage to the namesake of the festival, playing some Armstrong numbers and other choice jazz tunes. It definitely was the sleeper set of the festival, and many people were talking about it as the day progressed.

By the time Rebirth Brass Band came to the stage, waves of people could be seen walking into the park passing the giant Unisphere in the middle of the grounds (which hosted both the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fair). The Grammy-award winning funk/brass outfit once again proved that there “ain’t nothin’ like a Rebirth groove”, as everyone in attendance shook off the light sprinkling of rain that took place during their set.

As Los Angeles latin/funk/hip-hop act Ozomatli took the stage, the main stage pen area (which can hold up to 20,000 people) filled out and were feeling the groove that the Grammy-award winning act brought to Queens. According to the band, this was the third outdoor performance the band had played in New York in recent years where rain tried to put a damper on the day. But nothing could ruin Ozo’s performance and the positive vibe that the crowd brought along with them, as they threw down an incredible set, highlighting every period of their career (they are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year).

With Ms. Lauryn Hill taking the headlining slot, a massive wave of people decided to make their way through the gates to get an up close and personal spot in the main stage area. Undeniably one of the most talented artists of the last twenty-five years, Hill’s 1998 neo-soul album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is an album that has withstood the test of time and one that very simply transcends all genres, and solidified her status as a solo artist after her time with the Fugees. With a full backing band, Hill played a hit-laden set, mainly while seated playing an acoustic guitar. Towards the end of the performance, she brought her backing singers out to the front, lost the guitar, showed off some moves and continued what was truly a magical set. With a hard curfew in place, Hill brought the house down as she showed her versatility to both sing beautifully and spit verses with the best of the best in the MC world during show-ending “Fu-Gee-La > Ready Or Not”.

As the event was free, the weather may have held off some folks from making the trip to the park (as well as the MTA issues), but over 5,000+ overcame the dreary forecast – which never really came – to enjoy what was a fantastic day of music, food, and entertainment in honor of Louis Armstrong, who meant so much to the world of music and culture, broke down many racial barriers, and was known for throwing some bashes in his own backyard in Flushing, NY. For the record, Queens is coming back into the fold; watch out Manhattan and Brooklyn. Til next year…. 

Words by Chris Meyer, Photos by Jeremy Smith (full gallery below)