This year’s jazz performers include: legendary jazz vocalist Ernie Andrews, who has recorded over 20 albums and worked with jazz giants Harry James and Cannonball Adderley; The Al Williams Jazz Society, a quintet of “bebop specialists” who also perform a variety of contemporary sounds – blues, ballads, Latin rhythms and smooth jazz. Drummer Al Williams’ has performed or recorded with such jazz greats as Hampton Hawes, Teddy Edwards, Willie Bobo, Kenny Burrell, Eddie Harris and Roy Ayers as well as keeping time for Jimmy Witherspoon and Lowell Folsom. Williams also opened the first jazz club in Long Beach, The Jazz Safari, later renamed Birdland West and produced the 1st Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival. The New Orleans Traditional Jazz Band with Musical Director, Dr. Louis Thomas and band leader Hilarion Domingue, lead the Second Line Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday and Sunday.

On the Cajun & Zydeco stage: The “Crown Prince of Zydeco,” C.J. Chenier; Kevin Naquin a fourteen time CFMA award winner known for his upbeat Cajun style music in the dance hall tradition; Louisiana Bayou country cowboy Geno Delafose returns for another year giving dancers his contemporary upbeat Zydeco blended with the music of his Creole roots; Buckwheat Zydeco’s discovery, Lil Brian Terry & the Zydeco Travelers playing a funky brand of upbeat Zydeco; Same Ol’ 2 Step with special guest Guyland Leday, the seven-year-old wunderkind who the New York Times says “plays Zydeco accordion like a boy possessed.” This young prodigy has been featured in an HBO documentary and is also the winner of Oscar Mayer’s Sing the Jingle contest.

Hosted by veteran blues slide guitarist Bernie Pearl, the Club N’Orleans stage will also feature jazz and blues artists: the inimitable Candye Kane whose bluesy cabaret style honors the bold blues women of the past and has earned her a two decade career with several opening gigs for Etta James; the ever popular Café R&B and its gritty mix of Blues, R&B and soul; Mississippi blues guitarist, by way of Texas, Handy Award winner, Zac Harmon; Monterey Blues Festival winner, electric blues guitarist Gregg Wright who has opened for Albert King and Freddie King, and toured with Spencer Davis and Michael Jackson.

Legendary jazz vocalist Ernie Andrews, who has recorded over 20 albums and worked with jazz giants Harry James and Cannonball Adderley.  The Al Williams Jazz Society, a quintet of “bebop specialists” who also perform a variety of contemporary sounds – blues, ballads, Latin rhythms and smooth jazz.   Drummer Al Williams has performed or recorded with such jazz greats as Hampton Hawes, Teddy Edwards, Willie Bobo, Kenny Burrell, Eddie Harris and Roy Ayers as well as keeping time for Jimmy Witherspoon and Lowell Folsom.   Williams also opened the first jazz club in Long Beach, The Jazz Safari, later renamed Birdland West and produced the 1st Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival.  The New Orleans Traditional Jazz Band with Musical Director, Dr. Louis Thomas and band leader Hilarion Domingue, lead the Second Line Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday and Sunday. 

C.J. Chenier (Sunday)                     
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie  (Sat/Sun.)      
Kevin Naquin & the Ossum Playboys  (Fri/Sat.)     
Lee Benoit & the Bayou Stompers (Sat/Sun.)              
Same Ol’ 2 Step & Guyland Leday (Sat/Sun.)                
Lil’ Brian & the Zydeco Travelers (Sat/Sun.)       
Terry & the Zydeco Bad Boys (Fri/Sat.)

Bernie Pearl
Café R&B (Sat. night)
Zac Harmon (Sunday)
Candye Kane (Sunday night)
The Oscar Jordan Band(Friday)
Gregg Wright Blues Band (Friday)
Oozie Blues Show (Saturday)
Al Williams Jazz Society (Sat. night)
Bobby Griffen (Sat. night)
Ernie Andrews (Sun. night)

This annual fundraiser for Comprehensive Child Development celebrates 21 years in 2007 and is California’s longest running Cajun & Zydeco festival.  This legendary festival was originally started by promoter Franklin Zawacki as a way to expose the Cajun & Zydeco artists, whom he met in his travels to Louisiana, to a larger audience (the music not as popular in mainstream culture as it is today) and at the same time help out a worthy cause.   Dancers who travel from festival to festival have made this one their annual stop, and many new dancers have learned the Zydeco two-step in quick and easy dance workshops taught by renowned instructors.   This three day all ages event features non-stop Cajun & Zydeco, Blues and Jazz artists playing on two stages, continuous dancing on a large covered dance floor, colorful French Quarter cultural arts & crafts marketplace, Cajun & Creole cuisine; music & cultural workshops; rousing New Orleans at Nite celebration, and a daily Second Line Mardi Gras Parade led by a brass band and Mardi Gras Indians.  Transplanted Louisianans reunite with one another and enjoy the spirit of their home state Friday evening till the festival closes on Sunday night.

http://longbeachfestival.homestead.com/Directions.html 

The festival is held at the Rainbow Lagoon Park.   Directions:  At the end of the 710 Fwy next to the Long Beach Convention Center/Long Beach Arena.   The Rainbow Lagoon Park is located on the Northside of Shoreline Drive, between Shoreline Village Drive and Linden Avenue.