This morning, "The 2008 Essence Music Festival" got off to a festive start at New Orleans' Ernest N. Morial Convention Center -- as luminaries from local government, the corporate sector and the storied magazine's ranks assembled for a press conference to kick off this year's "party with a purpose.""As we all know today is ... America's great Independence Day Celebration," Essence Communications, Inc. President Michelle Ebanks said in her opening remarks, in which she added, "This is the weekend that we celebrate essence as a touchstone of culture and community for millions of African American women."
The line-up for this year's festival boasts an assortment of hit-making newcomers such as J. Holiday, Rihanna and Chris Brown to 'Essence' favorites like Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, and the one and only Patti LaBelle.
It's the second year of putting on this mega-wattage production, since the Crescent City was devastated by the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.
"This weekend would not be as important, would not be as rich, and meaningful in any other city than New Orleans," Ebanks said, adding, "so we're so proud to be here, to be home."In a true unique and different fashion, the press conference did not take a traditional tone – at least not in the beginning.
A rousing musical act – the popular local band Big Sam's Funky Nation – performed a number, having corporate mucky mucks, media personnel and even Ronald McDonald, himself, dancing to the vibrant rhythms.
"Usually we close with the Electric Slide but we switched it up and we're opening with it," the congenial 'Essence' magazine editrix Angela Burt-Murray quipped once the lively display simmered down. "I think this is a good indicator of what a wonderful weekend we're all going to have."Presented by longtime sponsor Coca-Cola, the "Essence Music Festival" is the nation's largest annual gathering of African-American musical talent; featuring an unprecedented three days of cultural celebrations and empowerment seminars and three nights of concert performances.
"I think it's found its real home in a city with a future," Louisiana State Senator Mary Landrieu said, adding that the festival helps make the city's "future so much more brighter, so much more solid and so much more secure."
McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, Wal-Mart, Chevrolet and U.S. Army are also major sponsors of the festival, which was started in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the magazine.
"The spirit of Essence is being absorbed into the spirit of this city and it makes it stronger and it makes it more hopeful," Landrieu added.One of the many big concert highlights of this year's festivities is the all-star tribute to LaBelle and a long awaited reunion with her former Labelle band-mates Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash taking place at the Superdome on July 5.
And true music aficionados know that Labelle's biggest hit, 'Lady Marmalade,' referenced The Big Easy in a big way in its opening lyrics.
Two-time Grammy Award nominee Ledisi, who will partake in the tribute -- along with neo-soul diva Angie Stone, soul veteran Irma Thomas and Def Jam Records artist Chrisette Michele – said returning back home to New Orleans for this will be "mind-blowing."
"The first time I performed at Essence was in 2004 and it will be fascinating to see what has taken place since Katrina," she told BlackVoices.com. "I will perform with my band on one stage and after my set, I'll run over to sing with Ms. Patti on her stage. She specifically asked for me so I am honored. All of this will be filmed too -- it's a lot in one night. I just hope all of LaBelle will be there 'cause then I will have seen it all."
1. NO.BAD COMMENTS ABOUT IT BECAUSE I LIKED IT.
MURPHY G. at 8:28PM on Jul 12th 2008