Blues is at the heart of jazz music – from Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, to the groove of Jimmy Smith and Herbie Hancock. You can hear the blues in Herbie's Cantaloupe Island. You can hear it in Sarah Vaughan's Love For Sale. Blues is a cultural currency deeply connected to the African-American experience – it aches, it reaches out to the listener, and asks us to come together in feeling. This year, Jazz Fest showcases a number of outstanding players who are firmly rooted in the blues.

Blues is at the heart of jazz music – from Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, to the groove of Jimmy Smith and Herbie Hancock. This year, Jazz Fest showcases a number of outstanding players who are firmly rooted in the blues.