James Andrews, Crescent City All-Stars to headline 29th Touro Synagogue Jazz Fest Shabbat

James Andrews and the Crescent City All-Stars will headline the first in-person Touro Synagogue Jazz Fest Shabbat since the onset of the COVID pandemic. The event will take place on April 29 with a private patron dinner taking place immediately before the public religious service. Patrons also receive reserved seats for the Jazz Fest public services.

James Andrews (Photo via WWOZ by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee)

Services inside the main sanctuary at 4238 St. Charles Avenue, will be led by Touro’s Cantor Kevin Margolius and Rabbi Katie Bauman, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The expanded services for Friday night Shabbat worship are free and open to the public.  In addition, the entire service will be live-streamed over the Touro Synagogue website.

Founded by the late Touro Cantor Stephen Dubov, the event has been held annually since 1991, but has been cancelled for the past two years due to the ongoing pandemic.

In addition to the headliners, the Panorama Jazz Band, the Touro Adult Choir and others will participate.

Andrews and the Crescent City All-Stars join an impressive list of previous headliners. These include Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint (with a special appearance by a yarmula-wearing Paul Shaffer), John Boutté, Jeremy Davenport, Marcia Ball, Big Chief Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Kermit Ruffins, Jon Cleary, Henry Butler, Big Chief Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias, Marcia Ball, Kermit Ruffins, Jeremy Davenport, Henry Butler, Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes and John Boutte.

To purchase patron tickets, or for additional information, please contact Touro Synagogue at 504-895-4843 or visit www.tourosynagogue.com.