•Slide guitar ace Roy Rogers wowed a packed house in the blues tent with new Little Queen Bee and Calm Before the Storm (sung by son Sam), a sizzling version of Robert Johnson's Terraplane Blues and rousing tunes with pianist Marcia Ball.

Making his fourth fest appearance (the first was in 1984 with John Lee Hooker), Rogers says he's as much a fan as a performer. "You want to be exposed to new music, not just stuff you already like," he said backstage. "So much great stuff is off the beaten path."

Jazz Fest crowds are a cut above the typical bar hounds, he says. "They're very discerning and receptive. Musicians pick up on that."