Thousands gathered under blue skies Saturday to hear the music of neo-soul artist Erykah Badu, who took the stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival burning a stick of incense and wearing a lavender kimono. “My eyes are green,” she cooed to the crowd, which responded with claps and cheers. “She's so emotional,” said Stacey Cunningham of New Orleans, who had a spot on a blanket near the front of the stage. “I love that about her.” At least one famous face was in the crowd of thousands to hear Badu, New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler, who headed to the festival grounds just hours after the team's NBA playoff win against the Denver Nuggets. “Erykah's lyrics are really moving,” said Donna Gilbert, a regular festival goer from New Orleans. “I find she touches and reaches people no matter what the age. She's really inspirational.” Earlier Saturday, Big Sam's Funky Nation, one of New Orleans' most energetic brass bands, had a crowd of thousands on its feet dancing and clapping. On another stage, The Imagination Movers, a children's band with a television show on the Disney Channel by the same name, had parents and their little ones dancing as well. Besides Badu, Saturday included performances by singer-songwriter James Taylor, the rock group Wilco, jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain and trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis, who performed with The Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New York-based orchestra he directs. Marsalis also performed with the orchestra on Friday, the festival's opening day.
