On Friday morning, New Orleans found out it lost two of it’s favorite sons, but we raised a glass and sung as one when the day was done.

With so many icons of music, culture, art and life that live amongst us in New Orleans it’s not uncommon to mourn the loss of a great artist during the celebrations of a music festival. With so many festivals (152 a year said Jeremy Cooker of the NOTMC) one is likely to raise a glass and second line at the same time families and friends mourn a loved ones passing. This weekend New Orleans and the world lost not one, but two of our treasured son’s: world famous and locally loved clarinetist Pete Fountain, and gospel singer and iconic Tipitina’s doorman Jo “Cool” Davis.

The music, the laughter, the camaraderie, it all came to pass today. We miss our beloved sons and we hold them on our heavy hearts, but we dance and sing as they would want us to. You could feel it and hear them in the dense summer heat. Clarinet sways, gospel croon – Pete and Jo were in the air and we were all there. Enjoy some of my photographs of joy and love from Day 2 at Satchmo Summerfest in New Orleans, LA.