There are many jazz festivals in the world, but there is only one “jazz fest” - the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. This podcast presents the music, culture, resilience, history and rhythm of the festival that inspired the film Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story, 2023 Grammy-winner for "Best Music Film."

In this first episode, the stories behind the story begin with Quint Davis, longtime producer of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, about how he and George Wein launched the first Jazz Fest in 1970. We also introduce the film's Oscar-nominated producer/director Frank Marshall, and hear legendary live Jazz Fest performances from Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Irma Thomas.

Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story is available now on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital streaming from Sony Pictures Classics at https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/jazzfestaneworleansstory.

Hosted by Jazz Fest favorite, singer/guitarist Samantha Fish. Produced by Andy Cahn, Eric Molk and Paul Chuffo for True Tone Media Group / Joyride Media, with assistance from Jason W. Doyle and Khalid Hafiz.

Music heard in this program comes from the Jazz Fest box set, provided with full permission from Smithsonian Folkways and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation.