TRAVEL TALES

Young Chang

At the Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans earlier this month,

Al and Carolyn Graps enjoyed a buffet of culture that involved far more

than just Creole food.

“It was awesome, it was amazing, it was filled with so much great

music,” said Al Graps, a Newport Beach resident and former professional

jazz saxophonist.

Held from April 27 through May 5, the festival offered about eight

tents for visitors to roam from one musical genre to another. There were

blues tents, pops tents, Dixie tents, traditional jazz tents, a gospel

tent and even a zydeco music venue -- a highlight for Graps.

“That’s Cajun music,” said Graps, who visited for just four days in

the beginning of May with his wife.

Carolyn Graps’ favorite act was a zydeco performer named Wayne Toops.

“He’s No. 1,” she said. His music “reminds me of a cross between blues

and old time rock-and-roll and he’s such a terrific performer that I put

him up there with Elvis Presley.”

Carolyn Graps, who is retired from working with Edison Intl. and now

volunteers at the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, became a huge

jazz fan through her husband, who even organizes a jazz party every year

with about 30 area performers.

Al Graps, a consulting engineer who investigates electrical fires for

insurance companies, said his favorite musical act was a trumpeter named

Irvin Mayfield.

“He’s a virtuoso trumpet player, composer and an amazingly gifted

musician,” the 71-year-old said. “So was everyone who played with him.”

When the couple wasn’t enjoying music at the festival, they toured the

old plantations in New Orleans where they get to sit out on front porches

and sip lemonade.

“I felt like Scarlett O’Hara,” Carolyn Graps said.

The plantations were huge, with slave quarters still visible and

200-year-old trees lining its front.

The Graps also visited the French Quarter a couple times to eat Creole

foods including gumbo, red rice and beans, sausage, jambalaya and

crawfish. For dessert, the couple indulged in beignets.

“It was just wonderful. The whole trip was great,” Carolyn Graps said.

* Have you, or someone you know, gone on an interesting vacation

recently? Tell us your adventures. Drop us a line to Travel Tales, 330 W.

Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; e-mail young.chang@latimes.com; or fax to

(949) 646-4170.