Jazz Fest retains Local Charm and Caps Off a Profitable Decade since 2004

After the 2004 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival lost money, there was talk of slashing the next year’s budget. But longtime Fest producer Quint Davis’ new partners at AEG Live advocated for the opposite strategy. They said you can’t cut your way out of this.

“This” refers to financial straits Jazz Fest found itself in, and some wondered if the show would go on.

David Oestreicher, who was acting president of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation immediately after that “tipping point” year, says, “desperate times call for desperate measures.” Oestreicher and the Board worked behind the scenes to rescue Jazz Fest from it’s financial troubles.

What’s emerged 10 years after the Fest faced it’s most pressing problems is a stronger event, one that retains local charm, but now also brings in big name “guest” acts mostly from pop-rock genres, thanks to the work done during this time, and the financial pockets of AEG, which co-produces the Festival with Quint Davis’ Festival Productions, Inc.

To learn more about this transition of one of the oldest and most revered music festivals, see music writer, Keith Spera’s piece (published in The Times-Picayune and on Nola.com).

Oestreichers Donate Historic Capa Photo to WWII Museum

“Dodging enemy fire, an American Doughboy advances on the double past the outskirts of embattled Cherbourg.” So reads, the caption, typed on back the original print of a historic photo made by Robert Capa just three weeks after the D-Day landing at Normandy in June, 1944. The caption says, “Isolated German units are still fighting furiously…

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Oestreicher recalls Achievements at helm of Jazz Fest

David W. Oestreicher, was elected to serve on the Board of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, and rose ultimately, to the position of President in 2005 – 2006. Oestreicher actually finished the term of previous board president, Fire Chief Warren McDaniels who stepped down due to his battle with cancer in…

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Recreating Abbey Road Crossing: Oestreicher family poses on famous London Street

LONDON, England — Aidan, Tiffany and David Oestreicher posed for a recreation of the Beatles album cover in London on Abbey Road. Says David, to get to the location, get off at the St. John’s Wood tube station, and walk a few blocks. The Oestreicher’s daughter, Bibi, was supposed to be Ringo, but traffic was…

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