by Lora Collett, Philadelphia, PA

Sunday May 7, 2006 was the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — the first festival after Hurricane Katrina. Many were not sure if the festival would even happen that year. A group of friends and I have been attending the festival for years and were intent on not missing this one, knowing full well the city would not be quite the same as it was the year before.

The second to final act of the day on one of the main stages was Paul Simon. He invited Irma Thomas to join him in a moving rendition of “Bridge over Troubled Water.” There was not a dry eye in sight. I will never forget this moment. There was such a sense of hope, healing, and a desire to help rebuild New Orleans.

The theme of Jazz Fest that year was The Healing Power of Music. I had never felt that power as much as I did that day.