Jazz Fest Performer Fred Wesley Hosts Exclusive Plant-Based Dinner at Longue Vue

The 82-year-old trombonist and bandleader invites the New Orleans community to a special event celebrating his journey to health through a whole-food, plant-based diet.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:25pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray photograph of a trombone, its intricate internal structure glowing against a dark background, conceptually representing the rejuvenation of a musician's career through a plant-based diet.An X-ray view of a trombone reveals the instrument's intricate inner workings, mirroring the revitalization of jazz legend Fred Wesley's health and career through his plant-based lifestyle transformation.New Orleans Today

Legendary jazz musician Fred Wesley is hosting a special dining experience at Longue Vue House and Gardens during Jazz Fest, featuring a plant-based menu, music, and personal stories about how adopting a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle helped him regain his health and revitalize his career. The event, called the HAPPY Meal Experience, is open to the public and aims to inspire the New Orleans community, especially African Americans over 40, to explore the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Why it matters

Wesley's personal transformation through a plant-based diet highlights the potential for this approach to improve health outcomes, especially for those dealing with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. The event provides an opportunity for the community to learn from Wesley's experience and discover how adopting a plant-based lifestyle can lead to improved vitality and longevity.

The details

The HAPPY Meal Experience will feature a menu of delicious plant-based dishes and desserts, as well as music from vegan DJ Brice Nice of WWOZ-FM. The event will also include testimonials from others who have used a plant-based diet to improve their health, including retired New Orleans fireman Lee Arnold and journalist Byron McCauley. Integrative physician Dr. Anikó Gréger will moderate the event, discussing the holistic benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. Children can participate in a hands-on food prep activity with Natalie Guess, who will read from her children's book 'The Biggest, The Oldest, The Strongest ... All Eat Plants.'

  • The HAPPY Meal Experience will take place on Jazz Fest Tuesday, April 28, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m.
  • Fred Wesley is scheduled to perform at Jazz Fest on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

The players

Fred Wesley

An 82-year-old legendary trombonist and bandleader who adopted a whole-food, plant-based diet in 2021, helping him regain his health and revitalize his international touring schedule.

Joya Wesley

Fred Wesley's daughter and manager, who used a whole-food, plant-based diet to reverse a lifetime of obesity and wrote the mini book 'The Easy Breezy Whole Foodie: Opt Out of the Standard American Diet in Seven Steps.'

Longue Vue House and Gardens

A National Historic Landmark in New Orleans with a mission to preserve and share a legacy of design, community, and lifelong learning, and a commitment to sustainability and a plant-based menu in its cafe.

Dr. Anikó Gréger

An integrative physician and host of the podcast 'Nourished with Dr. Anikó,' whose medical practice emphasizes a holistic approach, including lifestyle approaches, to improve overall health.

Natalie Guess

An author who will read from her children's book 'The Biggest, The Oldest, The Strongest ... All Eat Plants' and lead a hands-on food prep activity for children at the event.

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What they’re saying

“I feel too good to not let everybody know about this. We found a way to heal ourselves outside of Western medicine.”

— Lee Arnold, Retired New Orleans Fireman

“It's even more important now, as we are increasingly losing our access to healthcare, to figure out how to keep yourself healthy with the tools that you do have. Movement and sleep and food—if you have those three in order, you're good.”

— Dr. Anikó Gréger, Integrative Physician and Podcast Host

What’s next

The HAPPY Meal Experience is open to the public, and those interested can register for the event on the Longue Vue House and Gardens website.

The takeaway

Fred Wesley's personal journey to health through a plant-based diet serves as an inspiring example of the transformative power of lifestyle changes, especially for the African American community in New Orleans that has been disproportionately impacted by chronic health issues. This event provides an opportunity for the community to learn from Wesley's experience and explore how adopting a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle can lead to improved vitality and longevity.