The first voyage of Jambalaya Jazz featuring Queenie on the Rivers of America has performed, bringing jazz, bossa nova, and some classic Disney tunes to the forefront of Tom Sawyer Island and New Orleans Square.
Jambalaya Jazz on the Water
The band did literally embark on a river voyage, gradually approaching New Orleans Square from the direction of Critter Country and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on a Tom Sawyer Island raft.
As they came near the Sailing Ship Columbia, the music began, with Queenie greeting the audience and wishing one onlooker a happy birthday.
Once Jambalaya Jazz arrived where Fantasmic! is usually centered, the show officially began, with an array of water fountains behind them and a Cast Member manually rowing the raft to guide its direction in a back-and-forth motion.
The raft itself is colorfully decorated in purples, pinks, blues, and greens — with flowers, piano keys, trumpets, saxophones, and a protruding treble clef all contributing to the aesthetic.
Songs from “The Princess and the Frog” were included, such as “Gonna Take You There” and “Down in New Orleans” — though some popular favorites apart from Disney were also heard, including the Hank Williams staple “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” and the spiritual “When the Saints Go Marching In.” We also took a full video of the entire first performance:
The band typically performs during the day in the park. They will now float down the Rivers of America on a New-Orleans-themed barge three times nightly at 7:35 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 9:05 p.m.
More at the Rivers of America
Through August 31, guests can also experience the Wondrous Journeys nighttime show at this same location.
While Wondrous Journeys is primarily at Sleeping Beauty Castle, this is a decent secondary location to see the fireworks and enjoy some water projections along Tom Sawyer Island. After the end of August, this show will take a break as Halloween, Christmas, and other seasonal holiday shows temporarily take its place.
Jambalaya Jazz has been around for quite awhile, usually performing in New Orleans Square, though they have performed on the Mark Twain Riverboat and on a Tom Sawyer Island raft in the past. The band occasionally performs by itself, though Queenie has frequently collaborated and performed alongside them.
Disneyland has been searching for alternative entertainment options in this area of the park ever since the Fantasmic! nighttime spectacular was temporarily halted due to the massive Maleficent dragon catching fire during a show in April this year.
What do you think of this new way to see Jambalaya Jazz? Were you able to see them on the first night? Let us know in the comments.
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