"CAN WE GET EVERYBODY UP!" shouted Glen David Andrews, stretching his arms towards the audience in the Gospel Tent at Jazz Fest Friday. "SAY YEAH! SAY YEAH!"

The mob shouted back, "YEAH!"

The epitome of cool in gold-rimmed aviator shades, a white suit and black T-shirt glittering with silver and red, Andrews is one hot performer.

He played his trombone, sang, fell to his knees, raised his arms to heaven like Charlton Heston portraying Moses, punched the air and worked his audience into a frenzy.

"PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER!" He cupped his hand around his ear, listening to the crowd putting their hands together and singing with him. "THERE AIN'T NO SITTING DOWN AT THE GOSPEL TENT!"

His jacket off and pushing the air like a conductor at the grand finale of a Beethoven symphony, he started into Randy Travis' "Jesus on the Main Line," again beckoning the audience: "Everybody say, ' Jesus on the Main Line!' " They chanted the line, again and again, following with the next line, "Tell Him what you want," while Andrews played his trombone as if it were heralding the Second Coming.

Then it was back to singing, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine," interrupting himself to tell the crowd, "Let me hear you!" He pointed his microphone towards the audience.

Together, everyone sang, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!" I could feel the beat of the gospel fans thumping in my chest as this head cheerleader for God flung out his message and moved his seemingly bone-free body all over the stage.

In the front row, Judy Lockhart, 53, from the San Francisco Bay area, was clapping, singing and dancing with bent knees. She shout-whispered that this was her 18th consecutive Jazz Fest.

Sharing the stage Friday were members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, guitar player Paul Sanchez and Andrews' cousin Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, who wore a
simple red T-shirt and switched instruments, playing a trumpet this time.

The mood momentarily turned somber when Trombone Shorty launched into his soulful "We Shall Walk Through the Streets of the City," using his hand as a muffler on the trumpet, then blowing ear-piercing notes while his cousin shot his arm into the air.

Near the end, Glen David Andrews slowly started singing "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord," then exploded into the full "Battle Hymn of the Republic" while strutting through the seated crowd, fans with cameras shadowing him.

Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis came onstage to proclaim Andrews "One of the giant talents of New Orleans. He IS the gospel man!"

And as Davis left, Andrews shouted out one last time: "Is there anybody out there who wants a blessing?!" Throngs came forward. He high-fived them all and put his hand on their heads, sweat pouring down his face, still singing.

Keith I. Marszalek / NOLA.com
Glen David Andrews performs Friday, May 1, 2009 at the New Orleans Jazz Festival