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The Neville Brothers, the closing act for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for more than a decade before Hurricane Katrina, will miss the musical fete in their hometown for the second year in a row.

Like last year, the Neville Brothers have decided not to perform, in large part because of singer Aaron Neville's concerns about aggravating his asthma, festival producer Quint Davis said Friday.

At the time festival organizers needed confirmation of whether the Nevilles would perform, Aaron Neville was also dealing with the illness and eventual death of his wife, Joel Roux-Neville, to lung cancer, Davis said.

'They'll be back,' Davis said. 'People should not think the Nevilles will not come back to New Orleans. They will be back.'

Like last year, Davis said it was important to have a New Orleans artist for the festival's closing act, and singer Harry Connick Jr. was 'the natural choice.'

'His heart and soul has always been with New Orleans,' Davis said.

Since Katrina, Connick has returned to New Orleans regularly. He still has family here, and co-founded one of the city's famed Carnival groups, the Krewe of Orpheus, which this year rolls on Feb. 19, a day before Mardi Gras.

About a year ago, he also helped launch a Habitat for Humanity project in the city's devastated Ninth Ward with New Orleans saxophonist Branford Marsalis. Called the Musicians Village, the project provides affordable housing for the city's musicians and others who lost their homes in Katrina's flooding.

During Jazz Fest, Connick is expected to perform selections from his 'Oh, My Nola' album, which is slated for release on Jan. 30. The new album covers New Orleans standards associated with the likes of Allen Toussaint, Dr. John and Louis Armstrong, as well as a handful of original recordings.

He will take the stage on Sunday, May 6 _ the last day of the festival, which features hundreds of bands during two weekends in April and May.

The rest of the festival lineup will be released next week, Davis said.

Aaron Neville has been living in the Nashville area since shortly after Katrina struck on Aug. 29, 2005. He performed with brothers, Art, Cyril and Charles, on the festival's closing day for more than a decade before the storm.

Last year, Fats Domino was slated to close the festival in their place but canceled just hours before show time. He made a brief appearance on stage, tipping his hat to fans, but Lionel Richie filled in for Domino at the last minute.