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Bettye LaVette has just finished recording her debut CD for Anti Records with Joe Henry producing. Henry produced Solomon Burke's Grammy winning CD, Don't Give Up On Me. The new CD is entitled I've Got My Own Hell To Raise and it is set for September release. Anti is the home to Tom Waits, Jolie Holland and Daniel Lanois. None other than Elvis Costello offers the first comment on Bettye's new CD; "You've got a singer here who is willing to stretch and not content to live in the safety zone. Bettye Lavette's voice is the superb line that connects Lucinda Williams' "Joy" to Dolly Parton's "Little Sparrow" via numbers by Sinead O'Connor and Joan Armatrading. Those songs never sounded better and neither has one of R&B greatest under-acknowledged vocalists". See bio from Anti Records >>.
In an especially unique honor, the City of Chicago presented Mavis Staples with a proclamation declaring Sunday, June 12 “Mavis Staples Day” throughout Chicago. Later that evening, Mavis headlined the annual Chicago Blues Festival. This honor comes on the heels of her multi-award winning night at the W.C. Handy Awards for which Mavis won all three of her nominations, including "Blues Album of the Year" (for her acclaimed release "Have A Little Faith"), "Soul/Blues Album of the Year" and "Soul/Blues Artist, Female". And, of course, all of this comes in the wake of Mavis and her family winning a Lifetime Achievement Grammy at this year's Grammy awards where Mavis also performed. Be sure to catch Mavis Staples on tour throughout 2005 -- see tour dates >>.
Bill Frisell, 2005 Grammy winner for Best Contemporary Jazz Album for his Nonesuch CD, "Unspeakable", is featured on the July cover of Downbeat magazine. Bill is also profiled in a feature in the June issue of Relix magazine. One of the most sought-after guitar voices in modern music, Frisell's new live CD is due in August with constant touring in his various live formats throughout 2005 -- see tour dates >>. |
Elvis Costello Comments on Bettye LaVette's I've Got My Own Hell To Raise
Mavis Staples Day Proclaimed in Chicago
Bill Frisell On Downbeat July Cover, Relix Feature, New CD