Trombone Shorty's Backatown Debuts At #1 on Billboard Contemporary Jazz Album Chart!

Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews' major label debut, Backatown (Verve Forecast), enters Billboard Magazine's Contemporary Jazz Album chart at #1 in its first week of release! Trombone Shorty celebrated the release of his new CD with a packed CD release party at the Republic in New Orleans. The day before the CD's release, he had been named Entertainer of the Year and Best Male Performer at the Big Easy Awards. Four days later he headlined his first sellout of his home town House of Blues on the opening night of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The release week continued with an overflow crowd for an instore appearance, blazing shows in Arizona and Tennessee as well as an appearance at the annual Instruments A 'Comin benefit at the legendary Tipitina's. The CD's kickoff was also aided by an appearance on NPR's On Point and raves from Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, and the New York Times plus cover stories on Big City Blues Magazine and New Orlean's Gambit Weekly Magazine - with much more to come!

Listen to NPR's On Point: Trombone Shorty's Treme Sound >>

Johnny A. is featured guitarist on a new recording of the Jimmy Webb classic, "Galveston" on Webb's new CD, Just Across The River, to be released June 29, 2010.  Joining Johnny on "Galveston" is fellow special guest Lucinda Williams.  Other collaborators on the special project include Jackson Browne, Glen Campbell, Vince Gill, Billy Joel, Mark Knopfler, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt and J.D. Souther among others. Jimmy Webb is the only artist to receive GRAMMY Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration. He wrote five top ten hits within a 20-month period in the 1960s, which propelled him to international fame.

Johnny A. recently released his live performance DVD / CD: One November Night, recorded at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, MA.  Johnny says of the show: "the music and the audience and the night were beautiful. Everyone and everything in the room came together to make it an extremely special experience."  See Johnny live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

Bill Frisell Nominated For Guitarist of the Year At The JJA Jazz Awards, Yoshi's Residency

Bill Frisell has been nominated for Guitarist of the Year at the 2010 Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards which will be presented at City Winery in New York City on June 14, 2010. Bill has won this award six times in the past, including the last two years in a row. In addition, many of Bill's collaborators are nominated this year: Ron Carter (bass); Jason Moran (piano); Paul Motian (drums) and Jenny Scheinman (violin).

A recent four-night residency at Oakland, CA's Yoshi's Jazz Club highlighted Bill's wide variety of formats each night. The first night previewed an upcoming CD project featuring Buddy Miller, Marc Ribot, Greg Leisz, Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen with guest vocals by Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin. The following evening Bill showcased his Music for Films and on the third night Bill's
Quintet played the music of John Lennon. On the final night, Bill debuted a new trio featuring Jason Moran and Kenny Wollesen. Bill begins a 12 night run at New York City's Village Vanguard on May 4, followed by shows in Germany and Canada in June, please see Tour Dates >>

The Blind Boys of Alabama Inducted Into Alabama Music Hall of Fame

Five-time GRAMMY Winners and recent White House guests, The Blind Boys of Alabama were inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame on March 25, 2010 in Montgomery, Alabama. They performed their stirring rendition of "Down By The Riverside" with country singer Jamey Johnson, a Country Music Association Award and Academy of Country Music Award Winner.

The Blind Boys will be performing at the upcoming New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival . Also among upcoming shows, they will play at Australia's Sydney Opera House in June for the Vivid Festival, curated by Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson. The Blind Boys recently played with Lou Reed on the Late Show with David Letterman, performing the Velvet Underground classic "Jesus", a featured highlight on the Blind Boys' latest album Duets.

Catch The Blind Boys live in concert, please see Tour Dates >>

Bettye LaVette will release her new CD, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook on May 25, 2010 via Anti Records. Produced by Bettye, Rob Mathes and Michael Stevens, the album is a 13-song journey through compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others. It concludes right where the very idea for the disc began: Bettye's show-stopping rendition of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me" performed at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors (a studio version is a bonus track on the disc). Pete Townshend himself came up to Bettye after her performance, took her hands into his and said, "You made me weep." Bettye also covers Elton John's "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me." Elton says of her version: "I am truly touched by her picking these songs and can only hope that this album brings more attention to this incredible artist."

Bettye recently played at Carnegie Hall in New York City, in an All Star Tribute To The Music of The Who. According to Rolling Stone, Bettye delivered "definitely the vocal highlight of the night," (read full story) performing her rendition of "Love Reign O'er Me." In addition, she is Nominated for a Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year. She will be playing five shows in Europe in June and a number of upcoming North American festivals, including the Beatles Anniversary Celebration at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles CA over July 9,10,11, 2010. Joining her on those dates will be Todd Rundgren and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra among others. please see Tour Dates >>

Mavis Staples and Booker T. Join Earth Day Climate Rally on The National Mall in Washington, DC

Mavis Staples and Booker T. will be performing at The Climate Rally, taking place on The National Mall in Washington, DC on Sunday, April 25, 2010, in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Other featured artists include Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Bob Weir, Q-Tip and more.  Other notable figures attending include Reverend Jesse Jackson, James Cameron, Olympic gold medalist Billy Demong, and author Margaret Atwood.  The event calls on Congress to pass an effective and equitable climate and clean energy bill in 2010.  It will include speeches, live music and eco-village exhibits, capping off nine days of service projects, advocacy events, performance arts and exhibits organized by Earth Day Network.

Mavis and Booker have recently been Co-headlining a historic touring package entitled What It Is! featuring Mavis Staples, Booker T. & JJ Grey.  Mavis will be playing The Kennedy Center  2 days prior to the National Mall event, on April 23.  She will be performing at multiple festivals over the Summer.  Booker has upcoming Spring shows in Brazil, England and Ireland as well as dates in the U.S.  Watch for new music from Booker and Mavis later this year and catch them both on tour in the meantime, please see Mavis Staples tour dates and Booker T's tour dates.