Mavis Staples Featured At Jon Stewart / Stephen Colbert DC Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear
Mavis Staples lead the grand finale of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear in Washington, DC on October 30. Mavis and Wilco's, Jeff Tweedy, performed earlier in the show singing the title track of Mavis' new CD, You Are Not Alone. Tweedy produced the record which has become the most successful recording of Mavis' entire solo career. For the grand finale of the day's events, Mavis lead all the participants, including Jeff Tweedy, The Roots, Colbert, Stewart, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens), Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Father Guido Sarducci and Tony Bennett in a rousing version of "I'll Take You There", the Staples Singers hit. The huge audience, estimated at 250,000 people (slightly less than Stephen Colbert's earlier estimate of 6 billion), filled the National Mall to overflowing. Catch Mavis Staples on tour now...
Jim Lauderdale Cover Story in The Direct Buzz, Featured on New Elvis Costello CD and Letterman Performance, Upcoming Gwyneth Paltrow Film and CMA Performance
Jim Lauderdale is featured on the cover of The Direct Buzz's October issue. Among other topics, Jim discusses his next album (release details TBA) which is a bluegrass project and his second album collaboration with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. Read the interview here.
In other news, Jim is featured on the new Elvis Costello CD, National Ransom (out November 2), for which he co-wrote the song "I Lost You" with Elvis. He will join Elvis in performance on The Late Show with David Letterman on November 1. In addition, Jim is featured in the upcoming film, Country Strong, (opening December 22) starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Jim plays the rhythm guitarist and harmony singer in Gwyneth's band. In a real life performance, Jim will be the band leader and rhythm guitarist with Gwyneth Paltrow at the County Music Awards on November 10. The Awards will be broadcast on ABC.
The Blind Boys of Alabama Sing for President Jimmy Carter
The Blind Boys of Alabama performed October 4th at a World Habitat Day Gala in Washington, DC honoring President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, for 27 years of service to Habitat for Humanity. This of course lead to a historic collaboration between President Jimmy Carter and The Blind Boys' own Jimmy Carter when the former President joined the Blind Boys on stage during their performance of "If I Had a Hammer". The event, titled Thanks a Million! A gala salute to the life and service of our most famous volunteers Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, raised $1 million toward launching a Habitat fund recognizing the Carters' commitment. World Habitat Day is the first Monday in October, a day set aside by the United Nations to call attention to the need for affordable housing worldwide. Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the world planned more than 300 events to call attention to the day this year.
Bettye LaVette Performs on Today Show October 15 - Bettye's Performance with Herbie Hancock at UNCF Tribute to Chaka Khan Coming to BET January 2011
Bettye LaVette performed on NBC's Today Show Concert Series Friday, October 15. Bettye's Today Show appearance adds to a growing list of major TV performances this year, having recently been featured on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America and Tavis Smiley.
Bettye was also joined recently by Herbie Hancock for a performance at the United Negro College Fund's, An Evening of Stars Tribute to Chaka Khan. Bettye sang Chaka's "Love Me Still" and "brought tears to the eyes of Chaka Khan and most of the rest of the audience" according to the UNCF press release. The show also featured Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Faith Evans, Angie Stone and Ledisi among others and is scheduled to be broadcast January 29 & 30, 2011 on BET. From the stage and in taped appeals, the stars asked the audience and TV viewers to text "UNCF" to 50555 on their cell phones to donate $10 to help UNCF students whose graduation is threatened by the lingering recession.
Catch Bettye live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
New Eric Clapton CD Features JJ Cale, Allen Toussaint and Trombone Shorty
The new Eric Clapton CD, Clapton, features JJ Cale, Allen Toussaint and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews. JJ Cale collaborates on 3 songs: 2 of which he wrote ("River Runs Deep" and "Everything Will Be Alright") and 2 of which are duets with Eric (the aforementioned "River Runs Deep" and "That's No Way To Get Along"). Allen and Troy are featured on 2 songs ("My Very Good Friend The Milkman" and "When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful"), both of which also feature Wynton Marsalis. Troy is also featured on "That's No Way To Get Along" with his Orleans Avenue band mate Dan Oestreicher. Walt Richmond, a JJ Cale band member, plays keyboards on every track. Walt played on the GRAMMY winning gold record by JJ Cale / Eric Clapton, The Road to Escondido, and has also recently worked with Eric as a member of his touring band.
While JJ does not have any tour plans, Allen and Troy can be seen performing across the country this fall, please see Tour Dates >>
Trombone Shorty Is Music Director For All Star Red Hot + New Orleans Benefit Event In NYC - Fellow Rosebuds Irma Thomas and Roger Lewis (Dirty Dozen) Plus Many More Featured
Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews has been chosen as the music director for Red Hot + New Orleans, an all star benefit event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in New York on December 3 and 4, 2010. Featured guests include fellow Rosebud artists Irma Thomas plus Roger Lewis of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, as well as Dr. John, Kermit Ruffins, Ivan Neville, Ledisi, Marc Broussard, Phil & Keith Frazier of Rebirth Brass Band,
Partners-N-Crime and Troy's brother and earliest mentor, James Andrews. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue will close the show. For ticket information, please click here.
The event is produced by BAM in association with The Red Hot Organization in recognition of World AIDS Day (Dec. 1). Part of the proceeds will benefit New Orleans' NO/AIDS Task Force.
Red Hot is a non profit production company that has produced 20 albums (including Red Hot + Blue, No Alternative, Dark Was The Night) and dedicated more than $10 million dollars to worthy organizations, causes and pro-social projects around the world. Their mission is to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues.
Sudan365 was launched on January 9, 2010, 365 days from when a referendum is due to be held to determine the future of Sudan. The people of South Sudan will vote to decide whether they wish to remain part of a united Sudan or whether they want to become an independent country. Sudan365 believes it should be a future in which human rights are guaranteed in an environment of peace, prosperity and harmony.
The All Stars have been touring throughout North America this past Summer. Catch them live on stage when they return in January for Jamcruise and dates beyond, please see Tour Dates >>
Mavis Staples Featured At Jon Stewart / Stephen Colbert DC Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear
Trombone Shorty Is Music Director For All Star Red Hot + New Orleans Benefit Event In NYC - Fellow Rosebuds Irma Thomas and Roger Lewis (Dirty Dozen) Plus Many More Featured