Bill Frisell's Latest Album Project Floratone II with Matt Chamberlain, Lee Townsend and Tucker Martine Out March 6
Bill Frisell's latest album project, Floratone II, will be released March 6 on Savoy Jazz. Floratone is a collaborative ensemble featuring Bill on guitar, Matt Chamberlain on drums/percussion and producers Lee Townsend (Bill's longtime producer and manager) and Tucker Martine. This album follows up their highly acclaimed 2007 debut, of which NPR raved, "Floratone creates an exotic new language... some of the most riveting instrumental music to emerge this year."
Both albums were created in the artist-producer team spirit of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, with Bill and Matt laying down musical themes and Lee and Tucker adding and shaping the music while assembling the compositions. Bill says of the process, "Playing with Matt was really effortless. We just played for hours with no thought, no preparation, just having fun and generating all this stuff. It's this kind of guilty pleasure: 'OK, Lee and Tucker, now you have to deal with all of this' ...it was a cool feeling to give that over to them and let them go full tilt." Additional musical Collaborators on the project include trumpeter Ron Miles, viola by Eyvind Kang (both featured on Floratone's debut and frequent Frisell collaborators), bassist Mike Elizondo and keyboards by Jon Brion. Always a prolific musician in the studio, in 2011 alone Bill's album projects included his explorations of John Lennon songs, All We Are Saying; his album Sign of Life: Music for the 858 Quartet and collaborations with Vinicius Cantuaria on Lagrimas Mexicanas and on Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings with Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz.
Dr. John's New Album Locked Down Out April 3, 2012 Produced By The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and Five-Time GRAMMY Winner Dr. John will release his new album Locked Down on Nonesuch Records April 3, 2012. The album is produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, who hand-picked a band of young musicians (including Auerbach on guitar for several tracks) to record the album at his studio in Nashville with Dr. John. "It was way cool cutting this record with Dan and the crew he put together for it," says Dr. John. "It's reel HIP." Austin Scaggs writes in Rolling Stone (In The Studio, March 1st issue) that the album is "a gritty brew of New Orleans R&B, psychedelia and voodoo that recalls John's greatest LPs, like 1968's Gris-Gris and 1974's Desitively Bonnaroo."
Dr. John and Auerbach collaborated live at the 2011 Bonnaroo Festival Jam, which made New York Times critic Ben Ratliff's best-of-the-year list, describing it as "deep and oozy, close-to-the-vest, low-frequency funk." The two musicians will meet on stage again during Dr. John's residency at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), titled "Dr. John: Insides Out." Over April 5-7, Dr. John, Auerbach, and their band will premiere songs from the new album. The two other parts of the residency will be "A Louis Armstrong Tribute" (March 29-31) and "Funky But It's Nu Awlins" (April 12-14) where special guests will include The Blind Boys of Alabama.
The legendary Dr. John (represented by The Rosebud Agency for International booking outside the U.S. and Canada) has been recording music for more than 50 years. Starting as a session musician in his native New Orleans, he later moved to Los Angeles, developing his persona of Dr. John the Night Tripper. His Night Tripper period has been described as a tribute to New Orleans musical and spiritual traditions that meshed perfectly with psychedelia and his debut album, Gris-Gris, is widely regarded as a masterpiece. Among other highlights are his more funk-driven New Orleans music, including albums with The Meters as his backing band and Allen Toussaint producing. In 2008, Dr. John released City That Care Forgot, written in response to Hurricane Katrina and which earned him his latest GRAMMY in 2009. Over his career he has collaborated with numerous fellow legends, including The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, The Band (including an appearance in their legendary film, The Last Waltz) and Professor Longhair among many, many others.
Bill's All We Are Saying recently ranked #1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart and has been in the Top 10 regularly since it's September release. For True by Trombone Shorty has been in the Contemporary Jazz Top 10 since it's debut, with 12 weeks at #1.
Related Rosebud Agency wins in the Rhythms Readers Poll include: Tinariwen's album Tassili, voted World Music Album of the Year (International) - it features The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's Gregory Davis (Trumpet) and Roger Lewis (Saxophone); HBO's Treme won for Soundtrack (International), it includes songs by Trombone Shorty and Dr. John; and Tom Waits' Bad As Me won #2 Album of the Year (International), which features Charlie Musselwhite on five tracks. Congratulations to all the winners!
Check out Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Bill Frisell perform individually live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
Allen Toussaint To Be Inducted Into Blues Hall of Fame on May 9th, 2012
One of the most influential figures in New Orleans music, Allen composed classic songs such as "Everything I Do Gohn Be Funky (From Now On)," "Fortune Teller," "Get Out of My Life Woman," "Mother in Law," "On Your Way Down," "Sneakin Sally Through the Alley," "Southern Nights," "Sweet Touch of Love," "Working in the Coal Mine" and "Yes We Can Can," to name just a few.
In addition to his own albums, Allen has produced, recorded, written for, arranged, and / or had his songs covered by scores of musicians. The esteemed list includes Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Band, Paul Simon, Jerry Garcia, Elvis Costello, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, LaBelle, Albert King, Ernie K-Doe, Lee Dorsey, Etta James, Solomon Burke, The Pointer Sisters, Booker T. & the MG's, The Ohio Players, Harry Connick, Jr., fellow Rosebud artists the late Albert Collins, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, Trombone Shorty, Jon Clearyand (for international booking outside North America) Dr. John, as well as countless others.
Loudon Wainwright III Featured on 2012 GRAMMY Winning Soundtrack PLUS Dirty Dozen Brass Band Members and Trombone Shorty Contribute to GRAMMY Winners and More
Loudon Wainwright III is featured on the 2012 GRAMMY Winner for Best Compilation Soundtrack - Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1 - performing the Irish folk song "Carrickfergus." Also contributing to this year's GRAMMY Winning Albums are The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's Gregory Davis (Trumpet) and Roger Lewis (Saxophone) and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews. Gregory and Roger are featured on Tinariwen's Best World Music Album, Tassili, and got a shout out from the GRAMMY stage during the pre-telecast award ceremonies. Trombone Shorty wrote the song "AP Touro" for the Rebirth Brass Band's Best Regional Roots Music Album, Rebirth Of New Orleans.
In addition, a GRAMMY tribute to Glen Campbell included Blake Shelton singing "Southern Nights," written by Allen Toussaint (and later recorded by Campbell). Congratulations as well to Marcia Ball and Jim Lauderdale on their nominations.
Photo credit: Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
February 21, 2012: President Obama Welcomes Guests to "In Performance in the White House: Red, White and Blues"
Trombone Shorty to Perform at The White House in All Star Black History Month Celebration February 21st
Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews has been invited to perform at The White House on February 21st as part of the Black History Month celebration, In Performance at the White House: Red, White & Blues. Troy will be joining an all star cast including Jeff Beck, Gary Clark, Jr., Shemekia Copeland, Buddy Guy, Warren Haynes, Mick Jagger, B.B. King, Keb Mo, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, with Booker T. Jones as music director and band leader. The event will be taped for broadcast on PBS premiering Monday, February 27 at 9 p.m. ET (check local listings) and streamed live on whitehouse.gov/live, pbs.org/whitehouse and blackpublicmedia.org.
February 21, 2012: First Lady Speaks to Students at Blues Workshop
In addition to his performance, Troy will also participate in a special education program earlier that day in The White House with Michelle Obama, Keb Mo and Shemekia Copeland. The artists will appear before an audience of students from across the country to discuss the Blues and take part in a Q & A with moderator Bob Santelli and members of the audience.
Troy will travel directly from Washington DC to Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue's debut in Moscow, Russia at the Triumph of Jazz festival, followed by dates in France, England and Spain. Recent US highlights include Grammy related events in Los Angeles (and a Grammy Award for Rebirth Brass Band's album for which Troy wrote the song "AP Touro") and a February 7 support slot with Troy's mentor and former bandleader, Lenny Kravitz in Minneapolis. Having started February in Japan and followed immediately by a Festival appearance in Quito, Ecuador, the dates in the US and Europe add up to concerts on 4 continents in this one month alone. Catch the band on a stage near you, please see Tour Dates >>
Johnny A. Full Live Set Airing on German TV February 20
Johnny A.'s full live set from last Fall's 32nd Leverkusen Jazz Festival in Germany will be broadcast February 20th on WDR German television's long running Rockpalast show. Also featured on the festival broadcast are sets by Popa Chubby, Andy McKee and Walter Trout. Johnny's set includes "Red House," "Oh Yeah," "The Wind Cries Mary," "Tex Critter," "Krea Gata," "Two Wheel Horse," "Get Inside" and "Jimi Jam."
Premier Guitar magazine noted that "Johnny A. has quickly joined the rarified ranks of players like Jeff Beck, Bill Friselland Carlos Santana, as far as being recognizable from the first note. He has created a unique voice... Johnny A.'s magic crosses over... he doesn't just play guitar - he plays music."
Rockpalast (Rock Palace) is a German music television show that started in 1974, covering a wide variety of genres. Past guests have included The Who, David Bowie and R.E.M. among many others.
Johnny recently completed a West Coast Tour and will be playing upcoming dates in the Northeast, please see Tour Dates >>
Featured On NPR: Ruthie Foster (Weekend Edition) and Bill Frisell (Tiny Desk Concert)
Ruthie Foster and Bill Frisell were both recently featured on NPR and both appearances are still accessible via these links. Ruthie was interviewed on Weekend Edition on February 4th . The piece focused on her new album Let It Burn. Bill performed a Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices which premiered February 3rd. NPR noted of the set, "The brilliant and nimble guitarist reinvents the songs of John Lennon" - and this is the subject of Bill's latest album, All We Are Saying.
Ruthie's Let It Burn rocketed to the Top 10 on Amazon's sales chart as well as #1 in Blues on iTunes and Amazon during it's first week of release. The album features The Blind Boys of Alabama, soul legend William Bell, The Funky Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Russell Batiste, guitarist Dave Easley, saxophonist James Rivers, and organist Ike Stubblefield (Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Eric Clapton). It covers an eclectic group of songs originally performed by Adele, The Black Keys, Los Lobos, Johnny Cash, The Band, Pete Seeger, Crosby, Stills & Nash, John Martyn, Robbie Robertson, and several new Ruthie Foster compositions.
Bill's All We Are Saying recently ranked #1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart and has been in the Top 10 regularly since it's September release. Joining Bill on the album are frequent collaborators Jenny Scheinman (violin), Tony Scherr (bass), Greg Leisz (guitars) and Kenny Wollesen (drums). Bill's interpretations of classic Lennon songs include: "Across the Universe," "Revolution," "Nowhere Man," "Imagine," "Please Please Me," "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," "Hold On," "In My Life," "Come Together," "Julia," "Woman," "# 9 Dream," "Love," "Beautiful Boy," "Mother," and "Give Peace a Chance."
Catch Ruthie touring extensively across the US and Bill performing in a wide variety of formats, please see Tour Dates >>
Loudon Wainwright III's New CD Older Than My Old Man Now Out April 17
2010 Grammy winner Loudon Wainwright III's new album Older Than My Old Man Nowwill be released on April 17 through 2nd Story Sound Records. Having now lived longer than his father, esteemed Life Magazine columnist and editor Loudon Wainwright Jr., Loudon examines life, family, and mortality with candor and humor on fifteen new original songs.
Older Than My Old Man Nowis inspired by the five generations, from Loudon's grandfather to his grandchildren, that are represented and sprinkled throughout this album. His children Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Lucy Wainwright Roche and Lexie Kelly Wainwright and two of their three mothers, Suzzy Roche and Ritamarie Kelly, aid vocally on several songs. Recitations of his father's work and a song co-written by his late first wife Kate McGarrigle called "Over The Hill" are also featured on this album.
Older Than My Old Man Nowis produced by Dick Connette (producer of Loudon's Grammy-winning High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project). "One voice singing a lot about death n' decay can be a bit wearing so I brought in other singers to help with the heavy lifting," says Loudon. Along with his family, other guests include Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Dame Edna Everage, jazz guitarist John Scofield, and Chris Smither.
A renowned singer/song writer for over 40 years, Loudon Wainwright III is, as Judd Apatow (famed director and co-producer of Loudon's recent 40 Odd Years box set) notes, "brutally honest, emotional, hilarious, and sweet all at the same time." His songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Big Star, and now Bonnie Raitt and many more. As an actor, Loudon has appeared in movies by Judd Apatow, Martin Scorcese, Tim Burton, and Cameron Crowe.
Past editions of the Jazz Fest poster have featured Louis Armstrong, Professor Longhair, Wynton Marsalis, Mahalia Jackson, Allen Toussaint, the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Harry Connick, Jr. and the inventor of New Orleans Jazz, Buddy Bolden, among others. Opening day of each year's Festival sees throngs of collectors sprinting for the poster tent and the poster usually selling out before the Festival's end.
Catch Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue performing at Jazz Fest, which follows shows on multiple continents, including dates from Japan to Ecuador, Europe, Singapore and Australia to Moscow in the first few months of 2012 alone. See them on a stage near you, please see Tour Dates >>
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars Release New CD, Radio Salone, on April 24, 2012
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars return with their third studio album, Radio Salone, out April 24 on CD and limited-edition 2LP vinyl through Cumbancha. This musically sophisticated album reflects the influence gathered from the band listening to a diverse mix of genres on the radio prior and during Sierra Leone's civil war (vintage reggae, Congolese soukouss, American soul, and more). Radio Salone is produced by Victor Axelrod, aka Ticklah (Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, Amy Winehouse, Easy Star All Stars, Antibalas). The album is the follow-up to the band's 2010 album Rise & Shine, which was the #1 album of the year on the European World Music Charts.
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN International, PBS, MTV, CBS Sunday Morning, NPR's World Café, and many other outlets worldwide. The band's journey was documented in the multi-award winning documentary Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. The resulting album, Living Like A Refugee, as well as their powerful story, and jubilant high energy shows have garnered them international acclaim and high profile fans such as Sir Paul McCartney, Keith Richards and Aerosmith.
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars are festival favorites all over the world. Their North American appearances include Bonnaroo, Playboy Jazz Festival at Hollywood Bowl, Essence Music Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival as well as Australia's Byron Bay Blues Fest, Japan's Fuji Rock Fest and many more. This Spring and Summer the band will tour across North America including performances at the Joshua Tree Music Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival and many more dates being set now - please visit Tour Dates >>
Dr. John and Auerbach collaborated live at the 2011 Bonnaroo Festival Jam, which made New York Times critic Ben Ratliff's best-of-the-year list, describing it as "deep and oozy, close-to-the-vest, low-frequency funk." The two musicians will meet on stage again during Dr. John's residency at the 
Allen Toussaint To Be Inducted Into Blues Hall of Fame on May 9th, 2012
