JULY 2012
 Rosebud Artists Marcia Ball and Mavis Staples Are Winners In The 2012 Living Blues Awards
Rosebud artists Marcia Ball and Mavis Staples have been named as winners in Living Blues magazine's 2012 Readers' Poll (issue #220). Marcia won all three of the categories she was nominated for, including Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard) - her fourth win in this category since 2007. This year also sees Marcia named Blues Artist of the Year (Female) and also as the winner for Best Blues Album of 2011 (New Release) for her CD, Roadside Attractions. Mavis Staples was named Most Outstanding Blues Singer. She won this same category in last year's Living Blues Critics' Poll.
Congratulations to Marcia and Mavis! To catch either artist performing live, see Tour Dates >>
Mavis Staples And Meshell Ndegeocello In Tribute To The Life And Music Of Curtis Mayfield
Mavis Staples and Meshell Ndegeocello were both featured at New York's Lincoln Center, celebrating the life and music of Curtis Mayfield. The night, billed as "Here But I'm Gone: A 70th Birthday Tribute to Curtis Mayfield", took place on July 20 and featured the surviving members of The Impressions (the group originally led by Mayfield in the Sixties) and an array of special guests including Mavis and Meshell as well as; Dr. Lonnie Smith, William Bell, Sinéad O'Connor, The Roots, Ryan Montbleau, Aloe Blacc, Bilal, Inyang Bassey, Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe, with band leader Binky Griptite of the Dap-Kings.
The evening's event also celebrated the launch of the Curtis Mayfield Foundation, set up in his name to help disadvantaged youth progress in the arts.
The concert showcased the immense influence and impact Mayfield's vast musical catalogue has had across the decades, from Meshell's rendition of "Pusherman" - a song that was featured on Mayfield's 1972 Hit soundtrack album Superfly - through to Mavis' performance of "This is My Country". A song symbolic, in tying together Mavis and Mayfield's long history of activism since the early days of the Civil Rights Movement to the musical collaboration between Mayfield and The Staple Singers.
Mavis also joined The Impressions on stage, ripping through The Staples Singers/Mayfield collaboration on their number-one hit song "Let's Do It Again", originally released as the soundtrack to the movie of the same name that starred Sidney Poitier and Bill Crosby.
Rounding off the evening's celebration was an encore that featured the all-star line-up, raising the roof with feel-good funk classic "Move On Up", with Rolling Stone praising it as, "a collective soul-stirring rendition....ending the show with the kind of uplifting note that any true payment of respect to Curtis Mayfield's positive force certainly demanded."
Catch both Mavis Staples and Meshell Ndegeocello live on stage, see Tour Dates >>
Bettye LaVette Featured At Prestigious Ford's Theatre Gala - Meets With President At The White House
Bettye LaVette was invited to perform as part of the prestigious Ford's Theatre Gala on June 3rd, 2012. Hosted by the Ford's Theatre Society to honor President Obama, the event included the presentation of the Lincoln Medal to Morgan Freeman for his humanitarian activism and to Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Bettye LaVette appeared alongside the event's host Scott Bakula (star of Quantum Leap / Star Trek: Enterprise), as well as Matthew Morrison (Actor/Singer), Anna Christy (Soprano), Grammy-winning Duo The Civil Wars, and cast members from the Ford's Theatre revival of 1776.
 First Lady Michelle Obama served as the honorary chair for the gala celebrations. In attendance were many prominent government figures including: The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, The Honorable Valerie Jarrett, The Honorable Eric H. Holder Jr., The Honorable Harry Reid, The Honorable Roy Blunt, The Honorable Rubén and The Honorable John Lewis amongst others including actor Laurence Fishburne.
Preceding the gala, Bettye and husband Kevin Kiley, were invited to attend a reception for participants at the White House - Bettye and Kevin Kiley are pictured here at the White House with President Obama.
Catch Bettye LaVette perform live, see Tour Dates >>
Trombone Shorty Featured On Zac Brown Band's Chart Topping Album, Uncaged
Trombone Shorty is featured on Zac Brown Band's chart topping album Uncaged. The new CD, released July 10, not only debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart, it is joined by each of Zac's two previous studio releases in the top 20 with 2010's You Get What You Give (which also initially debuted at #1) at #16 and 2008's The Foundation coming in at #19 after 190 weeks on the chart.
Zac Brown was quoted in Billboard as saying, "...Trombone Shorty is one of the best entertainers out there, period. He's an incredible horn player." Amos Lee was the only other special guest featured on the CD. Orleans Avenue's saxophone players Dan Oestreicher and Tim McFatter joined Trombone Shorty on the track "Overnight". In the past year, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue have joined the Zac Brown Band for several shows.
Congratulations to Zac Brown Band for the amazing chart success and the incredible kickoff for their new CD.
Catch Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue live on stage, please visit Tour Dates >>
The Stone Foxes Featured On KFOG's Local Scene 9 CD, Supporting Music In Schools Today
The Stone Foxes have donated a new track called "Everybody Knows" for the Bay Area's KFOG compilation CD KFOG Local Scene 9. Sales of the CD will go towards supporting Music In Schools Today (MUST), a non-profit organization serving public schools grades K through 12 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Music In Schools Today, "advocates for, supports and develops integrated, accessible, sustainable and measurable music-in-education programs that improve student achievement". To learn more about MUST and the community-based programs they run, visit their website at mustcreate.org.
KFOG Local Scene 9 CD will feature 19 tracks by a host of Northern Californian artists, including The Stone Foxes. To listen to "Everybody Knows" sample, or to learn more about the release and how to purchase the CD visit KFOG online at kfog.com/music/LocalScene.aspx.
In support of the CD's release The Stone Foxes will play a free show at Club Fox in Redwood City on August 16. KFOG will be on-site broadcasting from the event. Listen to KFOG for more details.
To catch The Stone Foxes performing live on tour, see Tour Dates >>
Loudon Wainwright III At The Grammy Museum, Letterman, New Video on NPR, New Film Role!
Loudon Wainwright III has been busy promoting his new CD, Older Than My Old Man Now in all forms of media. In addition to his appearance on Late Night With David Letterman, he recently appeared at the Grammy Museum for an interview and performance before a live audience - see video clips here. He was also featured on NPR with their web site also airing the video for his song, "The Here And The Now." And watch for his appearance in the upcoming film Sleepwalk With Me - due out on August 24, 2012. In the meantime, catch Loudon live on stage - see tour dates >>
Allen Toussaint, The Dirty Dozen and Jon Cleary - Legends Of New Orleans - The Sydney Opera House Pays Tribute
On September 28, 2011, Legends Of New Orleans - Allen Toussaint, The Dirty Dozen and Jon Cleary sold out the Sydney Opera House in their triumphant first major concert together Down Under. In this recently released video clip, the Sydney Opera House pays tribute as each of these singular artists describes their relationship to the city and the musicians that nurtured their music - New Orleans.
John Hammond Remembers Woody Guthrie On Biography.com
John Hammond comments on the influence of Woody Guthrie's songs for a Woody Guthrie Centennial special on Biography.com. John recalls driving his friend, Bob Dylan, to the hospital in Brooklyn to visit Woody Guthrie in 1961.
Catch recent Blues Hall of Fame inductee John Hammond on tour - see tour dates >>
Loudon Wainwright III On Letterman, Thursday July 12
Loudon Wainwright III appeared as the featured musical guest on Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, July 12 (watch the full episode at ). The appearance is in conjunction with Loudon's extensive tour in support of his latest CD Older Than My Old Man Now (released April 2012).
Over the course of a 40+ year career, Loudon has received two Grammy Nominations, and in 2010 won his first Grammy for High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project. For his most recent CD Older Than My Old Man Now Loudon turns the focus to more familial ground. Inspired by five generations of his family, the album includes collaborations with family members and special guests including Ramblin Jack Elliot, Dame Edna Everage, and Chris Smither. In praise of Older Than My Old Man Now, Rolling Stone said, "[it] extends the folk-rock autobiography that's made his body of work so impressive... from heart aching reflection to wry acceptance. It's riveting stuff; here's hoping the story doesn't end for a long time."
Loudon will be joined on Letterman by actress Anne Hathaway and comedian Moody McCarthy. For Late Show With David Letterman broadcast schedule and further information see here >>
To catch Loudon Wainwright III live on stage this summer and fall, see Tour Dates >>
Dr. John and Bill Frisell Are Winners In DownBeat Critics Poll! Marcia Ball, Bettye LaVette, Meshell Ndegeocello, Allen Toussaint and Trombone Shorty Also Named Among The Best
DownBeat Magazine's 60th Annual Critic's Poll (August 2012 issue) heralds wins for Dr. John in the Best Blues Artist or Group category while Bill Frisell wins Guitarist of the Year, scoring his fourth win in a row since 2009 and his 11th win in the past 15 years! Bill also ranked near the top in the Best Jazz Artist and Best Composer categories as well as for Jazz Album of the Year for his All We Are Saying CD. Dr. John also ranked in the top five for Beyond Artist or Group. Other Rosebud artists ranking high in the poll included Marcia Ball, Bettye LaVette, Meshell Ndegeocello, Allen Toussaint and Trombone Shorty.
Trombone Shorty joined Frisell in the Jazz Album of the Year category for his CD For True. In fact, Trombone Shorty scored high in seven categories including Best Trombone Player (ranking third), Rising Star Jazz Artist (also 3rd), Rising Star Jazz Group, Rising Star Trombone, Beyond Artist or Group, and Beyond Album. Also, appearing in the latter two categories is fellow Rosebud artist Meshell Ndegeocello.
Other Rosebud artists ranking high in the poll included Allen Toussaint for Best Arranger (second place), Bettye LaVette - Best Blues Artist or Group (top 5 ranking), and Marcia Ball - Best Blues Album category for Roadside Attractions.
Frisell's long-time collaborator, the late Paul Motian, was also inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame. Frisell worked with the legendary jazz drummer for three decades. Some of Bill Frisell's other frequent and current collaborators were named in the following categories - Ron Carter (Bass category), Jenny Scheinman (Best Violinist and Rising Star - Violin categories as well as Jazz Album of The Year), and Joey Baron - Best Drummer category. Bill's Manager and Producer as well as collaborator on 2012's Floratone II CD, Lee Townsend, was also named among the best in both Producer and Rising Star-Producer categories.
Congratulations to all the artists. Catch all the Rosebud artists performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
The A, B, C & D of Boogie Woogie's New Live CD, Jimmy Fallon Show, Rare New York Dates
The A, B, C & D of Boogie Woogie just released their new live CD and made a rare trip to New York to celebrate and promote the record. First off was a special performance at Lincoln Center on June 28 as part of the Center's Midsummer Night Swing Series. An evening honoring the traditions of jazz and boogie woogie, it was the band's only US outdoor performance and it featured material from their new self-titled CD which was released on June 25 (Eagle Records). The new CD, Live in Paris, was recorded live during the band's 2010 residency at the Duc Des Lombard's Jazz Club in Paris and includes a mix of originals, improvisations and blues and boogie woogie standards.
The band also appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as special musical guests in addition to performing a four night residency at the legendary Iridium Jazz Club in New York City. Future dates for The A, B, C & D of Boogie Woogie will likely be even rarer as Mr. Watts heeds the call of his day job as he and his band mates will celebrate their 50th year together with a number of commemorative projects.
To watch the full episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon featuring The A, B, C & D of Boogie Woogie, view here >>
New Song from The Weepies Featured on PBS KIDS Compilation Album PBS KIDS ROCKS!. Out Now.
The Weepies have joined forces with PBS KIDS and other artists - including Grammy winning bands Ozomatli and They Might Be Giants - by featuring on a compilation album called PBS KIDS ROCKS!. The album supports the on-going educational programming as provided by PBS KIDS.
The Weepies' featured song "Navigation" is the first new song released by the duo since their 2010 Billboard Top 40 charting album Be My Thrill. "Navigation" complements the premise of the compilation which, as outlined by the PBS press release, seeks "...to help kids learn about a variety of topics to bolster their reading and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skill[s]". As a home-spun and family-orientated duo, The Weepies participation with PBS KIDS is particularly fitting.
As well as featuring on the CD, The Weepies have also provided a specifically crafted song "Gravity" to the series. The series sees a song's lyrical theme matched to complementing clips from a variety of popular animations, and so, creating short educational videos. As Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children's Media, PBS has stated, "Music has been proven to be a highly effective tool to foster learning and deepen children's understanding and comprehension". To learn more about PBS KIDS, and their dedicated educational brand for children, please visit pressroom.pbs.org.
To purchase The Weepies' song "Navigation" or the full compilation album digitally visit iTunes, or Amazon.
To sign up for future tour announcements, see The Weepies Tour Dates and subscribe to Tour Updates.
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