Rosebud Artists Featured on Preservation Hall Jazz Band's 50th Anniversary Recording

Rosebud artists Allen Toussaint, The Blind Boys of Alabama and Trombone Shorty are featured on Preservation Hall Jazz Band's new CD, St. Peter & 57th St. The album, released September 25th on Rounder Records, was recorded at a live performance at the prestigious Carnegie Hall this past January in New York City where Toussaint, The Blind Boys and Trombone Shorty joined PHJB on stage along with other special guests including Steve Earle, Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), My Morning Jacket and GIVERS.

The release celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Preservation Hall and its mission of preserving the musical culture and heritage of New Orleans. A portion of the album's sale will benefit Preservation Hall's ongoing music outreach program to pass down the traditions of New Orleans music to younger generations.

Rolling Stone premiered the track "It Ain't My Fault" which features Allen Toussaint, Trombone Shorty and Yasiin Bey (a.k.a. Mos Def). "It Ain't My Fault," which PHJB, Bey and Shorty collaborated on in the past, has been a tool for protest in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and The BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. Click here to listen to the track on RollingStone.com.

To see Allen Toussaint, The Blind Boys of Alabama and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue perform live, see Tour Dates >>

Bettye LaVette Featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Airing Sept 25

2011 Grammy-Nominee for Best Contemporary Blues Album, Bettye LaVette, was featured as the musical guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Tuesday, September 25 on NBC. Also appeared on the show were guests Ann Romney and Seth MacFarlane.

Bettye's appearance falls on the same day of the release of her new CD Thankful N' Thoughtful, out on Anti-. Bettye's CD was produced by Craig Street (Norah Jones, k.d. lang, Meshell Ndegeocello, John Legend etc.) and contains a collection of twelve passionately reinterpreted songs which is both a celebration and self-reflection of her 50th anniversary in the music business. The CD continues to garner high critical praise with The New York Times recently stating, "...Ms. LaVette's bruised, caustic, adamant voice plunges into every line, coming through the songs as an unflinching survivor."

Following on closely with the release of the new CD, Bettye's autobiography A Woman Like Me (co-written with David Ritz), will be out on September 27.

Catch Bettye on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and see Bettye perform live on stage by visiting our Tour Dates page >>

Jim Lauderdale will release his 21st record, Carolina Moonrise, on September 25th, through Sky Crunch Records. On the new release, Lauderdale collaborated once again with Grateful Dead lyricist, Robert Hunter, and producer, Randy Kohrs. Kohrs previously worked with Lauderdale on his Grammy-winning album The Bluegrass Diaries (2008) as well as his Grammy-nominated albums Reason & Rhyme (2012) and Could We Get Any Closer? (2010). Carolina Moonrise marks Lauderdale and Hunter's fifth partnership about which Lauderdale stated, "I am very excited about this record. I got to write the whole thing with one of my all-time heroes." The album features some of Nashville's most talented players: Kohrs (dobro), Tim Crouch (fiddle), Jay Weaver (bass), Josh Williams (guitar), Aaron Ramsey (mandolin) and Scott Vestal (banjo); and represents a return to traditional Bluegrass for Lauderdale.

Lauderdale just hosted the Americana Awards & Honors for the 10th consecutive year. The show took place at the historic Ryman Auditorium on September 12, 2012 and highlights of the show are set to air on Austin City Limits later this year.

To catch Jim Lauderdale live on stage, see Tour Dates >>

Mavis Staples Featured on All Star PBS TV Special 9/21/12

Mavis Staples is a featured performer on From Dust to Dreams: Opening Night at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts airing on PBS Friday September 21, 2012 at 9 p.m. EDT. Filmed in Las Vegas, the event was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and showcases legendary performing artists including Jennifer Hudson, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Martina McBride, Carole King, Joshua Bell and John Fogerty. Among many rare collaborations, Staples partnered with Carole King for a performance of King's classic "You've Got a Friend." As a part of PBS's multi-platform arts initiative, the special will showcase performing artists from not only the music world, but also from television, stage and the silver screen. The executive producer, Emmy Award winner Michael Stevens ("Kennedy Center Honors"), stated "We set out to celebrate the best of the American creative spirit…on the occasion of the opening of a world class performing arts center… It's not every day that you get the chance to see such a range of artists…”

At this writing Mavis Staples is wrapping up the final dates of her thirty-five-night US tour with Bonnie Raitt. The two old friends have collaborated onstage every night to enthusiastic responses from crowds across North America. To catch Mavis Staples live on stage, see Tour Dates >>