LOUISIANA RED HOT RECORDS

Posts in the CATALOGUE category

GLEN DAVID ANDREWS: Redemption

glen david andrews - redemption“ONE OF THE GIANT TALENTS OF NEW ORLEANS” – Quint Davis, Producer, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Comparisons between Glen David Andrews and his more famous cousin Trombone Shorty are inevitable. Yes, they are first cousins, they both play trombone, and they were both reared in the musically fertile mean streets of New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood (subject of the HBO series, in
which Glen David frequently appears as himself). But where Shorty might be arguably the better trombonist, Glen David wows as the superior vocalist/entertainer. And while Shorty leans toward contemporary jazz these days, Glen David’s Redemption stays closer to his roots – cooking R&B, Gospel, Blues and Jazz, into a rich, dark Creole gumbo of soulful, rocking Funk, delivered with the seaering energy of a New Orleans heat wave.

Glen David Andrews is the voice and spirit of New Orleans – the very embodiment of the Crescent City’s recent struggles and glorious return from near ruin – with Redemption as his own personal odyssey to salvation. It is the apex of years of entrancing performances at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Lincoln Center, Preservation Hall, Tipitina’s, and – most powerfully of all – the streets of New Orleans where it all began.

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THE MERCY BROTHERS: Holy Ghost Power!

The Mercy Brothers“…music you can dance to in a nightclub on a Saturday night or be saved by in a revival tent on Sunday morning.” – Third Coast Music

The Mercy Brothers were formed in 2011 by veteran musicians Kevin Sekhani, Mark Meaux and Garland Theriot out of Lafayette, Louisiana, and have been tearing up the Louisiana club and festival circuit ever since. Blending the spiritual fervor of an old-time tent revival with the rambunctious feel of a rural roadhouse, the Mercy Brothers combine the best elements of celestial and honky-tonk heaven.

They follow the footsteps of such fellow Louisiana musicians as the great Jerry Lee Lewis and his preacher cousin Jimmy Swaggart, mixing zealous religious lyrics with the most raucous, rowdy accompaniment. This unique holy hubbub hybrid, and a reputation for electrifying live shows that inspire impassioned sing-alongs, has won the band a loyal — dare we say — devout following.

Lead singer Kevin Sekhani, a Lafayette native, comes to the band with decades of professional experience in Lafayette and Austin, as the front man for such diverse bands as Radio Thieves, Two Minute Sinatra and Parade. Contributing mightily to the band’s arrangements, keyboardist Garland Theriot grew up near Lafayette listening to everything — rock, country, Cajun music, zydeco, blues, funk — but “it was the gospel I listened to as a kid that led me to play piano.”

Drummer Dave “Papa Puff” Nezat, formerly of Grammy Award winning Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, has shared the stage with legends Bobby Womack, Taj Mahal, Buckwheat Zydeco, L’il Buck Senegal and Tab Benoit. A musical pilgrimage from home state Wyoming brought bassist Matt Thornton to Lafayette via Colorado band, Motorhome. Guitarist Jason Leonard is a veteran of many South Louisiana bands and is an in-demand session player. Holy Ghost Power! also contains invaluable contributions from guitarist/singer/songwriter Mark Meaux, drummer Gregory Walls and bassist Cal Stevenson.

The Mercy Brothers are the latest to joyously explore the passionate roots music border zone of O Brother, Where Art Thou? — straddling that fine line between Saturday night blow-outs and Sunday morning reflection. Hear it on their exuberant 2013 debut CD Holy Ghost Power! on Louisiana Red Hot Records.

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GREGG MARTINEZ: Creole Soul

greg martinez - creole soul“…one of America’s greatest hidden treasures.” — Ed Bradley, 60 Minutes

A premier, powerhouse vocalist of Louisiana, Gregg Martinez (from the Spanish Creoles of Bayou Lafourche) is a sensationally soulful baritone often compared to Sam Cooke and Luther Vandross. Recognized early on in local churches and bars, the young Martinez rapidly ascended all the way to an exclusive contract with billionaire Donald Trump in Atlantic City, and a seven figure recording deal with multi-platinum Philly producers Victor Carstarphen and Keith Benson. On the brink of stardom, though, the bubble burst, eventually returning the prodigal son to his native Bayou
Blues and Creole Soul roots.

“Creole Soul,” Martinez’s 10th album, struts his best collection ever of feet-don’t-fail-me-now, dance floor numbers, love songs and heart-wrenching ballads – delivered in his distinctive South Louisiana Blues/Soul/Gospel/Swamp Pop style. Martinez’ interpretive genius shines through on lesser known compositions by fellow Louisiana masters Bobby Charles, Randy Newman and Fats Domino. It’s all powered by original members of River Road (the long-lamented Capitol Records bayou country band), some brawny Louisiana brass, and subtle female choruses.

If Elvis were remaking his famous New Orleans movie now, the man “…with a great big soul” he’d be singing about would be Gregg Martinez.

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DUMPSTAPHUNK: Dirty Word

dirty word“Ivan’s so good…I play with him.” – Keith Richards

“Dumstaphunk has grown from a small side project into one of music’s most prestigious modern funk ensembles.” – Rolling Stone

A decade into the formation of Dumpstaphunk, the New Orleans’ all-star collective – Ivan Neville (vocals, B3 and Clav), the double bass attack and soulful voices of Tony Hall and Nick Daniels III, Ian Neville on guitar, and the monster addition of Nikki Glaspie (formerly with Beyonce’s all-female band) on drums and vocals – releases their third studio album, Dirty Word.

Initially started as an impromptu line-up of some of New Orleans’ tightest players, hand-picked by Ivan Neville to accompany his 2003 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival performance, Dumpstaphunk has become a stalwart touring act, richly deserving the title “Heavyweight Champions of Funk.” Press accolades for the band have ranged from the New York Times hailing, in 2007, “Dumpstaphunk is the best funk band from New Orleans right now,” to Bass Player Magazine saying, “The colossal low end and filthy grooves they threw down from the Gentilly Stage must have set a Jazz Fest record for baddest bass jams ever.”

Dirty Word offers a fresh and varied take on funk, blues, gospel, second-line, R&B and rock ’n’ roll. The album features special guest appearances by Art Neville, Trombone Shorty, Rebirth Brass Band, Skerik, Ani DiFranco and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers). Catch the band, supporting the album with major venue and festival appearances, throughout 2013. But be forewarned…the groove will be nasty and the funk will be deep!

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HONEY ISLAND SWAMP BAND: Cane Sugar

honey island“Somewhere, there exists a dark, smoky bar with a jukebox that spins George Jones, Gram Parsons, Delbert McClinton, and Little Feat. And if that fantasy honky-tonk lights your Marlboro, you need to know about Honey Island Swamp Band.” – Broward-Palm Beach New Times

Isn’t it funny, how life works out?

2005 – guitarists/songwriters Chris Mule and Aaron Wilkinson are left homeless in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, marooned in San Francisco, and mulling an uncertain future with fellow refugees, bassist Sam Price drummer Garland Paul. Honey Island Swamp Band is formed and returns home to New Orleans, quickly gaining local recognition.

2010 – Trevor Brooks on Hammond B-3 is added, rounding out the band. Their great songs – heavily influenced by the roots music of Lowell George & Little Feat, The Band, Gram Parsons, and Dr. John – and their burn-thelevee-down shows, mark the band as an upcoming regional powerhouse.

2013 – Eight years of incessant touring have garnered a sizable fan base across the country. Grammy winner producer, John Porter, comes on board to record their first national release, “Cane Sugar.” It is Honey Island Swamp Band’s own special brew – “Bayou Americana” – a blend of Blues, Southern rock boogie, Appalachian music and New Orleans swamp funk, that is decidedly all their own. Up from the depths, the band is at last poised for a national breakthrough. How sweet it is!

 

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