LOUISIANA RED HOT RECORDS

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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“REDEMPTION” REVIEWED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

The_New_York_Times_logoglen david andrews - promo02“Glen David Andrews paints his testimony in a range of emotional colors — from the broken humility of a supplicant to the hard-bitten pride of a survivor — on his tough-sounding new release, “Redemption.” As that title suggests, it’s an album about his dedication to the righteous path after a long season in darkness. “You don’t know/What I know,” Mr. Andrews bellows on “You Don’t Know,” one of his flintier originals, “And you ain’t been where I’m going.” His big voice, all growl and gravel, sounds at once rousing and worn, essentially battle-scarred.”

Read the full review by Nate Chinen

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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MERCY BROTHERS: Holy Ghost Power

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 (Austin, TX)

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 South 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. 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.

Holy Ghost Power! is the band’s debut album, containing 11 original compositions from the Sekhani-Meaux songwriting team. Their Americana sound is a timeless and energetic brew, kicked up with a dose of roots-rock that moves both the spirit and the body. Like those famous Louisiana cousins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Swaggart – the Mercy Brothers are a little rock & roll, a little country and a lot of Holy Spirit.

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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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