LOUISIANA RED HOT RECORDS

Posts in the Roland Guerin category

ROLAND GUERIN’S “28 DAYS”

Louisiana Red Hot Records #28DayChallenge & Roland Guerin Single “28 Days”
Inspired by Epidemiologist’s Universal Masking Plan

New Orleans epidemiologist (and bass player) Dr. MarkAlain Déry shared his inspiration with Louisiana Red Hot Records for a 28 day universal masking plan to flatten COVID-19 rates, and got the #28DaysChallenge rolling. Fresh off a “Mask Up” Masks for America benefit single release with Dr. Déry and his station WHIV-FM, Louisiana Red Hot Records commissioned label artist Roland Guerin to write and produce single “28 Days” and accompanying lyric video to help raise awareness for universal masking.

Guerin was Allen Toussaint’s longtime bassist and Dr. John’s final music director, and he brings their spirit into “28 Days” — a song as hopeful as it is funky with musical nods to his mentors with inspiration from Prince. The #28DayChallenge international kickoff date
is December 1, and all are invited to share the video and encourage universal masking to give us what we need to join the countries that have flattened COVID-19 rates.

“When the pandemic hit, the first thing I did was figure out what to do to protect my family, friends and loved ones,” Guerin says. “Doing something that not only will help me, but by me doing it will help somebody else — this is important to me. And to think
that if somebody else did the same thing, well, there’s a certain vibration that’s there that is very strong and resonates deep in my soul.”

“This is the same kinda feeling that I got when writing the song “28 Days.” Coming up with a lyrical message with melody, harmony and a rhythmic vibration that will hopefully resonate with many people,” Guerin adds.

“If everyone were to wear masks for 28 days, the rates of COVID-19 would decrease dramatically,” says infectious disease expert Dr. Déry, an international relief worker for decades. “Twenty-eight days are two cycles of the incubation period of the virus, which
is 14 days. Along with other interventions such as social distancing and hand washing, everyone wearing masks daily for 28 days can potentially impact the pandemic by limiting transmission of the virus, and get us closer to a more normal pre-COVID life.”

The #28DayChallenge encourages everyone to spread the word that if we all mask together for two full cycles, we have a chance to knock the virus down.

“I’ve seen and experienced firsthand here, and from touring all over the world, people showing care on a day-to-day basis through masking,” Guerin said of why he was inspired to record 28 Days after hearing Dr Déry’s COVID-19 masking suggestion.

The Red Hot label family of artists believes that music is the universal language that can spread the message to heal humanity, with 28 days of consistent masking. As the song says: #LetsDoThis.

READ MORE: Offbeat Magazine

28 DAYS LYRIC VIDEO

amazon-button-02

ROLAND GUERIN’S NEW SINGLE HICKERY DICKERY

Roland Guerin Stands On The Edge Of A New Time In New Song “Hickery Dickery” – OffBeat Magazine

New Orleans singer / songwriter / producer / bass wunderkind Roland Guerin reminds us in his new single produced in quarantine “Hickery Dickery” [Louisiana Red Hot Records] that “With nothing said, we’ll be blin-dead” if time runs out.

Guerin’s musical and songwriting chops were honed in his years touring with the legendary Allen Toussaint, who gave his longtime bass player the lyrics to “Stick to the Basics” after hearing his riffs for the song.

The Toussaint-penned track was part of Guerin’s critically acclaimed album “Grass Roots” celebrated at the New Orleans Jazz Museum in a February record release party, before Coronavirus shut down the music industry.

In addition to being in Toussaint’s band, Guerin was the bass player and music director for the legendary Dr. John, touring with him internationally for years. Of their inspiration, Guerin says: “Allen Toussaint and Dr John always wrote about
inspired truthful things and instances.

A year ago, an older gentleman told me that when he was growing up, he and his peers looked to the musicians to find direction in what was happening in the world, and looked to them for inspiration… he then looked me straight in my eyes and asked: “What are
you gonna do?”

I responded, “It may not be as widely known, but I’m doing it.” Guerin comes by his songwriting naturally, his Creole grandfather was a zydeco musician who wrote a song popularized by Boozoo Chavis: “Paper in My Shoe” — the hit that put zydeco music on the map. Roland’s mother also played bass, his father sang and his uncles were musicians.

“Hickery Dickery” is his warning and glimmer of hope for our turbulent times, in the best tradition of songwriters who reflect back what’s happening in the world, and offer a roadmap out if we listen to our hearts.

Roland Guerin in OffBeat Magazine

Solid As A Rock: Roland Guerin Is Not Waiting For A Stamp Of Approval
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
by: JOHN WIRT

Roland Guerin keeps good company.

A master of six-string bass, he put the bottom in Allen Toussaint’s band during the composer-pianist-producer’s second act as a world-traveling concert artist. Guerin spent 2017, Dr. John’s final year of performing, as the singer-pianist’s bandleader. This fall, Guerin is touring Europe with the virtuoso hard-rock guitarist Paul Gilbert. His prestigious sideman work further includes Marcus Roberts, John Scofield, Mark Whitfield, George Benson, Ellis Marsalis, Gerry Mulligan and Jimmy Scott.

Moreover, in addition to being an in-demand bassist, Guerin writes, sings, plays and produces his own music. On October 18, Louisiana Red Hot Records will release his latest solo album, Grass Roots. The album mirrors Guerin’s broad and surprising influences. He sings lead for the project as well as multi-tracked clouds of backing vocals. The other Grass Roots players include Mike Esneault, piano; Chris Atkins, guitar; and drummers Herman LeBeaux Jr. and John Jones.

Grass Roots’ tracks include two Prince-like pop-rhythm-and-blues songs, “Running on Nightfumes” and “Inside Outside Upside Down;” the Peter Gabriel-inspired “Summer Moon”; the adventurous, almost rock of “Stick to the Basics” (with lyrics by Allen Toussaint); and the jazz-rock hybrid piece “To the Edge of Something.”

Lilli Lewis, head of the artist-and-repertoire department at Louisiana Red Hot Records—and an accomplished musician in her own right—said the subtlety and cinematic beauty in Guerin’s music persuaded her to sign him. “It’s as universal as anything any other New Orleans master might produce, but also wholly unto its own,” Lewis said. “Roland considers himself a New Orleans roots musician, but what he’s produced here is timeless and 100 percent unexpected.”

Read More at OffBeat.com

ROLAND GUERIN’S GRASS ROOTS

Solid As A Rock: Roland Guerin Is Not Waiting For A Stamp Of Approval
– John Wirt, OffBeat Magazine

Dr. John music director and bassist Roland Guerin is exploring a new musical chapter. Drawing from a wide spectrum of genres, Guerin’s latest release Grass Roots displays a singular style driven by stories told through multi-layered melodies, rhythms and expressive lyrics in the range of Steely Dan, John Mayer, Sting and Peter Gabriel.

Roland Guerin found his way back to his musical roots while recording and touring with the masterful Allen Toussaint from 2009 until his passing in 2015. Having collaborated with many legends from Marcus Roberts to the Blind Boys of Alabama, Roland’s debut solo release was dubbed “a literal piece of art” by JazzReview.

Now integrating Americana folk melodies, blues, zydeco, African rhythms, and rock with jazz soloing and orchestral arrangements, Grass Roots’ tender eloquence reveals Guerin’s formidable chops not just in his playing, but in his choices.

Ibanez Artist Feature | Roland Guerin on WGNO

DEBUTED AT #5 ON ITUNES JAZZ CHART

AVAILABLE NOW:

amazon-button-02

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On Youtube