Various ArtistsVarious Artists
Our New Orleans 2005, a Benefit Album (Nonesuch 79934-2, 2005)
Nonesuch Records has released a benefit album with newly recorded songs featuring artists from the New Orleans music community. Our New Orleans encompasses a wide variety of styles that represent the musical roots of the southern city. The styles featured include Blues, Cajun, Zydeco, Jazz, R&B, Gospel and Rock.
Some of the biggest names in Louisiana music, and other guests, participate in this exemplary work: Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Davell Crawford, Buckwheat Zydeco, Dr. Michael White, Wild Magnolias, Eddie Bo, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Carol Fran, BeauSoleil, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Charlie Miller, The Wardell Quezergue Orchestra featuring Donald Harrison, and Randy Newman featuring the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra with members of the New York Philharmonic. The album was made quickly and simply, over the course of a month, in several one-day sessions in cities across the country.
Net proceeds from the sale of
Our New Orleans will be donated to Habitat for Humanity
International to aid those affected by the recent hurricanes along the Gulf
Coast. A portion of those funds will be earmarked to help provide housing for
New Orleans musicians through the recently announced Musicians' Village.
For this special project, Nonesuch has joined forces with others in the artistic
community. Nick Spitzer, host of "American
Routes" -- a nationally syndicated weekly public radio music show produced
in New Orleans -- contributed liner notes to the record, as did Pulitzer
Prize-winning author Richard Ford, also a Crescent City resident. The black and
white photo of the album perfectly illustrates the musical tradition of New
Orleans. The extensive booklet includes details the efforts made to rebuild the
city.
Nonesuch's parent company -- Warner Bros. Records, part of the Warner Music
Group -- is donating all of the production costs for
Our New Orleans as part of the Group's larger efforts on behalf of
hurricane victims on the Gulf Coast. Many others involved in creating the album
are also generously donating their time and services.
Our New Orleans ends appropriately with the now famous "Louisiana 1927" song by Randy Newman, which describes an earlier historical flood.
Purchase the album:
World Music Central
http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20060102161137193