Amazon.com, Inc., has announced a new program that helps to solve one of the biggest problems facing independent artists, bands and labels: securing widespread distribution of their CDs. Amazon.com’s Advantage for Music program will make it easy for independents to sell their CDs to Amazon.com’s 4.5 million customers worldwide. Best of all, the program is easy and free. Once enrolled, independent artists, bands and labels simply place a limited quantity of CDs in Amazon.com’s distribution centers for immediate sale and delivery to customers all over the world. The company helps members sell CDs by enhancing their shelf presence with cover art, sound clips and liner notes. For more information about Advantage for Music, or to join, visit: www.amazon.com/advantage.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is accepting applications for its 1999 Community Grants program. Applications can be picked up at the Foundation office at 1205 North Rampart Street. Since the program’s inception, the Foundation has awarded over a half a million dollars to local artists, musicians, actors, storytellers and arts organizations for cultural programs. All applications must be submitted no later than 5 p.m., Dec. 4. For more information, call 522-4786.
Atlanta-based music producers and brothers Frank and Paul Heath are giving New Orleans a shower of bullets—the kind the city can be proud of. Silver Bullets is a compilation of original works from some of the nation’s most promising hip-hop artists, including Al Brumfield, Bernard Robinson, Issac Anderson and Tyrone Osborne, all from New Orleans. The CD was released last month by Conglomerate Entertainment Music.
Musician magazine launched its 1999 Best Unsigned Band competition last month. Open to all unsigned bands and artists of all genres, the competition requires a two-song cassette which will then be judged by a preliminary panel of editors and writers from various major music publications. Six finalists will then be submitted to a panel of music industry experts which include: Pete Ganbarg, senior director of A&R Arista; Steve Greenberg, senior v.p. of A&R Mercury; Hugh Padgham, Sting’s producer; Melissa Etheridge; and Jim Pitt, music booker/producer of VH1’s Hard Rock Live. All entries must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 1998. For more information or to obtain an entry form, contact Musician’s web site at musicianmag.com or call them at (615) 321-9160.
Less than a year after his debut release, Through the Mind’s Eye, New Age composer and musician Richard Carr will release his second album, Fogland, in December. A release/preview party will be held on Dec. 3 at the Chef’s Table Restaurant (2100 St. Charles) beginning at 8 p.m. Fogland features all new original compositions for solo acoustic piano.
After celebrating their first year together, Mulebone released its debut CD last month at Tipitina’s in the French Quarter. Mulebone is “trombone rock” featuring Mark Mullins on vocals and trombone; John Gros on vocals, keyboards and guitar; Jimmy Robinson on guitar; Vernon Rome on bass; and Mike Barras on drums. The CD was recorded at Kingsway Studios in New Orleans this past summer with Gros producing. Mulebone also enlisted resident engineer/producer Ethan Allen, who has worked with Ani DiFranco and Better Than Ezra, to act as co-producer.
Seth Kaufman, the New Orleans-based pianist and composer, recently completed a solo piano project at Different Fur Recording Studio in San Francisco. Kaufman recorded thirteen new compositions on the studio’s Yamaha C7 Grand Piano (which is reportedly renowned for its sound). Howard Johnston engineered the sessions with the assistance of Mark Slagle. The CD is slated for release next month. This latest CD marks Kaufman’s fourth release on Cascadilla Records, an independent label started by the artist in 1993. His previous albums, Cascadilla (1993), The Blue Light (1994) and Circling Noon (1996), have sold over 10,000 copies. For more information, call 504-523-8027.
For those of you wondering when Waylon Thibodeaux and Gina Forsyth were going to gig together, wonder no more. The duo will play at the Neutral Ground Coffeeshop on Dec. 1 beginning at 9:30 p.m.
A constellation of companies connected to New Orleans music and culture are combining to create a 17-track CD entitled New Orleans Deep Roots: 50 Years of Remarkable Music. Conceived by WWOZ general manager Dave Freedman and produced by Night Train Records, whose president, Aaron Fuchs selected the tracks, the CD is being co-sponsored by WDSU-TV, Barq’s and Walgreen’s. Proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to supporting WWOZ. The budget-priced album will be available this month and will be sold exclusively at Walgreen’s.
The debut release from Thibodaux-based art rock band, Klonopin, is also scheduled this month. The eight-song, full-length CD entitled, Appetite for Prescription, is the first Lost Car Records release since William McCormick’s Ouch. The four-piece Klonopin plays experimental, space rock.
The Rebirth Brass Band and trumpeter/vocalist Leroy Jones have both signed with Tom Thompson (of RubyArts Entertainment) who will serve as their personal agent.
The irreverent Mardi Gras krewe, Krewe du Vieux, will hold its annual Fall Fun Raiser on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Bourbon Vieux Room (501 Bourbon Street). The monies raised subsidize expenses incurred in hiring musicians for the 1999 parade scheduled for Sat., Jan. 30, 1999. Costumes are encouraged and admission is only $5.
Beatles clone, Walrus Submarine, will celebrate their anniversary at the Neutral Ground Coffeeshop on Sat., Dec. 12 beginning at 11 p.m.
Adam Sloat (along with Miasma Management Inc.) has relocated to Boston, effective immediately. Sloat informs us that he will maintain close ties with New Orleans since three of his clients Mem Shannon & the Membership, Invisible Cowboy and Gary Hirstius—are still based here.
The venerable Pat O’Brien’s will celebrate its 65th anniversary on Dec. 3, as St. Peter Street is sealed off from 12 noon to midnight for a party open to the public. The event will feature The Bucktown All-stars and special drink prices including Hurricanes for $1.50 and beer and cocktails at the bar for a mere fifty cents.
During December, you can tune into the Best of Louisiana Jukebox (Cox Channel 10), featuring previous and never before seen performances by: Los Hombres Calientes, Tommy Ridgley, Chris Whitley, Carlo Nuccio (Dec. 3); Bryan Lee, Harold Battiste & Friends, New World Funk Ensemble, Theresa Andersson (Dec. 10); Tiny Town, Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin, Dr. Porkchop (Dec. 17); Johnny Angel & His Swingin’ Demons, John Boutté, The Poor Clares (Dec. 24); Michael Ray & the Cosmic Krewe, Acoustic Swiftness, Mulebone, Webster Davis (Dec. 31) and more.
Superfly Productions will present De La Soul on Dec. 11 at the Howlin’ Wolf. Tickets are $18. And speaking of the Wolf, the club is currently celebrating its tenth anniversary.
“We’ve always looked for performing gems (like last month’s shows featuring Dick Dale and Southern Culture on the Skids),” says owner Jack Groetsch of the Wolf’s innovative booking style. “We’ve got bluegrass singer Gillian Welch (Dec. 6) coming to the club this month. She’s written songs for stars like Trisha Yearwood but she’s a tremendous performer in her own right. I don’t care if only 100 people show up, it’s the kind of show we’re famous for.” The club is also famous for its low drink prices and reasonable cover charges, among other things.
