The Saints Won the Super Bowl. WHODAT.

It was a spectacular year. Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints. I wasn't being a "homer" when I predicted on September 2nd that the Saints would go 16-0 and make their first of 4 straight Super Bowl trips this year. Micky Loomis and Sean Payton were given the opportunity by Tom Benson and successfully assembled a great team; a team that understands and is part of New Orleans.

Drew Brees is the perfect ambassador for our city and gives back through his foundation, and through things like being named FedEx Player of the Year (leading to a charity being awarded $5000 when Saints fans visited the site over and over) or winning the Pepsi Refresh competition (leading to American Cancer Society Patrick Taylor lodge being awarded $100,000 when fans voted over and over). Many other players also make New Orleans home and give back in a big way.

Our city has been and will continue to be in the national and world spotlight. Regardless of whether the levees had failed, the Saints winning a Super Bowl would have been a big story, but given the efforts of our citizens to rebuild in this city, and the efforts to keep our team here and rebuild the Superdome, there is an emotion that we have to the Saints that other cities could never have.

The collateral impact of this season and the attention we have received will result in the greatest Mardi Gras, the greatest French Quarter Festival and the greatest Jazz Fest this year, and a number of great years ahead of us.

Due to the Saints' success this year, Basin Street Records' artists have been on CNN, NPR, CNN Radio, ABC Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, CBS Sunday Morning, ESPN and countless other print and media stories like the Washington Post. Kermit Ruffins' A Saints Christmas became a hit, and Theresa Andersson sang Glory Bound an updated version of the Who Dat Song with Aaron Neville that is the top featured music video on YouTube today.

Our city is more united because of our Saints, but our Mayor election this weekend, where Mitch Landrieu won in a landslide with 66% of the vote, indicates we are united in our goal for leadership. With Drew Brees and Mitch Landrieu I think we are in good hands for years to come.

I hope you enjoyed it New Orleanians, wherever you are...THIS WAS THE BEST WEEKEND EVER & PROBABLY FOREVER.

WHODAT!

2010 New Orleans Jazzfest poster ;)

Was hoping the 2010 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival would go with our design (to the left), but they chose Tony Bennett as the artist of the new Jazzfest poster. Check it out at www.nojazzfest.com. While you are there check out the day by day schedule. See you in New Orleans!

The Grammy Goes to New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

Congratulations to Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra for winning the Grammy for Best Large Ensemble Jazz Album for Book One. Irvin has recorded 5 Los Hombres Calientes and 5 Irvin Mayfield CDs for our label. We released Strange Fruit by Irvin Mayfield w/ the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra which was the NOJO's first recording.

Who Dats Glory Bound: Aaron Neville & Theresa Andersson w/ other great musicians

Outside of "A Saints Christmas" by Kermit Ruffins, that helped propel the Saints to their first Superbowl, this is the best of the Saints songs. Visit www.TeamGloryBound.com for more info. We can sell you the single or help you license the song for airplay. Email us at info@BasinStreetRecords.com.

Kermit Ruffins at Vaughan's on CBS Evening News

We had a good time with the CBS Evening News and Kermit Ruffins at Vaughan's:

Carnival and Mardi Gras Music

To help you pick some Carnival (or Mardi Gras) music from our catalogue, we've compiled the following list...

CDs:
Throwback CD by Kermit Ruffins w/ the Rebirth Brass Band
Vol.5: Carnival CD by Los Hombres Calientes: Irvin Mayfield & Bill Summers
Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen CD by Jon Cleary

SONGS:
These are some of the most Carnival themed tunes:
Kermit Ruffins w/ the Rebirth Brass Band – “All on a Mardi Gras Day” - Throwback
Los Hombres Calientes – “The Mardi Gras Second Line” - Vol 5. Carnival
Jon Cleary & the Absolute Gentlemen – “Zulu Strut” - Pin Your Spin
Los Hombres Calientes - “Mardi Gras Bayou” - Vol. 5 Carnival
Los Hombres Calientes - “Carnival Kongo” - Vol. 5 Carnival
Henry Butler - “Some Iko” - Homeland
Los Hombres Calientes – “ New Second Line” Vol. 3 New Congo Square
Kermit Ruffins – “Do the Fat Tuesday” - The Barbecue Swingers Live
Kermit Ruffins – “It' Later Than You Think" - Throwback
Irvin Mayfield w/ the N.O. Jazz Orchestra and the Dillard U. Choir
“The Elder Negro Speaks” - Strange Fruit
Dr. Michael White – “King of the Second Line” – Blue Crescent
Los Hombres Calientes – “ Mardi Gras Bayou” & “Carnival de Phunk” -Vol.5 Carnival
Jeremy Davenport – “Mr. New Orleans” - We’ll Dance ‘Til Dawn
Kermit Ruffins - “Didn’t He Ramble” & “Treme Mardi Gras” - Livin’ a Treme Life
Jason Marsalis – “The Upper Second Line” – The Year of the Drummer
Kermit Ruffins – “A Saints Christmas” (This year, Carnival and the Saints more than double the fun!)

Sample and even buy any of our music at http://basinstreetrecords.downloadcentric.net

What a Cool Word!

January 28, 1965

I just started this new thing called blogging in my preschool class. In about 40 years I will actually be able to type this on the computer (I'll explain that later) for everyone around the world to see using the web (I will explain that later too). But for now, let me just say that I just coined a real cool new word. Whodat, or some people may say Who Dat. I expect I will use it when New Orleans is given a football team to say something like "Whodat Say Dey are Gonna Beat Dem ____", with the blank being whatever the name of the team is. I know it isn't perfect grammar or even real words, but I don't know all those words yet. And by the way, I sure hope they name the team the Saints! That's my first choice. My second choice would be Barracudas. Those are cool too.

New Orleans Saints are Going to the Superbowl

Kermit Ruffins was recording "A Saints Christmas" in August, and I read in early September that Peter King of Sports Illustrated picked the Saints to finish 3rd in the NFC South at 7-9. I wrote on my Facebook page "what will Sports Illustrated say when the Saints go 16-0 with an average score of 81-17". Yes, I was exaggerating the margin of victory, but really knew that this was a special team before the regular season began.

Now that we (and yes, we, as in all New Orleanians wherever we may be) have made it to the Superbowl, I am reflecting on what a fantastic season this has been, and what a road the Saints and our city took to get here. I have watched the footage of Garrett Hartley making the field goal with Jim Henderson's play call 6 times so far, and each time my eyes tear up and I get chills. Thank you to Tom Benson, Micky Loomis, Sean Payton and the Saints. But thanks go also to all of the previous Saints teams as those helped make this one special.

Football is just a game. But last night's game, the NFC Championship, was just the most important one in the 300 year history of New Orleans.

Yesterday, I chose to stay home and watch and cheer with my wife and children including 3 month old Conor, who told me the Saints have been this great as far back as he can remember. I sat there in my rebuilt home reflecting on not just this season, but on the previous seasons, and mostly on the past four years. High fives and screaming with the kids on big plays, text messages and phone calls with my college freshman who is away, and holding hands when Hartley made his kick, made this one of the top shared experiences with my family.

I also enjoyed sharing the experience with hundreds or thousands of other people as I tweeted over and over all day and night yesterday, in what was a virtual cheerleading "Chant it when you tweet it: 'This Is Our Year! #Whodat #Saints.'" and encouraged others to do the same.

Let me hear you: THIS IS OUR YEAR! WHODAT. SAINTS.

2010: A Saints Odyssey.

-------------------------------------------------------------

p.s.

Check out a wonderful video essay by Wright Thompson that first appeared on ESPN NFL Sunday Countdown entitled "The Soul of New Orleans". It includes a soundtrack of music performed by Kermit Ruffins.

I got ganked for $400 buying this counterfeit ticket

Click on it to enlarge.

Kermit Ruffins & Jeremy Davenport National Anthem

Here is video of Kermit and Jeremy performing National Anthem

at Saints vs. Cardinals playoff game taken by a fan.

Follow us on TWITTER @BasinStRecords

Don't miss out on the coolest things as they happen, like Kermit Ruffins and Jeremy Davenport hanging out during the pregame of a Saints game. Follow us on TWITTER @BasinStRecords and check out our Twitpics here http://twitpic.com/photos/BasinStRecords

Kermit Ruffins & Jeremy Davenport Performed National Anthem at Saints vs. Cardinals NFL Playoff

Here is a short clip of Kermit Ruffins & Jeremy Davenport

rehearsing National Anthem at New Orleans Saints vs.

Arizona Cardinals NFL Playoff Game.

The Saints won 45-14 to advance to NFC Championship

vs Minnesota Vikings.

Kermit Ruffins in Wall Street Journal

Cultural Conversation with David Simon of HBO's Treme in Wall Street Journal. Story includes quite a bit on Basin Street Records' recording artist, Kermit Ruffins. Read the story HERE.

PRESS RELEASE: M Bistro & The Davenport Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2010

Contact:
Char Thian
Director of Public Relations
The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New Orleans
921 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
Cel: 504-913-4114
E-Mail: char.thian@ritzcarlton.com

REQUEST FOR PROMOTION/APPEARANCE
M BISTRO AND THE DAVENPORT LOUNGE- 1ST RIBBON CUTTING OF 2010

Join us on the third floor lobby level of The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans for the VIP grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony for M Bistro and The Davenport Lounge, the two newest hospitality venues to open in 2010. Hospitality partners, celebrity chefs and dignitaries will be on hand to cut the ribbon and celebrate the official return of Chef Murphy and the opening of his new namesake restaurant, M Bistro (formerly Mélange Restaurant). As part of the ribbon cutting ceremony, the lounge adjacent to M Bistro will officially be renamed The Davenport Lounge (formerly On Trois/Lobby Lounge) in honor of the hotel’s headline entertainer Jeremy Davenport.

As of January 15, 2010, patrons can meet Chef Murphy and enjoy his celebrated cuisine in M Bistro while listening to the stylings of jazz aficionado Jeremy Davenport in the adjacent Davenport Lounge. Davenport has been with the hotel since it opened in 2000 and Murphy has been with the hotel since 2002. M Bistro and The Davenport Lounge debut on Friday, January 15, 2010.

WHO: The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans
Interviewees: Executive Chef Matt Murphy and Entertainer Jeremy Davenport

WHAT: M BISTRO AND THE DAVENPORT LOUNGE- 1ST RIBBON CUTTING OF 2010

WHEN: Ribbon Cutting: Friday, January 15, 2010 from 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Open for Lunch and Meet Chef Murphy & Jeremy Davenport: 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, 921 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112

About The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans
The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is situated on world famous Canal Street on the edge of the French Quarter. The hotel offers a sense of place, incorporating the best that New Orleans has to offer from classic culinary creations and libations to live jazz. Originally opening in 2000, the hotel was shuttered for fifteen months post-Katrina to undergo a $150M historic renovation and restoration. Since reopening in December of 2006, the hotel has reclaimed its title as the Crown Jewel of the Crescent City. The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New Orleans (Ritz-Carlton, Maison Orleans and Iberville Suites) continue to garner accolades. The three-hotels-in-one complex features 757 rooms, one restaurant, two lounges, free live entertainment and a spa. The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is located at 921 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70122. For additional information, please go to www.ritzcarlton.com or call (800) 241-3333.

Irvin Mayfield on NPR's Toast of the Nation

Irvin Mayfield performed live on NPR's Toast of the Nation on New Year's Eve. If you missed him, or want to listen again, do so HERE.

Jeremy Davenport profiled on WWL TV "12 for the Road" by Bill Capo

Dr. Michael White Profile on WWL TV "12 for the Road"

2009 Year in Review

Here are some highlights from 2009:

Theresa Andersson performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. She toured all over the US, Canada, and Scandinavia making thousands of new fans. Her online videos have been seen by over 1,000,000 people, and she just released a brand new video for Birds Fly Away, off of her Hummingbird, Go! CD. And KCRW named her appearance on Morning Becomes Eclectic one of their top 10 performances of the year!

Dr. Michael White received the NEA's National Heritage Fellowship award and continues to receive accolades for his 2008 release, Blue Crescent.

Kermit Ruffins put out 2 fantastic albums (Livin' a Treme' Life and Have A Crazy Cool Christmas!) and hit the Billboard Jazz Charts with both of them. He began work on HBO's new series, Treme. In addition, Kermit completed a new video for his hit single from his Christmas CD, A Saints Christmas.

Jeremy Davenport released a highly acclaimed new CD, We'll Dance 'Til Dawn, and continues to make new fans every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Davenport Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans.

Irvin Mayfield's new club, Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse, opened and is thriving in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, bringing Jazz back to Bourbon Street. Although they released it on another label, the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra received a Grammy nomination for Book One. Irvin will finish up 2009 and kick off 2010 on NPR's Toast of the Nation from the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, MN.

Jon Cleary performed all over the world with John Scofield and the Piety Street Band.

Henry Butler received his 9th Blues Award nomination and made a move from Denver to New York.

Mark Samuels, President of BSR was honored with his inclusion in the coffee table book, How They Did It by Sally Forman profiling New Orleans' great entrepreneurs of the past, present, and future. He and his wife also had a new son while sending one off to college. Mark's alma mater, University of Texas is 13-0, and the New Orleans Saints are 13-1 and on their way to the Superbowl. Whodat.

Kermit Ruffins on Cover of AmericanWay Magazine

Check out the December 15th, 2009 issue of AmericanWay Magazine (the magazine of American Airlines) HERE. Kermit Ruffins is on the cover!

Kermit Ruffins "A Saints Christmas" Video

The full length version of this song is on Kermit Ruffins' new CD, Have A Crazy Cool Christmas!

Theresa Andersson's Brand New Video

Mark Samuels Honored in New Book

Mark Samuels, President of Basin Street Records, was honored by his inclusion in a new book that included great New Orleans entrepreneurs Cosimo Matassa, Ruth Fertel, Al Copeland, Blaine Kern, Edmund McIlhenny, George Leidenheimer, Dr. Alton Ochsner, Donald Bollinger, Patrick Taylor, Peter Mayer, Tom Benson, Roger Ogden and many more. Mark says "Puts a lot of pressure on me, but honored to be included in a book with those great people."

It's called "How They Did It", by Sally Forman.

Kermit Ruffins Have A Crazy Cool Christmas hit Billboard Jazz Chart

Kermit Ruffins new CD, Have A Crazy Cool Christmas, hit the Billboard Jazz Chart dated 12/12/09. Pick it up today at your favorite retailer or at www.BasinStreetRecords.com. His Birthday Bash is at the House of Blues on December 19th, 2009.

UPDATE:
The CD is still on the Billboard Jazz Chart at #19.

ESPN and Kermit Ruffins A Saints Christmas

ESPN used Kermit Ruffins' A Saints Christmas from his new CD, Have A Crazy Cool Christmas, twice during the pregame for the Monday Night Football game between the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots.

Theresa Andersson's Brand New Video

Watch the brand new THERESA ANDERSSON video for "Birds Fly Away" HERE. This song is on her latest CD, Hummingbird, Go! Directed by Miranda Penn Turin.

Wynton Marsalis & Mark Samuels in 1979

Irvin Mayfield Hosts Project 2010: Creating the Cultural Renaissance

Irvin Mayfield hosts Project 2010: Creating the Cultural Renaissance a community rally to benefit local musicians Marva Wright, Bo Dollis, Lady BJ Hill and Humberto Menez featuring Kermit Ruffins, Pinettes Brass Band, bamboula 2000, The Wild Magnolias, Amanda Shaw, Hot 8 Brass Band, Shamarr Allen, George Porter, Jr., June Gardner, Troy Andrews, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, and more!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at House of Blues at 7p. Pre Party at Louisiana Music Factory begins at 5p.

Big Story on HBO's Treme

Read Dave Walker's story in the Times-Picayune and Nola.com HERE about HBO's upcoming series Treme. Kermit Ruffins (pictured in story) performs and acts as himself in this new series coming in April 2010. Kermit's latest CD is Have A Crazy Cool Christmas and features the hit single "A Saints Christmas".

Kermit Ruffins Makes Vegetarian Salivate Over BBQ

Kermit Ruffins makes vegetarians salivate over his BBQ. Read how HBO's President of Entertainment, Sue Naegle, feels about it on the set of HBO's new upcoming series, Treme. Story HERE.

Why Vaughan's Is So Much Fun

Greg Rhodes explains why Thursday nights with Kermit Ruffins at Vaughan's Lounge in the Bywater section of New Orleans is so much fun in this NewOrleans.com piece. Read it HERE.

This story with its great photos and our Live at Vaughan's CD could almost put you in the middle of Vaughan's from anywhere in the world.

Soccer Star Named for Kermit Ruffins

Check out why Kermit Arasmus, a South African FIFA soccer star was named after Kermit Ruffins HERE.

Kara Samuels and lawsuit against Ochsner In vitro Fertility Clinic

My wife, Kara Hadican Samuels, is a very excellent plaintiff's attorney. She has been on the news this week regarding the In vitro fiasco at the Ochsner Foundation Fertility Clinic in the New Orleans area. Ochsner called a press conference on Friday and admitted that they had mislabeled and mishandled a number of embryos in their in vitro clinic and have shut down the facility indefinitely. Kara, who practices with the firm Gainsburgh, Benjamin, David, Meunier, and Warshauer, filed the first case, a class action lawsuit against Ochsner on behalf of her clients back in July. In the past couple days she has been interviewed on WWL (CBS), WDSU (NBC), WVUE Fox 8, NBC Nightly News, ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's Today Show. She also interviewed with the Times-Picayune, and CNN. I'm proud of her. Here are links to a few of them:

Associated Press Video

ABC Good Morning America (Baby Born in Embryo Mix-Up)

NBC Nightly News

NBC Today Show

WWL TV

WVUE Fox 8

WDSU

Updates:

A 9/30/09 story questioning whether the embryologist was even certified:

WDSU

10/12/09 10am CT

Live in studio interview with Jeff Crouere at WGSO 990 AM or www.wgso.com

Podcast may be available HERE.

10/13/09

WDSU coverage of hearing regarding limiting correspondence.

10/14/09

New Orleans CityBusiness coverage regarding hearing to limit correspondence.

10/19/09

New Orleans CityBusiness article regarding possible use of Medical Review panel and Patient's Compensation Fund

Naked Chef Jamie Oliver Visits Kermit Ruffins

The Naked Chef, UK Chef Jamie Oliver visits with New Orleans' trumpeter/vocalist/chef Kermit Ruffins on Jamie Oliver's America. Watch behind the scenes video HERE. Kermit's latest CD is Livin' a Treme' Life. His first Christmas album, Have A Crazy Cool Christmas comes out November 10, 2009.

Kermit Ruffins and Treme in Fall 2009 Jazziz Magazine

Here is a link to the Fall 2009 edition of Jazziz Magazine. Pay particular attention to the table of contents and page 14 for a full page feature on Kermit Ruffins and his involvement in the upcoming HBO series, Treme.

Advanced Label Economics II: Digital Distribution

Please read post "Advanced Label Economics" before reading this post.

Digital Distribution

Approximate breakdown of dollars for a "typical" download:

$9.99 Customer pays digital store for an album

(digital store keeps $2.99)

$7.00 Digital Store sends to digital distributor

(digital distributor keeps $1.05)

$5.95 Digital Distributor sends to Label

$1.00 Label sends to songwriter/publisher (mechanical royalty)

$4.95 gross margin

The digital distributor makes sure that 100's of platforms around the world have our music, and provides us with a single payment and most important a single accounting by track of all payments each month. Not all digital stores pay based on downloads. Some digital stores are subscription based; some are based on ad revenue. Some are downloads and some are just streams. In some cases we receive much less than we receive for typical download.

Our gross margin is about $4.95, nearly the same as a CD. Advantages are that we don't have to carry excess inventory in our warehouse to be ready for demand, place extra inventory in stores in order to ensure enough visibility, or wait for returns. We also don't have to worry about whether the product is in stock at the store.

The downside is that there is no packaging which might include information about our website, our other artists, or biographical material about our artist to help the consumer become more familiar with the artist. Downloading also means that consumers can pick and choose tracks. For our artists, who work on creating an album, this is generally contrary to their artistic vision.

With digital distribution there is still a need to buy "shelf space" which is more like an ad on a page of the digital store or an email blast to the store's customers. There is also still obviously a need to pay for PR, advertising, and marketing.

As music has become digital, the transfer of it in bits and bytes through digital platforms like iTunes, Amazonmp3.com, mp3.walmart.com, Sprint, Verizon, LaLa, Shockhound, eMusic, Zune, or any number of other sites seems to be the future. We also like our own digital branded store. But...we hope CDs stay around for awhile.

Advanced Label Economics

I've taught this many times (at Loyola University, University of New Orleans, Ben Franklin High School, SXSW, Cutting Edge Music Business Conference, and more), but decided that tonight I would put it down on "paper".

Our "typical" CD Production Costs:

$15,000.00 Musician Fees (does not include our artist)

$10,000.00 Studio/Engineering/Mastering

$ 4,000.00 Producer

$ 1,500.00 Photography

$ 1,000.00 Graphic Design

$ 500.00 Liner Notes

Profit Advance to Artist

$ $$,$$$.00 In addition, we pay a profit advance to the artist on our label. If a project makes a profit we split the profits with the artist, but the artist keeps the profit advance regardless.

PR and Advertising Costs

$ 7,500.00 Press, TV, & Web Publicist

$ 3,000.00 Radio Publicist

$10,000.00 Advertising (print, web, radio)

$ 7,000.00 Buying shelf space at retailers (both brick and mortar & online)

$ 6,000.00 Mailing promotional copies of CDs to press, tv, web and radio

So, before we sell the first CD we "typically" have committed to spend $65,500.00, plus we have advanced the artist profit that we may or may not make.

Here is the breakdown of a $15.98 CD at retail:

$15.98 Consumer pays store

$10.30 Store pays distributor (Store covers its overhead with about $5.68/ CD margin)

$ 8.00 Distributor pays us (Distributor covers its overhead with about $2.30/ CD margin)

Of the $8.00 per CD that we receive we spend approximately:

$1.25 for manufacturing

$1.00 for mechanical licenses (payments to songwriters & publishers)

$0.30 shipping

That leaves us with approximately $5.45 per CD of what is called gross margin.

That means that our break even is $65,500 in costs divided by $5.45 per CD gross margin = 12,018 CDs.

That's where you come in.

What are You Doing to Offset Saved Energy?

Things You Can Do To Offset Energy Saved At Project30_90 Festival This Weekend

1. Leave your lights on all weekend

2. Leave your doors open and your AC on (set it to 60)

3. Every time you think of something you need, jump in your car and go get it

4. Leave your car running unnecessarily

5. Use your big oven to toast a single piece of bread

6. Ask for triple plastic bagging of your groceries

Leave your suggestions in the comments!

FYI, I fully support Project30_90 and saving energy.

Have A Crazy Cool Christmas (Coming 11/10/09)

Kermit Ruffins' first Christmas album, Have A Crazy Cool Christmas. Coming November 10, 2009. Ho Ho Heaux.

CLICK ONESHEET TO ENLARGE.

Preorders may be made now at www.BasinStreetRecords.com

Email bulkpricing@basinstreetrecords.com for info on bulk pricing.

We will celebrate the release at the Blue Nile in New Orleans on Friday, November 27th. See you there!

Pretty cool! We especially like part 2

Jazz.com History of New Orleans Music in 100 Tracks

Source: jazz.com

Ted Gioia surveys the history of New Orleans music in 100 classic tracks. It's all here: Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Dr. John, Sidney Bechet, Louis Prima, the Neville Brothers, Wynton Marsalis, Galactic, the Meters and so much more.

Nagin's Fault

This video by the Globe and Mail describes the emptiness that exists in an area of the lower 9th ward 4 years after the devastation caused by the incompetence of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Levee Boards. The fact that people are living in this emptiness is the fault of Mayor Nagin.

He had an opportunity after the storm to put a system in place that would incentivise people to move out of some areas and additional incentives to move into other areas. There could have been efforts to concentrate populations into 6 to 10 square blocks and make other areas of 6 to 10 square blocks into parks.

He decided that to get reelected he needed to allow everyone to rebuild wherever they wanted, although it was obvious to everyone that there was no way to support the large footprint with police, fire, water, power, etc.

So now we have blocks with 1 or 2 families living in them.

I am not suggesting that the entire lower 9th, or all of lakeview, or all of gentilly should have been off limits. I am only suggesting that within the lower 9th, or lakeview, etc. that there had been an effort to concentrate the population that wanted to stay in those areas so that people could live in something that looked like and felt like a neighborhood.

By the way, I have a train that runs straight behind my house. (If you watched the video link above, you know why I added this comment).

9th Ward Field of Dreams - Nike Game Changers

A great cause and a great use of our music. Watch the video and listen for songs from Jason Marsalis, Kermit Ruffins, and Theresa Andersson.

Kermit Ruffins Named a Top Mayoral Candidate

Kermit Ruffins was named one of the top New Orleans mayoral candidates by the Times-Picayune's Chris Rose. Read the list HERE.

It's Been 4 Years

Hard to imagine sitting here in my kitchen that nearly 4 years ago my family and my city was about to experience devastation that we had been warned about, but that came about for different reasons. We always knew that a hurricane that hit just the right way could push water from Lake Ponchartrain into our city and that pumping it back out over the levees could take awhile, but we never feared that the canal levees and walls would break.

As I look back at the archives in my blog, I really can't believe all of the things that we were dealing with in the Fall of 2005 and continue to deal with (an incompetent Mayor is at the top of the list).

Our government should have compensated all of the families whose loved ones died due to the Army Corps of Engineers' and the Levee Boards' incompetence by now, but they haven't. President Obama: Make this happen. We also need 500 year protection and a rebuilt coastline. Join www.Levees.org.

Basin Street Records was streamlined and I'd like to thank our operations director, Nick Thomas, for coming on board in 2006 and helping me keep the company moving forward.

I am fortunate. Home is rebuilt. Neighborhood looks great. Oldest son (who started high school the week before Katrina) just started college. Middle son is a senior and daughter just started driving lessons. I got remarried and have a baby on the way. This list is partial, but here are some reasons why we are OK today: Beacon of Hope (Denise Thorton started this organization in our neighborhood), DesireNOLA, Idea Village, Red Cross, Austin Texas community, my family, my parents (who decided to buy a house in Austin and let us live with them for 9 months), FEMA (after nearly 2 years of complete and total aggravation), MusicCares, the resilience of the New Orleans people, and our artists' perseverance.

Thanks, y'all. And thank you for buying CDs, and even downloads.

Jeremy Davenport and Kermit Ruffins feature in Times Picayune

The Times-Picayune and nola.com ran a feature story today on Jeremy Davenport and his new CD, We'll Dance 'Til Dawn and the recording of Mr. New Orleans, a song from the CD featuring Kermit Ruffins. Behind the scenes video accompanies the online version of the story.

Catch Jeremy on the last Wednesday of each month at the Huckleberry Bar in NY and every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Davenport Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton.

Mark Samuels: Guest Bartender

Guest bartender, Mark Samuels, from Basin Street Records will be serving complimentary Davenportinis Thursday, August 13th, from 5:30-9pm in the Davenport Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. Complimentary Valet Parking!

Musical entertainment provided by local trumpeter and vocalist, Jeremy Davenport, who will be playing tunes from his NEW CD, We'll Dance 'Til Dawn.

Special $10 Los Hombres Calientes CD Promotion

We extended this offer through August 24th:

To get you ready for Love Sessions (see our previous post below) we are offering a special $10 price on each of the 5 Los Hombres Calientes CDs from www.BasinStreetRecords.com. These CDs are full of great music and were winners of Grammy and Billboard award nominations. Stock up on this great music today. Orders including these CDs will be charged $10 per CD rather than $15 when we process your credit card. And when you buy 2 CDs you still receive our FREE Festival Sampler! FYI, there is also a Los Hombres Calientes DVD.

Love Sessions: Irvin Mayfield Performing the Music of Los Hombres Calientes

We are pleased to announce Love Sessions: Irvin Mayfield Performing the Music of Los Hombres Calientes for 6 nights in August (Aug 25-30) at Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta (300 Bourbon St. New Orleans, Louisiana).

Grammy nominee and Billboard Music Award Winners, Los Hombres Calientes recorded 5 great records and a DVD for Basin Street Records. Now is a great time to buy them and get ready for a fantastic week of music!

Tickets available at FrontGateTickets.

SIGGRAPH 2009 New Orleans Music Sampler

Click image to enlarge.

SIGGRAPH 2009 and Basin Street Records have teamed up in support of the Louis "Satchmo" Armstong Summer Jazz Camp to bring you SIGGRAPH 2009 New Orleans Music Sampler.

We are donating all of the proceeds from this digital album to the camp.

Please join the facebook cause "Support the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp".

Download the digital album from our digital store, iTunes, Amazonmp3, or your favorite digital retailer.

HBO's Treme,True Blood, Hung & Entourage

HBO announced that their new series, Treme, will premiere in April 2010. HBO also announced the renewal of True Blood, Hung and Entourage. Both the Treme and True Blood series are shot in Louisiana.

Treme (by David Simon of The Wire) is about life in New Orleans. Our artist, Kermit Ruffins, acts and performs as himself in the pilot and we expect will be seen and heard throughout the series.

Here is an article on nola.com.

Kermit Ruffins Visits Louis Armstrong

Check out this story on Kermit Ruffins' visit with Louis Armstrong.  Click HERE.

New Orleans' Mayor Ray Nagin Proposes "A New Day"

Today, New Orleans' Mayor Ray Nagin proposed a new day.  It would fall between Tuesday and Wednesday and allow people to get more work done during the week.  A name for the new day has not yet been determined.

Jeremy Davenport on cover of August OffBeat

Jeremy Davenport is on the cover of the August 2009 issue of OffBEAT.

"It took 11 years for Davenport to make his third studio album, but We’ll Dance ’Til Dawn, his debut for the New Orleans-based Basin Street label, was worth the wait."--OffBEAT

Buy it today at your favorite retailer.

Jeremy Davenport CD Release Party in New Orleans

Here are a few pictures from last night's CD Release Party for Jeremy Davenport's We'll Dance 'Til Dawn at the Ritz-Carlton's Davenport Lounge in New Orleans. More pictures soon.

Theresa Andersson on TV 4 in Sweden

Here is a video of Theresa Andersson performing on

TV4 in Sweden.

Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp Gala

Please join us at the Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp Gala on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at Rosy's Jazz Hall.  Starts 7pm.  Ticket includes food and music.  Purchase tickets at the door.

Music by artists-in-residence, latin jazz percussionists Candido Camero and Bobby Sanabria plus the distinguished faculty of the camp.  

Did you know that Candido Camero performed with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Tony Bennett (along with many, many others).  He is a living legend and only performed one time in New Orleans (at the Blue Room with Tony Bennett in 1954).

Please join the cause "Support the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp" on Facebook and tell your friends.

UPDATE: Here are a few photos from the culminating concert held July 24, 2009 and the invitation.

 

Mother and child

The doves came back this year and had another child.  This is the mother and her new child.  Why does it take only about 10 days for a baby bird to fly away and over 18 years for a baby human?

Times-Picayune's New Orleans Bars With Great Music

New Orleans bars with great music were featured in the Times-Picayune. Read HERE.

Jeremy Davenport in NY at Huckleberry Bar

Jeremy Davenport celebrates the release of his first Basin Street Records' release, We'll Dance 'Til Dawn in New York at the Huckleberry Bar on July 22, 2009. He will also perform there the last Wednesday of each month beginning July 29, 2009.

Kermit Ruffins in All About Jazz

Nice feature in All About Jazz about Kermit Ruffins and his new CD, Livin' a Treme' Life. Click HERE. Become a fan of Kermit on Facebook.

Dove Love

Last year 2 doves chose a hanging basket outside of our kitchen for their love basket and had two dove babies. They have returned this year.

Kermit Ruffins in New Orleans Living Magazine

Click HERE for a story on Kermit Ruffins and his new CD, Livin' a Treme' Life in the June issue of New Orleans Living magazine.

Kermit Ruffins in New Orleans Magazine

See what Jason Berry says about Kermit Ruffins' new CD, Livin' a Treme' Life in the May 2008 issue of New Orleans Magazine HERE.

Thing to Do in New Orleans

Here are suggestions for a stay at home vacation in New Orleans by the Times-Picayune (nola.com). Number 3 is a really good one! I would add Jeremy Davenport at the Ritz-Carlton on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays to number 5.

SIGGRAPH 2009 New Orleans Music Sampler

SIGGRAPH 2009 and Basin Street Records have teamed up to help kids in New Orleans. We will donate 100% of the proceeds we receive from this digital record to the Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp.

Feel free to post this tile on your website and help kids in New Orleans. Link it to: http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/community/outreach/basin2.php

Ellis,Wynton,Branford,Delfeayo,& Jason Marsalis

Ellis Marsalis, and his sons Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason are all performing today at both the White House and then at the Kennedy Center where Ellis will be honored. Did you know that Ellis, Wynton, Delfeayo, and Jason have all been recorded on various CDs on the Basin Street Records label? Pick them up today!

Theresa Andersson on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Theresa Andersson performs on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson tonight on CBS (just after June 10, 2009) at 12:35am ET/PT (11:35pm CT). Also on tonight's show is Chris Matthews from Hardball. Theresa's latest CD is Hummingbird, Go! If you missed it, click HERE.

DOWNBEAT Magazine 75th Anniversary Issue

Congratulations to DOWNBEAT Magazine on 75 years! Their 75th Anniversary Collector's Edition Magazine just came out, and Kermit Ruffins is on the top right corner of the cover of this issue (July 2009).

Kermit Ruffins Hits #3 on CMJ Jazz Radio Chart

Kermit Ruffins' Livin' a Treme' Life hit #3 on the CMJ Jazz Radio Chart and is at #32 on the Jazzweek Radio Chart. Thank you for spinning it! Don't miss Kermit at Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing on July 7, 2009.

Support the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp!

Learn more about the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp in New Orleans. This year's artists-in-residence include Candido Camero, Bobbie Sanabria and Norma Miller. Previous artists-in-residence included Wynton Marsalis, George Duke and Clark Terry. Visit www.louisarmstrongjazzcamp.com for more information or to make a donation.

Jeremy Davenport: We'll Dance 'Til Dawn

We are pleased to announce that Jeremy Davenport's new CD, We'll Dance 'Til Dawn, will be available nationally on July 21, 2009. Jeremy Davenport is the newest artist signed to Basin Street Records. He performs in the Davenport Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Click on image to enlarge.

Theresa Andersson on KCRW

Theresa Andersson will perform live during Morning Becomes Eclectic on KCRW out of Los Angeles today at 11:15am PT (2:15pm ET, 1:15pm CT). Her latest CD is Hummingbird, Go! Listen online at www.kcrw.com.

Green Light: Treme on HBO

Treme gets green light by HBO! Read about it on Nola.com HERE.

An updated story in the Times-Picayune and Nola.com can be read HERE.

Read the Paste Magazine article online HERE. This article is accompanied by a great shot of Kermit Ruffins who served as a creative consultant and also performs and acts as himself in the pilot (premiere episode).

Basin Street Records just released Kermit Ruffins' Livin' a Treme' Life, a great CD produced by Grammy winner Tracey Freeman!