Wednesday, August 26, 2009

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).

Monday, August 24, 2009

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.


Sunday, August 23, 2009

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.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

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.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

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.

Monday, August 10, 2009

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.

Monday, August 03, 2009

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.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Kermit Ruffins Visits Louis Armstrong

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