Downbeat Magazine Critics’ Poll

Excited to find out that Basin Street Records made the Downbeat Magazine Critics’ Poll for Best Record Label (Aug 2011).  Also named on the poll, Dr. Michael White for clarinet, and Jason Marsalis for vibes.

Can’t Wait for Treme Season 3

Just finished watching TREME season 2 finale on HBO for the 3rd time.  It’s amazing TV. Thank you to HBO, David Simon, Eric Overmyer, Nina Noble, Blake Leyh and all the rest of their amazing writers and crew.

The lagniappe for us are the numerous references to our artists and music.  Here are just a few things you may have seen or heard just in the season 2 finale related to our label (there were performances this season by Jon Cleary, Kermit Ruffins, Henry Butler and Rebirth Brass Band, and additional music licensed from Dr.Michael White.)

  • Cornell Williams (of Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen) continues to shine as an actor
  • Wendell Pierce (who narrated Irvin Mayfield’s Strange Fruit CD and attended Ben Franklin High School with BSR president Mark Samuels) who deserves an Emmy
  • References by Trombone Shorty (who has performed on several of our CDs) to the fact that he’s leaving for Japan to take a gig with Henry Butler (who has recorded 3 CDs with us)
  • Performances by Rebirth Brass Band (who just released their latest CD with us) at the Maple Leaf Bar
  • A poster of Kermit Ruffins’ Swing This! in the WWOZ studio
  • A poster of Basin Street Records artists in LaDonna’s bar
  • A performance at Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse (Irvin has released 11 projects with us)
  • Jazzfest performance by Donald Harrison (who performed on Irvin Mayfield’s first CD extensively, and a few other BSR projects)
  • The Jazzfest performance by Donald Harrison included Mike Clark on drums (Mike is a c0-leader of the Headhunters, who released Evolution Revolution on our label)
  • Near the end DJ Davis announces that a song playing was by Kidd Jordan. He serves as the artistic director of Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp that starts for its 17 year on July 5, 2011.  Please make a donation TODAY to the camp at http://www.LouisArmstrongJazzCamp.com/donation and help the next generation get the education (musically and otherwise) that they deserve.

Can’t wait for season 3!  In the meantime, I’ll probably watch seasons 1 and 2 a few more times.


New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

The lineup for the 2011 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, otherwise known as Jazz Fest, has been announced. Jazzfest will return to the New Orleans Fairgrounds on April 29th through May 8th, 2011.

Our artists will perform as follows:

Friday, April 29th: Jon Cleary | Los Hombres Calientes: Irvin Mayfield & Bill Summers | Haitian–New Orleans Connection featuring Emeline Michel, Dr. Jean Montes, and Dr. Michael White

Saturday, April 30th: Jeremy Davenport

Friday, May 6th: Kermit Ruffins
Saturday, May 7th: Dr. Michael White
Sunday, May 8th: Rebirth Brass Band | Henry Butler | Irvin Mayfield

Buy their music today to get you in the mood. See you there!

Click HERE for our artists complete schedule during Jazz Fest.

2011 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

The lineup for the 2011 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, otherwise known as Jazzfest, has been announced. Jazzfest will return to the New Orleans Fairgrounds on April 29th through May 8th, 2011. Our artists will perform as follows:

Friday, April 29th: Jon Cleary, Los Hombres Calientes: Irvin Mayfield & Bill Summers, Haitian–New Orleans Connection featuring Emeline Michel, Dr. Jean Montes, and Dr. Michael White

Saturday, April 30th: Jeremy Davenport

Friday, May 6th: Kermit Ruffins

Saturday, May 7th: Dr. Michael White

Sunday, May 8th: Rebirth Brass Band, Henry Butler, Irvin Mayfield

Buy their music today to get you in the mood. See you there!

For their complete Jazz Fest daytime and nighttime schedules click HERE.

Basin Street Records’ CDs Make Great Gifts

Basin Street Records’ CDs make wonderful gifts. We offer big bulk discounts. Email bulkdiscounts@basinstreetrecords.com for details. Buy any 2 CDs from www.BasinStreetRecords.com and receive a free sampler of all of our artists, and free domestic shipping.

We have CDs from Kermit Ruffins (including his Have A Crazy Cool Christmas & his brand new Happy Talk), Jeremy Davenport, Dr. Michael White, Henry Butler, Irvin Mayfield, Jon Cleary, Theresa Andersson, the Headhunters, Los Hombres Calientes & Jason Marsalis.

FREE Music for Mom

A FREE Mother’s Day present for your mom. When she signs up for our enews she will receive a link by email to 8 great songs from Kermit Ruffins, Henry Butler, Jon Cleary, Dr. Michael White, Irvin Mayfield, Rebirth Brass Band and Los Hombres Calientes. Yes, they are Mardi Gras ish songs, but good year round!

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