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| New Orleans Musicians Join Jazz At Bard For A Benefit Concert For Victims Of Hurricane Katrina On October 14 Jazz at Bard presents a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina on Friday, October 14, featuring New Orleans musicians the Tin Men, Coco Robicheaux, and special guests. About the Musicians: Coco Robicheaux, the son of Choctaw and Cajun parents, spent his early years between his native swamplands of rural Ascension Parish, Louisiana, and the French countryside. Forming his first band at 13, by age 15 he was playing New Orleans' famed Bourbon Street, and signed his first record contract with the Mississippi J. B. Label in 1965. He joined with Orleans Records in 1994 and released the highly acclaimed Spiritland. His Louisiana Medicine Man was awarded Best Blues Album by a Louisiana Artist in 1998 by Offbeat magazine. His latest release is Yeah, U Rite! produced by Robicheaux’s own label, Spiritland Records. He has played every New Orleans French Quarter Festival since 1995, and faithfully delivered his mojo soul for 10 consecutive years at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. In addition to his New Orleans gigs, Coco has performed in California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, New York, South Carolina, Australia, Germany, and at the Montreal and Nice Jazz Festivals, and has perfomed with musical legends including Johnnie Cash, Gatemouth Brown, Dr. John, John Lee Hooker, Herbie Hancock, James Brown, Keb Mo, Willie DeVille, Mighty Sam McClain, and just about every New Orleans musician. The Tin Men are one of New Orleans’ most interesting and exciting bands. Consisting of Alex McMurray on guitar and vocals, Matt Perrine on sousaphone and washboard, and Chaz Leary on washboard and vocals, the band has riveted audiences with its own brand of music. Those who caught their late night performances during the 2002 Jazz Fest season hailed the group as “the best thing seen during Jazz Fest.” Concerned about friends in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, Bard alumna Raissa St. Pierre ’87 was only too eager to help Tom Thayer organize a concert of New Orleans bands. Thayer, from Tivoli, New York, owns the club DBA in New Orleans, which is a mainstay of the music scene on Frenchman Street on the edge of the French Quarter. “Tom had a tour he was lining up and thought Bard would be a great place to bring these bands, ” says St. Pierre. “And let me tell you, we can’t wait!” Jazz at Bard (founded by St. Pierre and Sheila Moloney ’84) is sponsoring the concert to benefit musicians from this great city whose history of heart-and-soul music has given millions of people tons of joy and happiness the whole world over. “New Orleans needs our help and we want to give whatever we can and keep on doing so until the city and its people are back in their homes and on their feet, ” says St. Pierre. “These are world-class musicians who epitomize the New Orleans music scene and its strong tradition of supporting a great variety of music, ” says Moloney. “It will be a very special evening! We hope that the Hudson Valley community will join us and support efforts to raise funds for hurricane relief.” The suggested donation is $20. The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. at Bard College’s Olin Hall. For further information, to purchase tickets, or for reservations, call 845-758-7456, e-mail jazzatbard@bard.edu, or visit www.bard.edu/jazzatbard. Reservations and advance ticket purchase are recommended. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |