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| ’New Orleans Music in Exile’ documentary Starz Entertainment Group announced the premiere screening of its feature-length original documentary "New Orleans Music in Exile" on Saturday, May 13, 2006. The New Orleans event is part of SEG's dual commitment to premiere the documentary which chronicles the horror and heartbreak of musicians who lived through the disaster and to help raise funds to benefit local musicians and junior and high school music departments throughout New Orleans. Earlier this year, SEG, in conjunction with The Tipitina's Foundation, launched a fundraising campaign to support the Foundation's "Instruments A Comin" and "Hurricane Katrina: Artist Relief" programs. These ongoing efforts provide material support for school music programs and direct assistance to musicians and their families affected by Hurricane Katrina. SEG will make a monetary contribution to Tipitina's at the concert on May 13th. "'New Orleans Music in Exile' presents us with the ideal opportunity to do something about the catastrophic devastation that Katrina had on New Orleans' famed music culture, " said Robert B. Clasen, president and CEO, SEG. "As we prepared for the film's premiere on Starz InBlack, we realized that we could use the film as a vehicle to help musicians and junior and high school music departments. The "New Orleans Music in Exile Concert and Benefit" will help bring the music that we all love and enjoy back to the streets and the schools in New Orleans. Directed by noted music documentarian Robert Mugge (Last of the Mississippi Jukes, Blues Divas), "New Orleans Music in Exile" is a story of struggle, inspiration and the power of the Crescent City's music history. Musicians featured in the documentary include Dr. John, Cyril Neville, Kermit Ruffins, Irma Thomas, the Iguanas, the ReBirth Brass Band and others. In addition to performing, they share their personal stories of how Katrina affected their lives, scattering them to other cities, and how they are getting back on their feet. The film's co-producer is Diana Zelman. Filming of "New Orleans Music in Exile" began two months after the muddy waters roiled by Katrina, drenched homes and neighborhoods like the Lower Ninth Ward, St. Bernard Parish, Treme' and Algiers, where many musicians lived, but were forced to leave, scattering them to other cities. Viewers will see the devastation first hand. Blues singer Irma Thomas walks through her famous club, the Lions Den, which was destroyed by the storm and unfortunately will not be rebuilt. We also visit her soaked, soiled and severely damaged home. Kermit Ruffins talks about his lost possessions and move to Houston. Paul Sanchez of Cowboy Mouth shares how he has been living out of his tour bus. He says, "My home had ten feet of water and I had nine-foot ceilings. The first month was easy to keep your spirits up, because it was like, this adventure ... But now, we're over two months in and the fun's gone out of it and I just want to go home." Phil Frazer, leader of the ReBirth Brass Band says, "I lost a couple of cars and the roof was gone from my house. Both of our drummers, their houses were submerged under water completely. They lost everything." write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |