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| Hurricane on the Bayou Soundtrack Hurricane On The Bayou is an enlightening tribute to the vital swamps and undying spirit of New Orleans that has persevered after the deadly aftermath of Hurricane Katrina--with eclectic, heartfelt songs that represent the city's life, love, and natural beauty and embody the city's thriving genres: Cajun, jazz, blues, gospel and zydeco. The new soundtrack will be released on December 22, 2006, to coincide with the worldwide release of the new giant screen film by the same name. Produced by two- time Academy Award-nominated filmmakers MacGillivray Freeman Films (creators of Everest) with executive producer Audubon Nature Institute and presented by The Weather Channel, Hurricane On The Bayou will open in select IMAX theatres worldwide starting December 22, 2006. Hurricane On The Bayou features selections from legendary artists and towering figures of the New Orleans music scene, including Fats Domino, Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, Charles Brown, Marva Wright, Chubby Carrier and more--as well as new tracks with critically-acclaimed blues guitarist Tab Benoit, jazz pianist Allen Toussaint and rising young talent, teenaged fiddler Amanda Shaw, all of whom are profiled in the film. Toussaint and Benoit have just been announced as 2007 Grammy Award nominees. Toussaint's collaboration with Elvis Costello, The River In Reverse -- has been recognized in the Pop Vocal Album category, while Benoit's latest CD with Louisiana's Leroux, Brother to the Blues, has earned a nomination in the Traditional Blues Album category. Proceeds from the sales of the CD will go towards Audubon Nature Institute's extensive educational programs to teach people of all ages about the importance of wetlands restoration. "The film is in part a profound musical celebration of this great American treasure, New Orleans, and to bring the true spirit of the city alive, we needed a powerful soundtrack that would convey a wide range of emotions, much like the film does, " said Greg MacGillivray, producer/director of Hurricane On The Bayou. "The compilation of sounds gathered here will give viewers an uplifting sense of how important this region is to the country, and why everything must be done to restore the city's unique identity." This 19-track CD, arranged by award-winning composer and long-time MacGillivray Freeman collaborator, Steve Wood, transports listeners to the Big Easy, which has been termed for decades as the "soul of America." Many of these songs were recorded by some of Louisiana's most beloved musicians who are also the four main voices in the film -- blues guitarist and environmental activist Tab Benoit, zydeco specialist Chubby Carrier, Toussaint, and teenaged pop prodigy and fiddler Amanda Shaw. Told through the eyes and evocative stories of these four musicians, who were each deeply affected by Katrina, the film Hurricane on the Bayou is a clarion call to restore New Orleans and protect the vital wetlands from which the city's unique identity arose, as well as a haunting document of Katrina's powerful effects and an emotional musical celebration of the city's rich cultural heritage. Among the original standout tracks on this soundtrack are the soulful "God's Good Hands, " performed by gospel queen Marva Wright, Allen Toussaint and the Greater Antioch Choir and written by Wood; "When A Cajun Man Gets The Blues, " performed and written by Tab Benoit, " "Gator Song, " by Benoit and Shaw, and "This Is My Home, " performed by John Boutte and written by Wood. The standards on this CD include: "I'm Walking" by Fats Domino, "Change is Gonna Come, " by Aaron Neville, "Such A Night" by Dr. John, "Stand by Me" by Mavis Staples, "Iko Iko" by Zachary Richard, and "Nobody Knows" by Charles Brown. "This CD provides a vast cross-section of music from New Orleans, since the city has such a rich heritage, " says Wood. "It's a melting pot and a lot of that is represented here--from Dixieland to zydeco and Cajun influences. It even features tunes that some may not be aware originated from that city. I feel this is a strong combination of bright, up-tempo fun selections and strong, gospel pieces, all of which convey the strong sense of hope." Hurricane on the Bayou is produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films. Executive produced by Audubon Nature Institute and presented by The Weather Channel. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |