Contemporary Jazz from New Orleans

7 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Fusion, JAZZ: Smooth Jazz



Details:
Artist Information

Instrumentation
EDWARD ANDERSON: BANDLEADER/TRUMPET Producer, arranger, musician and founder of Fertile
Crescent Entertainment, Inc. Andersonâs musical
experiences include writing and arranging music for
New Yorkâs Jazz at Lincoln Center; Intern/Assistant to
Executive Vice President and Head of A&R, Sony Columbia Jazz; and performances with the Treme Brass Band, Dr. Michael White, Kermit Ruffins. In 2005 he was featured as a member of the legendary Ray Charles Septet in the Academy Award winning motion picture Ray starring Jamie Foxx. As a producer, Anderson has produced albums for local jazz favorites, Leah Chase, jazz violinist Michael Ward and legendary song writer Harold Battiste. He is currently Director of the Institure of Jazz Culture Music Department at Dillard University in New Orleans.

DARRELL LAVIGNE: CO-LEADER / PIANIST
Recognized by New Orleans Magazine as âThe Best New Orleans Contemporary Pianists of 2002â, Lavigne is reaching new heights as a songwriter on Bleu Orleans. He has performed with Bill Summers of Herbie Hanockâs Headhunters, Regina Belle, Oleta Adams, Donald Harrison, Michael Ward, Wanda Rouzan, and Leah Chase. Darrell is a highly sought-after producer and songwriter. As a composer Darrell's works have been sought after by many of New Orleans' and Houston's most established contemporary and smooth jazz artists.

AARON FLETCHER: SAXES
Aaron began playing saxophone at the age of 6. His mother, Sheila Reed introduced him to gospel music, R&B, and other forms of Western American music and his father, Elton Fletcher exposed him to live performances. After graduating from the esteemed New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (N.O.C.C.A.) Aaron began touring with Terence Blanchard at the age of 19. This led to working with other artists including: Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Stefon Harris, The Neville Brothers, Spike Lee, Stevie Wonder, Rza of Wu Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean and many others. Fletcher was also a finalist in the Thelonius Monk International Saxophone Competition in 2001.

Biography
BLEU ORLEANS

You might ask, âHow would one categorize a band that combines jazz, rock, R&B, hip-hop, blues and world music into one particular genre?â Well itâs no secret that the Crescent City is a modern day musical Mecca and the members of Bleu Orleans push the envelope of traditional New Orleans music. Bleu Orleans is carrying the torch of New Orleansâ music into the new millennium.

Founding member and trumpeter Edward Anderson explains, âMany people think of New Orleans and New Orleansâ Jazz in romantic âold worldâ terms. However the 21st century is a very different world than when Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Jelly Roll Morton were defining the music in the early 20th century. Neither John Coltrane, nor Miles Davis experienced such a rapidly evolving world with email, digital media, or the paranoia brought about by 9/11. As natives of New Orleans, the devastation brought about by Hurricane Katrina has of course deeply affected our lives and our artistic outlook. As creative artists, we want to express these experiences through music.â Bleu Orleans is very eclectic and very rooted in the fundamental influences of contemporary jazz. They also feel free to borrow from the undeniable influences of the popular, and world music influences of the 21st century. Bleu Orleans is a jazz super group consisting of master musicians who are each capable bandleaders in their own right. Bleu Orleans band mates appeared as members of the Ray Charles Septet in the Academy award winning feature film, Ray staring Jamie Foxx. Collectively Bleu Orleansâ members have played musical events around the globe. They have been a mainstay at venerable New Orleans festivals including the Essence Music Festival and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Additionally, Bleu Orleans members have performed with such world-renowned artists as Wynton, Marsalis, Patrice Rushen, Tori Amos, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Smith, Harold Battiste, Herbie Hancock, and Brian McKnight.

Website
http://www.fcenola.com

Discography
Bleu Orleans
Title: "Bleu 2"
Label: Fertile Crescent Entertainment, 2005

PERFORMANCES
⢠Essence Music Festival, New Orleans
⢠Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans
⢠Jazz & Heritage Foundationâs Workshop with Brian
McKnight, New Orleans
⢠French Quarter Festival, New Orleans
⢠Offbeat Magazine Awards, New Orleans
⢠The Jazz Bakery, Los Angeles Ca
⢠Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, New Orleans
⢠House of Blues, New Orleans
⢠Club La Ve Le, Los Angeles
⢠Sweet Lorraineâs Jazz Club, New Orleans
⢠DBA, New Orleans
⢠Iris Jazz Resort, Houston, TX
⢠Premier of Documentary on Cannonball Adderly
with guests Harold Battiste, Alvin Batiste, and
Herman Leonard.
⢠Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center,
University of Maryland

COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE
⢠Berlin Jazz Festival
⢠New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
⢠Grand Jazz, Mackinac Island
⢠Montreal Jazz Festival
⢠Heineken Jazz, Rotterdam
⢠JVC Jazz Festival
⢠NCL Floating Jazz Festival
⢠Mt. Zao Jazz Festival, Japan
⢠Standard Bank Festival, South Africa
⢠Festival de las Artes, Mexico
⢠Capetown Jazz Festival, South Africa
⢠Potomac River Festival
⢠Festa Music Ascona, Switzerland
⢠International Festival De Louisianne
⢠Dam Square Festival, Amsterdam
⢠Grand Jazz Sapporo, Japan
⢠South Fever Tour, Netherlands
⢠Catalina Jazz Festival
⢠City Stages, Mobile, Alabama
⢠Telluride Bluegrass Festival
⢠Umbria Jazz Festival, Perugia, Italy
⢠Sao Paulo, Brasil
⢠Eight city tour of China