Live At Little Gem Saloon Release Party With Kermit Ruffins and Special Guests – Jan. 12 – 7 & 9 PM

Posted by  Braden

Buy Tickets – 7 PM

Buy Tickets – 9 PM

Kermit Ruffins performs at the Little Gem Saloon on May 5, 2017 - Photo by Erika Goldring

Special Guests Include: Davell Crawford, Dr. Michael White, Irvin Mayfield, Lena Prima

On Saturday, January 12, 2019 Basin Street Records and the Little Gem Saloon are teaming up to present an evening celebrating the release of the new album Live at Little Gem Saloon: Basin Street Records Celebrates 20 Years. The evening will be anchored with two performances by trumpeter/vocalist Kermit Ruffins at 7 PM and 9 PM, and feature special guests and Basin Street labelmates: Davell Crawford (piano/vocals – 7 PM set), Dr. Michael White (clarinet – 7 PM set), Irvin Mayfield (trumpet – 7 PM & 9 PM sets), and Lena Prima (vocals – 9 PM set). Don’t miss this outstanding event!

Live at Little Gem Saloon: Basin Street Records Celebrates 20 Years is a fantastic new live album recorded at the Little Gem Saloon in May of 2017 that features performances by Jason Marsalis, Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield, Bill Summers, Dr. Michael White, and Davell Crawford. “This disc captures a special evening for a special label.” – Tom Henry, Toledo Blade. All of these outstanding musicians came together to show support and appreciation for the continued work of the local New Orleans label they call home in the best way possible—with an evening of great music.

The Little Gem Saloon is one of the oldest jazz venues in the world that was lovingly restored in 2012 to a two-story private event space, restaurant & live music venue that harkens back to the days when the Gem was the jazz corner of New Orleans. 115 years since it first opened its doors, the restoration of the Little Gem Saloon marks the resurrection of this historic area as the heart of New Orleans’ Jazz.

For more information on this event, Live at Little Gem Saloon, or Basin Street Records please contact: info@basinstreetrecords.biz or

Little Gem Saloon, 504-267-4863, info@littlegemsaloon.com

Basin Street Records Celebrates 20 Years With Live At Little Gem Saloon

Posted by  Braden

Live at Little Gem Saloon: Basin Street Records Celebrates 20 Years by Jason Marsalis Kermit Ruffins Irvin Mayfield Bill Summers Dr. Michael White Davell Crawford

Out November 23, 2018
Buy Now!

Listen to clips on Soundcloud now!

On May 5, 2017 an all-star roster of Basin Street Records recording artists came together to celebrate the kickoff of BSR’s 20th anniversary at the historic jazz venue, the Little Gem Saloon. The evening included performances on two stages from Jason Marsalis, Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield, Bill Summers, Dr. Michael White, and Davell Crawford. The entire evening was recorded, and choice selections from each set comprise the album Live at Little Gem Saloon: Basin Street Records Celebrates 20 Years.

Following the progression of the evening, the album opens with the original modern jazz stylings of the drummer-phenom turned vibraphone-master, Jason Marsalis, here performing his original compositions “Bourbon Street Ain’t Mardi Gras” and “At The House in Da Pocket” to a packed room with an electric energy. During Marsalis’s set a “prayer line” formed outside the Poydras street club for those hopeful attendees waiting to get a spot to see the star-studded lineup in the full-capacity club.

Jason Marsalis performs vibraphone at Little Gem Saloon in New Orleans during the Basin Street Records 20th Anniversary Kickoff Show for the album Live at Little Gem Saloon

The next set features an outstanding double-trumpet duo from two of the biggest trumpet-giants in the city. Kermit Ruffins and Irvin Mayfield joined each other on stage with the backing of Kermit Ruffins’ band, The Barbecue Swingers, for two Kermit-approved standards: the classic “On The Sunny Side of the Street” and the rambunctious and fun “Skokiaan.”

Kermit Ruffins singing and holding a trumpet at Little Gem Saloon in New Orleans, LA during the Basin Street Records 20th Anniversary Kickoff on May 5, 2017 for the album Live at Little Gem Saloon

Next on the lineup was to be pianist Henry Butler (who has since passed away; may his soul rest in peace) in a solo performance, but a flight delay made his appearance impossible. What does one do when a featured artist can’t make it to your post-Jazz Fest show? With so many world class musicians in the building at one time, you ask them to do what they do best: improvise. In no time, Basin Street president, Mark Samuels organized an impromptu Basin Street Records super-group featuring Davell Crawford on vocals, Irvin Mayfield on trumpet & percussion, Jason Marsalis on drums, Bill Summerson percussion, Mark Brooks on bass, and Ronald Markham on piano. This group would bring the trio of Irvin Mayfield, Bill Summers, and Jason Marsalis (the founding members of Los Hombres Calientes) together on stage for the first time in over 15 years and give us a sizzling Latin jazz rendition of “Autumn Leaves.”

Continuing the evening was traditional jazz clarinetist, Dr. Michael White, who captivated the audience with his outstanding polish and skill on the immortal “Summertime” and White’s own energetic “Give It Up / Gypsy Second Line” featuring Marsalis again on drums.

Dr. Michael White performs playing Clarinet at Little Gem Saloon in New Orleans, LA on May 5, 2017 during the Basin Street Records 20th Anniversary Kickoff Event for the album Live at Little Gem Saloon

Davell Crawford, the “Piano Prince of New Orleans” closed out the night performing his unique brand of Louisiana roots music with his band One Foot in the Blues. We hear an R&B rendition of “Big Boss Man” and Crawford’s own emotive medley “Don’t Ever Be Blue / Ode to Louisiana.”

Davell Crawford performs the melodica at Little Gem Saloon on May 5, 2017 during the Basin Street Records 20th Anniversary Kickoff Event for the album Live at Little Gem Saloon

It was an unprecedented evening in New Orleans music. Never before has Basin Street Records released a project featuring all new music from so many different artists. Live at Little Gem Saloon captures the spirit of a truly special evening of live music. For 20 years, Basin Street Records has provided a home for these outstanding artists to flourish, and they gave back in the best way possible with the performances captured on this album.

Pre-Order now from Basin Street Records, iTunes, or Amazon to receive two tracks instantly: “Bourbon Street Ain’t Mardi Gras” by Jason Marsalis and “Give It Up (Gypsy Second Line)” by Dr. Michael White!

Lena Prima, Basin Street Records Recording Artist!

Posted by  Braden

Basin Street Records is proud to announce we have signed Lena Prima and will be releasing her forthcoming album, Prima La Famiglia, on January 18, 2019. Pre-order the album, and receive two tracks instantly as a download. Welcome to the team, Lena!

Lena Prima - Prima La Famiglia Cover Art

“A standing ovation . . . Lena has the panache of her father.” – The Chicago Tribune

A seasoned veteran of the music industry, vocalist Prima has made over 3,000 musical appearances around the world throughout her career. Born in Las Vegas, but now residing and regularly performing in New Orleans, Prima is rooted in the music of the Crescent City, and in the words of Basin Street Records’ founder and president, Mark Samuels, she’s a perfect fit on the label.

The partnership commences with the release of Prima’s new album, Prima La Famiglia. The heart of the album is in the title: Family. A proud Italian-American and longtime advocate of the Italian-American community, Prima set out to make an album of quintessential songs for the Italian-American family. In her own words, “It’s the music that Italian-Americans grew up with back in the 40s that carried on throughout generations. They played this music in their family homes, at Sunday dinners, weddings, and they are just beloved songs.” Lena Prima further solidifies the family theme with the fact that every track on the album (save the classic traditional Sicilian folk song “Cu Ti Lu Dissi”) was at one time performed by her late father, Louis Prima. While Prima La Famiglia pays tribute to her father in this way, Lena offers fresh interpretations and a vocal style that are all her own bolstered by new, lush arrangements and orchestrations from Lawrence Sieberth that give the album an overall feel of class and polish. Fans of Tony Bennett, Liza Minnelli, and Frank Sinatra take note, there’s a new name to list in the halls of great classic singers: Lena Prima!

Watch the Mini-Documentary on the making of the album!

Prima La Famiglia will be available on all major digital platforms and stores that sell fine music on January 18, 2019. Pre-order from select retailers or Basin Street Records to receive two tracks instantly.

 

Upcoming Performances:

Every Friday at The Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, LA – 10 PM

10/7/2018 – Club Bonafide, New York, NY – 3 PM & 6 PM

10/24/2018 – Royal Sonesta Hotel, New Orleans, LA – 8:30 PM

12/1/2018 – CIAO Women! Fundraiser – Deanie’s Seafood Courtyard, New Orleans, LA – 3 PM

Related show

  • Artist: Lena Prima
  • Date: 10/08/18
  • Time: 2:30pm
  • Venue: Columbus Day Parade
  • City: New York , NY
  • Address: 5th Avenue between 67th and 69th
  • Country: United States
  • Admission: Free
  • Age restrictions: All Ages
  • Notes: Red Carpet Performance at the Columbus Day Parade

Our Grammy Eligible Entries, For Your Consideration

Posted by  mark
Our Grammy Eligible Entries

This past year we celebrated our 20th anniversary with more new products than ever. The centerpiece of our 20th Anniversary was A Beautiful World, an album that included 59 musicians and another dozen or so who helped with everything from production to engineering. We really hope to help Kermit Ruffins finally win a Grammy! In addition to these albums, we released vinyl, anniversary editions of CDs, and even a comic book. Please take a listen to these releases.

We appreciate your Grammy consideration! #LetsGetKermitAGrammy

A Beautiful World by Kermit Ruffins and Irvin Mayfield (Jazz Vocals) – http://hyperurl.co/t67up3

Feel The Vibe by Saràyah (Pop Vocals) – http://hyperurl.co/092ded

Hot Like Fire by Bonerama (Americana) – http://hyperurl.co/6dct8l

Melody Reimagined: book 1 by Jason Marsalis (Jazz Instrumental) – http://hyperurl.co/5dnopn

Tricentennial Rag by Dr.Michael White (Jazz Instrumental) – http://hyperurl.co/ztvk9b