The premiere of the new season of Top Chef is tonight. This season is set in New Orleans. Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio had a wonderful time with much of what’s great in our city, including Kermit Ruffins, Davell Crawford, and Jason Marsalis!
KERMIT RUFFINS LAUNCHES SATURDAY NIGHT RESIDENCY AT LITTLE GEM SALOON
SATURDAY NIGHTS JUST GOT JAZZIER AS NEW ORLEANS OWN KERMIT RUFFINS LAUNCHES SATURDAY NIGHT RESIDENCY AT LITTLE GEM SALOON
(New Orleans, LA): Little Gem Saloon, New Orleans historic restaurant and live music venue, announced today that famed jazz trumpeter Kermit Ruffins and The Barbeque Swingers will be launching a regular Saturday night residency, beginning on Saturday November 9th. Ruffins has been developing his “early show” sets at the Little Gem Saloon and is also scheduled to perform on Saturday October 5th and 19th. The Little Gem Saloon is located at 445 Poydras Street and South Rampart St. Show times are 7pm-10pm and Advance Tickets are $15 for general admission and are available atwww.littlegemsaloon.com or www.ticketfly.com or by calling 504 267-4863.
“We have been having a ball waking up the spirits of Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong at The Little Gem Saloon and we want to continue with a regular Saturday night gig,” states Ruffins. The Little Gem Saloon, which was founded in 1904, was a hangout and performance room for the early jazz musicians in what was then known as the “Back o’ Town” neighborhood of New Orleans. “By having Kermit Ruffins at Little Gem Saloon on Saturday nights, we hope to create a new tradition where music lovers can come out early, enjoy a nice dinner, dance, support jazz and just have fun.” states Nick Bazan, General Manager of Little Gem Saloon. “We are very happy to be part of the Little Gem Saloon family,” says Tom Thompson, Kermit’s manager of twenty years. “There is not a more beautiful setting in the city for Kermit’s music and personality.”
Ruffins, a renowned entertainer and trumpeter who was famous for his late-night shows, has changed his show times to coincide with a renewed commitment to a life/career balance and also to be able to manage his growing empire of restaurants and music venues, which includes Kermit’s Treme’s Speakeasy and Ernie K Doe’s Mother in Law’s Lounge. His latest release We Partyin’ Traditional Style on Basin Street Records includes Kermit Ruffins surrounded by some of the best traditional New Orleans Jazz musicians including Shannon Powell on drums, Steve Pistorius on piano, Richard Moten on bass, Lucien Barbarin on trombone, Tom Fischer on clarinet, Don Vappie on banjo and vocalist Mykia Jovan.
The Little Gem Saloon is also launching Davell Crawfords’ New Orleans Legends Series, an intimate night of music, conversations and more featuring Irma Thomas onFriday, October 11th, for two shows– 8:00PM and 10:00PM and Gem Sessions, an exploration into the national modern jazz scene with an upcoming show with Mike Clark on October 26th.at 10pm.
—reposted from www.Facebook.com/tom-thompson-rubyarts with permission
2012 In Review
Below, in reverse order from the way we tweeted them on 12/5/12 as #2012BasinStreetRecordsHighlights:
Our artists: Kermit,Irvin, Michael,Theresa, Davell & Rebirth on this season of #Treme on @HBO & music licenses.
Kermit agreeing to contract extension yesterday. Next record coming April 2013.
Los Hombres Calientes getting together regularly at @TheIClubNOLA & at @Jazzfest
15 years since 1st recording @Tipitinas w/ @KaraSamuelsAtty (on stage too) pic.twitter.com/dZVkfDkx
Dr.Michael White, Kermit Ruffins & Bill Summers International Jazz Day participation w/ Herbie Hancock
Theresa Andersson’s release of Street Parade.pic.twitter.com/17iqVjwd
Dr.Michael White’s release of Adventurers in New Orleans Jazz Pt 2.
Rebirth opening 8 shows for Red Hot Chili Peppers pic.twitter.com/LPDFPlzc
Recording and getting Davell Crawford’s 2013 release, Louisiana: My Gift To You, ready
@KermitRuffins being honored by @Jazzfest & @USPS pic.twitter.com/koc1Y186
@KermitRuffins opening Kermit’s Treme Speakeasypic.twitter.com/xmj8x5lS
Theresa Andersson’s 50+ performances in Sweden.
@JeremyDavenport‘s 175+ performances in New Orleans
@RebirthBB return from @TheGrammys MSY airport celebration arranged by @kermitruffins pic.twitter.com/IOn3pcMN
Did I tweet @RebirthBB @TheGrammys WIN? pic.twitter.com/HYraae0N
@RebirthBB Grammy nomination celebration at Juneau Suite by Stewart,Juli & Bernardo pic.twitter.com/rlEtjawz
REBIRTH’s Grammy celebration at Maple Leaf. pic.twitter.com/qXNlkR7x
Receiving Offbeat’s Best of the Beat for Best Record Label 2011 in early 2012. pic.twitter.com/jkk1OmgW
Theresa Andersson’s mini krewe marching in Krewe of Muses parade pic.twitter.com/q5vhpx8m
@RebirthBB named Entertainer of the Year with Album of Year at Gambit’s Big Easy Entertainment Awards.
@IrvinMayfieldJr & @NolaNOJO at @carnegiehall
Grammy win for Rebirth of New Orleans CD by @RebirthBB
15 Years Ago We Signed Our First Artist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today (Monday, October 22, 2012) is the 15th anniversary of the signing of the first Basin Street Records’ recording contract. It was a contract with Kermit Ruffins to record a pair of records, the first of which was recorded on November 14, 1997 in front of a packed house at Tipitina’s. That recording was later named The Barbecue Swingers Live and was released in February 1998.
Please join Kermit Ruffins and Basin Street Records when we return to the scene of that first recording, Tipitina’s, at 501 Napoleon Ave. in New Orleans, on Friday, November 16th, 2012 to celebrate 15 years and a dozen projects together.
Since that date Basin Street Records has signed a dozen artists and has released nearly 50 projects including 2012 Grammy winner Rebirth of New Orleans by the Rebirth Brass Band. For a complete list of artists, projects, photos and tour dates please click on www.BasinStreetRecords.com
Other spotlight shows in November helping Basin Street Records celebrate 15 years include:
* Rebirth Brass Band opening 8 shows for the Red Hot Chili Peppers Nov 14-26
* Jeremy Davenport at Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis Nov 23-24
* Theresa Andersson at Byronz in Shreveport on Thursdays beginning November 29
* Jason Marsalis w/ Marcus Roberts at the London Jazz Festival Nov 17
* Irvin Mayfield’s NOJO Jam at Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse in New Orleans Wednesdays in November
* Dr.Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band at Xavier University in New Orleans Nov 20
* Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen at Tipitina’s in New Orleans Nov 23
Complete tour dates: http://www.BasinStreetRecords.com/on-tour
Sign up for Enews & receive 11 free tunes: http://www.BasinStreetRecords.com
Watch TREME on HBO Sundays
A Night In Treme
Rebirth Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins, Dr.Michael White and more hit the San Francisco Jazz Festival (June 10th) and the Playboy Jazz Festival (June 11th). The Rebirth Brass Band’s new CD, Rebirth of New Orleans just hit #12 on Billboard Jazz Chart (printing 6/18) and is #1 for the 6th week on the CMJ Jazz radio chart. Kermit’s Happy Talk CD was as high as #5 on the Billboard chart, and Dr. Michael White’s Adventures in New Orleans Jazz, Part 1 will be released nationally on June 21, 2011. Click HERE a complete list of tourdates.