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| LIVE CONCERT DVD TAPING 'DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS' |
| Tue, Apr. 8 2008 |
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TIPITINA'S
APRIL 26
SPECIAL
GUESTS INCLUDE
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND, SUSAN
TEDESCHI AND DR. JOHN
Concert
To Be Filmed For DVD,The
Companion To Their Recent Critically
Acclaimed CD, Down
In New Orleans
(Time Life)
Fairfax, VA --- Four-time Grammy winners The Blind Boys of
Alabama will hold a special performance in New Orleans in support of their new
album Down In New Orleans (Time Life), the
group’s first-ever recording made in the Big Easy. The concert, held at
Tipitina’s at 9 p.m. on April 26th, will be filmed for a DVD to be released
early next year. Special guests confirmed for the event
include the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who
appear on the CD, as well as Dr. John, Susan Tedeschi and Marva Wright.
Released on January 29th, Down in New Orleans represents the band’s desire to bring hope to the
still-storm-ravaged city and includes performances by some of New Orleans’
finest, including David Torkanowsky and The Hot 8 Brass Band. “We may not be able to swing a hammer,”
explains founding member Jimmy Carter, “but we hope we can help inspire folks
with a song.”
The Washington Post said, "Inspired and relevant,
[Down In New Orleans] borders on
the miraculous." USA Today praised the "rousing
musical tribute to New Orleans," Rolling Stone called it “A super weapon
of roots-music uplift,” while the Toronto Sun gasped that the CD is “Inspirational.”
Blind Boys' concerts are legendary, packed with exuberance,
passion and spirit. The Boston Globe observed earlier this month,
"In concert, the Blind Boys of Alabama still raise up their bluesy
hallelujahs to rarefied soul-groove highs."
Blind Boys of Alabama are Jimmy Carter, Eric 'Ricky'
McKinnie, Joey Williams, Tracy Pierce, Billy Bowers and Ben Moore.
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| WATCH US ON THE GOSPEL MUSIC CHANNEL THIS SATURDAY APRIL 5 |
| Mon, Mar. 31 2008 |
| The Blind Boys of Alabama recently returned to the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (where the group started in the 1930’s) and The Gospel Music Channel’s "Kitchen Sink" was there to interview the band and capture the historic celebration of the Institute's 150th Anniversary and the first return visit & performance by the Blind Boys!
The Kitchen Sink will air this Saturday April 5th!!! The episode premieres at 8 pm EST. It reruns (all time U.S. Eastern):
Saturday 11pm Sunday 12 noon, 6pm, 11pm Monday 10am Tuesday 2pm
The show will roll the "Free At Last" video immediately after the feature story! Check your local cable listings for GMC and spread the word to TUNE IN! |
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| TOUR OF CANADA INCLUDING TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL |
| Mon, Mar. 24 2008 |
| THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA BRING THE “SPIRIT” OF NEW ORLEANS TO CANADA WITH NATIONAL TOUR INCLUDING TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL.
NEW CD ‘DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS’ (TIME LIFE) CALLED "INSPIRATIONAL" (Toronto Sun) AND "MIRACULOUS" (Washington Post).
Four-time Grammy winners The Blind Boys of Alabama have announced a Canadian tour in support of their new album ‘Down In New Orleans’ (Time Life), the group’s first-ever recording adventure in the Big Easy. The CD represents the band’s desire to bring attention, and hope, to the still-storm-ravaged city and features guest appearances by some of New Orleans’ finest, including Allen Toussaint, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and The Hot 8 Brass Band.
“We may not be able to swing a hammer,” says founding member Jimmy Carter, “but we hope we can help inspire folks with a song.”
Blind Boys' concerts are joyous celebrations. The Boston Globe observed
earlier this month, "In concert, the Blind Boys of Alabama still raise up
their bluesy hallelujahs to rarefied soul-groove highs."
Rave reviews for 'Down In New Orleans' are pouring in. The Washington Post
says, "Inspired and relevant, ['Down In New Orleans'] borders on the
miraculous." USA Today praises the "rousing musical tribute to New Orleans," and Rolling Stone called it “A superweapon of roots-music uplift.”
THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA – 2008 CANADIAN TOUR
4/5/2008 Halifax, NS Rebecca Cohn Auditorium 5/23/2008 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre 5/24/2008 Medicine Hat, AB Esplanade Arts & Heritage Center 5/25/2008 Edmonton, AB Winspear Centre 5/26/2008 Calgary, AB Jack Singer Concert Hall 5/28/2008 Victoria, BC Royal Theater 5/29/2008 Vancouver, BC Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts 5/30/2008 Regina, SK Casino Regina 6/25/2008 Toronto, ON TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival 7/2/2008 Montreal, QC Montreal Jazz Festival 7/3/2008 Ottawa, ON Cisco Ottawa Blues Festival with special
guest Allen Toussaint
7/5/2008 Summerside, PEI Credit Union Place 7/6/2008 Quebec City, QC Festival d’Ete International de Quebec
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| TOUR SELLING OUT FAST & SPECIAL NEW ORLEANS SHOW TO BE ANNOUNCED! |
| Sat, Mar. 22 2008 |
In support of the NEW CD, 'DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS', the band will be touring worldwide throughout 2008. Be sure to watch the tour page for concert announcements!
In most cases, you can get advance tickets via the venue links on our tour page.
Tickets are selling fast in the U.K., Europe, Canada, and the United States!
Watch for a special New Orleans show with many of the guest musicians that performed on "Down in New Orleans" playing live with The Blind Boys to be announced VERY soon. |
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| RAVE REVIEWS AROUND THE WORLD FOR “DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS" |
| Fri, Mar. 7 2008 |
| Released on January 29, The Blind Boys of Alabama's new CD “Down In New Orleans” (on Time Life Recorrds) is earning raves around the world.
"A superweapon of roots-music uplift... “ –Rolling Stone
"Jaunty keyboards, sassy horns and willed optimism propel 'Down in New Orleans'.” –New York Times
"Inspired and relevant... borders on the miraculous." –The Washington Post
The new album is anchored by a cast of world-class New Orleans musicians and features guests Allen Toussaint, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the Hot 8 Brass Band.
If you missed the band on Late Night with Conan O’Brien recently, you can catch them on The Tonight Show on March 11.
To see them right now, check out their video for the single "Free At Last" on the home page or on the bands' MySpace site.
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| NEW CD & WEBSITE! |
| Tue, Jan. 29 2008 |
| The Blind Boy's have a new website design & a new merchandise line for the "Down in New Orleans" CD & World Tour! Click on our "Merchandise" button and get the NEW CD now ...it just came out TODAY! |
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| CLARENCE FOUNTAIN HEALTH UPDATE: |
| Mon, Jan. 28 2008 |
| Due to ongoing complications from diabetes, Clarence Fountain is no longer touring with the Blind Boys of Alabama (nor does he appear on the band's new CD).
Even so, the Blind Boys' energetic live show will remain as strong as ever with Ben Moore stepping in for Clarence. Ben has now performed over 100 shows with the Blind Boys, has had his own Grammy-nominated gospel career, and in the past also worked with the likes of Otis Redding and James Brown.
Clarence continues to rest at home and appreciates your thoughts and prayers. In the meantime, the Blind Boys' tradition of musical excellence continues. |
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| FOUR-TIME GRAMMY WINNERS THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA GET 'DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS' |
| Tue, Nov. 20 2007 |
| NEW ALBUM, OUT JAN. 29 ON TIMELIFE
RECORDED IN THE CRESCENT CITY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
ALLEN TOUSSAINT, PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND,
AND THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND
They may be from Alabama but they've been spending time in the Crescent City. Four-time Grammy winners The Blind Boys of Alabama's new album 'Down In New Orleans,' their first in three years, will be released January 29, 2008 on the Time Life Music label.
Recording for the first time in New Orleans, The Blind Boys are backed here by a trio of world-class New Orleans musicians: David Torkanowsky (piano), Roland Guerin (bass) and Shannon Powell (drums). Other guests include legendary pianist/producer and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Allen Toussaint, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the horn-heavy Hot 8 Brass Band, one of the city's most vital young acts. But the band's deeply soulful and natural voices remain in the spotlight on 'Down In Orleans.'
After performing together for over six decades, The Blind Boys of Alabama have enjoyed one of the more striking comebacks in recent memory. Their last several albums have earned these hipster septuagenarians the best reviews and record sales of their career, four Grammy Awards in a four year span, and a completely new, contemporary audience.
'Down In New Orleans' track listing
1. Free At Last
2. Make a Better World (with The Hot 8 Brass Band)
3. How I Got Over
4. You Got To Move
5. Across the Bridge (with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band)
6. You Better Mind
7. Down by the Riverside (with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Allen
Toussaint)
8. If I Could Help Somebody (with Allen Toussaint)
9. Uncloudy Day (with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band)
10. A Prayer
11. I've Got A Home
12. I'll Fly Away (with The Hot 8 Brass Band) |
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| BLIND BOYS "DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS" |
| Wed, Sep. 26 2007 |
Two icons of the American cultural landscape will join forces to release “Down In New Orleans” – The Blind Boys of Alabama, Grammy-winning gospel favorites for over six decades, and Time Life, the world’s largest direct marketers of audio and video products.
Recorded in New Orleans at Piety Street Studios with a stellar cast of local artists, “Down In New Orleans” demonstrates how Crescent City soul, so deeply influenced by gospel music, can in return invigorate traditional classics. The CD is anchored by a trio of world-class New Orleans’ musicians (David Torkanowsky, Roland Guerin and Shannon Powell) and includes guest appearances by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Allen Toussaint and the Hot 8 Brass Band. A special music preview event is set for Sept. 30 at Preservation Hall from 6-8 p.m. with The Blind Boys and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. |
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| The Blind Boys of Alabama mix the seasonal with the divine in a soul-stirring Disney Hall show |
| Mon, Jan. 8 2007 |
By Randy Lewis, Times Staff Writer Go tell it on the mountain, indeed. There's nothing like bona fide gospel music to cleanse the aural palate of the endless shopping-mall renditions of "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" at this time of year. That's the seasonal blessing the venerated Blind Boys of Alabama brought with their stirring "Go Tell It on the Mountain" holiday program Saturday at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The long-running ensemble, fronted this night by founding member Jimmy Carter, brought spirit to the forefront, letting its commitment to the gospel tradition stand in for anything resembling proselytizing for this secular outing. Clarence Fountain, the group's longtime focal point, missed Saturday's show because he's undergoing dialysis treatment for his diabetes, according to a Disney Hall spokeswoman. Ben Moore handled his vocal parts. Fountain's absence, however, didn't create a monumental void, especially given the torrents of vocal power unleashed by latter-day recruit Billy Bowers, a mountain of a man who looked like nothing so much as a chunk of granite in sunglasses and who consistently pushed the emotion toward the heavens. The four-time Grammy winners mixed spiritually rooted holiday music with their cornerstone gospel songs in a program that was imaginatively conceived, enthusiastically executed and briskly paced. In fact, by the time they reached the end of the 90-minute show, it seemed they'd just gotten warmed up, and their departure came too soon. Songs such as the concert-opening "Down by the Riverside" and "Go Tell It on the Mountain" are as ubiquitous in the gospel world as "Jingle Bells" is in the realm of holiday music, so it takes considerable smarts to lift them above the conventional. The Blind Boys put their stamp on "Go Tell It" by shifting its musical foundation from major to minor key, lending it additional heft with a tinge of darkness instead of the usual celebratory feeling. And they delivered their answer to the pop world's mash-up mania with a rendition of "Amazing Grace" that replaced its exceedingly familiar melody with that of "The House of the Rising Sun." Two mini-segments within the show contained the Christmas music, and the least familiar — "When Jesus Was Born" and "I Pray on Christmas" — fared best, although their turning of "Silent Night" into a soul scorcher also worked beautifully. The only false note came during that number, when Carter left his spot at center stage, wound his way through the crowd and back onstage with a playful game of pretend-to-end-the-show while continuing to stretch out the song. Near the end, he feigned fainting into the arms of one of his sighted bandmates. It was clearly a stab at adding a little entertainment dramatics, à la James Brown's multiple stage exits of yore. But it paled in the context of the genuinely overwhelming spiritual tension that gospel singers can create during a full-on church service. It was the only time this six-decades-old performing institution appeared to forget the scriptural advice to be in the world but not of the world. randy.lewis@latimes.com |
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