Down On The Bayou II

I'm extremely proud to have been the only female artist on stage (it just worked out that way...) at April's "Down On The Bayou II" concert during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which was organized by my friend, Widespread Panic keyboard wiz JoJo Hermann, and to have my version of Edwin Starr's "25 Miles" included in the concert's recent digital release, all profits to benefit the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic. I hope everyone check out this download--it's an easy, fun way to contribute to the good work of the Clinic and its parent charity, The New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation.

TEXT OF THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:
"Down on the Bayou II- Live Jam from New Orleans now available
More than 60 musicians collaborate to create live jam album for charity"

The live recordings from Down on the Bayou II, a benefit concert for the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic (NOMC) and Assistance Foundation (NOMAF), are now available for download atwww.nugs.net. The recordings captures the collaboration of more than 60 musicians coming together as never before playing renditions of classic songs such as “Lawdy Miss Clawdy”, Robert Johnson’s “32-20 Blues”, Dr. John’s “Right Place Wrong Time”, “Turn On Your Love Light” Edwin Starr's "25 Miles" and Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman”. All proceeds from sales of the album benefit the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation to support its vital Musicians’ Clinic (est. 1998).

The concert, which took place April 29, 2010 at the Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans, Louisiana is the second annual benefit concert spearheaded by Widespread Panic keyboardist JoJo Hermann. “Down on the Bayou is an annual concert during Jazzfest that brings top musicians together to pay tribute to New Orleans and the contributions this city and its musicians have made to the music we make and love today. The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic is a model for artist healthcare and we’re proud to support it,” explained JoJo.

The recordings of the performances that night found their way into the hands of multiple Grammy award-winning producer John Porter. Those musicians who donated their performances to benefit the Musicians’ Clinic include: Big Chief Bo Dollis, George Porter Jr., Widespread Panic, Bill Kreutzmann, Ivan Neville, members of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Gov’t Mule, Big Sam, Luther Dickinson, Anders Osborne, Christine Ohlman and Jon Cleary, among others. 100% of the proceeds from Down on the Bayou Live will go to sustain America’s only comprehensive medical home for musicians.

“The staff, volunteers, board of directors and the 2000 + patients of the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic are deeply grateful to the amazing Howlin’ Wolf staff and the musicians who donated their inspiration to make Down on the Bayou a magical night of music and funk!” states NOMC & AF Director, Bethany Ewald Bultman. “This album truly embodies the mission of the clinic to keep New Orleans music ALIVE.” (www.savetheclinic.org).

The album premiered on www.nugs.net on the afternoon of October 29th.

New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic/Musicians Assistance Foundation:
The mission of the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation is to keep music alive by sustaining New Orleans musicians and tradition bearers in body, mind and spirit. We do this through providing access to health and social services through the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, regardless of musicians’ ability to pay, and by fostering cultural opportunities that advocate for and support this effort. To learn more, visit www.neworleansmusiciansclinic.org.