JACKSONVILLE, FL. (Top40 Charts/ Mindsweep Entertainment & Promotions) - The 'Good Book' says in Psalms 66:1, (written to the chief musician), "Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands. Sing forth the honor of His name: make His praise glorious." That is not only a Biblical principle, that has rang true for thousands of years, but makes for a very sound music industry principle as well. Especially so, if performed in a jumpin', and very cool, yet classy, New Orleans jazzy and timeless style that has what it takes to move, (both spiritually and musically), anyone from age 3 to 30 to 3,000! I'm here to bear witness, that if you have ears at all, you are going to love the absolutely stellar latest CD release from The
Blind Boys of
Alabama titled "Down in New Orleans" that delivers all of the above and more!
In both, my professional and personal opinion, from the extreme vast amount of broad marketing and audience appeal, on The Blind Boys of Alabama's latest CD, "Down in New Orleans" should definitely be considered for "Album of the Year", at the next Dove and Grammy Awards. I have no doubt, that anyone, regardless of age, race, geographics, or even religious affiliation, (even heathens), would find this CD richly enjoyable, as the diversity of styles mixed together within this CD, embraces such a wide range of musical styles such as early R&B and soul, New Orleans Dixieland style jazz, fused with absolutely great traditional style Gospel with a very definite funky edge. The resulting combination of excellent musicianship, styles and Heavenly vocals and harmonies (that the Blind Boys of Alabama have been world famous for decades for), delivers also to listeners, soul stirring and thought provoking lyrics with a positive vibe and message of universal brotherly love and appeal, making this CD worthy of award winning acclaim.
Every track from this CD is like good medicine for a hurting world, and is indeed a 'joyful noise', as even beyond the excellence in the quality of musicianship, the embracing of many styles, and thought provoking lyrics, this CD has what it takes to become one of the great 'must have' classics for years to come, because of the fact that the music on this CD is also downright fun to listen to!
Considering the exceptionally impressive history of The Blind Boys of Alabama's career, (spanning not only years, or decades, but several entire generations of providing outstanding entertainment to audiences both nationally and worldwide), if any group of musicians on the planet today deserve the title of "Chief Musicians", as written about in Psalms 66:1, The Blind Boys of Alabama certainly deserve that title! (And how about a "Lifetime Achievement Award" as well?)
Though there has been a number of changes in the line up of The Blind Boys of Alabama over the years since the founding of the group, which was originally formed back in 1939 at the Talladega Institute for the Blind, originally calling themselves The Happyland Singers; Singer Jimmy Lee Carter of BBoA has been a constant since the group's formation, up until present day as the group has become the widely respected and world renowned legends of American Roots and Gospel music that The Blind Boys of Alabama are today. Having been a consistent working act for seven miraculous decades, not only makes The Blind Boys of Alabama one of the acts with the longest running careers in American history, but also in the history of the music and entertainment industry worldwide.
Don't let the fact that The Blind Boys of Alabama have been around for seven decades fool you, The Blind Boys of Alabama has always possessed a 'universal element of cool' which has kept them highly in demand with not only audiences everywhere, (and has earned them four Grammy Awards), but also in demand to perform with alongside many contemporary acts in a wide varieties of genres, such as Gov't Mule, Robert Randolph, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, Randy Travis, Peter Gabriel, Solomon Burke, Lou Reed and numerous others, but just to name a few.
The Blind Boys of Alabama's current line up consists of: Jimmy Lee Carter, Eric McKinnie, Joey Williams, Tracy Pierce, Billy Bowers and Ben Moore. On their latest CD, "Down in New Orleans", (on Time/Life Records, released January 2008), The Blind Boys of Alabama enlisted the help from some of New Orleans area's finest veteran jazz and R&B performers, Allen Toussaint, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Pianist David Torkanowski, Bassist Roland Guerin, Drummer Shannon Powell, The Hot 8 Brass Band amongst others; making this CD a great choice for anyone looking for a CD that is vastly different form 'the same old same old', with absolutely no filler tracks, as this CD is nothing less than musical manna from the first notes of the Hammond B3 at the beginning of the first track, "Free At Last", to the finishing notes from the horn section in the last track, "I'll Fly Away".
Of course, a tour to promote this CD is currently underway, and fans can catch The Blind Boys of Alabama performing live at the venues, events and dates below.
Jun 25 2008 8:00P
TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival Toronto, Ontario
Jun 27 2008 8:00P
Ravinia Festival Highland Park, Illinois
Jun 29 2008 8:00P
Monterey Bay Blues Festival Monterey, California
Jun 30 2008 8:00P
Yoshi's Oakland, California
Jul 2 2008 8:00P
Festival International de Jazz de Montreal with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Montreal, Quebec
Jul 3 2008 8:00P
Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest 2008 Ottawa, Ontario
Jul 5 2008 8:00P
Credit Union Place Summerside, Prince Edward
Jul 6 2008 8:00P
Festival D'Ete International De Quebec Quebec City, Quebec
Jul 10 2008 8:00P
Wiggins Park Camden, New Jersey
Jul 13 2008 8:00P
Styriarte Graz
Aug 14 2008 8:00P
Silver Star Hotel and Casino with Mavis Staples Choctaw, Mississippi
Aug 24 2008 8:00P
Park City Jazz Festival Park City, Utah
Aug 29 2008 8:00P
Great Waters Music Festival Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
Sep 4 2008 8:00P
Ho Chunk Casino & Convention Center with Ronnie Baker Brooks Baraboo, Wisconsin
Sep 12 2008 8:00P
The Gothic Theatre Englewood, Colorado
Sep 16 2008 8:00P
Lincoln Center with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Fort Collins, Colorado
Sep 17 2008 8:00P
Lincoln Center with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Fort Collins, Colorado
Sep 19 2008 8:00P
Lincoln Center with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Fort Collins, Colorado
Sep 20 2008 8:00P
Lincoln Center with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Fort Collins, Colorado
Sep 21 2008 8:00P
Lincoln Center with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Fort Collins, Colorado
Sep 26 2008 8:00P
Proctor's Theatre Schenectady, New York
Sep 27 2008 8:00P
Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Utica, New York
Sep 28 2008 8:00P
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Washington DC, Washington DC
Sep 30 2008 8:00P
Campbell University with Preservation Hall Jazz Band Buies Creek, North Carolina
Oct 4 2008 8:00P
Ironstone Amphitheatre with Bonnie Raitt Murphys, California
Oct 7 2008 8:00P
University of Illinois - Kennert Center Urbana, Illinois
Oct 10 2008 8:00P
College of DuPage with Preservation Hall Jazz Band Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Oct 12 2008 8:00P
Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, Minnesota
Oct 16 2008 8:00P
University of Florida - Philips Center for the Performing Arts Gainesville, Florida
Oct 17 2008 8:00P
Cedartown Civic Auditorium Cedartown, Georgia
Oct 18 2008 8:00P
University of Alabama - Alys Stephens Center Birmingham, Alabama
Oct 20 2008 8:00P
Opelika Center for the Performing Arts Opelika, Alabama
Oct 21 2008 8:00P
Isothermal Community College with Preservation Hall Jazz Band Spindale, North Carolina
Oct 26 2008 8:00P
Voodoo Fest New Orleans, Louisiana
Nov 8 2008 8:00P
CSU Northridge Performing Arts Center Northridge, California
Nov 9 2008 8:00P
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts Cerritos, California
Nov 21 2008 8:00P
McFarlin Auditorium Dallas, Texas
Nov 22 2008 8:00P
Majestic Theater San Antonio, Texas
Nov 23 2008 8:00P
The Long Center for the Performing Arts Austin, Texas
Dec 6 2008 8:00P
Appalachian State University - Farthing Auditorium Boone, North Carolina
Dec 8 2008 8:00P
Princess Theater Decatur, Alabama
Dec 19 2008 8:00P
Symphony Hall Atlanta, Georgia
To gain more information on the Blind Boys of Alabama, listen to tracks from their current CD, check for more upcoming concert dates and more, fans can visit their official My Space site at: https://www.myspace.com/blindboysofalabama, The Blind Boys of Alabama - Music.AOL.com, and their official website at: www.blindboys.com.
To book the Blind Boys of Alabama contact: [email protected], or visit: https://www.RosebudUS.com
