New Orleans, LA (Top40 Charts/ Patty Lee Records) JAZZ FEST 2012 has wrapped up in New Orleans. One local pianoman and celeb-entertainer of interest, Armand St. Martin, who "loves to play a variety of musical genres as long as his music is American roots based," has managed to keep a busy musical schedule during this year's Jazz Fest-time with the guidance of wife/manager Patty Lee. "It takes two of us to put on Armand's one-man show," she says, "and when he performs with his jazz group or full roots band, it still takes both of us!" St.
Martin performs solo as Armand St. Martin; with his jazz group as Armand St. Martin's Maison C'est Bon Jazz Trio; and, with his full-blown 7-8 piece band of rock n' rollers called Armand St.
Martin and his Bayou Bohemians.
Coming on the heels of St.
Martin being featured as a songwriter/performer on the BMI Songwriter Stage for the second year in a row at French Quarter Festival several weeks ago, St. Martin's Jazz Fest-time shows have ranged from him sizzling on piano at a musical tribute to Ernie K-Doe at the Palm Court Jazz Cafe where he sat-in with the Blue Eyed Soul band in the French Quarter, to entertaining solo for a Jazz Fest Brunch at the Chateau Estates Country Club for a wedding reception. A repertoire that proves popular and extensive for this New Orleans piano professor, St.
Martin has also headlined a fundraiser with his jazz trio during the past few weeks of Jazz Fest, along with entertaining solo for an old-line Mardi Gras krewe's coat-n-tie annual gala, plus tickling the ivories solo at an Art Exhibit on St. Charles Avenue in uptown. He pulled out all his piano stops with his solo show of classic New Orleans covers for a special songfest at the ARC (a United Way program), and also played a wedding, a crawfish boil, and a funeral.
St.
Martin also drew dynamic responses with his non-stop two-hour solo piano pounding to warm up the crowd for Deacon John and the Ivories at a private fraternity party at Tulane University during Jazz Fest. "You can come back and play our piano anytime you want!" the frat boys offered St. Martin.
During all of St. Martin's other Jazz Fest-time appearances and performances, he also spent 14-hours attending the closed set for the "Postcard from Paris" music video - filmed in New Orleans the day before Jazz Fest opened - by the multi-award-winning Band Perry.
Performing over 200 local shows annually in the Big Easy since Katrina, St.
Martin is known for delivering his warm smile and uptempo original Louisiana-flavored songs, accompanied by his New Orleans-styled fiery piano-playing that follows in the footsteps of Fats, Tuts, Toussaint, Booker,
Dr. John and Professor Longhair.
This Jazz Fest-time, St.
Martin didn't waste any time releasing his brand new music video, "Potholes and Politicians," on Patty Lee Records, set to his new original tune by the same title. St.
Martin performed all the instruments on Potholes and Politicians, including penning the tune, recording the song and doing all the musical arrangements. "Potholes and Politicians is a one-man-accomplishment that sounds like a major big band achievement," states Lee. "Fans ask me who's the horn section and I tell them it's Armand. They ask who's the bass player, and drummer, and I still say that it is Armand!" The music video by Lee appears on YouTube, and St. Martin's clever song is available on iTunes, Amazon, and CdBaby, complete with rave reviews. The song has already been heard on Hy McEnery's Founder's
Radio Show,
Christopher Tidmore's
Radio Show, Hooah!
Radio with DJ Bette Carl, and more.
As Hooah! Radio's Roving Artist Reporter with Bette Carl out of the East Coast, St.
Martin has been serving as the Jazz Fest reporter for years now, 2012 included. St.
Martin reports to Hooah!
Radio from locations in and around the city during many traditional New Orleans special occasions, including Halloween, Mardi Gras, festivals, Saints' games, and Jazz Fest. Bette Carl was featured in a segment on CBS-TV about her radio show on Hooah!
Radio which aires to all USA military abroad and at home.
A BMI singer/sonwriter, St.
Martin has graced many a music venue in the Crescent City ranging from the Superdome and the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, to Generation's Hall (opening for Irma Thomas), Republic New Orleans (Tales of the Cocktail Eco-Toddy), Tipitina's uptown and downtown, Rock n Bowl, Southport Hall, and the Ponderosa Stomp (pianoman for performances with Deke Dickerson and the Ecofonics for Lavelle White, Big Jay McNeely, Clifford Curry, Joe Clay, Billy Boy Arnold, and with Jay Chevalier and the Haunted Hearts). St.
Martin has entertained at the New Orleans Blues Festival, Broadmoor Fest, French Quarter Fest, and Jazz Fest to list a few local fests. (His Armand St.
Martin and his Bayou Bohemians have also headlined the Long Beach Lobster Fest and played the Long Beach Crawfish Fest in L.A. along with many Los Angeles venues as well over the years.)
St.
Martin has released three CDs on his custom boutique label, Patty Lee Records: "Alligator Ball," "Sizzlin'," and "Katrina Anthem," as well as his vinyl 45 record with his originals, "St. Expedite" and "Must Be the Mardi Gras," and his EP Casette, "Be Your Own Parade," along with his one-song-release, "Last Time in Texas," and the now-one-song-release, "Potholes and Politicians."
His "Must Be the Mardi Gras" music video, among other St.
Martin music videos are on YouTube and Vimeo. His song, "Storyville Blues" was featured on the TV-series "K-Ville;" his songs, "Orleans Lullaby" and "St. Expedite" are on Chris Madden's DVD, "Project Katrina;" and, he performs his original songs, "Storyville Blues" and "Back in New Orleans" on the new indie film "Brawlers." -P.L.
Google "Armand St. Martin" for more information about St. Martin's music career.
For more information:
info@PattyLeeRecords
https://vimeo.com/3447480
https://www.myspace.com/armandstmartin
https://www.myspace.com/armandstmartin/photos
