Basin Street Records To Celebrate 20 Years with New Artist, New Projects, More to Come
To Celebrate 20 Years as Independent Label
New Artist, New Projects, More to Come
In the fall of 1997, a couple of guys in New Orleans got together and decided to form a label and record a show by local trumpeter/vocalist Kermit Ruffins at Tipitina’s. The show was sold out, recorded live, and put out on CD the next year and Basin Street Records was born. In the ensuing twenty years, the small independent label has grown to be known as the international powerhouse of New Orleans music, going on to sign twelve additional artists (three of which are Grammy-winners, and a fourth is a grammy-Nominee), release hundreds of products, place hundreds of songs in feature films and on TV broadcasts, weather the setbacks of Hurricane Katrina, and garner accolades such as a Grammy Award for the 2011 release Rebirth of New Orleans by Rebirth Brass Band, four Billboard Music award nominations (one winner), several artist appearances on national television, ten-time “Best Record Label” and three-time “Music Business of the Year” awards from Offbeat Magazine, two #1 records on national jazz Radio charts, and several top-ten records on national radio charts to name just a few. To mark the momentous occasion, the label has many new projects and announcements planned for the year:
NEW ARTIST: For the first time in six years, Basin Street Records has signed a new recording artist, and it’s a new bold direction never-before seen on this independent outfit. While the music may sound unlike the label’s previous work, they are sticking to their core mission to promote the music and musicians of New Orleans by signing Saràyah, a young New Orleans-based vocalist and songwriter primed to take the pop world by storm with her Rihanna-influenced sound. Debut album, Feel The Vibe out October 27 nationally; debut single “Give Me Love” out September 1. Album available exclusively on BasinStreetRecords.com now. Watch the video for Saràyah’s song “Give Me Love” here.
KERMIT RUFFINS / IRVIN MAYFIELD COLLABORATION: The previously announced collaboration between Kermit Ruffins and Irvin Mayfield, A Beautiful World, is the centerpiece release of the label’s 20th anniversary. Featuring nearly 60 musicians, the album finds the two friends (also the two most recorded artists on Basin Street) bringing out the best in each other. UPDATED NATIONAL RELEASE DATE: October 13 (Vinyl LP and CD available in New Orleans area September 22). An album release party with the two will rock The Blue Nile in New Orleans, September 22. Pre-order now!
BARBECUE SWINGERS LIVE VINYL RE-ISSUE: To commemorate the first album ever released on Basin Street Records, the label has decided to re-master and re-issue a special edition 150g, translucent green vinyl edition of the release, The Barbecue Swingers Live. This product format is limited to 500 copies, and an even smaller amount will be numbered and signed by the artist. All vinyl includes a free digital download of the full-length album. Order now to get a low number! Although not finalized, Kermit plans a return to Tipitina’s to mark the anniversary of this first recording on November 4th.
COMPILATIONS: As a way of looking back on the past twenty years of accomplishments, the label plans to release a series of digital artist-specific compilation albums including both curated “Best Of” releases, and comprehensive “Complete Collections” offered at reduced price points for those superfans who want to have everything. The first set of compilations to be released will focus on Kermit Ruffins, but expect more from Irvin Mayfield, Dr. Michael White, Los Hombres Calientes, and Jason Marsalis throughout 2018.
LIVE AT THE LITTLE GEM SALOON: Yet another upcoming project will be the digital release of live sets recorded at The Little Gem Saloon during the Basin Street Records 20th Anniversary Kickoff during Jazz Fest 2017. Accompanying the album will be 4k video content of performances by Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield, a Basin Street Records supergroup featuring the reunification of Los Hombres Calientes (Bill Summers, Irvin Mayfield, Jason Marsalis), Dr. Michael White, Jason Marsalis, and Davell Crawford.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Fittingly, at the outset of a 20th anniversary, Basin Street Records founder and president, Mark Samuels was honored with a lifetime achievement award for his career accomplishments and contributions to New Orleans Music from the Cutting Edge Music Business Conference in New Orleans on August 24, 2017.
GRAPHIC NOVEL: A companion piece to the album A Beautiful World, and featuring both Kermit Ruffins and Irvin Mayfield as characters battling a strange dark force that has come upon New Orleans, The One and Twos: Kermit, Irvin And The Golden Record V.1, is a graphic novel written by English author and New Orleans music fan Amen Neville and illustrated by street artist, Henry Lipkis. A Graphic Novel release party will be held at Crescent City Comics in New Orleans on September 23. Now available for pre-order online.
OTHER PROJECTS: While not officially confirmed, Basin Street Records hopes to release more music from their artists in the coming year, so keep an ear to the ground for new music from Jeremy Davenport, Jason Marsalis, Dr. Michael White, Davell Crawford, and Rebirth Brass Band! Additionally, look out for live performances at festivals and clubs under the #BSR20 umbrella.
Basin Street Records recording artists include: Kermit Ruffins, Los Hombres Calientes, Jason Marsalis, Irvin Mayfield, Dr. Michael White, The Headhunters, Henry Butler, Jon Cleary, Theresa Andersson, Jeremy Davenport, Rebirth Brass Band, Davell Crawford, and Saràyah.
Basin Street Records Website
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