STR Artists bring "Southern Fever" to Holland

A group of STR Digital Records recording artists embark on a month-long tour of Holland with musical show "Southern Fever." The tour is a joint production of STR president and producer Sanford Hinderlie and Harry Velleman and Hans Kik of Kik Productions. With the help and vision of Job Zomer, owner of Munich Records in Holland, the producers were able to secure 15 dates over one month's time at 1000-seat theaters throughout The Netherlands.

The touring group includes vocalist Kim Prevost, guitarist Bill Solley, pianist Tom McDermott, drummer Ricky Sebastian from the STR roster together with vocalist Topsy Chapman, trumpeter and vocalist Leon Brown, keyboardist Darrel Lavigne, and bassist Ed Wise.

The show focuses on the history of musical development in New Orleans beginnign with the ragtime era through the present day. The music was arranged by Hinderlie and the script was developed by award-winning author John Biguenet of Loyola University New Orleans. The director of the production is Helmert Woudenberg.

The 15-date tour runs from September 20 through October 21, 2000. On the off nights of the tour, the ensemble will perform at local jazz clubs, as well as conducting clinics at the Conservatory of Music in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Ricky Sebastian to record for STR

STR Digital Records recently signed drummer Ricky Sebastian to a recording contract. Sebastian, whose performance and recording credits are too numerous to list, has embarked on a Latin jazz recording which features his working ensemble, Cayenne (bassist Chris Severen, saxophonist Clarence Johnson III, and keyboardist Darrell Lavigne). His ensemble will be augmented with the talents of Donald Harrison, Jr., Bill Summers, Steve Masakowski, Peter Martin, Roland Guerin, Irvin Mayfield, and Kenyatta Simon. The as-of-yet untitled project will be recorded in the Summer 2000 and will feature Ricky's original material together with selections that lend themselves to his Latin flavored arrangements. The CD will be released in the Spring 2001.

 

Joe Krown cautions all to Buckle Up

STR Digital Records recording artist Joe Krown recently released his third CD as a leader, Buckle Up. Krown follows up his Down & Dirty release with another outing featuring his mighty Hammond B-3 organ. He called on the talents of the finest musicians in New Orleans to give life to this set of seven originals and four carefully selected standard organ tunes. Original Meters bassist George Porter, Jr. and Dr. John drummer Herman Ernest form a solid and funky rhythm section for organist Krown, saxophonist Eric Traub and guitarists John Fohl and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown to cut loose with groovy melodies and strong solos.

 

Kim Prevost featured with Nine Inch Nails

STR Digital Records recording artist Kim Prevost was featured on the latest Nine Inch Nails release, The Fragile. Kim was recently interviewed by the Nine Inch Nails Hotline website. Take Ten with Kim Prevost offers insight to her interactions with pop legend Trent Reznor.

2000 Big Easy Award nominees

New Orleans' weekly entertainment magazine, Gambit Weekly,recently announced the 2000 Big Easy Award nominees and STR Digital Records is well represented by Joe Krown, who was nominated for the Blues category and Kim Prevost & Bill Solley, who were nominated for the Best Emerging Artist category (which Clarence Johnson III won in 1999).

Speaking of Clarence Johnson III, he was recently featured on the way cool, all things jazz website jazze.com. Editor John Swenson interviewed Clarence and wrote a nice article which was featured as part of the website's Mardi Gras coverage. Check out the March 4, 2000 article, Tomorrow's Jazz Stars Parade Today.

 

Jazz Educators convention

Joe Krown, Clarence Johnson III, Kim Prevost, and Bill Solley signing autographs at the Tower Records store of the 2000 IAJE convention in New Orleans.

STR DIGITAL RECORDS participated in the recent International Association of Jazz Educators convention held in January 2000 in New Orleans. We hosted a showcase night featuring Clarence Johnson III, Kim Prevost & Bill Solley (and their new band), and the Joe Krown Organ Combo at Storyville District Jazz Club on Bourbon Street. We were extremely pleased with the audience turnout, especially considering the amount of different music events taking place simultaneously during that week. As a result of the showcase, which was attended by jazz record labels, distributors, jazz festival producers, and jazz radio programmers, our artists and their records are/ or will be heard at and on radio stations and festivals throughout the world. A special thank you goes out to the loyal New Orleans fan base which came out to support the local talent of these STR artists.

 

Johnson wins OffBEAT Award

On February 1, 2000, Clarence Johnson III won the "Best Saxophone" award from OffBEAT Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards at the House of Blues in New Orleans. This award follows the 1999 Big Easy Award for Best Emerging Artist, which was bestowed on Clarence in April 1999. The Clarence Johnson Ensemble is featured on New Orleans-based cable television show, Louisiana Jukebox on February 3, 2000.

Kim Prevost & Bill Solley play the Best of the Beat Awards at the House of Blues