Roots of Music Student Showcase Tonight
The Roots of Music organization, in partnership with Artisound Productions, will livestream its student showcase tonight, Wednesday, May 12 at 6 p.m. via Facebook. The program provides music history and theory as well as instrumental instruction and ensemble performance preparation. It serves kids ages 9-14 from low-income households, and provides students with hot meals and round-trip transportation to reduce common barriers to participation. Five days a week, 12 months a year, the program delivers over 2,500 hours of music education and other academic tutoring, over 30,400 nutritious hot meals, 1,400 bus journeys, and supplies over 150 instruments for student use.
Local bassist, composer, and songwriter Wilbur Thompson, who has played with numerous local musicians such as Charlie Gabriel of Preservation Hall Jazz Band, cover star Robin Barnes, and Germaine Bazzle will livestream Wednesday, December 30 at 7 p.m. CST via our Facebook page.
Originally from Hartsville SC. Thompson moved to New Orleans in September 2015 and specializes in gospel, soul, and jazz music. He considers Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, Jaco Pastorius, Jimmy Haslip, “all of the gospel music artists of the 80s and 90s and neo soul in general” as his biggest influences.
He first began playing bass in the church his father pastored. In high school he began playing bass with local groups including a trio with long time friend and Snarky Puppy saxophonist Chris Bullock.
Artisound Christmas Spectacular Livestreams Sunday, December 13
Artisound Productions, housed in Studio 3OneOne6, will livestream a Christmas spectacular featuring Gabrielle Cavassa, Joshua Starkman, Shea Pierre, and Flighteous.
Audio engineer, Artisound co-owner, and event producer Keenan McRae says, “This year has been an especially tough one all the way around. Although it’s the most difficult climate we’ve seen as a nation in a while, I have been blessed by the New Orleans music community who has kept me working throughout this time. My original forecast when covid hit was that myself or my company was not going to make it. It is truly due to the deep rooted community values and traditions that the New Orleans music industry is not only still alive but growing.