Galactic - Carnivale Electricos
(CD/LP/Digital) ANTI-, 2012-02-21

Two years ago we left Galactic with Ya-Ka-May, their heaviest album to date, followed by a long, successful tour. The band did cameos in HBO show TREME and composed a few tracks for PS3 video game Infamous 2 (located in New Orleans, naturellement). Stanton Moore released a record with his trio and another mighty one with Garage à Trois, among other things. Ben Ellman helped Trombone Shorty launch his career with Orleans Avenue, producing his two first records on Verve. So with everyone so busy, a new album this quickly was the last thing we expected. We were wrong. Galactic is now 18 years-old, and it's a strong and creative teenager who can't help partying all night away while Western world - at least its financial and capitalistic side - teeters on the brink. Here comes the brand-new album Carnivale Electricos, to be released on Mardi Gras 2012...

We've been supporting the music of Joe Henry for years now, so we couldn't avoid cooking a tribute mix to celebrate his double talent of producer and songwriter. Choosing just a few tracks in his discography was heartbreaking but here we are, with a fine and subjective selection including famous artists like Allen Toussaint or Bettye LaVette, young artists such as Carolina Chocolate Drops or Hugh Laurie (yes, Dr.House himself !) and rarities.You can read our exclusive interview with Joe Henry and listen to his new and superb release, Reverie (out on Anti- Records). That's how Paris DJs loves...

Joe Henry
(Interview by Nicolas Ragonneau, for Paris DJs - october 2011)

Only a few artists deserve the title of "living legends" but Joe Henry is, without any possible doubt, one of those. He ties together two great talents, the skill of a much sought-after producer (Allen Toussaint, Solomon Burke, Aaron Neville, Jim White, Ani Di Franco, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Hugh Laurie...) and the skill of a unique songwriter. As a singer and for more than ten years Joe Henry has released several masterpieces with incredible guests such as Ornette Coleman, Brad Melhdau, Jason Moran and many more. This autumn he's back with Reverie (Anti Records), an amazing all-acoustic album. He tells us about the aesthetics of this new record and, because of his longtime love for art, poetry and cinema, he was an obvious choice to answer our Questionnaire de Proust. Oh, by the way, we'll be releasing an exclusive Paris DJs mix celebrating Joe Henry on November, 5th.

Joe Henry
(Interview par Nicolas Ragonneau, pour Paris DJs - octobre 2011)

Quelques rares artistes méritent le titre de "légendes vivantes", mais Joe Henry fait incontestablement partie de ceux-là. Il associe le talent d'un producteur très demandé (Allen Toussaint, Solomon Burke, Aaron Neville, Jim White, Ani Di Franco, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Hugh Laurie...) aux qualités d'un songwriter hors-pair. Depuis plus de dix ans Joe Henry a signé sous son nom plusieurs chefs-d'œuvre, avec des invités rares et prestigieux comme Ornette Coleman, Brad Melhdau, Jason Moran et bien d'autres. Il est de retour cet automne avec Reverie un fantastique album 100% acoustique (ANTI Records) dont il décrit ici l'esthétique particulière. Et comme Joe Henry est de longue date un amateur de poésie, de peinture et d'art en général, il semblait un client évident pour répondre à notre Questionnaire de Proust. Nous publierons un mix exclusif consacré à Joe Henry le 5 novembre.

Booker T. Jones - The Road From Memphis
(CD/LP/Digital) Anti- Records 87101, 2011-05-09

If you're a regular Paris DJs reader I guess you know about Booker T. Jones (if you don't, well it's not too late, go check out wikipedia). Two yeaars ago he released an album on Anti Records, Potato Hole, kinda sold as some heavy & raw funk, but in actual fact a rock'n'roll affair, with backing from the Drive-By Truckers, a country/Southern rock band from, Athens, Georgia and guitar contributions from Neil Young... The deception was huge among the funksters. Thankfully, Booker T is back, with a new album produced with the help of ?uestlove and Rob Schnapf, recorded by Gabriel Roth from the Daptone gang, with backing from The Roots and guests vocalists Matt Berninger (The National), Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket), Sharon Jones and Lou Reed!! Tasty, ain't it? More news when I'll get the promo...

Galactic - The Other Side of Midnight: Live In New Orleans
(CD/Digital) Anti- Records 87152, 2011-05-02

New Orleans outfit Galactic has a well earned reputation as one of the most exhilarating live acts around. Last year the band released the critically acclaimed genre defying sonic tribute to the Big Easy entitled Ya-Ka-May, which The Boston Globe described as "an album that showcases a breathtaking array of New Orleans talent, from old-school R&B legends to influential underground hip-hop artists" and the Huffington Post proclaimed as “NOT your grandparents' New Orleans record!” Now the celebrated outfit offers up a rollicking live counterpart to Ya-Ka-May with The Other Side Of Midnight: Live In New Orleans out 5/3 via Anti- Records. The album was recorded during an electrifying sold-out show at legendary New Orleans’ nightclub Tipitinas which has hosted countless luminaries such as the Neville Bros, the Meters, Dr. John and Professor Longhair. The venue has, of late, become something of a regular home court for Galactic, with the band playing multiple sold out shows at the historic club throughout the year. Like Ya-Ka-May, The Other Side of Midnight: Live in New Orleans features a host of guest appearances from the bawdy hip-shaking gender bending “bounce” star Big Freedia to local legends Cyril Neville and Trombone Shorty, the whole thing capturing Galactic's deep musical relationship with their storied hometown. Only in a city like New Orleans could a night this raucous, sweaty and wild also be so incredibly profound.

Joe Henry - Blood From Stars
(CD) Anti- Records 87026, 2009-08-17

For more than two decades as a solo artist and Grammy-winning producer, Joe Henry has worked with some of the most celebrated names in music, including Ornette Coleman, Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint, T-Bone Burnett, Don Byron, Solomon Burke, Brad Mehldau, Madonna, and Ani DiFranco.

Backed by a handpicked collection of players, including Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello) who worked with Henry on his 2001 release Scar and acclaimed jazz pianist Jason Moran, Henry crafted Blood From Stars with a clear idea of structure, but also with a refreshingly open and fluid approach to the outcome of the songs, creating a loose, swinging, vital sound.

Booker T. Jones - Potato Hole
(CD) Anti 86948, 2009-04-20

With Booker T. and the MGs he led one of the first-ever integrated groups to soul immortality. As a producer, he has helmed sessions for million sellers. On April 21st, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Booker T will write the boldest, most dramatic chapter of his fifty year career with the release of his searing new album 'Potato Hole,' on Anti- Records. With backing from the Drive-By Truckers and guitar contributions from Neil Young on nine of the album's ten tracks, 'Potato Hole' is the rawest, funkiest music Booker T has recorded since his archetypal hit 'Green Onions.' Booker T plays organ, acoustic and electric guitar on 'Potato Hole' and wrote seven of the album's songs. 'Potato Hole' was recorded last fall in Georgia and California and produced by Booker T and Rob Schnapf.