The Standing Room: In Rotation: September 2005

Click here to see what the In Rotation list is all about.

The first six albums below reminded me that September opened with the sickening realization that our government had failed, on multiple levels, in its primary responsibility: to protect the well-being of its citizens. There are plenty of ways in which musicians have been raising funds for the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast, but I'd like to draw your attention to one project in particular:

Nonesuch is releasing a benefit album of newly recorded songs featuring artists from the New Orleans music community—across a wide variety of styles—to document the depth, richness, and profound musicality of that unique city. Funds from the sale of the record, titled Our New Orleans, will be donated to Habitat for Humanity to aid those affected by the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster. Several of New Orleans' best-known musicians are recording songs that are integral to their lives and that express their feelings about the city and the recent events there. The album is being made swiftly and simply, over the course of a month, in several one-day sessions in cities across the country. Our New Orleans will be released November 22, 2005.

Sessions began in New York in late September with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Wild Magnolias (Doug Petty and Matt Sakakeeny, producers); Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band (Joe Henry, producer); and Jon Cleary and Dr. John (Hal Willner and Mark Bingham, producers). Buckwheat Zydeco recorded in Memphis on October 3 (Ry Cooder, producer); Randy Newman and others artists will contribute tracks later in the month.

Pre-order the album here.


Louis Armstrong: Complete RCA Victor Recordings	The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1	Ronnie Magri and His New Orleans Jazz Band: Shim Sham Revue	Boozoo Chavis	The Great Tomato Blues Package


The Best of Sidney Bechet	Sigur Ros: Takk...	M.I.A.: Arular	Air: Moon Safari	Sigur Ros: Recycle Bin


Sigur Ros: Ágætis Byrjun	Reiner Conducts Wagner	Furtwängler conducts Wagner	Karajan, Norman: Tannhäuser/ Siegfried-Idyll/ Tristan und Isolde	Great Jewish Music: Serge Gainsbourg (Tribute)


Royksopp: The Understanding	Paolo Conte: Elegia	Cornershop: When I Was Born for the 7th Time	Four Tet: Everything Ecstatic	Yvonne Kenny: Great Operatic Arias