Hugh Laurie has today announced that he will be performing some very select live shows in the UK at London’s Union Chapel on 4th May.
Hugh Laurie has today announced that he will be performing some very select live shows in the UK at London’s Union Chapel on 4th May, Warwick Arts Centre on Friday 6th May and at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music on Sat 7th May. These intimate shows are in support of the launch of his album ‘Let Them Talk’ due to be released on the 9th May via Warner Bros Records.
“Let Them Talk” is the first album to be recorded by Hugh Laurie after signing to Warner Bros Records in 2010. Produced by Joe Henry and recorded in Los Angeles and New Orleans, the album is a celebration of New Orleans blues, a genre that drives Hugh’s musical raison d’être.
Spiritually inspired by similar genre albums like Ry Cooder’s ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ and T-Bone Burnett’s ‘O’ Brother Where Art Thou’ soundtrack, Hugh’s ‘Let Them Talk’ recordings bring together an extraordinary selection of heritage tracks, renowned musicians and vocal legends to champion this much neglected body of work.
‘Let Them Talk’ features collaborations with the Soul Queen of New Orleans Irma Thomas and Sir Tom Jones on the little known ‘Baby, Please Make A Change’. Thomas also leads the vocals on ‘John Henry’, while Laurie’s lifelong hero Dr. John provides a momentous collaboration on ‘After You’ve Gone’. Another legend, the producer, musician and songwriter Allen Toussaint, contributes horn arrangements throughout.
The album will also be released in a special edition format which adds three bonus tracks in the shape of ‘Guess I’m A Fool’ (originally by Memphis Slim), ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’ (Louis Armstrong) and ‘Low Down, Worried and Blue’ (Dr. John) in a book format featuring stunning photography from the sessions by Michael Wilson (www.michaelwilsonphotographer.com).
“In my imagination, New Orleans just straight hummed with music, romance, joy, despair; its rhythms got into my gawky English frame and, at times, made me so happy and sad, I just didn’t know what to do with myself,” said Laurie. “I love this music as authentically as I know how, and I want you to love it too. If you get a thousandth of the pleasure from it that I’ve had, we’re all ahead of the game.”
Published on 24 March 2011 by Wayne Feltham
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