Katrina: Basin Street Records Artists Reported Safe

Found on Jazz West:

Mark Samuels, President of the New Orleans-based label Basin Street Records, checks in to report that he has heard from all of his artists (not including sidemen) and would like to formally announce their whereabouts and assure jazz fans of their well-being.

In a statement made on Friday, September 2, Samuels said, “This is a truly tragic time for the Crescent City, home to so many of today’s great musicians. Thankfully, all of our Basin Street recording artists have fled New Orleans and are safe, albeit uncertain as to the future of their beloved city so steeped in music. We thank everyone for their well wishes and concern.”

The following Basin Street artists are safe and refugees in the following cities:

· Theresa Anderson, Irvin Mayfield, and Kermit Ruffins are currently in Baton Rouge
· Bill Summers is safe, location unknown
· Jon Cleary is in California
· Dr. Michael White is in Houston
· Henry Butler is in Monroe, LA
· Jason Marsalis is in Japan recording with Marcus Roberts

Samuels added, “Our staff is safe, with the exception of our creative director, Hal Braden, who we have not heard from since Sunday.”

“All of us here at Basin Street are looking forward to being able to return home to start to rebuild the city we love and are so deeply rooted to," said Samuels in an e-mail sent out Friday to jazz journalists around the country.