Blue Note To Release Hurricane Benefit CD From New Orleans Native & Icon Dr. John

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, as the storm passed but the situation worsened, Dr. John, the New Orleans native & musical icon, responded in the way he knows best: musically.

Dr. John and his band headed into a studio in upstate New York to record a seven-track EP dedicated to the Crescent City. Sippiana Hericane will be released by Blue Note Records on November 22nd, and all the proceeds from the CD's sales will be divided equally between the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, the Jazz Foundation of America and the Voice of the Wetlands.

The EP's centerpiece, the newly-composed four-part suite “Wade: Hurricane Suite" is book-ended by “Clean Water," a song composed by Dr. John's good friend and New Orleans songwriter Bobby Charles, and a version of Dr. John's “Sweet Home New Orleans" with new lyrics penned by his wife and songwriting partner Cat Yellen. A brief reprise of “Clean Water" ends the EP.

The following is a statement from Dr. John on the devastation of his hometown of New Orleans:

“I love New Orleans. I love the people, its food, its culture, the music and the lifestyle. New Orleans is the best of everything. I'm saddened and angered by what has happened. If anybody in the government would've done something about the disappearing wetlands for the past fifty years, then this probably wouldn't have been as bad. The federal, state and local governments have known for a long time that certain things needed to be done to protect New Orleans. The levees should've been able to deal with this assault. Now a high price will be paid for neglecting the needs of the city and its people. It makes me think of what my friend Reverend Goat just told me, 'Let me say this before it goes any further. New Orleans didn't die of natural causes, she was murdered.' Everyone should donate what they can to the relief effort."

Track Listing:

1. Clean Water
   Wade: Hurricane Suite
2. I. Storm Warning
3. II. Storm Surge
4. III. Calm In The Storm
5. IV. Aftermath
6. Sweet Home New Orleans
7. Clean Water (reprise)

Sippiana = Mississippi + Louisiana: where the two states meet
Hericane is spelled this way because Katrina is a female's name.