Well folks at long last the official announcement is finally here - PazFest-The New Orleans Tribute to Singer Songwriter Joni Mitchell at the Howlin' Wolf, recorded live on May 28, 2000.
I produced this album to benefit the Ruth Paz Foundation's construction of a Burn Center in San Pedro, Sula, Honduras. A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to both JMDL.com and JoniMitchell.com to help with the costs of running these two important and very significant operations. This production took me forever because I refused to spend money on it so as to make more money for the cause. Technically it was quite difficult to produce because of the enormity of the music and many technical problems with the actual recording. Only a few songs were lost altogether so volumes 1 & 2 is the bulk of the material by New Orleans recording artists + special guests, The Bryan Thomas Band. This Was an unforgettable night and there are some stellar performances here that will leave you breathless! Hopefully Volume 3 will be released at later date and will will feature the Jason Marsalis Band, David Lahm and Little Queenie which were the Jazzer's of the fest and equally moving performances. I would like to thank everyone that helped me with this project and supported me throughout the process. Special thanks to Jim LamaDoo and Jack Merkel for fotos and artwork. Rick Naiser of Festival Recording Studios helped me enormously with the post production and mixing work. He is a genius! The first release is a two record set. The music is as follows: Volume One I Think I Understand-John Parker Both Sides Now-John Parker Sex Kills-Leslie Smith Song To A Seagull-Betsy McGovern Blue Boy-Jack Neilson The Last Time I Saw Richard- Susan Cowsill w/ Robert Mache Chelsea Morning- Susan Cowsill w/ Robert Mache For Free-Candace Cox and Robert Mache Ladies of the Canyon-Beth Patterson The Priest-Danzig and Wooley Trouble Child-Danzig and Wooley Night Ride Home-Vic Saul Big Yellow Taxi-John Rankin You Turn Me On (I1m A Radio)-Kim Carson w/ Bud Tower Volume Two Woodstock-Kim Prevost and Bill Solley Both Sides Now-Kim Prevost and Bill Solley Blue Motel Room-Denise Marie Band Furry Sings The Blues-Denise Marie Band (with Sam Price & Andre Bohren) Amelia-Michael Paz and Friends Beth's Solo-Beth Patterson Hejira-Michael Paz (with Brian Stoltz, Beth Patterson, Kevin Aucoin, & Sam Price) Help Me-Brian Stoltz (with Kevin Aucoin & Sam Price) Black Crow-The Bryan Thomas Band Little Green-The Bryan Thomas Band All I Want-The Bryan Thomas Band To pre-order this collection please respond to me privately at [EMAIL PROTECTED] . The two volume set is a minimum donation of $25 dollars US for BOTH CD's + a small fee for shipping and handling ($5 for US Priority Mail within the US) (depending on where you are on the Map of the World). Through the end of this year I will run a Christmas special of buy four and get one FREE! So a $100 donation gets you five 2 CD Sets that will make GREAT Christmas gifts for your friends and family. At the same time you will be helping heal burn patients in Honduras (where we have been helping kids for the last 35 years - please see www.honduras.com/ruthpaz). At this time I will only be able to accept checks or money orders, but very soon the new web site will be up and I will be able to accept credit cards as well. Please see either jmdl.com or jonimitchell.com for a view of the album cover (which will be posted soon thanks to Les and Jim). The actual release date is September 24, 2002. I will ship orders on a first come first serve basis, And they will be shipped as soon as the product arrives back from pressing. I am currently negotiating for further distribution. Also available now is the JMDL artists portion of this show with artwork by Steve Polifka which includes the following: Free Man in Paris-Victor Johnson Coyote-Catgirl Man From Mars-Steve Polifka Two Grey Rooms-Steve Polifka Woodstock-Marcel Deste Conversation-Claudia San Soucie Candlelight Vigil for Wally Breese Just Like This Train-Michael Paz Chinese Cafi-Michael Paz Little Green-Bryan Thomas Band All I Want-Bryan Thomas Band The JMDL artists portion will be available through a CD Tree that will be open for sign-up for branches AND leaves through the end of September. This will be a blanks and postage kind of a deal and will be free to anyone. Anyone who receives this and cares to make a donation to the foundation will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks to Steve Polifka for his hard work on this project. This release is available only to JMDL listmembers at this time. Thanks again for all your support! Michael Paz P.S. Phew!!! NP-That Song About the Midway-Claudia San Soucie (WOW!)
