Dirty Dozen Brass Band signs with Savoy Jazz

New Album "Twenty Dozen" Set for Release May 1st

Band Celebrates Its 35th Anniversary With Live Dates Including BAM Residency With Dr. John & Headlining Jazz Fest



Exactly thirty five years ago born in the New Orleans neighborhood of Treme, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band revolutionized the New Orleans brass band by incorporating funk and bebop into the traditional style. Anchored by original members Roger Lewis, Kevin Harris, Gregory Davis, Efrem Towns and Kirk Joseph, the band has signed with Savoy Jazz who will help celebrate their auspicious anniversary with the release of "TWENTY DOZEN" -- an all new eleven track album which will be released on May 1st. Produced by Scott Billington at The Music Shed in New Orleans, the album showcases the Dirty Dozen Brass Band's quintessential sound mixed with a heady Caribbean flavor. The band will embark on a series of tour dates including a three night BAM residency in Brooklyn with Dr. John and a triumphant series of shows in their native New Orleans culminating in a very special album release & 35th anniversary reunion concert at the Temple on April 28th and a featured slot at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 3rd.

Born under the auspices of the Dirty Dozen Social and Pleasure Club in 1977, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band were a seven member ensemble who started out as the house band and eventually broke through the boundaries of the traditional brass band to evolve into a highly lauded world-renowned musical force. With several incarnations throughout the years, the band now consists of Gregory Davis (trumpet, vocals), Roger Lewis (baritone, soprano sax), Kevin Harris (tenor saxophone), Efrem Towns (trumpet, flugelhorn), Kirk Joseph (sousaphone), Terence Higgins (drums), and Kyle Roussel (keyboard). Former member Jake Eckert (guitar) is featured throughout "TWENTY DOZEN."

Says Roger Lewis: "It's a big old musical gumbo, and that probably made the difference, separating us from other brass bands out of New Orleans. It put a different twist on the music. We were not trying to change anything, we were just playing the music we wanted to play and not stay in one particular bag."

- http://www.dirtydozenbrass.com/
- http://www.savoyjazz.com/

Harry Connick Jr. To Guest On NBC's 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'

Three-time Grammy Award winner, two-time Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Harry Connick Jr. will have a multi-episode, guest-starring turn on the Wolf Films/NBC drama "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Wednesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET).

Connick will guest-star as Executive ADA David Haden, a dedicated, straight-shooting prosecutor who is assigned a case with Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay). Although Benson is at first wary of Haden, they are both surprised to find they work well together. As the case develops, so does their relationship. Connick's first episode will air January 18.




"This is a home run on so many levels," said Hargitay. "The show is very fortunate to have Harry's extraordinary talent, and I'm lucky because I get to work with my friend. I think Olivia couldn't have asked for a better companion to take her through a new stage in her life and career."

A star in music, theater, film and television, Connick recently won his second Emmy for musical direction of his live concert television special, "Harry Connick Jr. in Concert on Broadway." He currently is starring on Broadway in the musical "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" about which USA Today said: "Harry Connick Jr. has never sung or acted more powerfully." The musical is directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer, who also is the director of NBC's upcoming Broadway-themed drama "Smash."

This year Connick starred in the hit film "Dolphin Tale" which debuted at #1 at the box office with Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman and Kris Kristofferson. He also added author to his credentials with "The Happy Elf," his beloved song and children's Christmas stage musical turned into a keepsake children's book with an accompanying instrumental jazz CD released by Marsalis Music. On television, Connick is best remembered as Dr. Leo Markus on NBC's "Will and Grace."

A proud New Orleans native, Connick and longtime friend Branford Marsalis opened the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in The Musicians' Village in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans last summer, in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. From music to dance, theater to film, the goal of the Center is to harness the exceptional talents of the residents and students of the surrounding Musicians' Village in a collective effort that will provide an invaluable resource to New Orleans.

"Law & Order: SVU" is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Television. Dick Wolf, Warren Leight and Peter Jankowski are executive producers.

For embeddable clips and full episodes of "SVU," please visit NBC.com's official show site: http://www.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit/

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