CONTACT   

Susan L’Ecuyer (856) 596-2221    

                                                                                                                       

Club NARM To Spotlight A Diverse Line-up
Of Performers At 2001 Convention

 

Nightclub Will Bring More Live Performers To NARM’s Annual Event

     

      Attendees of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers 43rd Annual Convention & Trade Show will be treated to more live music, thanks to the artists appearing at the Club NARM Showcase. Club NARM will begin at 10:30 PM on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday during the Convention, which will be March 11 through 14, 2001, at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida.

            “The NARM Convention has always provided a valuable showcase for musical talent,” notes Executive VP Jim Donio.  “For the past few years, attendees have missed having a late night venue on-site where they could network and hear some terrific entertainment.  We are so pleased to be bringing it back with the support of several of our label partners, who have assembled a diverse line-up of new and established performers.”

 

Sunday, March 11

            • Starting off the evening will be Capitol Records artist Pru, whose self-titled first album Pru! debuted on the Billboard Top 200. Pru co-wrote and co-produced the album, whose poetry and rhythmic music invokes the sultry sounds of Soul, the spiritual energies of Gospel, and the cool, melodic vibes of Blues and Jazz tinged with a flavor of edgy Rock & Roll. All in all, Pru pays homage to her roots, but at the same time presents an identity that is forward-looking and determinedly her own.

            • Next in the line-up will be contemporary Jazz guitarist and composer Doc Powell, presented by Gold Circle Label Group/Samson Records. Handed his first guitar at age 10, Powell has since collaborated with artists such as Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, and Quincy Jones. This Grammy-nominated artist’s new album, Life Changes, is set for release in April and showcases the growing diversity of Powell’s artistry and songwriting. 

 

• Mammoth Records’ Joe Henry will close out the evening’s entertainment. With his new album Scar Henry fully reveals the jewel he has been polishing throughout his acclaimed career. Fusing deft, orchestral arrangements to supple rhythms, Henry has set a series of ghost-like characters into motion, haunting the listener well after the song, and album is through. With a stellar cast of musicians surrounding him (including Ornette Coleman, Me’shell Ndegeocello, Brad Mehldau and Marc Ribot), Scar is a portrait of Joe Henry at his most adventurous.

 

Monday, March 12

      Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, Rounder Records will provide Monday evening’s entertainment at the Club NARM Showcase with a trio of notable performers.

            • Sarah Harmer will cast the first pitch of the evening with a voice that is sensual and earthbound and music that tows the line between rock and poetry. Her solo album, You Were Here, debuted in the United States on the Zoe/Rounder label in August and features songs of nuanced emotion that express human relationships and reverence for natural beauty. Time Magazine named it the “Best Album of the Year.”

            • Up next are The Cash Brothers, Andrew and Peter, who are 20 months apart in age, but unlike most children of musical families, never played music together until their 1997 debut Raceway. Their musical styles range from guitar Rock to moody Pop to Alt-Country. Before joining forces, both brothers were award-winning songwriters and, between them, recorded 11 albums. Their latest, How Was Tomorrow, will be released on Zoe/Rounder in April.

            • Cowboy Junkies will provide the evening’s finale. With nine critically acclaimed releases under its belt, the group has sold more than four million albums worldwide. For more than 15 years, Cowboy Junkies has cultivated its distinctive sound, consistently making music on its own terms. The musical evolution of the band has been gradual and organic, a result of the band’s honesty with its music. Its upcoming album, Open, is scheduled for release in May on Latent/Rounder Records.

 

Tuesday, March 13

      Welk Music Group/Vanguard Records is sponsoring the final night of the Club NARM Showcase with a diverse mix of new and veteran talent.

            • Shana Morrison will start out the evening. Morrison began her musical career in 1993 when she joined her father Van Morrison’s Rhythm And Soul Review as a featured artist. She and her band Caledonia have been performing since 1995 when they released their self-titled debut album. During the past year, she has opened shows for Lyle Lovett, Michael McDonald, John Hiatt, and Keb ’Mo as well as being featured in Rolling Stone magazine. She and Caledonia are working on their second album due for release in the spring.

            • Next up is Butterfly Jones, a new modern Rock band that features Michael Gurley, (formerly of the band dada) and which promises a fresh and memorable performance.

            • Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter John Hiatt is certain to provide one of the highlights of the Club NARM Showcase. His music has been performed by the likes of Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, The Neville Brothers, and Roseanne Cash. Hiatt’s most recent album, Crossing Muddy Waters, is an acoustic, Bluesy effort that has been nominated for a Grammy as Best Contemporary Folk Album.

      NARM serves the music and other prerecorded entertainment software industry as the pre-eminent forum for insight and dialogue for its more than 1,100 member retailers, wholesalers, distributors, entertainment software suppliers, and suppliers of related products and services.