Tuesday, December 2, 2014

New Davis Rogan CD

          New Orleans musician and DGA favorite Davis Rogan has released a new CD titled, Davis Ex Machina. And if you take a close look at the credits you’ll find a familiar name: Doug Green. Doug served as an executive producer on the album. First a trial consultant, now a music producer, nobody knows what might be next.

Hey! I know that guy! 
           Doug earned himself an executive producer credit by donating to the project through kickstarter—the online fundraising site. Doug was one of one hundred and forty nine backers who supported Davis’s project. Combined they raised $20,225 to fund the album. Backers for the project came from across the United States and even the world. Residents of San Francisco, Chicago, Oxford, Mississippi, and Pittsburgh gave to the project. Internationally Davis received financial support from Sweden, Belgium, France, and Australia. His appeal is truly international in scope. Perhaps Davis’s appeal stems from his biography on the website, where he described himself as having “The wit, irony, and self-deprecation echo Randy Newman, but the wry observations about life, humanity, and New Orleans are uniquely his.”

The New Album 

Rogan himself describes Davis Ex Machina this way: “The songs, about a dozen of them, are also very clever… I will let my work to date, the three albums as the band All That and two as DAVIS, be a guidepost for what the new recording will sound like. If you like what I’ve done so far, you’re gonna love the new one.” The CD includes fourteen tracks. For the album, Davis rounded up his usual band of suspects. Bass player Jimbo Walsh has played with Davis since 2001. Charlie Kohlmeyer plays the drums, a job he has held since 2007. Mark Levron and Travis Blotsky the trumpeter and saxophonist, have been with the band for five and three years. They all work professionally as musicians.

Esplanade Studios in Treme 

The album was recorded at Esplanade Studios in New Orleans. The studio opened in 2013 in the Treme, the famed New Orleans neighborhood, and namesake of the HBO series. The studio is located in a 1920s church that encompasses 14,000 square feet. The church was heavily damaged in Hurricane Katrina and remained vacant since 2005. Inside the church is a large pipe organ, donated by robber baron and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The storm damaged the organ and efforts are underway to restore it to working condition. Misha Kachkachishvili, the owner of the studio, engineered, mixed, and mastered the album.  Apart from Davis, the studio also has an impressive list of clients including: Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Rebirth Brass Band, Harry Connick Jr., and Dr. John.

Also as a special bonus, Davis will be performing an original song titled, “Jury Consultant Blues.” He will premiere the song at the Crawfish Boil in March. This year’s boil will be held on March 14th, at Winos and Tacos in Covington, Louisiana. If you would like to purchase the CD, it is available for sale at the Louisiana Music Factory online

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