Hugh Laurie will play two special live performances to celebrate the U.S. release of his debut album Let Them Talk. Earlier this year, Laurie took the glorious celebration of New Orleans blues featured on the album on the road for a handful of critically acclaimed shows across Europe and will now bring those shows stateside.
On September 30, Laurie will perform an intimate gig at famed Los Angeles venue The Mint before heading north the following day to take the stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on October 1. Joining Laurie onstage will be a band of renowned musicians including Michael Blair, Kevin Breit, Vincent Henry, David Piltch, and Patrick Warren.
Let Them Talk, available now from Warner Bros. Records, unites Laurie’s musical talent with a very personal selection of standards and lost blues classics. Produced by Joe Henry and recorded at sessions in Los Angeles and New Orleans, the album sees Laurie on vocals and piano heading a team of celebrated musicians as they interpret and revive songs originally recorded by New Orleans blues legends such as Lead Belly, Robert Johnson, Ray Charles, and Memphis Slim.
Let Them Talk also features collaborations with the “Soul Queen of New Orleans” Irma Thomas and Sir Tom Jones on the little known “Baby, Please Make A Change.” Thomas also leads the vocals on “John Henry,” while Laurie’s lifelong hero Dr. John provides a momentous collaboration on “After You’ve Gone.” Another legend, the producer, musician, and songwriter Allen Toussaint, contributes horn arrangements throughout.
“In my imagination, New Orleans just straight hummed with music, romance, joy, despair; its rhythms got into my gawky English frame and, at times, made me so happy and sad, I just didn’t know what to do with myself,” said Laurie. “I love this music as authentically as I know how, and I want you to love it too. If you get a thousandth of the pleasure from it that I’ve had, we’re all ahead of the game.”
For more information on The Mint, please visit www.themintla.com
For more information on Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, please visit www.strictlybluegrass.com