Bleu Orleans

Bleu Orleans, the jazz group led by trumpeter Edward Anderson and pianist Darrell Lavigne, has, like New Orleans itself, made the intensely personal effort of transforming itself. Having survived the storm, as well as having negotiated the vicissitudes of life in 21st century America, the band has emerged stronger and with a more defined sense of itself and its musical strengths. Says Anderson, “We have faced the challenges of the last four years and believe we have come out stronger, wiser and optimistic on the other side.”

Those qualities are reflected in the group’s new recording, its third, entitled, appropriately, Transformation. Here, this unprecedented artistic inspiration re-emerges through the beauty of artistic creation and musical expression. Anderson explains,” When one goes through that kind of tragedy, and witnesses that kind of suffering and change, you gain an entirely new level of appreciation for life and love. You see the world through a different lens. You count your blessings. We want to realize in our music all that we are, in the best sense of the word. We choose to most personally express our emergence out of that experience through music.”

Transformation is Bleu Orleans’ latest manifestation of this newfound strength, wisdom, and optimism. With guest stars including keyboard stalwart Patrice Rushen and Headhunters’ percussionist Bill Summers and smart arrangements that involve, string ensembles, Caribbean and urban grooves, the group is moving away from the tragedy and fully realizing the power it’s given them. The original compositions on the upcoming release range from passionate, heart felt ballads to high-energy funky eclectic works. The level of invention is constant and propulsive, giving the band a more potent voice to offer musical commentary to its ever evolving city and its world.

Edward Anderson

Musician, composer, educator, producer and founder of Fertile Crescent Entertainment, Inc. Edward Anderson’s musical journey has included a wide range of experiences which has helped him mature into one of New Orleans finest musical talents. During his formative years he “cut his musical teeth” performing with such local favorites as the Treme Brass Band, Dr. Michael White’s Liberty Brass Band and Kermit Ruffins. As a student of the University of New Orleans’ Jazz Studies Program Anderson he was fortunate to study under the educational guidance of Ellis Marsalis, Harold Batiste, and Victor Goines. During these formative years he shared the classroom and the stage with outstanding jazz talents such as Brian Blade, Nicholas Payton, and Jeremy Davenport to name a few. Upon graduation he was accepted to Manhattan School of Music graduate program where again he was able to learn and gig with today’s finest jazz talents such as Stefon Harris and Jason Moran. It was in New York where he connected with Wynton Marsalis and landed his first job as an arranger contributing to a series of New Orleans themed concerts for New York’s prestigious Jazz at Lincoln Center. As Intern/Assistant to Executive Vice President and Head of A&R, of Sony/ Columbia Jazz, Anderson learned the music business and recording process working behind the scenes on many projects including the late great Grover Washington, Wynton Marsalis, and a host
of others.

In 2000 Edward along with pianist Darrell Lavigne formed the jazz/world group Bleu Orleans with the intent of creating a New Orleans jazz group reflective of the ever evolving 21st century. In 2005 he was featured as a member of the legendary Ray Charles Septet and Jazz Orchestra in the critically acclaimed motion picture Ray starring Jamie Foxx. Anderson has also produced albums for local jazz favorites, Leah Chase, jazz violinist Michael Ward and legendary songwriter Harold Batiste. Additionally, Anderson is currently Director of the Institute of Jazz Culture ant Dillard University in New Orleans. As a composer arranger his works have been performed by the Louisiana Philharmonic and Louisiana State University Symphonic Orchestras. He also directs the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation Don Jamison Music School.

Darrell Lavigne
Take a close listen to his music and you’ll understand why Darrell Lavigne has been performing on stages all around the world. Actually a late bloomer, Lavigne’s jazz focus did not materialize until his late teens where he studied as a composition major at Xavier University of New Orleans under the tutelage of composer Roger Dickerson. He credits Dickerson and his father a non-musician for introducing him a wide range of musical influences such as Monk, Bud Powell, Ahmad Jamal, Hancock and Corea, Charlie Parker, Trane, Miles, Ellington, Basie and Stan Kenton”.

Darrell’s talents quickly developed and he soon became one of the most sought after pianist in town, performing with such notables as MaxJazz artist Phillip Manuel, Wanda Rouzan, Germaine Bazzle, Samirah Evans, Delfeayo Marsalis, Kent Jordan, wit