The Mississippi River Delta is home to one of the most diverse and abundant ecosystems in the world and a thriving culture spanning generations. The 2010 Gulf Oil Spill disaster impacted the lives of thousands of people and the ecological balance of the region. See first hand the impact and stories from the region — and artist Wyland’s efforts to interpret the disaster and its aftermath through this powerful assemblage of song and story.
Growing up in Michigan, marine-life painter and conservationist Wyland developed a passion for blues, soul and R&B. Last year, the one-named artist had the chance to realize a dream when he convened a crew of blues and jazz stars to record tracks for his three-volume Blues Planet series.
During five days at New Orleans’ Piety Studios, marquee artists Taj Mahal, Rod and Honey Piazza, Mitch Woods, Jon Cleary, Steve Turre, Delfeayo Marsalis and Dr. Michael White brought Wyland’s words and music to life. A-list session players — including guitarists Rusty Zinn and Henry Carvajal, saxophonist Joe Sublett and drummer Willie Panker — also contributed to the project, proceeds of which go to the Wyland Foundation’s conservation efforts. “It’s probably the most fun I’ve had with my clothes on,” Wyland says from his West Coast home in Laguna Beach, California. “It was like making a giant mural. I could hear certain voices, so I would call different people into the studio. We’d huddle, and I’m like the quarterback. Then we’d just turn these guys loose.” The spirited performances on Blues Planet speak for themselves.
Released in April to commemorate the second anniversary of the BP oil disaster, the second volume, like the first, alternates Chicago and Mississippi blues, New Orleans jazz and R&B and Caribbean grooves. Lyrics reflect Wyland’s anger and sadness over the devastation visited upon the eco-systems of New Orleans and the Gulf states, which he witnessed days after the 2010 Deep Water Horizon explosion. “It was oil as far as you could see,” he recounts. “We had to put on gas masks. I mean, it was saturating our skin. It was horrible.” Wyland’s sentiments are echoed by the performances on Blues Planet, none more so than Taj Mahal’s. The blues vet was staying at Wyland’s home in the Florida Keys when he came across pages of his friend’s music and lyrics. When, he wanted to know, are we going to record this? Thus encouraged, Wyland started assembling his crew, including longtime friends the Piazzas, Hawaiian blues guitarist and singer Willie K, reggae-roots singer Nick-I and New Orleans clarinet king Dr. Michael White. Certainly, recording this music in the city gut-punched by Hurricane Katrina and kicked again by the oil spill resonated with Blues Planet participants. “We had to [record] in New Orleans,” Wyland says. “There was no place else that we could have made this music as important and powerful as it was.”
A documentary of the recording sessions premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival. ~Bob Weinberg
Growing up in Michigan, marine-life painter and conservationist Wyland developed a passion for blues, soul and R&B. Last year, the one-named artist had the chance to realize a dream when he convened a crew of blues and jazz stars to record tracks for his three-volume Blues Planet series.
During five days at New Orleans’ Piety Studios, marquee artists Taj Mahal, Rod and Honey Piazza, Mitch Woods, Jon Cleary, Steve Turre, Delfeayo Marsalis and Dr. Michael White brought Wyland’s words and music to life. A-list session players — including guitarists Rusty Zinn and Henry Carvajal, saxophonist Joe Sublett and drummer Willie Panker — also contributed to the project, proceeds of which go to the Wyland Foundation’s conservation efforts. “It’s probably the most fun I’ve had with my clothes on,” Wyland says from his West Coast home in Laguna Beach, California. “It was like making a giant mural. I could hear certain voices, so I would call different people into the studio. We’d huddle, and I’m like the quarterback. Then we’d just turn these guys loose.” The spirited performances on Blues Planet speak for themselves.
Released in April to commemorate the second anniversary of the BP oil disaster, the second volume, like the first, alternates Chicago and Mississippi blues, New Orleans jazz and R&B and Caribbean grooves. Lyrics reflect Wyland’s anger and sadness over the devastation visited upon the eco-systems of New Orleans and the Gulf states, which he witnessed days after the 2010 Deep Water Horizon explosion. “It was oil as far as you could see,” he recounts. “We had to put on gas masks. I mean, it was saturating our skin. It was horrible.” Wyland’s sentiments are echoed by the performances on Blues Planet, none more so than Taj Mahal’s. The blues vet was staying at Wyland’s home in the Florida Keys when he came across pages of his friend’s music and lyrics. When, he wanted to know, are we going to record this? Thus encouraged, Wyland started assembling his crew, including longtime friends the Piazzas, Hawaiian blues guitarist and singer Willie K, reggae-roots singer Nick-I and New Orleans clarinet king Dr. Michael White. Certainly, recording this music in the city gut-punched by Hurricane Katrina and kicked again by the oil spill resonated with Blues Planet participants. “We had to [record] in New Orleans,” Wyland says. “There was no place else that we could have made this music as important and powerful as it was.”
A documentary of the recording sessions premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival. ~Bob Weinberg
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 71:13
Size: 163.1 MB
Styles: Chicago and Mississippi blues, New Orleans jazz, R&B
Year: 2011
Art: Front
[3:52] 1. Going Back To The Ocean
[4:30] 2. My Home Is Your Home
[3:15] 3. Dirty Oil
[4:41] 4. Just Keep Playing The Blues
[3:38] 5. A World Of Beauty
[4:45] 6. Shark Fin Blues
[3:12] 7. Someone's Got To Pay
[3:51] 8. Blues Planet
[3:40] 9. Soulful Sea
[4:25] 10. Ready To Go
[4:44] 11. Little Ocean Pearl
[4:36] 12. Prehistorical Blues
[7:06] 13. Blues Planet Jam
[4:57] 14. Stars
[4:04] 15. Feeling The Blues
[5:52] 16. All Gone Now
Blues Planet mc
Blues Planet zippy
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 74:39
Size: 170.9 MB
Styles: Chicago and Mississippi blues, New Orleans jazz, R&B
Year: 2012
Art: Front
[3:55] 1. Down On The Water 1
[4:34] 2. Oil Everywhere
[3:13] 3. Come Home
[3:42] 4. Going Down To New Orleans
[5:22] 5. Saved By The Sea
[5:32] 6. The World Is Crying
[3:40] 7. Next Day Blues
[7:16] 8. Days Gone By
[4:06] 9. No Future
[4:53] 10. Get My Baby Back
[5:00] 11. Natural World Music
[5:00] 12. Feeling Kind Of Blue
[4:55] 13. Somebody Stole Our Planet's Love
[4:19] 14. Nature's Way
[5:57] 15. Your Day Is Coming
[3:07] 16. Blues Guitar Harp Duet
Blues Planet II mc
Blues Planet II zippy
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 68:06
Size: 155.9 MB
Styles: Chicago and Mississippi blues, New Orleans jazz, R&B
Year: 2013
Art: Front
[3:29] 1. Blues World
[4:12] 2. Time To Get Back Home
[6:49] 3. Down On The Water 2
[2:50] 4. Time To Go Now
[5:01] 5. Sirens Blue Song
[3:21] 6. You Sure Look Fine
[3:11] 7. The World Is Blue
[6:24] 8. Big Fine Woman
[3:45] 9. Bad, Bad Man
[4:42] 10. Another Day Passing
[4:44] 11. Blues Planet Jelly
[2:52] 12. Body And Mind
[5:44] 13. Stingray Stomp
[2:32] 14. Start To Have Some Fun
[4:06] 15. Live In The Moment
[4:17] 16. Blues Planet Boogie
Blues Planet III mc
Blues Planet III zippy
