Very pleased to announce the release of my first single with Cartilage Osseux Records! You can purchase and stream the new Anna Karina virtual 45 on most of the larger formats including; iTunes, Spotify, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and Amazon.
Gerald Bailey trumpet and production, Leslie Beukelman vocals, Elliot Ross guitar, Anthony Abinanti mix consultant and Raphael Crawford trombone.
Be sure to look for me playing trumpet in the ESPN NFL draft promo music video on April 30th. It was a privilege to work with Lion Babe and the ESPN production team!
Just finished up recording horns and shooting a video with JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound and Nate Lepine at Chicago Recording Company. 
MCA tribute
It’s nice to witness such a positive display of unity amongst original bands in the Chicago area for a good cause. Last night a handful of groups pulled together to benefit students for a free Tibet in memory of it’s director and member of the Beastie Boys, Adam “MCA” Yauch. Each group took on the task of performing covers of classic music recorded by the iconic group. I was honored to have the opportunity to sit in on trumpet with the Low Down Brass Band on a couple of songs including “Brass Monkey”. All the bands pulled together for a very memorable and epic encore.
In the next few weeks Ralph “Soul” Jackson will be promoting the release of his LP on Rabbit Factory. The tour will visit Memphis, TN Thursday 6/14, Muscle Shoals, AL 6/15, Birmingham, AL 6/16, Phenix City, AL 6/17 and Chicago, IL Saturday 6/23 at Martyrs’. The live band will include the authentic horn section from the record featuring Anthony Abbinanti on bari sax, Tom Riley on tenor sax, Andrew Zelm on trombone and myself on trumpet. Buy tickets here! RSVP!
The Chicago soul band has spent the last few years fine tuning the record Want More which will be released on Bloodshot Records October 25th 2011. It seems like it wasn’t that long ago I met these guys while recording horns for their epic version of Wilco’s I am Trying to Break Your Heart. Since that release The Uptown Sound has shared stages and supported an eclectic array of artists, from legends like Robert Plant and Buddy Guy, to Peter Bjorn & John and the Dismemberment Plan, Fitz & the Tantrums, Lee Fields, Flogging Molly and Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens. The the new record should be a good vehicle to start a new chapter for the band. In the next few months they will be traveling to Spain, Italy, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Seattle and Portland to name a few, but please visit the Uptown Sound website to see if they will be visiting a theater near you.
I’m excited to announce that I’m playing with the great Syl Johnson this coming Sunday evening. Who is Syl Johnson? He is famous for working with Al Green producer Willie Mitchell and has been sampled heavily by artists such as Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy and the Geto Boys. Listen to Syl on Numero Group’s page. West Fest is located at the corner of Damen and Chicago Ave. The horn section will feature Chris Neil on saxophone, Andrew Zelm on trombone and myself on trumpet.
