"Seeing the truths that we missed" - NPR First Listen for Leyla McCalla's 'The Capitalist Blues' out next week

NPR Music is hosting a First Listen for Leyla McCalla’s The Capitalist Blues a week before its released Jan 25 on PIAS/Jazz Village, along with a great write-up for this exploration of potent protest songs inspired by Leyla’s near decade living in New Orleans, her Haitian ancestry, and far beyond.

NPR’s First Listen: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/17/685696394/first-listen-leyla-mccalla-the-capitalist-blues

The Capitalist Blues “imaginatively maps her vision of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora and summons bodily, social and emotional wisdom through its dance music, gently taking Anglocentricism down a notch in the process,” says NPR.

Leyla also just revealed her album’s first music video for “Money is King,” via NPR’s World Café. The song was originally recorded in the 1930s by calypsonian Growling Tiger. “‘Money Is King’ sways with delicious musicality. On it, McCalla's voice sounds as strong as the message and social commentary of the song. McCalla plays tenor banjo, accompanied by a lilting arrangement of viola, bass, trumpet, guitar and a whiskey bottle, giving the song a measurable bounce.” 

Watch the video for “Money Is King” here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcjQdPcbS3c

Leyla has been busy in January and will continue to be, touring through the first half of 2019 internationally and in the U.S. She recently appeared on WNYC’s Soundcheck, did a performance and interview for Salon to explore the album’s myriad political themes, and just played a set at NYC’S Winter Jazz Festival with her new band. She also contributed to the Smithsonian Folkways album ‘Songs Of Our Native Daughters,’ out next month, featuring Rhiannon Giddens, Alison Russell and Amythyst Kiah.

Leyla recorded the album in New Orleans, and it represents her first time working with a producer. She recorded it with Jimmy Horn of King James and the Special Men, who also crafted the quilt featured on the album artwork. The album was primarily recorded at House of 1000 Hz studio in the Bywater neighborhood and the title track was recorded at Preservation Hall. Along the way a number of musicians are featured, including the Haitian Lakou Mizik collective.

Watch a short film on the album here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOjBhUIPF8g

Track List for ‘The Capitalist Blues’

1.   Capitalist Blues

2.   Money is King

3.   Lavi Vye Neg

4.   Penha

5.   Heavy as Lead

6.   Me and my Baby

7.   Aleppo

8.   Mize Pa Dou

9.   Oh My Love

10.  Ain’t No Use

11.  Settle Down

Tour Dates:

February 5 - San Diego, CA @ UC San Diego - ArtPower

February 6 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon

February 7 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Kuumbwa

February 8 - Palo Alto, CA @ Stanford LIVE

February 9 - San Francisco, CA @ SFJazz

February 10 - San Francisco, CA @ SFJazz

February 14 – Portland, OR @ The Old Church

February 15 – Seattle, WA @ Triple Door

March 13 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

March 14 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

March 15 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

March 16 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

April 4 – New York, NY @ Lincoln Center - Atrium    

April 13 – Katonah, NY @ Caramoor

LEYLA MCCALLA ON THE WEB:

https://leylamccalla.com/

https://www.facebook.com/leylamccallamusic

https://twitter.com/leylamccalla

https://www.instagram.com/leylacello/