LSDXOXO ASS SHOTS ft. Nicki Minaj |sped up|

Letters From The Atlantic

Backline

Davell Crawford, the “Piano Prince of New Orleans,” reflects on the tragedy of the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina and the complex emotions associated with that event 20 years later with the release of the single “The Walls of New Orleans". In a long heartfelt artist’s note explaining how and why he wrote the song Crawford admits, even 20 years later, “still, I cannot assemble the words to convey how I felt watching my city gasp for air under that turbid, murky brown water.” Crawford goes on to catalog the complex gamut of emotions he has experienced and still experiences related to Hurricane Katrina: sadness and mourning, physical and emotional loss, anger, pain, and ultimately a decision to believe in Faith in a time of extreme turmoil.

The song “The Walls of New Orleans” touches on these themes with a delicate arrangement primarily featuring guitar and piano, a warm vocal performance by Crawford, and backing vocals by The Davell Crawford Singers providing a lush gospel-tinge to the track. Mirroring the varied emotions explored in the themes of the song, it’s mood is both mournful and hopeful, reminiscent of the slower works of Roberta Flack (godmother of Davell Crawford), presenting a quiet, gentle beauty. With lyrics packed with metaphor, Crawford presents this song as a “survival hymn” addressed to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, whose message can be appreciated by anyone going through difficult times. In his own words, “every note is a tear shed, but also a raised fist and a hand reaching back to pull someone else up and carry them beyond the walls.” It’s a reflection of one person’s experience that can hopefully help those wrestling with similar emotions, and encourage people to lift each other up in times of strife.

“The Walls of New Orleans” conveys the empathic message that a traumatic event such as Hurricane Katrina will bring forth many different emotions, and there is no simple way to summarize that experience and those emotions, but we can attempt to process through the creation of art and music–a skill Davell Crawford has been abundantly blessed with.

Crawford explains the line “but I still linger here / within these walls I’m with you dear,” is an address to his community, “to remind them that even when I’m gone, my heart will remain here, in New Orleans… always.” He expresses not just a love of New Orleans, but the love that exists in the people of New Orleans, “a love so strong and so stubborn, that the love somehow continuously finds a way to bloom out of the concrete and brick walls. A love so strong it blossoms from deep underwater higher than the leveled currents of the Mississippi.”

“I intentionally held the release of this song, “The Walls of New Orleans” for this very time 20 years after Hurricane Katrina,” Crawford affirms, “and now I am gifting it to you just as I planned—on my terms and conditions, and at the exact time God directed me to let it go and give it to you.”

Crawford concludes his message with a simple note of hope for the perseverance of New Orleans: “You’ll never drown a city that has learned to breathe underwater, and New Orleans is that very city.”

“The Walls of New Orleans” will be released on the 20th anniversary of the failure of the levees in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, August 29, 2025. It will be available as a digital download from the Basin Street Records website and on all major digital music streaming and download platforms.


The Walls of New Orleans - Clip

Dr. Seuss's Red Fish, Blue Fish (Songs from the World of the Netflix Series)

The Dino Stomp

We Love Cats

Red bone in the sand “Redbone X ripples in the sand”

HOURS:AFTER

🎙️ Vocals / Production / Mix: Satyr Black

Original song written and performed by Outkast.
No copyright infringement intended. For artistic purposes only.

Hey Ya! – Outkast (Cover by Satyr Black)

A track I did with AstroLogical a while back. Off AstroLogical's album Stereotypes EP (http://jellyfishrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/stereotypes-ep)

Gangdu (Prod. AstroLogical x Pomo)

From “The Solo Projects: Vol. 1”
#stephengordon #soloprojects #drummer #pianist #keyboardist #integration #jazz #fusion #stephen #gordon #charlotte #queencity #nc #wisterplacemusic

"INTERGRATION" The Solo Projects: Vol. 1

STEPHEN R. GORDON, a native of Charlotte, N.C., began exploring the realms of artistry at the age of 4 years old, having his parents and relatives sign him up for private lessons on piano after hearing him pick out melodies of hymns they were singing in church.   "I have to give the credit of growing up listening to great music to my parents and my family, they are the ones who hipped me to Gospel, R&B, Soul, Jazz and Folk music, and because of that extensive institution, I went on to find music that I truly loved, and for the right reasons."  Having many artistic references from music to visual art to photography to musical theatre, Gordon pursued a path that has opened many opportunities for him and those around him.  Gordon's musical aspirations began to develop when he attended Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, N.C. and began to play the trumpet and many of the instruments in the brass family in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and in many of the pit orchestras, which led him to venture into All-District and All-State Wind Ensembles, Symphonies and Big Band Jazz Ensembles within North Carolina.  Upon graduating Northwest in 2002, Gordon continued to pursue the path, moving to new cities, extensive traveling and touring, playing and forming relationships with some of the finest artists of this (and any) musical era - in respect - ranging in many genres, including musicians and social icons such as Pianist Ellis Marsalis, Drummer Mike Clark, Trumpeter Bobby Shew, Percussionist Bill Summers, Vocalist Kurt Elling, Saxophonist Donald Harrison, Pianist Aaron Goldberg, Drummer Herlin Riley, Saxophonist Dick Oatts, Vibraphonist/Drummer Jason Marsalis, Guitarist Steve Masakowski, Trombonist Wayne Henderson, Vocalist Germaine Bazzle, Trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis, Trumpeter/Arranger Billy Spencer, Poet Abidune Olyewole (The Last Poets) and Trombonist Fred Wesley - Only to name a few.  In 2003 at the age of 18, Gordon was selected as one of three finalist out of the nation of young pianists to compete for the pianist chair in a hand selected quintet forming The Brubeck Institute (in honor of pianist Dave Brubeck) at The University of the Pacific in Stockton, C.A., of which the musical direction was led by world renouned bassist Christian McBride (Sting, Joshua Redman) and J.B. Dyas.  
​Aside from performing and touring, Gordon has pursued the education of music to all ages, especially our young people.  His teaching affiliations are thru The University of New Orleans, The New Orleans Jazz Institute, volunteering in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg public school system, Community School of the Arts, Queens University (Charlotte, NC), Central Piedmont Community College (Charlotte, NC), Smith Language Academy, The Charlotte Jazz Society, and has had many opportunities to travel doing clinics and masterclasses at colleges and universities.  Gordon is the music director for the tenth season off-broadway production "Miles and Coltrane: The Blue Sessions" written/produced by On Q Productions/Concrete Generation/Stephen Gordon, which is constantly traveling nationwide and across the world.  Stephen R. Gordon resides in Charlotte, N.C.

"INTERGRATION" The Solo Projects: Vol. 1

STEPHEN GORDON