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Roland Guerin

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Roland Guerin
Background information
Born (1968-11-15) November 15, 1968 (age 55)
Fort Polk, Louisiana
Genres
Occupation(s)Bassist, singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Bass
  • Guitar
Years active1994–present
LabelsLouisiana Red Hot Records
Websitehttps://www.rolandguerin.com/

Roland Guerin is an American bassist, composer, singer and songwriter born in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Guerin began playing bass at age 11, learning from his zydeco bass playing mother.[1]

Musical career

[edit]

Guerin has played bass in bands including Alvin Batiste's[2] The Jazztronauts while earning a degree in marketing at Southern University, The Marcus Roberts Trio,[3][4] Allen Toussaint[5] and Dr. John[6] as his music director.[7]

(blind) Pianist Marcus Roberts, drummer Jason Marsalis and bassist Roland Guerin performed George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to a packed house at Symphony Center.

Guerin joined the Allen Toussaint Band[8] in 2008, touring with him until Toussaint died in 2015. He then joined the band of Dr. John, becoming The Night Tripper's final music director.[9] Guerin has toured as bassist with artists including Jimmy Scott, John Scofield, Frank Morgan, Vernel Fournier, Gerry Mulligan, James Singleton, Jason Marsalis, George Benson, Ellis Marsalis, John Scofield, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Gilbert[10] and Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band.[11]

He performed at UNESCO's first annual International Jazz Day in New Orleans at a sunrise concert in 2012, along with Herbie Hancock.[12]

Guerin resumed touring with the Marcus Roberts Trio in 2022, playing Gershwin at The Grange in Hampshire UK,[13] and in 2023 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans.

He debuted his genre Prog:Funk at a New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation showcase, and on radio station WWOZ-FM[14] in 2024.[15]

Recording

[edit]

Guerin performed on Marcus Roberts' In Honor of Duke, a New York Times Album of the Week[16] in 2009, on Allen Toussaint's album Connected,[17] The Marsalis Family,[18] and Dr. John's single "The Bare Necessities[19]" for Disney's live action movie The Jungle Book.

Guerin's first album The Winds of the New Land was released in 1997.[20] His 2019 album Grass Roots[21] was his first on Louisiana Red Hot Records.[22] "Stick to the Basics" featured lyrics Toussaint gave Guerin, to add his own music and create the song.[23]

In 2021, Guerin won Burl Audio's International Song of the Year[24] Contest with the single "28 Days" about masking up for four consecutive weeks, winning gear for his home studio. His subsequent EP "Prog:Funk" was released on Louisiana Red Hot Records in February, 2024.[25] OffBeat Magazine[26] wrote of "Prog:Funk" that drawing inspiration from his years as the music director for Dr. John and bassist for Allen Toussaint, "Guerin has honed his signature bass grooves, infusing them with the soulful essence of New Orleans."

Albums

[edit]
  • The Winds of the New Land (1997)
  • You Don't Have to See it to Believe it (2000)
  • Live at the Blue Note (2002)
  • Groove, Swing and Harmony (2003)
  • A Different World (2011)
  • Black Coffee (2016)
  • Grass Roots[27] (2019) [Louisiana Red Hot Records]
  • Prog Funk[28] (2024) [Louisiana Red Hot Records]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Guerin, Roland". The University of New Orleans. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  2. ^ "Alvin Batiste". 64 Parishes. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  3. ^ Chinen, Nate (2009-07-22). "Warmly Balancing Mind and Heart". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  4. ^ "Marcus Roberts Hits Spring/Summer Tour in Support of New Album". downbeat.com. 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  5. ^ https://allen-toussaint.com/roland-guerin/
  6. ^ kspera@theadvocate.com, KEITH SPERA | (2017-01-26). "Dr. John revamps his band with New Orleans musicians, new musical director Roland Guerin". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  7. ^ "Bassist Roland Guerin is much more than just a sideman". WGNO. 2019-06-29. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  8. ^ "Roland Guerin – The Official Site of Allen Toussaint". Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  9. ^ "Dr. John Has a New Music Director - OffBeat Magazine". www.offbeat.com. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  10. ^ Brown, Corey (2019-05-26). "Paul Gilbert: Blues For Rabbit". No Treble. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  11. ^ "Concert Series: Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band". Event Calendar | AMFA. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  12. ^ "New Orleans concert marks International Jazz Day". Yahoo News. 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  13. ^ londonjazz (2022-07-04). "Marcus Roberts Trio + Wycliffe Gordon / Bournemouth SO at The Grange (Hampshire)". London Jazz News. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  14. ^ "Video: Roland Guerin". WWOZ New Orleans 90.7 FM. 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  15. ^ "Exclusive Premiere/Interview: Roland Guerin Concocts New Bass-Centric Genre 'PROG:FUNK'". American Blues Scene. 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  16. ^ Ratliff, Ben (1999-11-05). "ALBUM OF THE WEEK". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  17. ^ Jazz, All About (1998-08-01). "Allen Toussaint: Connected album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  18. ^ "The Marsalis Family record together". wyntonmarsalis.org. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  19. ^ Wirt, John (2016-04-20). "Dr. John talks 'Bare Necessities,' Allen Toussaint, Jazz Fest appearances". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  20. ^ "Roland Guerin, The Winds of the New Land (Turnipseed Music) - OffBeat Magazine". www.offbeat.com. 1997-12-01. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  21. ^ "Solid As A Rock: Roland Guerin is not waiting for a stamp of approval - OffBeat Magazine". www.offbeat.com. 2019-09-26. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  22. ^ Coviello, Will (2020-03-30). "Bassist Roland Guerin releases 'Grass Roots' with homages to Dr. John and Allen Toussaint". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  23. ^ "Roland Guerin | ARTISTS". Ibanez guitars. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  24. ^ "2021 Covid-19 Songwriting Contest | Burl Audio". Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  25. ^ Clapp, Jake (2024-02-10). "New Orleans' Roland Guerin looks to his past and future on new 'PROG:FUNK' EP". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  26. ^ "Roland Guerin Unleashes Prog:Funk Magic with New EP and Jazz Festival Show - OffBeat Magazine". www.offbeat.com. 2024-04-15. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  27. ^ Grass Roots by Roland Guerin on Apple Music, 2019-10-18, retrieved 2024-05-16
  28. ^ PROG:Funk - Single by Roland Guerin on Apple Music, 2024-02-16, retrieved 2024-05-16
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