MonticelloLive

A MonticelloLive reader was at the Main Street Bistro tonight and reports that John Autin was impressive.

Mary Lasiter writes, “We attended the Main Street Bistro tonight and saw John Autin.  He put on a great 2 hour show with some of his own songs and some of Hogie Carmicle’s, Fats Waller’s, Jerry Lee Lewis’s, Fats Domino’s, Ray Charles’, Kris Kristoferson’s and even one of Floyd Cramers.  Frank Ferguson played the sax with him on the ones of Ray Charles’.  He also added a lot of humor to the show.  It was well worth seeing.”

She added, “A couple more things Frank Ferguson announced was that Garry Phelps’ song “I Know Him In My Heart” has been nominated for best gospel song and that Ward Davis has signed a recording contract in Nashville.”

Main Street Bistro, an outreach ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Monticello, 821 North Main Street in Monticello, a smoke-free, alcohol-free, listener-oriented music venue, will present John Autin, “The New Orleans Piano Man”, in a special concert performance February 16, eginning at 6:30 p.m.

Pianist, vocalist, producer, songwriter John Autin is one of New Orleans’ musical treasures. For years, John has been one of New Orleans finest pianists playing or recording with Luther Kent, Marva Wright, Snooks Eaglin, Ernie K. Doe, Tommy Ridgley, Oliver Morgan, Irma Thomas, Eddie Bo, George Porter, Jr., Anders Osborne, Nora Wixted, Timothea, Grace Darling, Brian Lee, Wanda Rouzan, Al Miller, Jeff Chaz, Theresa Andersson, Irene Sage, Big Daddy ‘O’. John has also produced CD’s for many of these artists and others on the Rabadash Records label.

In 1999, John decided to focus on himself as an artist, starting with solo piano gigs, and forming the trio “The Autin Packing Co.”.   Lately, John has been working the finest piano rooms in New Orleans. In April 2003, the Hotel Monteleone contracted John to play the Carousel Lounge, New Orleans oldest and  most prestigious solo piano room. Playing Jazz standards, New Orleans Piano, Blues and requests, John plays the Steinway concert grand that Liberace got his start on over 70 years ago.  He can be heard there every Wednesday through Saturday evening entertaining visitors to the historic French Quarter.

In 2005 Autin completed a series of solo recordings that will result in the release of no less than a dozen CD’s representing a cross section of John’s massive repertoire. In May 2005, John received his Masters Degree in Jazz Performance from the University of New Orleans. He has recently completed a concert tour of Europe which included performances at the Hague in the Netherlands premier concert hall and 5 star hotel the Kurhaus.   John has also completed work on the sound track for a new feature length animated  film “Magistical” for the North Carolina based award winning Out of Our Minds Productions.

John’s studio CD Piano Face features his keyboard playing and singing with drums, bass and tuba. Tracks were cut with New Orleans musical luminaries Johnny Vidacovitch and Matt Perrine. Other tracks are complete with the members of the Autin Packing Co. Greg Finsley and Jay Drongé. John has written several songs for the CD along with songs by Anders Osborne, Jay Griggs, Nora Wixted, Doug Duffey, and James Autin. The CD covers several of the styles John plays, including Rock, Funk, Blues, Jazz and Pop.

John’s performance in Monticello comes on the heels of a performance at the Texas Music Educators Convention in San Antonio, www.tmea.org, where John will be performing  arrangements of “Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans” and “Mardi Gras Mambo”, which he co-wrote with friend and colleague Dr. Susan Brumfield .He will be accompanying  the West Texas Children’s Chorus before an audience of 2,000 music educators  in the Lone Star state. Dr. Brumfield’s and John’s royalties for these two arrangements are being donated to the Louisiana Music Educators Association to help rebuild the music libraries of schools devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

A delicious meal is always included in the $10 admission to Main Street Bistro.  Meal service begins at 6:30 p.m., with the two-hour show starting promptly at 7:00.  Seating is limited and reservations are encouraged.  Call the church office at 870-367-6883 for information and reservations.