Album Notes

Los Angeles, CA (Feb 1, 2007) – Over a decade ago, at New Orleans’ legendary Snug Harbor, Australian Singer/Songwriter, Naomi Louise Warne and Saxophone Legend Charles Neville of the "Neville Brothers” took the stage with an assortment of musicians, joining their unbridled talent and love of music. The union became the first-ever live performance by what would later become the collective “U-Ka”. Captured that night on a taped recording but not released until now – the performance is a Jazz rarity – a collection of entirely original material played this one night only. Most important however, is that in an effort to give back to New Orleans music, U-Ka architect, Warne, will donate sales to the Tipitina’s* Foundation, whose goal is to help rebuild the post-Katrina music community of New Orleans.
Naomi and Charles first met backstage at a Neville Brothers concert in Australia in 1993. Naomi was a working musician in Australia. She was the voice behind numerous movie and television theme songs such as the very popular “Wonderworld,” tv commercials and an in demand session player. After meeting Charles, she was convinced she needed to leave Australia and head to the U.S. for Jazzfest in New Orleans. A month later, in the streets of New Orleans, she serendipitously ran into Charles and gave him a copy of her original music. Impressed, he invited her to come play and record with him. Charles helped put together the makeshift band that played her original music at Snug Harbor as part of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. The result is the Live at Snug Harbor CD to be released this Spring.

The record - “U-Ka Live at Snug Harbor, New Orleans” is an unusual one – a gem. One recording. One night, one impromptu performance of completely original music and, one of the best live jazz performances you’re likely to hear this year. Owner and proprietor of Snug Harbor, George Brumat agrees, calling Naomi Warne “one of the best singer I have ever heard or seen perform in the place”. The recording features a lengthy list of Jazz greats including James Singleton, Herb Taylor, Larry Sieberth, Jim Lassen, Kristen Gaitenby, Gregory Boyd and the Neville Brothers’, Charles Neville. It is a sonic snapshot of an incredible evening that hosted the birth of Jazz’ new favorite project – U-Ka.

ARTIST: U-KA- with Naomi Louise Warne, Charles Neville, James Singleton, Herb Taylor,Larry Seiberth, Jim Lassen, Kristen Gaitenby, Gregory Boyd : Songs: Opulence(Nobel/Warne);Lullaby,Call me,Fishermen(Nobel)