Monty Alexander - Harlem Kingston Express to Headline WWOZ's Piano Night; Allen Toussaint tributes planned

WWOZ 90.7FM is pleased to announce the 28th annual Piano Night on Monday, April 25, 2016 at the House of Blues New Orleans. This year's event will feature Monty Alexander — Harlem Kingston Express, Henry Butler, Marcia Ball, John Gros, Joe Krown, Tom McDermott, Courtney Bryan, Kyle Roussel, Marty Sammon, and surprises to come!

Piano Night is the flagship benefit event for WWOZ and has become a tradition among New Orleans music lovers and loyal fans all over the world. This one-of-a-kind benefit concert for WWOZ is held each year on the Monday night between the two New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival weekends, drawing New Orleans music lovers from near and far. Piano Night celebrates and honors the rich history of piano players in New Orleans with performances on all three House of Blues stages.

WWOZ's Piano Night 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree was to be Allen Toussaint. Allen's son Reggie Toussaint will be there to accept the recognition on behalf of his late father. Led by Piano Night Music Director Renard Poche, members of Toussaint's longtime band will be accompanying this year's featured artists on the Piano Night Main Stage. Each featured pianist will be reinterpreting an Allen Toussaint song as a celebration of his life and career. The evening will also include a short special video tribute with extremely rare and never-before-seen clips of the late, great musician.

In a career spanning five decades, pianist Monty Alexander has built a reputation exploring and bridging the worlds of American jazz, popular song, and the music of his native Jamaica, finding in each a sincere spirit of musical expression. In the process, he has performed and recorded with artists from every corner of the musical universe and entertainment world: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, and Quincy Jones, among others.

"Piano Night is a special evening. It brings together a huge array of fans-- music lovers from near and far, piano aficionados, Jazz Fest fans, New Orleans arts patrons, and more," says Arthur Cohen, Chief Operating Officer of WWOZ. "The eclectic mix of performers onstage and people in the audience has consistently made this the most fun and important night of WWOZ's year. New Orleans has an amazing piano tradition and WWOZ is thrilled to bring some of the living masters of the ivories to the House of Blues stage again at our 28th annual Piano Night."

Food and music are a must for any WWOZ event, and Piano Night offers music lovers several ways to enjoy the music, including Piano Heaven -- a catered patron party featuring an array of food offerings from the city's finest restaurants, including Bayona, Commander's Palace, Jacques-Imo's, and many more.

WWOZ would like to thank its Piano Night 2016 Corporate Sponsors: People's Health, NOLA Motorsports, First NBC Bank, Chevron, Roedel Parsons, The Helis Foundation, Port of New Orleans, and the Ace Hotel New Orleans.

Fans of Piano Night will note that this year's performance will not be broadcast live on WWOZ.

When: Monday, April 25, 2016

Time: 5p Patron Party / 7p General Admission

Where: House of Blues, New Orleans

Admission: tickets are available at www.houseofblues.com/NewOrleans or by calling the House of Blues Box Office at (504) 310-4999. General Admission $45, Piano Heaven $175, Club 88 $350. Ticket sales benefit WWOZ.

For further information, contact:Pamela Wood, Chief Development Officer pamela@wwoz.org

WWOZ PIANO NIGHT 2016 from WWOZ New Orleans on Vimeo.