Hal Willner being honored at Roulette’s 40th anniversary gala w/ Laurie Anderson & more
Renowned music producer Hal Willner is being honored at Brooklyn performing arts and new music venue Roulette's 40th anniversary gala with performances from a very impressive lineup. Via press release:
Roulette’s Director Jim Staley and Board of Directors are thrilled to announce Roulette’s 40th Anniversary Gala honoring eclectic and prolific musician/producer Hal Willner. The evening will feature performances by artists from Willner’s extensive career, including avant-pop icon Laurie Anderson, incomparable performance artist and filmmaker Kembra Pfahler, Joan Wasser (Joan as Police Woman) of Antony and the Johnsons, New York Dolls’ David Johansen, Steve Cuiffo as comedian Lenny Bruce, composer and slide-trumpeter Steven Bernstein, SNL Musical Director and keyboardist Eli Brueggemann, saxophonist and SNL band Music Director Lenny Pickett, singer Janine Nichols, singer/songwriter Teddy Thompson, actress Chloe Webb, and saxophonist and singer Doug Wieselman.
Mr. Willner’s unexpected approach to curation and music production has made him one of the most refreshing musical connectors of our time. His many concept albums and live events celebrate unlikely collaborations—his Kurt Weill tribute records feature the likes of Sting, Charlie Haden, Lou Reed, Nick Cave; while his Amarcord Nino Rota tribute album features Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Bill Frisell, Muhal Richard Abrams; his Disney album features performances by artists like Sun Ra and Ringo Starr; and his live events bring together dozens of leading creative voices across film, comedy, music, and theater. He has been the sketch music producer of Saturday Night Live for the past 30 years and is currently working on his next concept album celebrating the music of T. Rex.
All proceeds from the evening go to the creation of Roulette’s Future Fund—a multi-purpose reserve fund to help build a strong, sustainable future for our organization and the artists we present. Support for the Future Fund will be matched up to $150,000 by the Howard Gilman Foundation.
The show goes down October 25 from 7-11 PM, and includes food ("buffet-style and passed fare"), an open bar, and a champagne toast. Tickets (starting at $100) are on sale now.
Though Nick Cave is only scheduled to appear on video, he is also visiting Brooklyn soon too.
In related news, the 1988 Hal Willner-produced compilation Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films (featuring Sinead O'Connor, Buster Poindexter, Michael Stipe, Tom Waits, Bill Frisell, Natalie Merchant and others covering Disney songs) is getting a 30th anniversary vinyl pressing for Record Store Day Black Friday (11/23).
Stream Laurie Anderson's Hal Willner-produced "Life On A String":