Friday, March 7, 2008

Lili Haydn to offer benefit show for Amnesty International

LILI HAYDN-singer, songwriter and violinist extraordinaire--will celebrate the April 1 release of her new album PLACE BETWEEN PLACES (Nettwerk Music) with a performance and party--hosted by comedian and TV host Bill Maher--on the same day at the Silent Movie Theater in Los Angeles. For the event, the committed humanitarian and activist is partnering with Artists for Amnesty, Amnesty International USA to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Protect the Human campaign. All proceeds from the show will go to Amnesty International's life- saving human rights work.
Says LILI:
" The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is one of the most elegant and definitive expressions of the human conscience and our capacity for decency and justice, outlining the basic necessities for every person to live a good life. I love Amnesty's 'Protect the Human' campaign, because it's an effort to get everyday people to talk about human rights in everyday places; and I say, 'where better than at my record release party?' This record was born from the most authentic part of myself, and is ultimately devoted to uplifting the human spirit. It seemed natural that I would spend this special night playing for, and hanging with, friends as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of this extraordinary document. I'm also a huge fan of Bill Maher, who is a dear friend and supporter, and has generously offered to host this evening and help me justify my April Fool's release."

PLACE BETWEEN PLACES marks HAYDN's debut album for Nettwerk Music and third album overall. Produced by HAYDN and Grammy-winning producer-engineer Thom Russo (Johnny Cash, Macy Gray, Audioslave), it delivers sounds that are inventive and torrid, equal parts Kate Bush and Pink Floyd, with compelling lyrics in search of peace and passion in an unsteady world. She shows a new sense of abandonment in her vocals to match the fire and grace of her virtuosic violin playing. Her words and melodies cover a wide musical territory, as rooted in modern rock and avant-pop as in her early studies of Brahms and Tchaikovsky. Highlights include the transcendent "Strawberry Street" (the album's hook-laden first single) the dreamy, modern noir and KCRW favorite "I Give Up" and the stunning opening track "Memory One."
HAYDN has played with, sung, and opened for everyone from Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (soloing on Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" before joining them again across the U.S. as the duo's opening act) to Sting, Josh Groban and Herbie Hancock (playing and singing one of her own songs as part of his jazz quintet last summer). And as a sometime member of Parliament-Funkadelic, leader George Clinton has often called her "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin." HAYDN has her own Hendrix moment on the new album's final, unlisted track-an epic take on P-Funk's "Maggot Brain," a rendition she's played to standing ovations at the Hollywood Bowl and elsewhere. She will also uphold her "Hendrix" moniker on April 2, as she plays and sings the national anthem for the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

www.lilihaydn.com
www.myspace.com/lilihaydn

No comments: