Fans of House, M.D. star Hugh Laurie have known for a long time that Laurie a gifted musician. His musicianship on piano and guitar have always been integral part of so many of his film and television performances, from the early days of A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster (both with comedy partner Stephen Fry) back in the 1980s to his current series House, about to enter its eighth season.
Earlier this year, Laurie brought his musicality to center stage, recording the recently released CD Let Them Talk, a genre-defying mix of jazz, blues, and folk—all of it deeply influenced by the unique sounds of New Orleans. Friday night, September 30, Laurie takes his passion to the PBS series Great Performances, produced by WNET, PBS in New York.
"Hugh Laurie: Let Them Talk – A Celebration of New Orleans Blues" is as much a journey—a pilgrimage, really, as it is a performance. Passionate about this music since he was a child in England, Laurie was inspired as a teenager by hearing blues great Professor Longhair's "Tipitina." And now he travels to his, indeed every jazz and blues afficionado’s, Mecca—New Orleans.
Laurie begins his “journey into the heart of lightness” in Texas hopping into a classic red Ford Galaxie 500 convertible, and packing a battered, ancient Martin guitar. He narrates this very personal odyssey, making stops along the way at iconic locales, taking viewers along with him into the soul of what makes New Orleans music unique. From participating in a Lukenbach, Texas guitar circle, to biking and walking his way around New Orleans, and reverently perusing the vinyl bins at the legendary Euclid record shop, we share in Laurie's experience as much from his passionate fan’s perspective as from his musician’s expertise. "Here I am in the French Quarter playing with all these amazing musicians,” he says. “This may be about as good as it gets. In fact, this may be what heaven is like."
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Article comments
1 - rjw
Those of us in western New York State have to wait til Sun @ 7pm to watch this.I do have his album,and have thoroughly enjoyed it.
2 - Barbara Barnett
I hope you enjoy it; I did!
3 - Victoria
It was delicious! I loved realizing that the Fry and Laurie theme had incorporated a riff from Tipertina. He clearly loves this
music. I for one hope he makes a lot more of it. AND writes some more novels!
Sorry for the western NYS folks, we in the southern Adirondacks loved seeing it last night.
4 - BrokenLeg
How I envy all of you able to watch live HL on stage as San Francisco' people are!!I live in western Europe, and wasn't able to go to any of his concerts of the european tour last spring, because my leg damage tied me then to the dry dock!!!At least buying his CD and tour videos on the internet made my days more confortable then!!Enjoy it for me now!!!
5 - Gill
I was so blown away by his CD "Let them Talk", It has made me find a new interest in blues music, which I never had before. His talent as a musician has always been there for the world to see, I am happpy for him that he has been able to achieve his dream. You really see how much he lives the music on the PBS special. May we soon have a follow up album to Let Them Talk.