NEWS

News!

05/01/2012 20:39:00

I had the honor and privilege of signing one of the keys of the amazing

"Louisiana Legends Art Piano", damaged in hurricane Katrina and restored by volunteers for Tipitina's Foundation and artist Stephan Wanger.

It is currently up for auction and 100% of the proceeds goes toward

buying instruments for New Orleans schools and after-school programs.

Check it out here: https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Item.action?id=159768494

What Lena's up to!

04/23/2012 23:30:00

News updates!

New song by Lena Prima, "Come On Back To New Orleans"!! Listen now at: http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_12963942?eid=A300513_12353835_25955127_lnk1001

Lena and the Lena Prima Band have been extended at the Carousel Lounge @ Hotel Monteleone through the end of June 2012!

New Orleans great songwriter and pianist Allen Toussaint enjoyed a set of Lena's at the Hotel Monteleone last weekend! See the photo on the photo gallery page @ http://www.lenaprimamusic.com/PHOTO-GALLERY.html

Lena's new Summer 2012 Pennies From Heaven Bracelet set will be available online soon!

More to come.......

Lena Prima Band News!

02/08/2012 16:08:00

We are happy to announce that the Lena Prima Band has been extended at the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone through May 5th! Every Fri. & Sat. night 9pm to 1am, with the exception of the weekend of April 27th, we will perform Sat and Sun, the 28th and 29th. Also, we are going to be performing at the French Quarter Festival on April 14th at 2pm on the Louis Louis Stage! Come on down to New Orleans!!

Exciting news!!

11/29/2011 02:53:00

We are excited to announce that we will be at the

Hotel Monteleone's newly renovated Carousel Bar

214 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

starting January 6, 2012 every Friday and Saturday night

from 9pm until 1am, through the end of March!

We hope to see y'all in the Big Easy!!

Get your Halloween weekend started early!

10/04/2011 16:55:00

Lena's NEW band

07/21/2011 02:18:00

Lena's new band, "Gumbo Ya Ya" will be debuting on Sunday, August 21st at the

Rhythm Kitchen, 6435 South Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89118 (702) 767-8438

More details coming soon!!

review - Wine and Jazz.com

05/25/2011 18:21:00

A Week of Great Vocalists – Lena Prima, Denise Donatelli and Jeffery Osborne!

Jonathan Widran – Jazzologist

What festivals and shows are you looking forward to?

I’m sure every jazz fan loves their city or region for the multiple opportunities they offer to hear an ongoing slate of great music from many sources. But a handful of performances this last week made me especially glad to live in Southern California, where I saw a great festival in Orange County and shows by two great female vocalists who had previously been under my radar at the popular L.A. hotspots, Vitello’s and Vibrato (love those V’s!).

For any talented child of a legendary music figure, I would imagine the biggest challenge would be paying homage to the family legacy while carving out a unique and singular niche that establishes that artist’s legitimacy. I feel privileged to have been hired recently to write a bio on Lena Prima, the daughter of “King of Swing” Louis Prima, and really embraced the material on her CD Since the Storm and her colorful vocals and arrangements. But nothing prepared me for the magic and infectious energy she generated onstage at Vitello’s last night. I think the song and arrangement that epitomizes the magic Lena brings to her show is “Here’s To Life,” which is best known as a tender ballad popularized by Shirley Horn. Lena’s version is full of zest and pop and inspired me to pay closer attention to the inspirational lyrics than I ever had before. Her 90 minute set included colorful arrangements of old standbys like “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Over The Rainbow” and “Moon River” (done with more swing and pep than most artists dare!), as well as fun, spirited offbeat tunes like “Is You Or Ain’t You My Baby,” “Silly In The Middle” and a high energy singalong version of “I Want You To Be My Baby.”

Even if Lena did not have a famous last name, there’s no doubt her strong jazz vocal chops could make her a star – but all that natural presence, charm and charisma comes with a history she is not shy about sharing. To everyone’s delight, she channeled her dad’s “old black magic” and did a sweep of Italian songs that some people sang along to, plus wild renditions of songs Louis popularized like “Just A Gigolo.” Then in equal homage, she ventured down to New Orleans (NOLA, baby!), where he conjured up the great Irma Thomas, got some Saints to go marching in and jammed on the irrepressible “Jump Jive An’ Wail.” One of my favorites live and on disc is the clever “Little Boy Blew His Top.” This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening created by an artist who brilliantly combines subtle intimacies with crowd pleasing exciting delights.

Spring Art Walk this weekend!

04/28/2011 01:45:00

This weekend come to the Spring Art Walk

at the Trails Shopping Center in Summerlin.

Lena will have her booth located near the

information booth close to Vons.

Specials on "Pennies From Heaven" bracelets

and new colorful one-of-a-kind pieces for summer.

FREE gift with every purchase!

Great Mother's Day gifts!

Come by and enjoy the afternoon!

10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday -

April 30th & May 1st

Our trip to New Orleans!

04/18/2011 20:56:00

We had an incredible experience in New Orleans!

The weather was perfect and music, art, great food and colorful

characters were everywhere! A wonderful event honoring the

musical legends who performed at the Hotel Monteleone included

personal appearances by Pete Fountain, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John.

I was there to represent my father and receive his honor.

We also stayed at the beautiful old hotel for the duration of our trip.

We attended the French Quarter Fest kick off party at the House Of Blues

and listened to some great Zydeco and Blues and ate some red beans & rice!

I marched in the FQF parade and carried the Hotel Monteleone banner.

We performed on Saturday afternoon, April 9th on the courthouse steps

on Royal Street to a joyful crowd.

Here's a great shot of me with Dr. John:

Working on our return....

Lena to sing at dedication in New Orleans

04/02/2011 11:17:00

Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans

Carousel Bar Booth Dedication & Legacy Series Luncheon

Lena Prima will sing "Sunday Kind Of Love" with John Autin

Be a part of our history as we dedicate the booths in the newly

renovated Carousel Bar at 11.00am to honorees including Louis Prima,

Dr. John, Etta James, Pete Fountain and Allen Toussaint. Purchase a CD

assembled by the Hotel Monteleone’s acclaimed pianist, John Autin, of

the musical artists we’re recognizing.

We’re taking an in-depth look at people and events that have influenced

the development of New Orleans’ culture and economy with our 2011

Legacy Series. This bi-monthly panel focused on local legends will be

moderated by Ringside Politics host Jeff Crouere and will take place during

lunchtime from 12.00 noon -1:30pm. Discussions will include political

figures/eras, musicians/the arts, authors and sports.

On Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 the second luncheon in our Legacy Series will

follow the booth dedication ceremony at 12 noon. Led by local media

personality Jeff Crouere the panel discussion will showcase various musical

legends that have performed in or stayed at the Hotel Monteleone including

Dr. John, Louis Prima and Etta James. Panelists for this event include,

Laura Cottingim from New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; Jan Ramsey,

Publisher of OffBeat Magazine; Mike Shepherd, Founder and Executive Director

of LA Music Hall of Fame; Keith Spera, Music Columnist, New Orleans

Times Picayune; Vince Vance, Singer, Band Leader, Song writer and Inductee

of LA Music Hall of Fame. The cost for the luncheon is $35.00.

To make reservations, call 1-504-681-4452.