Sting’s solo career takes yet another turn this week with Fridays release of 57th and 9th, his first solo effort of straight ahead pop-rock since 2003’s Sacred Love. The title of the new effort comes from the intersection Sting would cross through on the way to the recording studio located in the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City. The album’s standard edition includes 10 new songs all written or co-written by Sting. The deluxe edition includes three more tracks: two alternate mixes of album tracks, plus a live version of Next To You.
As the promotional blitz for the new CD gets underway, Sting finds himself in Paris tonight along with longtime cohorts Dominic Miller (guitar), Vinnie Colauita (drums) and Rufus Miller (guitar) for the reopening of the Bataclan venue in Paris. It’s been almost a year to the day (November 13, 2015) that terrorists attacked the location, leaving 130 people dead. According to PBS.org, all 1,000 tickets sold out in less than half an hour, and survivors and victims families are invited to attend as well.
On his website, Sting said “In re-opening the Bataclan, we have two important tasks to reconcile. First, to remember and honour those who lost their lives in the attack a year ago, and second to celebrate the life and the music that this historic theatre represents. In doing so we hope to respect the memory as well as the life affirming spirit of those who fell. We shall not forget them.”
Proceeds from the show will go to the groups Life For Paris and 13 Novembre : Fraternité Verité.
