Reed Alleman CD Release Party

Reed Alleman is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who has been playing his own brand of folk rock music for over 20 years. In 2002 he released his first CD entitled "Lake Runner" which is a collection of songs that reflect his life being raised just up the Mississippi River from New Orleans.

Reed plays weekly at The Imperial Palace - Biloxi MS, as well as pubs and coffee houses along the Lake Ponchatrain North Shore. Although primarily a solo performer, he formed a group called "The Lakerunners" to accompany him on his original material. Reed's influences include great songwriters and storytellers such as Neil Young, Jimmy Buffet, and Bob Dylan.

His music tells the tales of life in and around the New Orleans area. One of the first songs penned for Lake Runner, "The Refinery Blues" tells the story of growing up in a refinery town and the woes of the day in/out grind of working at the refinery, as he did over summers while in high school and college.

In "What They Doing 'Round Here", Reed focuses on the frustration over the destruction of precious bayous, swamps, and lakes that he fished and hunted as a boy.

After 911, Reed twice traveled with the Gumbo Krewe to New York. He performed for the many tired firefighters and rescue workers who would stop by the Gumbo Krewe's tent to rest, eat and hopefully be transported, if only for a short while, away from their task at hand and into the soul of South Louisiana. It was during this time that Reed wrote the song "Operation Gumbo Drop", which is a poignant reflection of his days at Ground Zero and the events that took place there.

Reed Also traveled with the Gumbo Krewe to Camp LeJune, North Carolina. He also performed, while the Gumbo Krewe cooked and served up that cajun food for the first Marines to come home from Afganistan. After talking to many of the young Marines, and hearing their stories, he wrote the song "You Don't Even Know Me", a tribute to our men and women who wear the uniform and protect our country.

Reed Alleman's next CD is now complete. Come to Republic for the release party! The new songs, "Operation Gumbo Drop" and "You Don't Even Know Me" will be featured.

Zama Para
Zama Para was originally the solo vehicle for Randy Perrone's songwriting, it came out of the Katrina ravaged New Orleans area. Randy had performed his songs as a acoustic solo act around New Orleans, but wanted to experiment with a larger sound that only a complete band could offer. Relying almost completely on ever popular and ever anonymous internet to advertise for musicians, Randy was first joined by Fernando Puig on drums. Followed by Ole Anders Oddlokken on saxophones.

Zama Para, (Balinese for “devoted to peace of mind”) have been concentrating on recording, working diligently in the studio, finishing up what will be their first EP. They are now shifting their focus toward taking their music out to the public. Doing what they love to do... playing for a live audience!

Best described as a “singer-songwriters” jam band with touches of Jazz and Rock. Comparable to Dave Matthews Band or local band the Benjy Davis Project, but upon hearing the music the listener will know that Zama Para is actually somewhere in the middle. While only hinted at on the recordings, the band's love for jamming is apparent in their live sets which often have extended instrumental sections. The influences the band members have credited, range from Dave Matthews Band and Jack Johnson to Umphries McGee and Jan Garbarek. Drawing from such a range of musical influences Zama Para hope they can create a sound of their own.