LEYLA MCCALLA CELEBRATES LANGSTON HUGHES' BIRTHDAY WITH SHOWS FEB 11 AT BRIC HOUSE AND FEBRUARY 13 AT ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL, STAGE 3

THREE SYNDICATED RADIO SHOW TAPINGS OVER NEXT MONTH FOR FAST-RISER AS PASTE STREAMS ALBUM THIS WEEK

Leyla McCalla – cellist and tenor banjo player, Jazz Fest alum, and member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops family – will celebrate Langston Hughes' February 1 birthday with concerts February 11 at BRIC House (647 Fulton St., Brooklyn) and February 13 at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3 (196 Allen St.). Leyla McCalla will be taping three syndicated radio segments over the next month--NPR Tell Me More; NPR eTown; and Nat Geo Radio—talking about her stellar debut album 'Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes,' which is influenced by sounds from New York, New Orleans, and Haiti. Paste Magazine will stream the album this week before its February 4 release.

Performance videos from the streets of New Orleans.

Early buzz came from the UK. The Sunday Times called it an "unforgettable... triumph." The UK's R2 gave it four stars, calling it "a labour of love, beautifully consummated." UNCUT gave it an 8/10, heralding its "magic." The Guardian said that McCalla casts "a charming, resonant spell."

In the US, New Orleans' Offbeat Magazine tabbed it "ambitious, deep and gorgeous." Sing Out Magazine has raved, "What a voice, more Billie Holiday than anything, flourishing in such bare surroundings and bringing the words, whether joyous or dark, to life... As arranger, musician and vocalist she’s a remarkable talent, and this debut is assured and a harbinger of a towering career."

More info on Leyla's tour.