Mayor Mitch has been known to pull a soulful turn of phrase. Aided by the full panache of his ensemble, The Hype Machine, he's even been known to get an audience up and clapping. But little could possibly prepare even the most ardent City Hall groupies for the next trick up our man's already-rolled-up sleeves. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu will appear on a compilation album chocked full of New Orleans' "finest musicians" due out around Mardi Gras. And, he'll be "singing," Mayoral Press Secretary Ryan Berni confirmed in a one-word answer tonight.

The compilation, titled "Nine Lives: A Musical Adaptation," is designed as an audio companion to Dan Baum's book of the same, feline-inspired title.  Music for the compilation was written by NOLA singer/songwriter Paul Sanchez. The 2-CD, 24-song compilation features more than 100 musicians, according to a press release. The album will be released on Mystery Street Records, a new imprint from Chris Joseph - the same man who gave us the Threadhead Records, which provides funding for up-and-coming New Orleans musicians through grants and loans.

Taking a cue - and maybe even a news cycle - from Jazz Fest, City Hall appears to be holding another secret close to the chest. Whether or not the Hype Machine will step out from the shadows beside the press conference stage, or the marathon sessions spent in the dank quarters of 421 Loyola tweaking every last bit of the 2011 city budget, remains shrouded in secrecy tonight. That is to say, Berni has yet to provide anymore information.

On February 1, Mystery Street plans to release a compilation entitled "Frenchmen Street." The single-CD label debut will include tracks from John Boutte, Shamarr Allen, the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, Alex McMurray, Jesse Moore, Glen David Andrews and Margie Perez & the King Cake Babies, a press release states.