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| KELLY JOE TO APPEAR ON MISSISSIPPI SHEIKS TRIBUTE
ALBUM On a recent holiday, Steve Dawson—guitar maestro and founder of local label Black Hen Music—had the bright idea of putting together a tribute album to one of his favourite bands, the Mississippi Sheiks. Other than the blues classic “Sitting on Top of the World”, the Sheiks’ songs are largely unknown to today’s music fans, despite having been revered by Americana-influenced musicians since the ’30s. In those days, the trio was one of the hottest—and sauciest—acts around, and it influenced such legends as Memphis Minnie, Robert Johnson, and Big Bill Broonzy. “Much of their stuff remains obscure,” Dawson told the Straight. “They disbanded in 1935, but were one of the first bands to generate crossover interest from both black and white communities. What’s going to make this different from the regular tribute album is that, for the most part, there’s going to be a house band and the musicians are coming here to record over a three-day period.” The artists appearing on the album—which is scheduled to be out in March 2009—include Madeleine Peyroux, Bill Frisell, Bruce Cockburn, John Hammond, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Bob Brozman, Kelly Joe Phelps, Geoff Muldaur, Van Dyke Parks, and Dawson’s recording buddies Jim Byrnes and the Sojourners. “Ry Cooder has also agreed to do it, much to the chagrin of his lawyer. We don’t know how it’s going to shake down, but he would be recording in L.A.,” Dawson said. - By Tony Montague, Vancouver's Free Press |
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VIDEO & INTERVIEW FROM OPB Kelly
Joe stopped by OPB (Oregon
Public Broadcasting Studios.. Oregon's NPR Station) in Portland, Oregon
to play some songs and talks about his early performing career as a
jazz bassist, improvisation, moving to fingerstyle and slide guitar,
welcoming the muse, and finding his voice over the years as a singer.
Check it out here! |
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LATER WITH JOOLS HOLLAND DVD ‘Later…’ has remained at the fore for all major and breaking acts to showcase classic and new material, and for all artists who participate in the programme, it is truly an honour to be invited onto the show. Featured on this 62-track DVD package are artists from all across the globe and spanning all musical genres, encompassing the eclectic and varied styles that Jools has welcomed onto his show over the last 15 years of broadcast. From indie/ rock superstars such as Foo Fighters, Beck, Blur, Coldplay, legends such as Morrissey, The Who, Johnny Cash, Buddy Guy, influential and groundbreaking artists like PJ Harvey, Flaming Lips, Massive Attack and bringing right up to date with Hot Chip, Battles and Feist, Later…The First 15 Years features all these plus another incredible 47 artists who have performed on ‘Later…’ across the years. Click here for more info. THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL PROJECT
NEW
RECORD: TUNESMITH RETROFIT Beginning his career as a jazz and experimental musician, Kelly Joe Phelps eventually made a life-changing discovery of classic blues. Phelps’ blues chops “left behind a trail of guitarists with wide eyes, shaking heads and jaws bruised from hitting the floor” (Acoustic Guitar). But over the past few albums, Phelps has been shifting gears again – this time towards the fine art of songwriting. To Phelps, this is all a matter of “shifting focus, away from music heavily driven by guitar to music that’s more driven by the song.” Although his musical foundation remains country-blues and folk music, there’s nothing traditional or predictable about Phelps’ lyrical approach, which features distinctive images and refreshing turns of phrase. The album includes tributes to Dave Van Ronk and to the recently deceased songwriter/guitarist Chris Whitley. The sparse arrangements on 'Tunesmith' allow several new textures to peek through, including the banjo, an instrument that Phelps had last played over 20 years ago. 'Tunesmith Retrofit' is Phelps’ Rounder Records debut, and an album that comes alive with masterful musicianship and superb songwriting.
TAP THE RED CANE WHIRLWIND "Seven albums into his career, the jazz guitarist turned acoustic country blues man has increasingly been balancing old standards an forgotten nuggets with his own material. For 'Tap the Red Cane Whirlwind', his current live album, the only non originals included are Skip James' "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues" and Rev. Gary Davis' "I am the Light of the World", and while this may not delight the traditionalists it's difficult to raise much cause for complaint when you hear dusty voiced Phelps picking his way through the hauntingly plaintive "Cardboard Box of Batteries" or the melancholic "Not So Far to Go"."
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