|
String Masters
04/06/2006 What do you get when you ask six of the best string-band musicians in the nation to take part in the Kennedy Center's "Country: A Celebration of America's Music" series? An all-star Foggy Bottom Breakdown. During Tuesday night's performance at the Eisenhower Theater, mandolinist Sam Bush, Dobro player Jerry Douglas, fiddler Stuart Duncan, banjoist Bela Fleck, guitarist Byran Sutton and bassist Mark Schatz swiftly lived up to their billing as "String Masters." Although they looked as though they just hopped off a tour bus -- "We didn't get the memo about the clothing," Douglas quipped -- there was nothing remotely sloppy about the dazzling solo work or the colorfully woven bluegrass-to-newgrass arrangements. The tunes, original compositions as well as pieces associated with Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, John Hartford, Norman Blake and others, inspired streams of spirited improvisations and seamless exchanges. Sutton's flat-picking was remarkably crisp and fluid. Fleck contributed Earl Scruggs-like finger rolls, jazz-tinted chromaticism, a tooth-plucked flourish and his lovely ballad "Overgrown Waltz." Duncan's soaring fiddle and Schatz's "doghouse" bass help create vivid contrasts, while Bush and Douglas were often at their best when vigorously mining the blues, especially during a duet that fused "Sailin' Shoes" with "Cross Road Blues." In classic string-band fashion, the hot licks were served up with some shameless shtick. At one point, when huddled around a microphone and sharing harmonies with Fleck, Bush and Douglas unbuttoned each other's shirts, a move that triggered the evening's first (but not last) mention of the Brokeback Mountain Boys. Schatz was better behaved during his delightfully syncopated clog-dance cameo.
|
||
|
Jerry Douglas to Perform on Prairie Home Companion
01/22/2006 From the Journal-Courier Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana By Tim Brouk tbrouk@journalandcourier.com January 22, 2006 For more than 30 years, Garrison Keillor has made his home state of Minnesota and many other states entertainment for the world. The host of Minnesota Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion also takes his show on the road. The two-hour show that is aired on National Public Radio is broadcast live from theaters in front of a live audience. Keillor uses local flavor from each city to help shape the show. "It's a writing assignment," said Keillor, during a recent telephone interview. "You eliminate the irrelevant and keep working at it. Somehow we will come up with some notes on Purdue, West Lafayette and Indiana and use them to twist our show in the right direction. It's a show coming from a different place. It's a live show. There just aren't many anymore. Even news shows, more and more are taped." Keillor will bring his traveling radio circus of actors, musicians and producers back to Purdue University at 5:45 p.m. Saturday in Elliott Hall of Music. The show will be broadcast live on WBAA FM. It will be replayed from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 29 on WBAA AM. A Prairie Home Companion made its Purdue debut on April 14, 2001. Keillor's Companion is a lot like a variety show with guests, live music, skits, comedic fake commercials and greetings from the audience. "They're messages we read on the air to folks in the armed forces or relatives around the country -- happy birthdays and happy anniversaries," Keillor said. As one of the highest-rated shows on NPR, A Prairie Home Companion doesn't have to hit the road for 25 of its 35 broadcasts, but Keillor sees it as a way to connect with his audience. "It's a way to make contact with the audience and have a look at our listeners," Keillor said. "It's a big help to us writing the show month after month. To get some clue and some intuition to who these people are, you need to look at them and stand up in front of them. If we kept it in Minnesota, it would be easier in a way, but to get a whole diverse audience, the only way to do that is to travel. This is a country that needs some things to tie it together. It's not like I have any grand ideas for this show, but you feel a kind of patriotism as you get older. You're interested in meeting people other than ones just like you. We did a show in Tupelo, Miss., and I realized there are a lot of people who aren't Midwestern." When Keillor revisits a city, he works with all new material. He doesn't repeat anything he used last time. "I try not to look back. I avoid that whenever possible," Keillor said. "We prep ourselves all fresh and new. We take one show at a time. That's something I learned years ago when doing a weekly show. I recommend this as a general operating procedure in life -- the one day, one week at a time principle." Guests on A Prairie Home Companion travel with the show while others are pulled from the community. For Purdue's show, the local guests and musicians have not been finalized, but Keillor will be bringing Jearlyn Steele, a singer from Gary who is a regular on A Prairie Home Companion, and Jerry Douglas from Nashville, Tenn. Keillor dubbed him as the "best Dobro player in the country." Keillor said Elliott Hall is a larger venue for A Prairie Home Companion to be performed in, but the more people, the better, as the show is nothing without a live audience. "People laugh and clap and that's what makes the show. You need an audience to do comedy," Keillor said. "It's very exciting, and you never get over that excitement."
|
||
|
48th Annual Grammy Award Nominees Announced
12/08/2005 Congratulations to Jerry Douglas on his nominations for "Who's Your Uncle?" from his solo project, The Best Kept Secret, AND for his composition "Unionhouse Branch" from Alison Krauss + Union Station's Lonely Runs Both Ways. Both tracks are nominated for Best Country Instrumental Performance. Congratulations to Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas on their other Grammy Award nominations, which include Best Country Album (Lonely Runs Both Ways) and Best Country Performance by a Group or Duo ("Restless" from Lonely Runs Both Ways). Finally, congrats to Gary Paczosa for being nominated in the Best Engineered Album category for his work on Lonely Runs Both Ways. A full list of nominees can be found at www.grammy.com.
|
||
|
MerleFest 2006 Announces Stellar Partial Line-Up
09/29/2005 Ticket Sales Begin on November 8, 2005 WILKESBORO, N.C., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Ticket sales for MerleFest 2006 will begin on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 at 2:00 PM EST. Wilkes Community College will present MerleFest 2006, the 19th annual festival in celebration of the music of the late Merle Watson and his father Doc Watson, on its campus in Wilkesboro, NC on April 27 - 30, 2006. Some of those joining Doc Watson and Merle's son Richard Watson for MerleFest 2006 will include Rory Block; David Bromberg Quartet; Alison Brown Quartet; Sam Bush Band; Guy Clark; Thad Cockrell & Caitlin Cary; John Cowan Band; The Dillards; The Ditty Bops; Jerry Douglas Band; Bela Fleck & The Flecktones; The Grascals; Emmylou Harris; Hot Tuna; Jim Lauderdale & his Bluegrass Band; The Lee Boys; Laura Love Band; Nashville Bluegrass Band; Nickel Creek; Tony Rice Unit; Peter Rowan; Darrell Scott; Mike Seeger; Pete Seeger; Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers; Gillian Welch; and The Waybacks featuring special guest Bob Weir. MerleFest will also welcome the Woody Guthrie tribute Ribbon of Highway Endless Skyway, along with individual performances by tour members Slaid Cleaves, Eliza Gilkyson, Jimmy LaFave, and Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion. All bookings are subject to change without notice due to circumstances beyond the control of the festival. Starting on November 8th, those with Internet access may acquire their tickets easily by visiting http://www.merlefest.org and, if purchasing assigned seats at the Watson Stage, actually pick their seat location on line. Those without Internet access may purchase tickets by calling 1-800-343-7857 (US only) or 336-838-6267 (non-US) from 10 AM through 4 PM, EST, weekdays. Tickets may also be ordered by fax (336-838-6277) and mail (MerleFest; P.O. Box 120; Wilkesboro, NC 28697). Those interested in volunteering for MerleFest should call 336-838-6292. Vendor info: 336-838-6292. Sponsorship inquiries: 336-838-6423.
|
||
|
3 Wins at 48th Annual Grammy Awards for AKUS&JD
02/09/2006 Jerry Douglas took home three more Grammy Awards last night, including the prestigious Best Country Album category, along with band mates Alison Krauss, Barry Bales, Ron Block, and Dan Tyminski, for their Rounder Records album Lonely Runs Both Ways. The band swept their three nominations. As a solo artist, band leader, collaborator, producer and with Union Station, Douglas has now won 12 Grammy Awards. This year he competed against himself in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category, having written and performed on both "Unionhouse Branch" from AK+US' Lonely Runs Both Ways, and "Whose Your Uncle" from his Koch Records release, The Best Kept Secret. Alison Krauss and Union Station's 48th Annual Grammy Awards - Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Restless" Best Country Instrumental Performance for "Unionhouse Branch" Best Country Album for Lonely Runs Both Ways A complete list of Grammy Winners can be found at http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/48th_Annual/ See additional Grammy news on Jerry, Alison, and Union Station at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11243088/from/ET/
|
||
|
JD Plays Kennedy Center with Friends
02/11/2006 Country: A Celebration of America's Music: String Masters Apr 4, 2006 at 8:00 PM John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts Washington, DC An acoustic super group of all-star stringed instrument players--collectively, they're winners of nearly 20 Grammy Awards(r)--performs in an evening that explores country music's roots and progressive trends. Artists include mandolin player Sam Bush , steel guitarist Jerry Douglas , fiddler Stuart Duncan , banjo player Béla Fleck , bass player Mark Schatz , and guitarist Bryan Sutton . Part of Country: A Celebration of America's Music.
|
||
|
Nashville Scene Country Music Critic's Poll 2006
01/22/2006 The Nashville Scene, an alt-weekly in the country music capital, recently asked critics to weigh in on the best country acts and records of 2005. For the annual poll, more than 100 writers from all over North America, from big-city newspapers and glossy magazines, from alternative newsweeklies and self-published fanzines, were asked to participate, voting on the best country acts and records of last year. The results have named Jerry Douglas Instrumentalist of the Year, as well as placing Douglas and band mates Alison Krauss + Union Station in the top five of several categories. For a complete list of winners, visit nashvillescene . com
|
||
|
JERRY DOUGLAS SIGNS WITH CAA
03/28/2006 Billboard.biz By Ray Waddell, Nashville JERRY DOUGLAS Dobro virtuoso/composer/producer Jerry Douglas has signed with Creative Artists Agnecy. CAA will represent Douglas in touring, television and movie soundtracks, and projects for advertising and promotion. Douglas was recently named musician of the year by the Country Music Association, his second such honor, adding to a long list of awards from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. He has also received 12 Grammy Awards and an additional five NARAS acknowledgements for his work on the 'Down from the Mountain' soundtrack. In 2004, the National Endowment for the Arts presented Douglas the 2004 National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor for folk and traditional arts. Although most widely known for his featured role with Alison Krauss and her band, Union Station, Jerry has collaborated with such artists as Norah Jones, Eric Clapton, Bela Fleck, Paul Simon, Ray Charles, John Fogerty, Dave Grisman, Trey Anastasio, James Taylor, Emmy Lou Harris and Earl Scruggs. Douglas will be touring with his own band while developing various other projects including soundtrack work. He is managed by D.J. McLachlan of McLachlan Management International and signed to KOCH records out of New York.
|
||
|
Jerry Douglas to Deliver IBMA Keynote Address
06/13/2006 The International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) World of Bluegrass returns to Nashville for the second consecutive year, September 25 October 1, 2006. The week-long event includes the World of Bluegrass Business Conference, the International Bluegrass Music Awards and Bluegrass Fan Fest. Kicking off the week is the World of Bluegrass Business Conference, an interactive event attended by over 2,000 music industry professionals from around the world that offers professional development, artist showcases, an exposition center and various networking opportunities. Seminar topics will cover important issues facing various facets of the business including marketing, artist booking, event funding, music distribution and many others. Jerry Douglas, acclaimed Dobro musician, producer, arranger, and recipient of numerous IBMA, Grammy, CMA and ACM awards, will deliver the keynote address Monday evening, Sept. 25. The International Bluegrass Music Awards will move to the Grand Ole Opry House for the 2006 ceremony to be radio broadcast around the world. Overwhelming ticket demand and increased production abilities made the move from last year's site at the Ryman Auditorium necessary. The highpoint of the week, the IBMA Awards are scheduled for Thursday, September 28 at 8:30 p.m. Central Time. The three days of Bluegrass Fan Fest, Sept. 29 Oct. 1, highlight the talents of more than 40 acts on 4 stages. The indoor festival will include a variety of Masters Workshops, the Bluegrass Exposition Center and The Grand Master Fiddler Championship. Artists confirmed at press time include Jerry Douglas, IIIrd Tyme Out, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Del McCoury Band, Hot Rize, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Blue Highway, Mountain Heart, The Grascals, Alecia Nugent, The Isaacs, Ronnie Bowman, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, Shawn Camp, Steep Canyon Rangers and more. Proceeds from Bluegrass Fan Fest are split between the Bluegrass Trust Fund, established to help bluegrass professionals during a time of emergency need and IBMA promotional, marketing and educational events during the year. All artists appearing at the event donate their time and talents for the cause. The events cumulatively attract in excess of 20,000 and are sponsored in part by Martha White, Martin Guitars, DAddario Strings, The Bluegrass Radio Network and Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. The Nashville Convention Center and the Renaissance Hotel are the host facilities for the business conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest. Information and registration are available via the web at ibma.org or by telephone at 888-GET-IBMA.
|
||
|
JD on New James Taylor DVD
10/04/2006 James Taylor: MusiCares Person of the Year Named this year's Person Of The Year by Musicares last February in conjunction with the Grammy Awards ceremony, this DVD features the musical performers who paid tribute to James Taylor during the event. They include Paul Simon, Taj Mahal and Dr. John, India Arie, Dixie Chicks, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Urban, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King and James Taylor himself. Available from the discography section of this web site. Search: James Taylor
|
||
|
LISTEN TO JERRY DOUGLAS LIVE
05/06/2008
|
||
|
Dobro master Jerry Douglas won't play 2nd fiddle
08/16/2006 SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
Jerry Douglas has earned a reputation as the premier dobro player on the planet. That title is more than backed up by the fact that Douglas has performed as a guest on more than 1,000 recordings, for artists ranging from Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton to Ray Charles and Paul Simon. Add a trophy case that includes a dozen Grammys and numerous Country Music Association awards - as well as a dozen acclaimed recordings as a leader - and it's easy to see why Douglas is a first-call musician. In 1998, he chose to cut back on his work as a sideman and concentrate on his own recordings. But about the same time, he joined the progessive bluegrass band Alison Krauss & Union Station. "I met Alison when she first came to Nashville at the age of 14, back in 1985," Douglas says during a telephone conversation from his home in Nashville, Tenn. "She had just signed with Rounder Records, and I remember being over at Bela Fleck's house with Sam Bush and just watching her play the fiddle and sing. She was so talented. "I ended up playing on her first record, produced her next one, and joined her band after sitting in on a tour. It's been amazing. It's so much fun because it's a real band, and there's so much substance to the music."
Douglas decided to take some time off from Union Station this year. But his musical calendar appears to be busier than ever - something he didn't anticipate would happen.
"I thought I was going to take it easy this year," he says with a laugh. "But I've been hitting it pretty hard ever since April - and the rest of the year looks pretty darn full as well." In addition to playing with longtime compatriots Fleck, Bush, and Edgar Meyer at Telluride and other bluegrass festivals, Douglas spent part of this summer opening for Paul Simon. "I played on one of his records a few years ago," Douglas says. "After that, every time I'd play in New York I'd invite him, and he'd always show up. And recently, after Paul released his new CD, 'Surprise,' his manager told me that Paul wanted me to open for him when he went on tour this summer. Whoa!" Douglas had a great time opening for Simon, and he'll be bringing the same band to St. Louis. Although he enjoyed the Paul Simon tour, the dobroist is definitely looking forward to performing as a headliner. "The whole band is really excited about getting the chance to play a whole show, rather than just 40 minutes or so as an opening act," Douglas says. "We're chompin' at the bit, and playing in St. Louis is always a lot of fun." Jerry Douglas When: 8 Thursday, August 17 Where: VooDoo Cafe & Lounge at Harrah's, 777 Casino Center Drive How much: $21.31 Info: 314-421-4400 or ticketmaster.com
|
||
|
Dobro master Jerry Douglas won't play second fiddl
08/16/2006
|
||
|
INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES ANNO
08/15/2006 The recipients of the 2006 International Bluegrass Music Awards will be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio and around the world to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks, thanks to the sponsorship of Martha White, MerleFest, Great American Country, GHS Strings and Deering Banjos. The awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which serves as the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. The Award Show is the centerpiece of IBMAs week-long Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest, slated for September 25 October 1, in Nashville, Tenn. Program Directors and Station Managers may contact Tina Potter, IBMAs Marketing & PR Coordinator for broadcast details at 1-888-GET-IBMA, (615) 256-3222 or tina@ibma.org. Tickets are available at the Grand Ole Opry House and all Ticketmaster outlets.
|
||
|
JERRY DOUGLAS BAND HITS THE ROAD WITH PAUL SIMON
06/15/2006 NASHVILLE, Tenn., June XX, 2006 The Jerry Douglas Band has been confirmed for the opening position on the Paul Simon 2006 summer tour. Dates include the Montreal Jazz Festival, Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY and PNC Bank Arts Center. Jerry Douglas, widely regarded as the worlds best dobro player, was recently recognized again as Musician of the Year by the Country Music Association, his second such honor, adding to a long list of awards from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. He has also received 12 Grammy Awards, and an additional 5 NARAS acknowledgements for his work on the Down from the Mountain soundtrack. In 2004, the National Endowment for the Arts presented Jerry the 2004 National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor for the Folk and Traditional Arts. Although most widely known for his featured role with Alison Krauss and her band, Union Station, Jerry has earned the respect and collaborated with such artists as Norah Jones, Eric Clapton, Bela Fleck, Paul Simon, Ray Charles, John Fogerty, David Grisman, Trey Anastasio, James Taylor, Emmylou Harris and Earl Scruggs.
Douglas is represented by CAA and managed by D.J. McLachlan of McLachlan Management International. He is signed to KOCH Records. About CAA Creative Artists Agency is a talent and literary agency with offices in Beverly Hills, Nashville, New York and Beijing. CAA represents the most creative and successful artists and people working in film, television, music, theatre, sports and games, and provides a range of strategic marketing services to corporate clients. The agency serves as the access point through which artists, consumers and global brands intersect to create, acquire and sell entertainment properties, and to enrich entertainment and brand experiences. CAA has an equity relationship with SS+K, a strategic communications firm. The Intelligence Group, a market research and trend forecasting company, is a division of CAA.
|
||
|
Jerry Douglas to Embark on National Tour
NEW YORK, NY (KOCH Records) - Having just finished a 15-month tour with Alison Krauss' Union Station, virtuoso Jerry Douglas, a musician and creator whose dobro work has revolutionized an instrument and helped define American roots, country, and bluegrass music, has announced highly anticipated tour dates with his band.
|
||
|
Telluride Bluegrass Festival Announces Lineup
04/14/2006 The Telluride Watch The Grooview By Mark Steele For more than three decades, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Telluride Jazz Celebration have been packing Town Park with big names and bigger music. This year might be a record breaker, with both festivals pulling out all the stops for a summer of sweet, sweet music. Telluride Bluegrass Festival Music lovers from around the globe have been making their loyal pilgrimage high into the San Juan Mountains of Colorado for 33 years, where, for four magical days, this historic mining town is filled with the sweet sound of guitars, mandolins and voices. The sounds this summer will include those of bluegrass greats Sam Bush, Tim O'Brien and Del McCoury; the unique picking and plucking of Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas and Edgar Meyer; American legends Emmylou Harris, John Prine and Bonnie Raitt; and the eclectic pop of Nickel Creek and the Barenaked Ladies. Among the new names just added to the line-up are indie-alt rockers The Decemberists (making their only live appearance of the summer), Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband (1997 Telluride band contest winners and now on Capitol Records Nashville) and The Wayward Sons (Benny Galloway's band with members of Broke Mountain). For me, one year without the Flecktones on Friday night was enough. With yet another album, Bela, Victor, Future Man and Jeff Coffin return this summer to blow minds. Raitt will simply rock Thursday night, and for many, her show alone justifies a weekend pass. The new twists, The Decemberists and the Barenaked Ladies, will add a flavor that actually fits perfectly into the bluegrass mold. You may think of BNL as a pop band, and they are, but if you haven't really dug into them (a mistake I made for years thinking they were mainstream cheese) you may not realize that they are amazing songwriters, lyricists and singers who pack a very cool punch with an acoustic lineup including upright bass and accordion. The Decemberists are also interesting songwriters, taking words to another level. Their polished theatrical and orchestral numbers still contain a certain grit, and the band has been gaining a following with their crazy and intense live performances. While folks in Telluride don't have to hustle for the camping passes, which, by the way, are almost gone already, we do have a deadline this weekend to buy special locals passes. These four-day passes are $160 ($15 discount). There is a limit of two per person, and a local ID or proof of residency is required. They are only available at Telluride Music and Wizard Entertainment. Here's the schedule, I suspect subject to some change, since it is not yet even published. Thursday, June 15
Bonnie Raitt Friday, June 16
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones Saturday, June 17
The Sam Bush Band Sunday, June 18
Barenaked Ladies
|
||
|
Telluride Bluegrass Festival Announces Lineup
04/14/2006 The Telluride Watch
The Grooview By Mark Steele For more than three decades, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Telluride Jazz Celebration have been packing Town Park with big names and bigger music. This year might be a record breaker, with both festivals pulling out all the stops for a summer of sweet, sweet music. Telluride Bluegrass Festival Music lovers from around the globe have been making their loyal pilgrimage high into the San Juan Mountains of Colorado for 33 years, where, for four magical days, this historic mining town is filled with the sweet sound of guitars, mandolins and voices. The sounds this summer will include those of bluegrass greats Sam Bush, Tim OBrien and Del McCoury; the unique picking and plucking of Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas and Edgar Meyer; American legends Emmylou Harris, John Prine and Bonnie Raitt; and the eclectic pop of Nickel Creek and the Barenaked Ladies. Among the new names just added to the line-up are indie-alt rockers The Decemberists (making their only live appearance of the summer), Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband (1997 Telluride band contest winners and now on Capitol Records Nashville) and The Wayward Sons (Benny Galloways band with members of Broke Mountain). For me, one year without the Flecktones on Friday night was enough. With yet another album, Bela, Victor, Future Man and Jeff Coffin return this summer to blow minds. Raitt will simply rock Thursday night, and for many, her show alone justifies a weekend pass. The new twists, The Decemberists and the Barenaked Ladies, will add a flavor that actually fits perfectly into the bluegrass mold. You may think of BNL as a pop band, and they are, but if you havent really dug into them (a mistake I made for years thinking they were mainstream cheese) you may not realize that they are amazing songwriters, lyricists and singers who pack a very cool punch with an acoustic lineup including upright bass and accordion. The Decemberists are also interesting songwriters, taking words to another level. Their polished theatrical and orchestral numbers still contain a certain grit, and the band has been gaining a following with their crazy and intense live performances. While folks in Telluride dont have to hustle for the camping passes, which, by the way, are almost gone already, we do have a deadline this weekend to buy special locals passes. These four-day passes are $160 ($15 discount). There is a limit of two per person, and a local I.D. or proof of residency is required. They are only available at Telluride Music and Wizard Entertainment. Heres the schedule, I suspect subject to some change, since it is not yet even published. Thursday, June 15 Bonnie Raitt Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Tim OBrien, Bryan Sutton Neko Case Tim OBrien Drew Emmit Band Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband Wayward Sons
Friday, June 16 Bela Fleck & the Flecktones The Decemberists Drive-By Truckers The Jerry Douglas Band The Greencards Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers The Badly Bent
Saturday, June 17 The Sam Bush Band Yonder Mountain String Band Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Shawn Camp John Cowan Band Missy Higggins Sunday, June 18 Barenaked Ladies John Prine Nickel Creek The Tim OBrien Band Del McCoury Band Edgar Meyer and Mike Marshall Peter Rowan and Tony Rice Quartet
|
||
|
Country music moseys back to its roots: D. C.
03/16/2006 THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published March 16, 2006
When suburban houses bristled with television antennas -- before cable and Country Music Television -- a District TV studio broadcast Jimmy Dean and local guest stars like Patsy Cline, the Stoneman Family and Roy Clark in black-and-white. Costume sequins reflected the bright lights into the camera and the sound of pedal steel guitar and fiddle filled the airwaves. Back then, country music entertainment was regularly featured not only in downtown theaters and clubs, but also on evening Potomac cruises, where patrons could look out over the dim river banks at the lights of Washington. Who could imagine then, in the heady 1950s, that a world-class stage would rise on a 17-acre site just downriver from Georgetown, and that it would bear the name of a man who was then hardly known outside of Capitol Hill? By the time the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors in 1971, country music's heyday in Washington was a fading memory. Rabid bluegrass fans would continue to follow local heroes like the Seldom Scene in the 1970s and Johnson Mountain Boys in the 1980s, but real music connoisseurs know not to confuse the two genres, despite their common roots. Time to shine up the cowboy boots, though. The Kennedy Center, a venue known more for grand opera than Grand Ole Opry, is hosting a three-week festival, "Country: A Celebration of America's Music" beginning Monday. The program partners the Kennedy Center with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn., and also will host an exhibit of poster art and artifacts from Hatch Show Print, a division of the Hall of Fame. And out of pure serendipity, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History on Friday opened its exhibit, "Honky-Tonk: Country Music Photographs by Henry Horenstein, 1972-1981," a collection of black-and-white prints depicting country stars and their fans. The show will run through the summer. """ Many Kennedy Center stages will be involved in the country music celebration. A schedule of concerts and venues accompanies this article. "This festival honors country music, both past and present, as an important American art form," says Kyle Young, museum director for the Country Music Hall of Fame. "Honoring the music, its creators and its audiences, the Kennedy Center is giving country music a national stage that is sure to strengthen the music's storied relevance as an important voice of, by and for the people. We couldn't be more thrilled." Festival performers include Vince Gill, Naomi Judd, Wynonna Judd, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Price, Earl Scruggs, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bela Fleck, Allan Harris, Mark Schatz and Bryan Sutton. The Grand Ole Opry will mark its 80th anniversary with a show in the Concert Hall March 26 featuring Travis Tritt, Marty Stuart and the Del McCoury Band. Master of ceremonies for the show will be Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs. Mr. Stubbs, whose family hails from the Washington area, has been an on-air personality for WSM-AM in Nashville for 11 years, but he has continued broadcasting weekly from American University's WAMU-FM. The Eddie Stubbs Show, on Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m., has aired since 1990. For those who'd like to brush up on their boot scootin' in time for the Western swing finale with Asleep at the Wheel on April 9, the Kennedy Center is offering a country dance series on the three preceding Thursdays. "Along with jazz, country music is America's music," says Kennedy Center Vice President of Artistic Programming Roman Terleckyj. "As the nation's performing arts center, we feel that it is important to celebrate and highlight this uniquely American form of artistic expression." The festival marks a first for the Kennedy Center. Its only other significant recognition of country music has come through awards of the Kennedy Center Honors to Roy Acuff (1991), Johnny Cash (1996), Willie Nelson (1998) and Loretta Lynn (2003). The Kennedy Center produced a Texas Festival in 1991. In bluegrass, the Seldom Scene recorded its 15th anniversary concert at the Kennedy Center in 1986.
|
||
|
Opry at Carnegie Hall -DVD Release April 11
03/11/2006 It was truly a celebration of American music at its finest, as New York's venerable Carnegie Hall welcomed the Grand Ole Opry for a sold-out, one-night performance last November 14, in an evening captured in high definition video and soon to be available on DVD as Grand Ole Opry at Carnegie Hall, releasing April 11 on RCA Nashville. The night was the culmination of the Opry's 80th anniversary festivities, and marked the show's first return to Carnegie Hall in over 40 years. Now preserved on DVD, the 18-song concert event delivers what the Opry does best, honoring country's rich history and dynamic present with its mix of country legends and the contemporary chart-toppers who've followed in their footsteps. Spotlighting performances from Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Bill Anderson, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Little Jimmy Dickens, Martina McBride, Ricky Skaggs, Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood, and Vince Gill, the hit-filled evening of music also honors an Opry tradition with special artist collaborations on selected songs, including a closing medley performed by the entire cast. Fans will also be treated to a DVD bonus featurette, 'The Story of the Opry at Carnegie Hall.' In advance of the DVD release of the historic evening, Great American Country (GAC) will air the premiere telecast of the concert this Wednesday, March 15th at 8pm ET/PT and Thursday, March 16 at 4pm ET. Fans anxious to obtain their copy of the Grand Ole Opry at Carnegie Hall DVD can pre-order it at opry.com. All orders placed by April 7 will include a limited edition cast photo.
|
||
|
3 Wins at 48th Annual Grammy Awards for AKUS&JD
02/09/2006 Jerry Douglas took home three more Grammy Awards last night along with band mates Alison Krauss, Barry Bales, Ron Block, and Dan Tyminski for their Rounder Records album Lonely Runs Both Ways, including the prestigious Best Country Album category. The band swept their three nominations. As a solo artist, band leader, collaborator, producer and with Union Station, Douglas has now won 12 Grammy Awards and countless. This year he competed against himself in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category, having written and performed on both "Unionhouse Branch" from AK+US' Lonely Runs Both Ways, as well as "Whose Your Uncle" from his own release, The Best Kept Secret. Alison Krauss and Union Station's 48th Annual Grammy Awards - Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Restless" Best Country Instrumental Performance for "Unionhouse Branch" Best Country Album for Lonely Runs Both Ways
A complete list of Grammy Winners can be found at http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/48th_Annual/ See additional Grammy news on Jerry, Alison, and Union Station at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11243088/from/ET/
|
||
|
3 Wins at 48th Annual Grammy Awards for AKUS&JD
02/09/2006 Jerry Douglas took home three more Grammy Awards last night along with band mates Alison Krauss, Barry Bales, Ron Block, and Dan Tyminski for their Rounder Records album Lonely Runs Both Ways, including the prestigious Best Country Album category. The band swept their three nominations. As a solo artist, band leader, collaborator, producer and with Union Station, Douglas has now taken home 12 Grammy Awards. This year he competed against himself in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category, having written and performed on both "Unionhouse Branch" from AK+US' Lonely Runs Both Ways, as well as "Whose Your Uncle" from his own release, The Best Kept Secret. Alison Krauss and Union Station's 48th Annual Grammy Awards - Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Restless" Best Country Instrumental Performance for "Unionhouse Branch" Best Country Album for Lonely Runs Both Ways
A complete list of Grammy Winners can be found at http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/48th_Annual/ See additional Grammy news on Jerry, Alison, and Union Station at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11243088/from/ET/
|
||
|
Jerry Douglas 48th Annual GRAMMY Nominations
02/05/2006 Country Instrumental Performance Who's Your Uncle? (written by Jerry Douglas) Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush & Béla Feck Track from: The Best Kept Secret [Koch Records]
Unionhouse Branch (written by Jerry Douglas) Alison Krauss And Union Station Track from: Lonely Runs Both Ways [Rounder]
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal Restless Alison Krauss And Union Station Track from: Lonely Runs Both Ways [Rounder]
Best Country Album Lonely Runs Both Ways Alison Krauss And Union Station [Rounder]
Guest Performances:Bill Evans [BHM Productions]
Best Country Album Time Well Wasted Brad Paisley Best Contemporary Jazz Album Soulgrass [Arista Nashville]
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album All I Really Want For Christmas Steven Curtis Chapman [Sparrow Records]
Best Traditional Folk Album Fiddler's Green Tim O'Brien [Sugar Hill Records]
Best Contemporary Folk Album Fair & Square John Prine [Oh Boy Records]
|
||
|
Jerry Douglas Signs with CAA
02/01/2006 We are very pleased to announce that Jerry Douglas has signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for exclusive agency representation. CAA is regarded as the #1 agency in the world. With their enthusiastic attitude toward Jerry, CAA will provide us with opportunities for unique name packaging tours, high-level television and movie soundtrack representation, and other avenues for advertising and promotion, not to mention a level of prestige in the entertainment business that is second to none. x
|
||
|
Jerry Douglas - Best Kept Secret (CD, 2005)
Jerry Douglas may be "the best kept secret" to some, but to countless others. he is quite something else. Jerry Douglas is a player's player -- a musician's musician -- a veritable challenge to hyperbole. His talent and musicality are intense regardless of the setting. He played a key role in defining the role of the dobro(tm) in contemporary bluegrass first with the Country Gentleman and the definitive version of J. D. Crowe's New South (with Tony Rice), and more recently with Alison Kraus and Union Station, among others. Through his work in more contemporary bluegrass, and with super group aggregations (Strength In Numbers, Douglas, Barrenberg & Meyer to name a few) Douglas helped forge what Frets Magazine referred to as the New Acoustic Music, mixing jazz and other influences into a musical language played out on bluegrass instruments. Other musical journeys have teamed him with Indian musicians and noted jazz guitarist, Bill Frisell. Which brings us to The Best Kept Secret....Douglas' latest release. As with his more recent efforts, Douglas explores a variety of musical landscapes resulting in something of a mixed bag. From the opening track, "She Makes Me Want To Sing" with blues/jam band virtuoso Derek Trucks guesting, it's clear that Douglas intends to push the boundaries and expectaions. Douglas and Trucks duel each other with slides--Douglas achieving a great funky and distorted electric sound-- and the listener wins. Alison Krauss shows up on one of the two vocal cuts for a southern rock blues influenced romp "Back In Love Again." Channeling the spirit of Dusty Springfield, Krauss offers her take on Memphis blue eyed soul with one of the throatiest vocal turns of her career. The other vocal track, a rousing duet take of Bob Wills' "Swing Blues No. 1" with John Fogerty steals the show. Fogerty has always mined a rootsy gumbo for his sound and in this spare duet with Douglas, the two share an intimacy with the audience. Frisell, a guitarist of remarkable if understated talent, shows up with Viktor Kraus on a Douglas original, "Lil' Roro." In one of the quieter moments here, Douglas unaccompanied slide states the theme, before the band joins him. Frissel alternates between a muscular guitar sound with his typically subtle, though wildly imaginative playing. It is one of the finer cuts. "Who's Your Uncle?" is, perhaps, the only track that would be comfortable on a bluegrass playlist--a fact not lost on the Grammy organization, who've nominated the cut for it's best country performance category. Featuring guest performances by Sam Bush and Bela Fleck, "Who's Your Uncle?" is an acoustic wonder with fantastic interplay from the featured guests and Gabe Witcher, fiddle and B3 in Douglas' current band. The interweaving rolls of Fleck on banjo and Douglas on Dobro drive the tune home. It's an exhilarating track. There are other moments throughout The Best Kept Secret, but none of the tracks are as strong, or as consistently rewarding as the tracks mentioned. When a player is a supremely gifted as Douglas, it's always worth listening and the remaining tracks certainly justify attention. The Best Kept Secret may be an uneven effort, but Douglas is still among the finest musicians wielding a slide--or strapping on an instrument-- today. With a player of Douglas' magnitude, there is always a chance the revelation is in the next measure.
|
||
|
2006 Bonnaroo Music Festival Lineup Announced
02/01/2006 Superfly Productions and A.C. Entertainment are proud to announce the initial lineup for the 2006 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. The fifth annual three-day camping and music festival will be held on June 16-18, 2006, on the same 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles south of Nashville. A list of confirmed acts follows, with more to be announced in the weeks ahead to round out the festival's 80-plus acts.
Tickets for the 2006 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will go on sale Saturday, February 11, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time through Bonnaroo.com. For more information, go to Bonnaroo.com:
|
||
|
Les Paul & Friends: 90th Birthday Salute
01/27/2006 All-Star Concert to Benefit A Place Called Home Tuesday, February 7 at Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, February 7 at 8:15pm, one of the world's greatest gatherings of guitarists will take the Gibson Amphitheatre stage at Universal CityWalk for LES PAUL & FRIENDS: 90th BIRTHDAY SALUTE. The star-studded celebration, benefiting A Place Called Home, is produced by In Touch Entertainment and Centerline Entertainment and presented by Gibson Guitar. Tickets, priced from $42.50 to $104.50, go on sale Friday, January 27 at 1:00 PM PST. Guitar legend Les Paul, celebrating two Grammy nominations in his 90th year, will share the Gibson Amphitheatre stage with some of music's finest performers, including Merle Haggard, Alison Krauss, JERRY DOUGLAS, Steve Lukather, and Edgar Winter. The event shares the collaborative spirit of Paul's 2005 album, Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played, released in August by Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing. Paul's first new release since Chester and Lester, his 1978 Grammy-winning collaboration with Chet Atkins, Les Paul & Friends marked Paul's first return to Billboard's Albums chart in 50 years, while also setting a new record for Paul as the eldest living artist to ever enjoy a Top 200 chart debut. Songs from the album have received two Grammy nominations in the Rock and Pop categories, making Paul the eldest living nominee ever in those fields.
Also joining Les Paul for the celebration are long-time Les Paul Trio band members John Colliani, piano; Lou Pallo, guitar; and Nicky Parrott, bass.
|
||
|
AKUS f JD on CMT Total Access
12/07/2005 The Total Access episode with Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas will air on December 10th at 8 PM Eastern. It will air again on December 11th at 6 PM Eastern and once more on the 12th at 9 PM Eastern. The rich and ever-evolving music of Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas continues to attract, delight and move audiences from all walks of life. CMT Total Access: Alison Krauss and Union Station highlights the band's most recent UK and Ireland tour. CMT gains unprecedented access to the band while in Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Each member gives their unique take on what the band means to them and how they work individually and collectively to enhance their sound. CMT Total Access allows fans to see the biggest stars of country music at work and play, immersed in their newest music releases. What's it like to be at the top of the charts, to play to a full stadium and to have photographers follow your every move? See for yourself when CMT cameras catch it all on CMT Total Access. In this one-hour episode, CMT cameras capture the band both onstage and off as they tour the UK. Whether visiting pubs in Ireland for the local music scene, appreciating historical sites, shopping in Scotland or going about the usual behind-the-scenes show day routine, CMT reveals what it's like to be on the road with them.
|
||
|
AKUS f JD on CMT Total Access
12/07/2005 The Total Access episode with Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas will air on December 10th at 8 pm. It will air again on December 11th at 6 pm and once more on the 12th at 9 pm. The rich and ever-evolving music of Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas continues to attract, delight and move audiences from all walks of life. CMT Total Access: Alison Krauss and Union Station highlights the band's most recent UK and Ireland tour. CMT gains unprecedented access to the band while in Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Each member gives their unique take on what the band means to them and how they work individually and collectively to enhance their sound. CMT Total Access allows fans to see the biggest stars of country music at work and play, immersed in their newest music releases. What's it like to be at the top of the charts, to play to a full stadium and to have photographers follow your every move? See for yourself when CMT cameras catch it all on CMT Total Access. In this one-hour episode, CMT cameras capture the band both onstage and off as they tour the UK. Whether visiting pubs in Ireland for the local music scene, appreciating historical sites, shopping in Scotland or going about the usual behind-the-scenes show day routine, CMT reveals what it's like to be on the road with them.
|
||
|
Ed. Rev.
09/01/2005 Editorial Reviews Amazon.com As further proof that the virtuosity of Jerry Douglas knows no categorical bounds, the biggest surprise on his predominantly instrumental The Best Kept Secret is a revival of the disco-era smash "Back in Love Again," with Alison Krauss supplying as much vocal funk as she can muster. The undisputed master of the shimmering Dobro (and a featured member of Krauss's band Union Station), Douglas also applies his artistry to the jazzy atmospherics of Weather Report's "A Remark You Made," pays homage to Celtic fiddler Aly Bain on the reflective "Sir Aly B," trades licks with guitarist Bill Frisell on the twangy "Lil' Ro Ro," and enlists John Fogerty for guest vocals on "Swing Blues #1." The album additionally showcases Douglas on lap steel, with guitarist Derek Trucks providing rock propulsion on the opening "She Makes Me Want to Sing." A breakdown with banjoist Béla Fleck and mandolinist Sam Bush on "Who's Your Uncle?" finds Douglas on more familiar turf at his bluegrass best. --Don McLeese
|
||
|
2005 CMA Nominees Announced
09/07/2005 This year's winners will be recognized during The 39th Annual CMA Awards, broadcast live Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the CBS Television Network from Madison Square Garden in New York City. For a complete listing of nominees go to www.cmaawards.com/2005/
|
||
|
Editorial Review from Amazon.com
09/04/2005 As further proof that the virtuosity of Jerry Douglas knows no categorical bounds, the biggest surprise on his predominantly instrumental The Best Kept Secret is a revival of the disco-era smash "Back in Love Again," with Alison Krauss supplying as much vocal funk as she can muster. The undisputed master of the shimmering Dobro (and a featured member of Krauss's band Union Station), Douglas also applies his artistry to the jazzy atmospherics of Weather Report's "A Remark You Made," pays homage to Celtic fiddler Aly Bain on the reflective "Sir Aly B," trades licks with guitarist Bill Frisell on the twangy "Lil' Ro Ro," and enlists John Fogerty for guest vocals on "Swing Blues #1." The album additionally showcases Douglas on lap steel, with guitarist Derek Trucks providing rock propulsion on the opening "She Makes Me Want to Sing." A breakdown with banjoist Béla Fleck and mandolinist Sam Bush on "Who's Your Uncle?" finds Douglas on more familiar turf at his bluegrass best. --Don McLeese
|
||
|
Jerry Douglas: New Album The Best Kept Secret.....
07/29/2005 ............ Out September 20th on KOCH Records Trucks, Krauss, Fogerty, Frisell Lend a Hand NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 07/28/2005 -- Virtuoso Jerry Douglas, a musician and creator whose dobro work has revolutionized an instrument and helped define American roots, country, and bluegrass music, has finished work on a solo album "The Best Kept Secret," slated for release September 20th, 2005 on KOCH Records. Kicking off with the slippery and driving groove of "She Makes Me Want To Sing" featuring fellow slide-master Derek Trucks, the album's 11 tracks are the most ambitious and accessible work to date for Douglas, marking the masterwork of a key musical explorer and a testament to his evolving creative spirit. "The Best Kept Secret" takes an inclusive tack. On "Who's Your Uncle," regular co-conspirators Bela Fleck and Sam Bush whip it up on a series of blistering choruses, while on "Back In Love Again" Douglas unveils a new slinky -- one could even say funky -- side from singer Alison Krauss. Basic roots attitude rules on the Bob Willis classic "Swing Blues No. 1," a duet with John Fogerty. Douglas brings depth and heart felt sensitivity to the Joe Zawinul ballad "A Remark You Made," and, aided by guitar ace Bill Frisell, a country backbeat to the original "Lil' RoRo." Backed on most tracks by Gabe Witcher (violin, B-3), Keith Sewell (guitars), Shannon Forrest (drums and percussion), and Derek Jones (Acoustic bass), "The Best Kept Secret" was produced by Douglas and recorded earlier this year. Douglas is currently on tour with Union Station. Called "dobro's matchless contemporary master," by The New York Times, nine time Grammy winner Jerry Douglas is one of the most innovative recording artists in music, both as a solo artist and member of groundbreaking bands including J.D. Crowe & the New South, the Country Gentlemen, and most recently Alison Krauss & Union Station. Douglas' distinctive sound graces more than 1500 albums, including discs released by Garth Brooks, Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Ray Charles, among many others. For more information on Jerry Douglas, please contact Nick Baily (nbaily@shorefire.com) at Shore Fire Media, 718.522.7171 OR Giovanna Melchiorre at 212-353-8800x257 / gio@kochent.com About KOCH Records KOCH Records is a division of KOCH Entertainment, the fastest-growing music company and the market leader among independents in North America. The KOCH Entertainment corporate umbrella encompasses the KOCH Records label, KOCH Vision home video, KOCH Music Publishing and KOCH Entertainment Distribution with operations in both the U.S. and Canada. KOCH Records proudly claims the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents for each of the last four years (2001-2004). For additional info on the KOCH Records label and its roster of artists, please visit www. kochrecords. com
|
||
|
Telluride Bluegrass: Totally Bluebird
07/08/2005 And of course Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas are no slouches when it comes to lighting up the stage with insane jams as they amply demonstrated several times over the course of the weekend. Douglas's set on Saturday took in Bela Fleck and Sam B, among others. These newgrass icons demonstrated just how they earned their vaunted reputations. Douglas pushed his dobro to the limit and beyond, moving from soft tableaus to balls-to-the-wall power drives. "King" Sammy got serious on Saturday and dug in hard, wowing the audience with rapid-fire pickin' and mando choppin' and trading breaks with his old peers. Bela was flawless as he and the established T-ride hands showed their Newgrass Revival roots.
|
||
|
from Jam Base......Telluride Bluegrass:
07/08/2005 Douglas pushed his dobro to the limit and beyond, moving from soft tableaus to balls-to-the-wall power drives. "King" Sammy got serious on Saturday and dug in hard, wowing the audience with rapid-fire pickin' and mando choppin' and trading breaks with his old peers. Bela was flawless as he and the established T-ride hands showed their Newgrass Revival roots.
|
||
|
PRESS/TELEVISION
07/07/2005 The AKUS episode of Austin City Limits is scheduled for feed to PBS on October 8th. It is currently scheduled as the second episode of the fall season. The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) released to the press the lineup of performers for the 2005 Bluegrass Fan Fest, which is part of IBMA Week and will be hosted in Nashville for the first time. AKUS is scheduled to be a part of the performing lineup. The festival benefits the Bluegrass Trust Fund.
|
||
|
Last Chance for Sesame Street
07/07/2005 The last opportunity to see AKUS on Sesame Street with The Count will air on July 27th.
|
||
|
HOME ON THE HIGHWAYS
04/01/2005 Home on the Highways - Alison Krauss & Union Station CD #219742 $11.99 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. has teamed up with Grammy® Award-winners Alison Krauss & Union Station to produce an exclusive CD titled Home on the Highways. The CD features favorites hand-picked by Alison Krauss and Union Station: Crazy As Me Daylight Rain Please Go Away Ghost In This House Never Got Off The Ground Unionhouse Branch Momma Cried Let Me Touch You For Awhile It All Comes Down To You Borderline I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow Plus, bonus video footage of band interviews and an impromptu jam session. Produced by Rounder Records exclusively for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
|
||
|
MUSIC IN FLUX
11/29/2004 Tulsa World Scene Writer 11/28/2004
Dobro master Jerry Douglas relishes role backing Alison Krauss Let's get that pesky nickname out of the way first.
Jerry Douglas, the dobro master heard on more than 1,500 albums in virtually all musical genres, has been called both the Jimi Hendrix and Charlie Parker of acoustic music. But neither of those are the nicknames under discussion here.
Instead, it's time to track down the origin of "Flux" -- as in Jerry "Flux" Douglas, the way he's credited on many a disc of the '70s, '80s and '90s.
"Ricky Skaggs gave me that nickname a long time ago -- and I couldn't tell you exactly why," said Douglas with a laugh during a recent telephone interview. "It goes a long way back. When I get a telephone call, I know it's an old friend if they start the conversation with, 'Hey, Flux, how are you?"
He laughed again. "Really, I started downplaying it because it doesn't mean anything. So you could make up all kinds of sto ries about it, but it really means nothing."
Skaggs and Douglas were bandmates back in 1975, when they both played with the pioneering bluegrass act, J.D. Crowe and the New South. The group also featured another future instrumental star, Tony Rice, who introduced the then-teenage Douglas to some sounds he'd never heard.
"Up to then it was rock 'n' roll and bluegrass, and then I discovered Django Reinhardt and Miles Davis, to fill in around my Flatt & Scruggs and Beatles musical education," he recalled. "My mind was blown wide open by the music that was out there.
"I don't see myself as a jazz player at all -- I can move in those circles and be fine -- but as I listened to more and more jazz I realized it was a lot like what I was doing. It gave me a brand-new challenge -- not just a physical one, but a cerebral one. And I started seeing that less can be more, especially when you're backing a vocalist."
Which is what he's been doing, among other things, since 1998, as a featured member of Alison Krauss and Union Station.
"When you're working with a vocalist, like Alison, you don't want to draw attention to yourself," he explained. "You want to support 'em and supplement what they're doing, and you can build this tension around what they're saying. It's like painting to me. You put it in a different color, a different light. That's what I do."
Of course, he does lots more with the band, a place where his peerless skill and musical adventurousness found a fertile environment.
"You know, when you play in the studio, you always have to ask yourself if that riff, that sequence of notes you played, did something to help the song or brought it down," he noted. "I always wanted to leave it better than the way I found it, and to tell you the truth, country music got to the point where I didn't want to play on it anymore."
So he accepted an offer to tour with Krauss and Union Station, a decision he's never regretted. Their schedule gives him time to pursue other projects, including his own band, and he fits in the band like a piece in the middle of a jigsaw puzzle.
"We're unique," he said. "We've stuck to our guns, and we haven't fallen into the trap of ,'Oh, we can't do this or the country fans might be mad,' or, 'Oh, we can't do this or the bluegrass fans might be mad.'
"Sure, we'll have people say we're not bluegrass, or we're not country, or whatever, and we'll say, 'You know what? You're right. We're not. Does that make you feel any better?' " he added with a laugh.
"The thing is, they all seem to like us, and I think the reason is that we don't conform. We're lucky enough to have a single ('Restless') on the charts right now, but we don't need the ra dio to exist."
That puts the band in the company of acts as wide-ranging as Lyle Lovett and Oklahoma's own Cross Canadian Ragweed, bands that are ostensibly country whose careers and audience numbers don't seem to depend at all on their fate at country radio.
"A lot of acts live and die by the charts," Douglas said. "They're right there every Thursday when the new numbers come out. But we're not a slave to it, and that's really a nice feeling."
In the '80s, Douglas was a member of the country act the Whites, and saw how things worked from the other side.
"We didn't really want to play the game (with country radio), but we were forced to," he remembered. "We'd watch the charts, and if a song didn't make the Top 20, then we'd have to start figuring out what we were going to put out next."
With Krauss and Union Station, Douglas concluded, it's a whole lot simpler.
"We know if people hear this," he said, "they're going to like it."
|
||
|
LONELY RUNS BOTH WAYS
10/21/2005 On Tuesady, November 23, Rounder Records will release "Lonely Runs Both Ways", the first studio album in three years by Alison Krauss + Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas: Krauss (fiddle and vocals), Dan Tyminski (guitar and vocals), Barry Bales (bass and vocals), Ron Block (banjo, guitar, and vocals), and Jerry Douglas (dobro). Produced by the band and recorded in Nashville, Lonely Runs Both Ways features songs by some of their favorite writers, including Robert Lee Castleman, Sidney and Suzanne Cox, and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Jerry Douglas contributes another sterling instrumental, Ron Block offers two gospel songs, including an audience favorite "A Living Prayer", and Krauss herself is a co-writer on "This Sad Song." The album also features songs by John Scott Sherrill and Mindy Smith, Del McCoury, Woody Guthrie, Donna Hughes and Sarah Siskind. Castleman's "Restless" will be the album's first single; the group recently recorded a music video for the song in New Orleans with director Rocky Schenck. The new recording follows 2002's platinum Alison Krauss and Union Station Live - their fastest selling album ever - and their last studio release, 2001's gold-certified New Favorite. Lonely continues the band's long-time collaboration with engineer Gary Paczosa. And as with previous albums, Krauss shares lead vocals with Dan Tyminski (who sings on three tracks) and Ron Block (who sings on one). Alison Krauss and Union Station will make a release-week appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and a December performance is confirmed for Good Morning America.
|
||
|
LONELY RUNS BOTH WAYS
10/21/2005 AKUS' New Album - Lonely Runs Both Ways
Alison Krauss and Union Station will release their first studio album, Lonely Runs Both Ways, in three years on November 23, 2004. "Restless" will be the album's first radio release and is expected to hit the airwaves the week of October 25th.
|
||
|
LONELY RUNS BOTH WAYS
10/21/2005 AKUS' New Album - Lonely Runs Both Ways
Alison Krauss and Union Station will release their first studio album, Lonely Runs Both Ways, in three years on November 23, 2004. "Restless" will be the album's first radio release and is expected to hit the airwaves the week of October 25th.
|
||
|
Heritage Fellowships Concert
09/12/2004 Friday, October 1, 2004 at 7:30 PM Lisner Auditorium (21st and H Streets, NW) George Washington University campus, Washington, DC Free general admission tickets will be available at the following locations: Lisner Auditorium Box Office 21st & H Streets, NW Tues-Fri 11am - 5pm Lisner Concert Line (202) 994-6800 House of Musical Traditions 7040 Carroll Avenue Takoma Park, MD (301) 270-9090 Tues-Sat 11am - 7pm Sun-Mon 11am - 5pm TICKETplace 407 Seventh St. NW Between D & E (202) TIC-KETS or (202) 842-5387 Tue-Fri 11am - 6pm Sat 10am - 5pm For more information or to request tickets by phone or email before September 24, contact: National Council for the Traditional Arts (301) 565-0654 or send email to info@ncta.net Please include your full name, mailing address, phone number, and number of tickets you're requesting (up to 6 for phone and email orders)
|
||
|
2004 AMERICANA HONORS & AWARDS NOMINEES
07/24/2004 The Americana Music Association is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre to support the creative and economic viability of professionals in this field. The Americana Honors & Awards Show is held each years Conference to honor merit and achievement within the Americana music genre. Two hour show includes performances, awards, nominees, tributes and more. Past performers & award winners in attendance include Johnny & June Carter Cash (2002 performers), Kris Kristofferson (2003 performer), Ricky Skaggs (2003 performer), Rodney Crowell (2003 performer), Allison Moorer (2003 performer), Jim Lauderdale (2003 host & performer), Kathleen Edwards (2003 performer), Gillian Welch (2002 performer), Buddy & Julie Miller (2002 performer), Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Billy Joe Shaver, Jerry Douglas, Jason Ringenberg and more. This year marks the creation of a new award, the New/Emerging Artist of the Year, which was created to help recognize new or rapidly emerging artists from within the Americana genre. Nominees in this new category include Adrienne Young, Greencards, Mindy Smith and Old Crow Medicine Show. COMPLETE LIST OF 2004 AMERICANA HONORS & AWARDS SHOW NOMINEES: Album of the Year Loretta Lynn - "Van Lear Rose" (Interscope) Mindy Smith - One Moment More (Vanguard) Rodney Crowell Fates Right Hand (DMZ/Epic) Slaid Cleaves - Wishbones (Philo) Artist of the Year Allison Moorer Jim Lauderdale Loretta Lynn Patty Griffin Song of the Year (presented to the Songwriter) Loretta Lynn Portland, Oregon (Loretta Lynn) Mindy Smith Come To Jesus (Mindy Smith) Rodney Crowell Fates Right Hand (Rodney Crowell) Slaid Cleaves Wishbones (Slaid Cleaves & Ray Wylie Hubbard) Instrumentalist of the Year Jerry Douglas Kenny Vaughan Sam Bush Will Kimbrough New/Emerging Artist of the Year Adrienne Young Greencards Mindy Smith Old Crow Medicine Show Registration for the 2004 Americana Music Association Conference, including the Americana Honors & Awards show, is still available online.
|
||
|
Guitar legends strum their stuff @ Dallas festival
06/08/2004 By MICHAEL D. CLARK Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
DALLAS It was a moment that musicians with a healthy respect for the gods of guitar might fantasize about while taking a break in band practice: "Imagine if B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan and Eric Clapton were ever in on the same jam together. Wonder what that would sound like." What it sounded like on Sunday at the Crossroads Guitar Festival at the Cotton Bowl was history. The 12-hour gathering of more than two dozen of the greatest guitar players in rock 'n' roll and modern blues took place in front of an estimated 40,000 sun-and-strum worshippers. With sets by many of the electric-guitar pioneers of the past half century Bo Diddley, King, Carlos Santana, Clapton, Jeff Beck and Houston's ZZ Top it would be easy to take for granted just how rare this gathering of talent was. One only needed to look at the expression of 26-year-old John Mayer to understand the magnitude. After listening to King's modern blues, Clapton's squealing Stratocaster and Guy's funky wailing strings, Mayer (the only youngster invited to this strum circle) plucked his way through a few bars of competent chords as Guy and King nodded in approval. After a minute or two of basking in the attention, he unplugged his guitar, placed it at Guy's feet and bowed in respect to the titan who paved his way to success. It was the highlight of a weekend that should live in Texas music history. Put together by Clapton as a benefit for his Antigua-based Crossroads Centre, a treatment and education center for the chemically dependent as well as their friends and families, the event got under way on Friday and Saturday with guitar clinics and performances at the fairgrounds that surround the Cotton Bowl. It was all a warm-up for the army of axes and amplifiers on Sunday. "All I did was make a list of people I dreamed of playing with, I wrote to them, and they showed up," Clapton said as he expressed his gratitude to all the performers. Afternoon sets by progressive rock experimentalist Steve Vai, Gulf Coast slideman Sonny Landreth and former Mahavishnu Orchestra leader John McLaughlin set the tone for what might be possible on the massive stage that stretched across one of the field's end zones. Appropriately, 75-year-old Diddley began the all-star second half of the day. "Are you ready?" the baritone Mississippi native asked the crowd. With that, one of rock 'n' roll's founding fathers took a seat and began playing the bluesy Bo Diddley. By the time he had wound through I'm a Man and Who Do You Love, it became evident just how many bands from the Rolling Stones to Bow Wow Wow have borrowed his licks. Stellar moments came at unexpected times. Singer and guitarist David Hidalgo revealed an appreciation for American blues he usually keeps hidden while playing with Los Lobos. Country musician Vince Gill showed he can play more than the traditional chords of Nashville when pushed by arguably popular music's best dobro player, Jerry Douglas. King may be 78 years old, but he still can shake like his back has no bones and incite a crowd into a frenzy with fret work on the guitar he affectionately calls Lucille. Most surprising was normally sedate singer-songwriter James Taylor. After he had lulled the crowd with Copper Line and Carolina in My Mind, musical jester Joe Walsh joined him and provoked Taylor into shouting and scat-singing. But Clapton was the star of the show. In addition to playing with Santana and Beck the guitarist who replaced him in the Yardbirds in 1965 Clapton offered a peek at his upcoming tour for his new album, Me and Mr. Johnson, during his own set. The album pays tribute to early bluesman Robert Johnson, and Clapton played reverential versions of Johnson's Delta classics like They're Red Hot (Hot Tamales) and If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day. Clapton ended with a sampling of songs that included a shuffling reggae-rock cover of Bob Marley's I Shot the Sheriff, the ballad Wonderful Tonight and raw, energetic renditions of Cocaine and Layla. Clapton, 59, proved that he is a guitar king with a fond affection for his royal blues-rock peers. Mayer aside, the gathering of veterans at the Crossroads Guitar Festival also raised the question: Where is the next generation of guitar gods?
|
||
|
Great High Mountain Tour got a boost from movies
05/31/2004 BY RICK MASSIMO Providence Journal Pop Music Writer When the Great High Mountain Tour rolls into the Ryan Center tomorrow, the recent movie-fueled interest in old-time American music will be pushing it along. The show, at the FleetBoston Pavilion today, is a collection of short sets of traditional music from rural America. Much of it was popularized in the movies O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain and will be performed by some of the artists on those two soundtracks, and other of the genre's leaders. JERRY DOUGLAS is one of the most-recorded dobro players in the world. Indeed, one of the reasons he joined Alison Krauss's band, Union Station, four years ago, was that "it got me out of the studio. I was growing mold." There's no danger of that anymore. Douglas released Lookout for Hope, his 10th solo CD last year, and between promoting that record and playing with Krauss, mold is the last thing he needs to worry about. Douglas's solo shows for this spring and summer were booked before the Great High Mountain tour, and when the Krauss dates were superimposed on his solo schedule, the result was a daunting amount of playing and traveling. "Instead of having little breaks like everyone else [on this tour] is having, I'm working right on through." A three-day break in the Great High Mountain tour finds Douglas playing solo shows in Arkansas and Washington, D.C. Later, there's a "weekend off" which will send Douglas from a Great High Mountain tour stop in North Carolina off to Dallas and Baltimore before rejoining Union Station in Atlanta. "It completely crazy," Douglas says. "But that's music." That's music for people as talented as Douglas. On Lookout for Hope, Douglas's blazing-fast playing and wide-ranging tastes bring the dobro to new areas: traditional country-style stomps, dissonant bop-style jazz and everything in between. There's no letup in sight: Krauss and Union Station are working on a new record, due out next spring, and Douglas begins work on a new record of his own in fall, which will also be out in spring. "Tour, tour, tour," Douglas says of his future. As for this tour, Douglas says, it's "mainly built around those two movies, and it's based more in gospel and old-time than hardcore bluegrass or genre-stretching music. . . . These shows are a little more laid-back than what we would normally do. No one's trying to beat anyone up with chops or anything." Douglas said he knows many of the people involved with this tour, from the Nashville Bluegrass Band to The Whites, with whom he played for eight years. "This is a sort of vacation for everyone. It's sort of a traveling family reunion. . . . It's a good time." The Great High Mountain Tour, featuring Alison Krauss and Union Station, Jerry Douglas, Ralph Stanley, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Norman & Nancy Blake, The Whites, The Cox Family, Tim Eriksen, Riley Baugus, Dirk Powell, Reeltime Travelers, Ollabelle and The Sacred Harp Singers, is at the FleetBoston Pavilion today at 3 p.m. Tickets are $37.50-$59.50. Call (617) 228-6000 or (617) 679-0810. The tour comes to the Ryan Center, 1 Lincoln Almond Plaza, Kingston, tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $37 to $57. Call (401) 788-3250.
|
||
|
Douglas Among Artists Honored by NEA
06/02/2004
Washington, D.C. - The National Endowment for the Arts today announced the 2004 recipients of the NEA National Heritage Fellowships, the country's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Twelve awardees were chosen for their artistic excellence, cultural authenticity, and contributions to their field. Two of the fellowships will be shared by husband and wife teams. Chum Ngek will receive the Bess Lomax Hawes award for service to the folk and traditional arts field as a whole in acknowledgement of his long history of teaching Cambodian music and culture. National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia said, "The work of these awardees is a testament to the diversity and exceptional quality of America's artistic resources. The cultures and artistic forms represented here speak to traditions, both ancient and contemporary and to artistic achievements that are timeless." In its 23rd year, the NEA National Heritage Fellowship program features many first-time awards this year including honoring a female blues singer, Kathak dancer, Irish-American button accordionist, and gospel steel guitarist. 2004 NEA National Heritage Fellowship Recipients Anjani Ambegaokar, North Indian Kathak dancer (Diamond Bar, CA) Charles "Chuck" T. Campbell, gospel steel guitar player (Rochester, NY) Joe Derrane, Irish-American button accordionist (Randolph, MA) Jerry Douglas, Dobro player (Nashville, TN) Gerald "Subiyay" Miller, Skokomish oral tradition bearer, carver, basket maker (Shelton, WA) Milan Opacich, Tamburitza instrument maker (Shererville, IN) Eliseo and Paula Rodriguez, straw appliqué artists (Santa Fe, NM) Koko Taylor, Blues musician (Country Club Hills, IL) Yuqin Wang and Zhengli Xu, Chinese rod puppeteers (Aloha, OR) 2004 Bess Lomax Hawes Award Chum Ngek, Cambodian musician and teacher (Gaithersburg, MD)
These honorees join the ranks of previous Heritage Fellows, including bluesman B.B. King, cowboy poet Wally McRae and acclaimed performers Shirley Caesar, Doc Watson, and Bill Monroe. Since 1982, the Endowment has awarded more than 282 National Heritage Fellowships. Recipients are nominated, often by members of their own communities, and then judged by a panel on the basis of their continuing artistic accomplishments and contributions as practitioners or teachers. Fellows must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or U.S territory. The 2004 awardees will come to Washington D.C. in September for a series of events including an awards presentation on Capitol Hill and a concert at Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University on Friday, October 1.
|
||
|
PBS MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT 2004
05/30/2004 It's been sixty years since our men landed on the beaches of Normandy, yet the images of that bloody conflict remain sharp, etched as clearly in our minds as though it were yesterday. On the eve of Memorial Day, PBS' National Memorial Day Concert honors the bravery and sacrifice of the American servicemen and women who participated in the valiant air and sea campaign that was to change history. Dedicated to all the Americans who have served or made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, the concert will also pay special tribute to the troops in Iraq who have been disabled in combat; and present the moving stories of children who have lost a parent to war. Here are two whose stories will be told: Twenty-three year old Erick Castro of Santa Ana, California -part of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment -- had been in the army for four years and stationed in Iraq for six months when, last August, his unit was ambushed as they were clearing rocks. Castro and two others lost their legs during an intense firefight. Light weapons infantryman Jim Mayer was wounded in Vietnam in April, 1969, after stepping on a land mine. He lost both his legs. Mayer had been in Vietnam only two and a half months. Over time, Mayer had to undergo 21 operations before he could walk on his prosthetic legs. Featuring some of Hollywood's most prominent stars and Grammy-award winning artists, this year's concert will combine uplifting musical performances with documentary footage and dramatic readings to honor the pain and suffering that America has endured for generations in its military efforts to preserve its freedoms. Celebrating its 15th year on air, the concert is hosted once again by renowned actor and World War II veteran Ossie Davis. The program is broadcast live on PBS - coming directly from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol before an anticipated audience of more than 350,000 - on Sunday, May 30, 2004 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET (check local listings). The concert will be heard in stereo on National Public Radio and can also be seen overseas by U.S. military personnel in more than 135 countries on American Forces Radio and Television Network. Joining Ossie Davis are Tom Hanks, one of the world's most admired and respected actors today; distinguished actor Charles Durning, a U.S. Army veteran of Normandy who was part of the first wave on Omaha Beach and the recipient of three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star for his valor during World War II; theater and television actor Joe Mantegna, Veteran's Affairs Chairperson for the 2004 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs; multiple Grammy winner and bluegrass legends Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas; country music star Brad Paisley; film, television and theater actor Jason Ritter, whose great-uncle, John "Red" Morgan was a World War II Congressional Medal of Honor winner and grandfather a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War; Grammy award-winning violin virtuoso Joshua Bell; Broadway sensation Brian Stokes Mitchell, whose father taught radio codes to the Tuskegee Airmen, legendary black bomber pilots of World War II, Broadway singer Marin Mazzie and other guest artists in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of premier pops conductor Erich Kunzel. The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and color guards from each of the armed forces will also make a special appearance during this year's broadcast.
|
||
|
JD's latest proj./M O'Connell's Don't I Know
05/10/2004 Barnes & Noble Not that Maura O'Connell has lost any of her heart-tugging Irish tenderness, but on her tenth solo album, the former DeDanaan lead singer showcases some urgent vocalizing with a throaty, bluesy edge à la Allison Moorer and musical textures that incorporate southern rock, Irish, and country flourishes. Meaty songs -- by the likes of Jim Lauderdale & Leslie Satcher, Mindy Smith, Kim Richey & Tim Krekel, and Gary Burr & Patti Griffin -- form a narrative arc that finds O'Connell pondering life's vicissitudes from emotional extremes. She brings the songs to life with her expressive, husky voice and the stirrings of her heart, producing passages of exquisite beauty. On Burr & Griffin's "Up and Flying," which she does at an ominous, moody pace, O'Connell rages against the stasis in her life as she ponders a lover who has moved on without missing a beat. The propulsive drive and soaring choruses of "Trip Around the Sun" frame a determined vocal testimony that finds O'Connell verbally shrugging off the things she can't control and trying to see a better day ahead. On the roiling ballad "Hold On," O'Connell engages in an internal dialogue aimed at giving her a reason to keep breathing in the face of destructive tendencies. The spare arrangement and tantalizing slide guitar and keyboard support on Mindy Smith's "Going Down in Flames" is an apt commentary on the anguish described by the lyrics, which O'Connell brings to life with a vocal that's alternately weary and enraged. Producer Jerry Douglas does O'Connell proud with judicious arrangements that enhance the mood but never overshadow the singer, who proves herself a magnificent vessel for conveying a multitude of complex emotions . David McGee
|
||
|
Douglas, Tyminski, Gill at Clapton Fest
04/15/2004 NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- It's a good thing Eric Clapton invited Vince Gill to perform at his Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas this June, because Gill would have a hard time staying away.
"It sounds like something I'd like to go to anyway even if I wasn't invited, just to hear," Gill said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. The festival, to run June 4-6 at Fair Park, will include performances by Clapton, Buddy Guy, J.J. Cale, Robert Cray, B.B. King, Carlos Santana, Joe Walsh and many others. But Gill and Union Station members Dan Tyminski and JERRY DOUGLAS are the only Nashville pickers on the list. "I was flattered beyond words that I got included," Gill said. "I listened to all of those guys. Probably as a guitar player, I tried to find more from the rock world than I ever did from the country world early on." Known mostly for his singing and songwriting, the 47-year-old also is an accomplished guitarist whose playing reflects a variety of styles, from country and bluegrass to blues and rock. Before his success as a solo artist, he was lead guitarist for the country-pop group Pure Prairie League and alt-country band the Cherry Bombs (Rodney Criowell, Hank DeVito, Tony Brown, Richard Bennett). He once turned down an invitation by singer-guitarist Mark Knopfler to join the English rock band Dire Straits. "I think most people think of me as a singer, and they're kind of surprised that I can play loud," he said. "Not necessarily good, but loud."
|
||
|
Great High Mountain Tour
03/30/2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, March 30, 2004 MUSIC OF SOUNDTRACKS O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? AND COLD MOUNTAIN TO COME ALIVE IN THE GREAT HIGH MOUNTAIN TOUR The Great High Mountain Tour featuring songs and performances by artists from the OBrother, Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain soundtracks will kick off on May 5 in Knoxville, Tennessee at the Thompson-Boling Arena. The show, presented by Grammy winning producer T Bone Burnett, will feature several artist from the highly successful 2002 Down From The Mountain Tour including Alison Krauss + Union Station with Jerry Douglas, Ralph Stanley, the Cox Family, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Whites, and Norman and Nancy Blake. They will be joined by Dirk Powell, Riley Baugus, Tim Eriksen, and Reeltime Travelers from the Oscar nominated Cold Mountain soundtrack as well as Ollabelle (a sextet who draws their inspiration from nineteenth and early-to-mid-twentieth century rural American music) and Sierra and Cody Hull. Sierra is a 12-year-old mandolin wizard who has performed on the Grand Ole Opry and PBSs All-Star Bluegrass Celebration who recently released her first independent release, Angel Mountain, with her brother Cody.
"Down From The Mountain was an extraordinary night of music," said Burnett, "and we are going deeper into this exploration of traditional American music with the artists and songs from Cold Mountain. There is great freedom in this music and in these shows that allows for every evening to be unique." Burnett and acclaimed musician/filmmaker Bob Neuwirth will serve as the shows musical directors. The revue will again be a theatrical presentation with musicians coming on and off the stage to collaborate in different groups creating many exciting possibilities. The evening will feature songs such as Man of Constant Sorrow performed by Dan Tyminski (aka The Soggy Bottom Boys), Keep on the Sunny Side by The Whites, and You Are My Sunshine by Norman and Nancy Blake from O Brother, Where Art Thou? and I Wish My Baby Was Born by Eriksen, Baugus and Tim OBrien, Like A Songbird That Has Fallen by the Reeltime Travelers, and "You Will Be My Ain True Love" and "The Scarlet Tide", by Krauss, both of which were nominated for an Academy Award. The finale will feature "I'm Going Home" and "Idumea", Sacred Harp songs from Cold Mountain. TOUR STOPS: May 5 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena May 6 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center May 7 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena May 8 Chicago, IL Civic Opera House May 9 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Theatre May 11 Minneapolis, MN Northrop Auditorium May 12 St. Louis, MO The Fox Theatre May 13 Detroit, MI The Fox Theatre May 14 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena May 21 Salem, VA Salem Civic Center May 23 Greenville, SC Pepsi Pavilion at Bi-Lo Center May 24 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center June 1 Kingston, RI Ryan Center June 3 Philadelphia, PA Mann Center for the Performing Arts **Additional dates in May and June will be announced soon. For more information please contact Kevin Lane at 615-885-7543 or kevinlanepr@comcast.net or DS Management at 615-385-3191 or officedsm@bellsouth.net.
|
||
|
JERRY DOUGLAS BAND NEWS
03/23/2004 Nashville, Tennessee March 23, 2004 NEW GUITARIST for JDB
Today Jerry Douglas takes pleasure in introducing a new member of his traveling band. Keith Sewell takes over guitar duties starting this week. He joins veteran Brickbats Larry Atamanuik, Gabe Witcher, Derek Jones, sound engineer Bernie Velutti and Douglas for a string of dates across the state of Colorado. Texas native Sewell was a member of Ricky Skaggs' Kentucky Thunder band for several years, playing banjo, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar. Sewell has toured with many artists, most recently with The Dixie Chicks on their Top of the World tour. Look for Sewell with the Jerry Douglas Band as festival season kicks off this April at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
|
||
|
WASHINGTON TIMES REVIEW
03/03/2004 ----------- DOUGLAS TAKES INSTRUMENTAL BLUEGRASS ON WIDE JOURNEY By Scott Galupo ----------- Words? We don't need no stinkin' words. At the Birchmere Friday night, Dobro master Jerry Douglas treated open-minded bluegrass fans to a two-hour-plus set of gracefully constructed instrumental pieces enriched with ideas plucked from jazz, blues and world music. In the mountain-music tradition in which each player passes on the lead-solo baton, Mr. Douglas traded the spotlight with flat-picking champion Mark Cosgrove, fiddler Gabe Witcher and upright-bassist Derek Jones. During down moments, Mr. Douglas seemed to enjoy his band mates' talents as much as the audience. Not even a food server who disconnected a cable from a stage outlet during several trips to and from the kitchen could shake his smiling demeanor. A part-time sideman to folk and bluegrass greats such as Emmylou Harris and, more recently, Alison Krauss, Mr. Douglas is a clever composer in his own right. Inspiration, he explained, can strike at any time: during a trip accompanied by sheep ("From Ankara to Izmir"); bedtime stories with his son ("The Wild Rumpus"); run-ins with giant beetles in India ("Big Bug Shuffle"); a handshake with Flecktones "drumitarist" Roy Wooten ("Futureman"); discovery of his wife's proper name ("Senia's Lament"). The musically adventurous Mr. Douglas led his band through long workouts on the Middle Eastern-sounding "Lookout for Hope" (written by Bill Frisell) and the jazz-infused "Cave Bop." To placate bluegrass purists, Mr. Douglas offered a medley of mountain traditionals, completing a guided tour that passed through the Mississippi Delta, Appalachia and the Levant. Sometimes you don't need a singer to tell you what you're looking at.
|
||
|
and News
03/23/2004 no news
|
||
|
Porous Borders Concert - Brooklyn Musuem
03/22/2004 Hear three Grammy Award-winning instrumental masters as they explore, in music and discussion, the dynamic relationship between folk, popular and classical music in Americas rural and urban traditions: double bass virtuoso and composer Edgar Meyer, bluegrass legend Sam Bush (mandolin, fiddle) and dobro master Jerry Douglas (heard on O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack). Hosted and curated by John Schaefer Train: 2 or 3 to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum. Bus: B71 in front of the Museum; B41 and B69 at Grand Army Plaza; B48 at Franklin Avenue and Eastern Parkway. Admission is free. Tickets must be reserved in advance: to obtain your free ticket, please call 212 896 1763.
|
||
|
AKUS Most Wanted LIve Re-airing
02/02/2004 For those who have not had a opportunity to see AKUS perform for CMTs Most Wanted Live they will be re-airing the 60 minute special on the following dates February 1st, 7th, 11th, and 12th. Check your local listing for times.
|
||
|
Dobro and fiddle form link across the Pond
01/29/2004 Jim Gilchrist Transatlantic Sessions **** GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL WHEN Shetland fiddler Aly Bain and dobro ace Jerry Douglas led peerless transatlantic company into Scotland, a sprightly old Bill Monroe standard, it was an oblique salute to origins in a convivial evening given over largely to American roots music. Approximating on stage the format of the BBC TV series of the same name, the 16 performers included Celtic Connections stalwarts such as Karen Matheson, Donald Shaw and Irelands Karan Casey, with notable guests from the far side of the Pond - Douglas, guitarist Russ Barenberg, Tim OBrien on mandolin and fiddle, plus the inimitable Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Things initially sounded unfocused, those distinctively tremulous McGarrigle harmonies teetering precariously in Talk to Me of Mendocino, although, despite a shaky key change, Stephen Fosters Hard Times, led off by Gibb Todd, was more satisfying. The Canadian sisters got into their stride, with the eldritch-sounding Who Will Rock the Cradle, as Michael McGoldricks uillean pipes wept in the wings. Glasgows own Dean Owens (whose trio performed a creditable opening set) was in robustly plangent voice for Blue Moon of Kentucky, Eddi Reader let rip with Humming Bird and Tim OBrien was in fine, hollerin voice, while proceedings were whisked back from far west to Western Isles by the lambent tones of Ishbel MacAskill. Instrumentally, there were some fine moments: fiddle, guitar and accordion travelling companionably alongside Barenbergs limber guitar-picking while Danny Thompsons bass rumbled steadily below; the Bain fiddle eschewing Shetland reels for the lump-in-throat quaver of old-time Americana. But it was Douglass dazzling lap steel guitar work which defined much of the evening, threading sinuously through songs and tunes alike, at one point giving voice to a Donal Lunny air before accelerating into a breakneck hoedown. "If this was the last concert I ever play, Id be quite happy," remarked Bain in a fit of dolorous contentment. Never say it, Aly.
|
||
|
Transatlantic Sessions, Glasgow, review
01/29/2004 The Transatlantic Sessions TV programmes, in which stellar musicians from both sides of the pond gathered to swap songs and tunes, generally involved an element of panning for gold, with a few panfuls being tossed back, and this hastily-assembled recreation achieved much the same results. After a rather uncertain beginning, when the sound and production values threatened to take the essentially relaxed approach a bit too far, come the gold did. Yet when you have the dobromaster Jerry Douglas sitting side by side with one of the other true greats of American roots music, Tim O'Brien, this is only to be expected. Douglas and O'Brien, along with Douglas's long-time associate, the brilliant guitarist Russ Barenberg, fiddler Aly Bain and the sure-footed veteran double-bassist, Danny Thompson, formed the heart of the show, providing apposite backing to singers including the Cork linnet Karan Casey and the McGarrigle sisters, and taking solo features that were worthy of a show in themselves. If the McGarrigles' singing of the traditional Who Will Rock The Cradle? complete with Michael McGoldrick on uilleann pipes defined the transatlantic exchange, and O'Brien's up-to-the knees-in-the-Virginia-soil, mandolin-backed reading of the country-gospel standard I've Endured injected fizz and aplomb into the evening, then Douglas provided the instrumental high point with his stunning interpretation of Donal Lunny's beautiful slow air, Peadar O'Donnell, sliding bar and picking fingers creating a cascade of singing-strings emotion. The ruggedly effervescent breakdown that he followed it with wasn't half bad, either.
|
||
|
AKUS Santa Barbara Performance Moves to 12/4/03
12/01/2003 The Alison Krauss + Union Station performance at the Arlington Theatre on Wednesday, December 3rd has been rescheduled to Thursday, December 4th due to a band member family emergency. The performance will still take place at the Arlington Theatre at 8:00 PM.
Additional information or any necessary ticket refunds may be obtained by calling the venue box office (805-963-4408) or by calling the UCSB Arts and Lectures box office at (805-893-3535). Updates will also be listed on www.alisonkrauss.com
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
|
||
|
Bossier City, Louisiana 12/8 Performance Postponed
11/20/2003 Due to a scheduling conflict for a television taping, the December 8th Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas concert at the Century Tel Center in Bossier City, LA, has been postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes. We hope to re-schedule the concert in 2004.
Ticket holders may get a full refund from the location where they purchased tickets beginning Friday, November 21st. Updates will be posted to this site.
|
||
|
AKUS December 10th Performance Post-poned
11/08/2003
Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict the Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas concert at the Riverside Centroplex in Baton Rouge, LA on December 10th has been postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes, and we are working to re-schedule the concert as quickly as possible. In the interim, ticket holders may get a full refund at the point of purchase beginning Wednesday, November 12, or you may use their tickets for the re-scheduled performance. Updates on the rescheduled performance will be posted to this site.
|
||
|
ShaniaKrauss
10/31/2003 Country's hot new duo: ShaniaKrauss
The town is buzzin':Shania Twain is taping a primetime NBC special Monday night right here in Nash-Vegas. And she's doing it with her new best buddy,AlisonKrauss, and Alison's excellent bluegrass band,UnionStation. This is a particularly fascinating pairing because these two ladies have slightly different on-stage styles. Alison, in simple attire, stands with her band and sings like an angel. Shania wears sparkly stuff, leapfrogs over skipping fiddlers and shouts ''Whoo!'' a lot. Alison likes to show off her Union Station band's tight, smooth harmonies. Shania likes to show off her tight, smooth stomach. But the two apparently have been musically inseparable since they didForever and Always together on the CMT Flameworthy Awards earlier this year. Shania will do a stripped-down acoustic show in the round, a la Elvis Presley's 1968 network TV special. Alison and Union Station will back her up, and Alison also will do some duets with Shania. This is a big dang deal because NBC is airing this Shania's second NBC special during November sweeps. And the Peacock Network is putting it on Nov. 26 right after a highly anticipatedJustin Timberlake special.
|
||
|
WOMEN ROCK! SONGS FROM THE MOVIES
09/20/2003 More Rock Music
Dolly, Others to Perform at 'Women Rock' Sep 10, 11:16 AM EST Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss and Union Station will be country's contribution to this year's "Women Rock" concert. This is the fourth annual concert to raise awareness and support to fight breast cancer. The Lifetime Television cable network will tape the concert at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Sept. 30 and will air the concert as a special on Oct. 23. Other performers confirmed for the event include pop singers Celine Dion, Anastacia and soul artist Mya. Jessica Alba, Sharon Osbourne and Lisa Rinna are scheduled as presenters. This year's theme is "Women Rock! Songs From the Movies."
|
||
|
WOMEN ROCK! SONGS FROM THE MOVIES
09/20/2003 More Rock Music
Dolly, Others to Perform at 'Women Rock' Sep 10, 11:16 AM EST Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss and Union Station will be country's contribution to this year's "Women Rock" concert. This is the fourth annual concert to raise awareness and support to fight breast cancer. The Lifetime Television cable network will tape the concert at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Sept. 30 and will air the concert as a special on Oct. 23. Other performers confirmed for the event include pop singers Celine Dion, Anastacia and soul artist Mya. Jessica Alba, Sharon Osbourne and Lisa Rinna are scheduled as presenters. This year's theme is "Women Rock! Songs From the Movies."
|
||
|
HIGH FIDELITY REVIEW SACD NEWS STORY:
06/11/2003 |
JDB LIVE on VIDEORANCH