September 27, 2004

Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company

Why even bother critiquing anything from the fingertips and voice of Ray Charles? Why find fault with a legend who, in the words of Johnny Mathis is

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Jay Farrar & Son Volt Reform After 5 Year Hiatus

Midwest-based Son Volt, with songwriter Jay Farrar at the helm, will begin recording their fourth full length album at the end of September. Following a five-year hiatus, with the exception of the April 2004 recording of “Sometimes” for the Alejandro Escovedo tribute album, multi-instrumentalist Dave Boquist, bassist Jim Boquist and drummer Mike Heidorn will reconvene at Farrar’s St. Louis studio. Speaking about the “Sometimes” session, Farrar says: “It felt like we hit the ground running when we recorded Al’s song for Por Vida. Five years seemed like five days at that point. It proved that more recording and performing as Son Volt is something that should happen.”

As this revered band reconnects, a unique glimpse inside the Son Volt sessions will be offered. Beginning October 1, a webcamera will be placed in the studio to capture a day of pre-production and 16 days of recording. The webcamera can be accessed at www.jayfarrar.net/webcam and will feature streaming photos that refresh every 5 seconds.

Farrar formed Son Volt in 1994 after the dissolution of Uncle Tupelo. With the release of Trace, Straightaways and Wide Swing Tremolo, the band was met with praise by the public and critics alike. From the plain-spoken chorus of “Windfall” to the gritty guitars of “Straightface”, Son Volt has always pushed the boundaries to blend traditional American music forms with poetic imagery and straight-ahead rock.

Son Volt is not currently affiliated with a label and plans to return to the road in early 2005.

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Robbie Robertson Crafting Band Box Set

Fans of the Band should mark their calendars for May 2005, when Capitol/EMI is slated to release a box set, curated by band member Robbie Robertson. “I’m working on the definitive musical history of the Band,” Robertson tells Billboard. The seminal group, which included Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel, famously disbanded in 1976, as captured in the Martin Scorsese-directed concert film, “The Last Waltz.”

Robertson says the five-CD set will include more than 100 songs, many of them previously unreleased, as well as a DVD. The artist was also involved in “Across the Great Divide,” a three-CD set released in 1994. However, this Band collection will include more unreleased material.

Billboard caught up with Robertson at a party for the film “Ladder 49,” where he performed his song “Shine Your Light,” the movie’s end title, and jammed with Dave Stewart and the party’s host, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

Robertson says he is also revisiting the music for “Raging Bull” for a two-CD soundtrack that will be released Feb. 15 by Capitol. He wrote the source music and scored three pieces for the 1980 movie, as well as selected the other music with director Scorsese.

“I’m just finishing mixing and compiling the original music. It’s 38 tracks,” Robertson says. Additionally, he and Scorsese wrote the liner notes. It marks the first time a soundtrack to the film has been released. A special-edition DVD of “Raging Bull” comes out Dec. 14.

But Robertson seems most excited about his work on a Native American musical with the working title “Ceremony.” The artist, who is part Native American, is writing the music for the Broadway project, David Henry Wang (“M. Butterfly”) is penning the book and David Lavoie (“Nine”) is directing.

Source billboard.com.

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Sundance To Broadcast Vote For Change Finale

Sundance Channel will broadcast the Oct. 11 finale of the Vote for Change tour in Washington, D.C. Along with live concert footage of the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Dave Matthews Band and James Taylor, “National Anthem: Inside the ‘Vote for Change’ Concert Tour” will feature pre-taped behind-the-scenes segments lensed by veteran filmmakers Albert Maysles and D A Pennebaker.

Each of the dozen-plus artists are expected to perform for about 22 minutes at the Oct. 11 show, which wraps a 10-day Vote for Choice blitz through upcoming presidential election battleground states.

A Sundance spokesperson tells Billboard.com Maysles and Pennebaker will be on the road with the Vote for Choice tour in the days ahead to document rehearsals and off-stage interaction between the acts.

“From the Kennedys to Dylan, the Beatles, and Stones, Al Maysles and D A Pennebaker are the pre-eminent observers of politics and music in our time,” says Sundance founder Robert Redford. “Sundance is pleased to present these legendary filmmakers’ view of the collision between pop culture and politics at this fascinating moment in U.S. history.”

“This documentary presents a unique opportunity to extend the music from this amazing finale show beyond the walls of the arena to a broader audience, and provide viewers with an insider’s look at what the ‘Vote for Change’ tour is all about,” says Springsteen manager Jon Landau.

According to Pearl Jam’s official Web site, the show may also by Webcast, with details to be announced.

Source billboard.com.

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Cohen Brothers Halloweekend On Tap For Perpetual Groove

Perpetual Groove, which by all accounts is comprised of four movie geeks (insert “PG” joke here) will be performing selections from the soundtracks of two of their favorite Cohen Brother’s movies, “The Big Lebowski” and “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou,” for their annual Halloweekend Festivities. The band will be celebrating Halloween twice, once on Saturday in Jacksonville at The Freebird and then again the following night in Tampa, helping to close out the annual Guavaween celebration at The Masquerade. Both shows are featured stops on the band’s October Speed of Surround Tour, which is being presented in full 5.1 surround sound. Expect costumes galore, more musical bust outs, and of course, some crazy stage antics. We’ll see you in Florida!

Tickets for the Freebird show are $10 adv / $15 dos and can be purchased through Ticketmaster. The Freebird show is all ages.

Tickets for the Masquerade show are $12 adv and can be purchased through their website at www.masqueradetampa.com.

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