2004

As a musician, Warren Haynes is infamous for his improvisational prowess and his spontaneous guest appearances. So it might seem odd that he becomes so darn reliable — and charitable — each holiday season.

For 16 years, Haynes has coordinated the Warren Haynes Annual Christmas Jam. Like a family reunion, the annual, one-of-a-kind, semi-structured marathon of music brings together old friends on stage and in the audience at the Civic Center Arena in Asheville, N.C.

This year the event will be held again at the Asheville Civic Center Arena, Saturday, December 18 at 7:00PM. WNCW’s Pre-Jam Jam Broadcast Live from the Orange Peel is on Friday, December, 17. Past Performers Include: The Allman Brothers Band, Alvin Youngblood Heart, Blues Traveler, Bob Weir, Derek Trucks Band, DJ Logic, Edwin McCain, John Hiatt & The Goners, moe., North Mississippi All-Stars, Phil Lesh and Friends, Phish’s Mike Gordon, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Sam Bush, Sonny Landreth, String Cheese Incident’s Michael Kang, and Widespread Panic’s John Bell, Dave Schools & Todd Nance.

Haynes, who will open the evening with a brief solo performance, will perform with his band Gov’t Mule, and, of course, join many of the artists for spontaneous collaborations. But the impact goes far beyond the entertainment.

The show thrives on the generous support of volunteer talent and behind-the-scenes personnel, with post-production proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity. In 2002, Haynes received the Key to the City by Asheville Mayor Worley. The benefit event raised $70,000 for the organization, selling 7000 tickets. Prior to the 2003 concert, Haynes gave keys to a family for their new Habitat for Humanity home, which was constructed with funds from the 2002 concert. The 2003 event raised $100,000 – bringing the total for the last three years over $200,000.

“Christmas Jam started 16 years ago as an opportunity for local musicians to jam at the one time of year they were all in town at the same time. Back then, we gave the money to whatever charity we felt like. As the event grew and we became aware of Habitat For Humanity, we settled on them because we believe in the organization and know the money goes where its supposed to. When your work is music, its easy and fun to give back.”

For over a decade the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey have been crisscrossing America, slowly but surely blossoming into one of the most visionary and fearless bands in improvisational music.

Vintage rock trio Cream will reunite for a string of shows next year at London’s Royal Albert Hall, sources tell Billboard.com. The group — guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce — played its final shows at Albert Hall before splintering in November 1968. Cream has not performed together since its 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Billboard.com understands the trio will begin rehearsals after the first of the year, with an eye on a week-long run of gigs at Albert Hall. It is unknown if plans call for additional shows in other parts of the world. A spokesperson for Clapton had no comment.

Source billboard.com.

After being celebrated for more than a decade for its consistently riveting live show, Rusted Root is releasing its first live album, a two-disc set featuring the new songs

Two months after disbanding, the former members of Phish are getting busy. In October, ex-frontman Trey Anastasio returned to his Vermont studio, the Barn, to work on a pair of projects. Spending the bulk of the month writing material for an upcoming solo album, the guitarist invited along several collaborators — new and old.

Anastasio first spent time jamming with jazz pianist Herbie Hancock for a cut on the fusion legend’s forthcoming record. The date also included bassist John Patitucci (Chick Corea), veteran drummer Steve Jordan (Blues Brothers, Keith Richards), percussionist Cyro Baptista (Trey Anastasio Band, Beat the Donkey) and trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band). Several brief Hancock/Anastasio duets have been posted to TreyAnastasio.com.

During the final week of October, Anastasio also recorded solo tracks with bassist Tony Levin (King Crimson), drummer Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel) and keyboardist Ray Packowski (Trey Anastasio Band). Several of Anastasio’s regular partners — including Hartswick, ex-Phish bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman — rounded out the sessions. No release date has been set. In addition, a Trey Anastasio Band taping of Austin City Limits, recorded in September, will air nationwide on January 15th.

After producing and playing on Bane, the surreal debut of quasi-fictional bassist Joey Arkenstat, Gordon will return to both the studio and the road in December. First, the bassist will reconvene with avant-folk guitar legend Leo Kottke to begin recording a follow-up to 2002’s Clone. Shortly thereafter, he will join drummer Joe Russo and keyboardist Marco Benevento for a quartet of holiday shows as the “Benevento/Russo Duo featuring Mike Gordon,” culminating in a New Year’s performance at New York’s B.B. King’s. Gordon will soon launch MikeGordon.com to keep track of his solo activities.

Meanwhile, on November 30th, ex-Phish keyboardist Page McConnell will release Vida Blue and the Spam Allstars — Live at the Fillmore, a DVD of a June 2004 performance with his Afro-funk band. Apparently, life after Phish sometimes involves more than music: the bonus disc will include a forty-minute documentary on McConnell’s “foray into the world of demolition derby and car racing.”

Source rollingstone.com.

Oakley has announced the introduction of Thump