Photos From Charlie Haden Family & Friends At The Grand Ole Opry

On Feburary 28, 2009 Charlie Haden Family & Friends played at the legendary Grand Ole Opry. What an honor!



From left, Mark Fain, my brother-in-law Jack Black, my father Charlie Haden, my sisters Tanya, Rachel, and Petra rehearsing backstage.

Sam Bush, my father's wife Ruth Cameron, and Charlie backstage.



Charlie, Mark Fain, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton, Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush on stage at Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman.





Rachel and esteemed Opry announcer, radio DJ, and country music historian Eddie Stubbs.



Me and Ricky Skaggs backstage.



Thank you to everyone at the Opry who made this show possible, and especially to the audience, you were the best!

Charlie Haden Family And Friends World Cafe Performance Online

For those of you who missed today's episode of the NPR radio program World Cafe, on which Charlie Haden Family & Friends performed songs from their cd "Rambling Boy", and Charlie Haden did an insightful interview with the show's host, David Dye, it can now be listened to online.

Click on "Web-Only Outtake: 'Spiritual' By Charlie Haden Family Band" to hear their version of the song "Spiritual", recorded especially for the show (but not included in the radio version of the show), with yours truly on vocals. This version is particularly stirring and noteworthy (in my humble opinion) because it contains the outstanding tandem violin and fiddle playing of Petra Haden and Stuart Duncan, respectively, which doesn't happen on the cd version. It also features the cello work of Tanya Haden, guitar work by John Leventhal and Mark Fain, mandolin playing by Dan Tyminski, and, of course, bass playing by Charlie Haden.

The group also performs the songs "Oh Take Me Back", "Rambling Boy", and "Ocean Of Diamonds", in addition to the interview with Charlie.

Charlie Haden Family And Friends Debut Show

I know I promised to blog every day from NYC during our stay for the Charlie Haden Family & Friends debut performance at Lincoln Center's 25th annual Roots of American Music Festival Aug. 24 but I was so busy it just wasn't possible!

Anyways, it was a lot of fun. Here are some highlights...

The view from Rachel and Atom's hotel room was incredible.



The rehearsal was a lot of fun.



Atom Ellis was in awe.



My dad's wife Ruth Cameron sounded great.



Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park Bandshell provides a stunning foreground to a equally stunning classic New York backdrop.



Guitarist Bryan Sutton and banjoist Jim Mills shared a moment in front of my iPhone camera before soundcheck.



Icons and Fellow L.A.'ers The Knitters played before us and the legendary John Doe posed for a picture with Atom and Rachel.



My dad Charlie confers with Dan Tyminski backstage before soundcheck.



From the first note the Charlie Haden Family & Friends band were tearing up the stage. From left, Bryan Sutton, Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, and Stuart Duncan. Also present were Jim Mills, Sam Bush, and Mark Fain.



My sisters Petra, Rachel, and Tanya took the stage as the sun went down.



Patti Smith and her band headlined the show and even though this isn't a very good picture, they were amazing. It was the first time I'd seen them play, and I was incredibly moved and inspired by their powerful songs and message of peace and call to action in an endearing and totally non-pretentious way. Patti Smith is the real thing.



All in all, playing at the 25th Annual Roots Of American Music Festival at Lincoln Center was a blast. The music was incredible, and it was really great to see the guys in the band again.

Charlie Haden Family & Friends debut cd "Ramblin' Boy" will be released Sept. 24 on Decca Records. If you'd like to read my previous posts about the recording sessions check out here, here, here, here, and here!