Showing posts with label Pat Metheny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pat Metheny. Show all posts
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Rambling Boy 2009 Grammy Nomination
The song "Is This America (Katrina 2005)" from Charlie Haden Family & Friends - Rambling Boy was nominated for a 2009 Grammy award in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Bringing it all back home
Charlie Haden returns to his country roots—and takes his family with him.
By Jay Ruttenberg
Time Out New York
Aug. 20 - 26, 2008
In January, an unlikely swarm gathered in a Nashville studio to record songs steeped in rural American music. The session was spearheaded by jazz-bass titan Charlie Haden and singer Ruth Cameron, Haden’s wife of two decades. Featured artists included the bassist’s grown children—Josh, singer in the band Spain, and harmonizing triplets Petra, Rachel and Tanya—plus Tanya’s husband, Jack Black, a movie star with an oddly commanding voice. Invited guests included luminaries of bluegrass (Dan Tyminski), jazz (Pat Metheny), country (Vince Gill) and the worlds between (Elvis Costello).
The resulting album, Charlie Haden Family & Friends’ Rambling Boy—due next month on Decca, but showcased live at Lincoln Center this week—underlines the musical breadth of its ringleader. “The hinge of the record is my dad’s past and all the different styles he’s been involved with,” Josh Haden says. “It’s like an overview of his entire life, starting from when he was one year old.”
The younger Haden isn’t exaggerating. Long before he helped Ornette Coleman redefine jazz’s boundaries, the bassist sang with his parents and siblings on a daily radio program in Missouri. Haden, now 71, joined the family act back in an old America that was unimpeded by such dreary niceties as child-labor laws. “I remember my mom rocking me to sleep,” recalls Haden, speaking from L.A. before heading to his son-in-law’s Tropic Thunder premiere. “I wasn’t even two. She was humming, and I started humming the harmony. She said, ‘You’re ready for the radio show, babe.’ They started taking me to the station every morning. My mom would pick me up in her arms and hold me to the microphone so I could sing.”
In an archival recording appended to Rambling Boy, the future Liberation Music Orchestra leader can be heard as a toddler, introduced on the show as “the little two-year-old yodelin’ cowboy.” (Frankly, Haden’s work on The Shape of Jazz to Come is more impressive.) The budding musician worked on the radio until he was 15, coming of age surrounded by tall-tale heroes of American country. “My dad knew Jimmie Rodgers, the Carters and [Hank] Williams,” Haden says. “All the people in Nashville used to guest-star on the show. Mother Maybelle would come sing at our house.”
When Haden’s yodelin’ voice fell victim to polio, he shifted his focus to bass, which he decided was “the most beautiful instrument of all, because it made everything sound better when it was playing.” (Also: He harbored a childhood crush on the Carter Sisters’ bassist.) He heard Charlie Parker, grew smitten with jazz, moved to L.A. and became famous. But Haden never forsook his roots. “Most jazz musicians are born in big cities,” he notes. “I’m glad I was born in the Ozarks and exposed to country music. It left a deep impression in my soul. It’s in everything I do.”
While Haden never put his own children on the radio, he still fostered an intensely musical household. Josh Haden grew up to be a singer-songwriter—his work has been covered by Johnny Cash—and the triplets have played with a veritable who’s who of contemporary rock. Rambling Boy presents a lovely family portrait, with support from some of Nashville’s most accomplished hands. Though steeped in tradition, the recording sounds modern and, with its jazz undertone, somewhat eccentric. “Charlie drew from his country roots here,” says bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs, who appears on the record. “But on the song ‘20/20 Vision,’ Bruce Hornsby suggested that he play his jazz licks. It really showed Charlie’s ability to walk from country to jazz.”
To Haden, mingling those genres is a given: They are, after all, “the indigenous forms of American music.” Appropriately, the Haden Family’s debut performance, on Sunday 24, marks the 25th anniversary of Lincoln Center’s Roots of American Music series. Flanked on the bill by Patti Smith and the Knitters, the Hadens and their Nashville brethren have given Lincoln Center curators Spike Barkin and Bill Bragin what Bragin deems “the perfect anchor. There’s something about family harmonies and communication that really connects this to traditional music.”
Yet for Cameron, Haden’s manager as well as his wife, the album proved something of a break from tradition. “Through years of recording, it’s always ‘Charlie this, Charlie that,’ ” she says. “Then all of a sudden, the girls were singing and we heard from the council room, ‘Daa-aad! Daa-aad!’ In three-part harmony, of course.”
Charlie Haden Family & Friends play Damrosch Park Sun 24.
By Jay Ruttenberg
Time Out New York
Aug. 20 - 26, 2008
In January, an unlikely swarm gathered in a Nashville studio to record songs steeped in rural American music. The session was spearheaded by jazz-bass titan Charlie Haden and singer Ruth Cameron, Haden’s wife of two decades. Featured artists included the bassist’s grown children—Josh, singer in the band Spain, and harmonizing triplets Petra, Rachel and Tanya—plus Tanya’s husband, Jack Black, a movie star with an oddly commanding voice. Invited guests included luminaries of bluegrass (Dan Tyminski), jazz (Pat Metheny), country (Vince Gill) and the worlds between (Elvis Costello).
The resulting album, Charlie Haden Family & Friends’ Rambling Boy—due next month on Decca, but showcased live at Lincoln Center this week—underlines the musical breadth of its ringleader. “The hinge of the record is my dad’s past and all the different styles he’s been involved with,” Josh Haden says. “It’s like an overview of his entire life, starting from when he was one year old.”
The younger Haden isn’t exaggerating. Long before he helped Ornette Coleman redefine jazz’s boundaries, the bassist sang with his parents and siblings on a daily radio program in Missouri. Haden, now 71, joined the family act back in an old America that was unimpeded by such dreary niceties as child-labor laws. “I remember my mom rocking me to sleep,” recalls Haden, speaking from L.A. before heading to his son-in-law’s Tropic Thunder premiere. “I wasn’t even two. She was humming, and I started humming the harmony. She said, ‘You’re ready for the radio show, babe.’ They started taking me to the station every morning. My mom would pick me up in her arms and hold me to the microphone so I could sing.”
In an archival recording appended to Rambling Boy, the future Liberation Music Orchestra leader can be heard as a toddler, introduced on the show as “the little two-year-old yodelin’ cowboy.” (Frankly, Haden’s work on The Shape of Jazz to Come is more impressive.) The budding musician worked on the radio until he was 15, coming of age surrounded by tall-tale heroes of American country. “My dad knew Jimmie Rodgers, the Carters and [Hank] Williams,” Haden says. “All the people in Nashville used to guest-star on the show. Mother Maybelle would come sing at our house.”
When Haden’s yodelin’ voice fell victim to polio, he shifted his focus to bass, which he decided was “the most beautiful instrument of all, because it made everything sound better when it was playing.” (Also: He harbored a childhood crush on the Carter Sisters’ bassist.) He heard Charlie Parker, grew smitten with jazz, moved to L.A. and became famous. But Haden never forsook his roots. “Most jazz musicians are born in big cities,” he notes. “I’m glad I was born in the Ozarks and exposed to country music. It left a deep impression in my soul. It’s in everything I do.”
While Haden never put his own children on the radio, he still fostered an intensely musical household. Josh Haden grew up to be a singer-songwriter—his work has been covered by Johnny Cash—and the triplets have played with a veritable who’s who of contemporary rock. Rambling Boy presents a lovely family portrait, with support from some of Nashville’s most accomplished hands. Though steeped in tradition, the recording sounds modern and, with its jazz undertone, somewhat eccentric. “Charlie drew from his country roots here,” says bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs, who appears on the record. “But on the song ‘20/20 Vision,’ Bruce Hornsby suggested that he play his jazz licks. It really showed Charlie’s ability to walk from country to jazz.”
To Haden, mingling those genres is a given: They are, after all, “the indigenous forms of American music.” Appropriately, the Haden Family’s debut performance, on Sunday 24, marks the 25th anniversary of Lincoln Center’s Roots of American Music series. Flanked on the bill by Patti Smith and the Knitters, the Hadens and their Nashville brethren have given Lincoln Center curators Spike Barkin and Bill Bragin what Bragin deems “the perfect anchor. There’s something about family harmonies and communication that really connects this to traditional music.”
Yet for Cameron, Haden’s manager as well as his wife, the album proved something of a break from tradition. “Through years of recording, it’s always ‘Charlie this, Charlie that,’ ” she says. “Then all of a sudden, the girls were singing and we heard from the council room, ‘Daa-aad! Daa-aad!’ In three-part harmony, of course.”
Charlie Haden Family & Friends play Damrosch Park Sun 24.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Charlie Haden Family And Friends At Lincoln Center Aug. 24 2008
Charlie Haden Family & Friends will be playing their debut performance this Sunday, Aug. 24 2008 at Lincoln Center in NYC as part of the 25th annual Roots Of American Music Festival.
This show is in anticipation of the debut Charlie Haden Family & Friends album recorded in Nashville to be released September 23 on Decca Records. The songs include a mix of classic country and bluegrass with gospel, folk, and jazz. In addition to Charlie and his wife Ruth, kids Josh, Rachel, Petra, and Tanya, artists appearing on the album include Pat Metheny, Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Bruce Hornsby, Bela Fleck, Jack Black, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Dan Tyminski, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton, and others.
I'll be there singing my song "Spiritual". My dad Charlie will be playing bass and his wife Ruth will be singing, my sisters Rachel, Petra, and Tanya will be singing great harmonies, and the core group of Dan Tyminski, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, and Bryan Sutton will be playing as well. I'm not sure, but I think there'll be surprise guests also. I wonder who they'll be? Hmmm....
I'll be blogging from NYC the entire time, check here for updates.
I understand more gigs in the States and Europe are being planned, if you're not in the New York area stay tuned!
Charlie Haden Family & Friends
New York City
Lincoln Center Out Of Doors/Roots Of American Music Festival
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Sunday, August 24 - 7pm
Free
P.S. the festival headliner is Patti Smith! Whoa!! Also, the Knitters will be playing too!
This show is in anticipation of the debut Charlie Haden Family & Friends album recorded in Nashville to be released September 23 on Decca Records. The songs include a mix of classic country and bluegrass with gospel, folk, and jazz. In addition to Charlie and his wife Ruth, kids Josh, Rachel, Petra, and Tanya, artists appearing on the album include Pat Metheny, Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Bruce Hornsby, Bela Fleck, Jack Black, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Dan Tyminski, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton, and others.
I'll be there singing my song "Spiritual". My dad Charlie will be playing bass and his wife Ruth will be singing, my sisters Rachel, Petra, and Tanya will be singing great harmonies, and the core group of Dan Tyminski, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, and Bryan Sutton will be playing as well. I'm not sure, but I think there'll be surprise guests also. I wonder who they'll be? Hmmm....
I'll be blogging from NYC the entire time, check here for updates.
I understand more gigs in the States and Europe are being planned, if you're not in the New York area stay tuned!
Charlie Haden Family & Friends
New York City
Lincoln Center Out Of Doors/Roots Of American Music Festival
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Sunday, August 24 - 7pm
Free
P.S. the festival headliner is Patti Smith! Whoa!! Also, the Knitters will be playing too!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Jazz ace Charlie Haden goes country
Jazz ace Charlie Haden goes country
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 – Charlie Haden is known as a jazz bassist, but he's due for a huge change. His new disc coming out in September features traditional country and Americana and folks like Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Elvis Costello, Dan Tyminski and Rosanne Cash. "Ocean of Diamonds" will be out Sept. 23 on Decca. Also on the 19-song CD are his wife, son and triplet daughters.
Haden began his musical career when he was just 2 years old, singing on the radio with his parents and siblings in the late 1930s. Like many groups such as the Carter Family and the Delmore Brothers, The Haden Family traversed the mid- and southwest, performing on some of country's biggest radio stations, including WSM in Nashville and KWTO in Springfield, MO.
Haden's family is the main focus of 'Ocean of Diamonds,' with his wife and co-producer Ruth Cameron and all four of his children and son-in-law making an appearance. Charlie's son, Josh, a former Restless Records Artist with his band Spain, lends his voice to his mellow ballad "Spiritual," which Johnny Cash also recorded. His wife Ruth, a former Verve recording artist, sings the Irish ballad "Down by the Salley Gardens."
His triplet daughters Petra, Tanya and Rachel are featured on several tracks, as well as lend their impeccable harmonies behind Ricky Skaggs and Dan Tymknski. Petra is a former member of The Decemberists and has been performing with Sean Lennon, Ricky Lee Jones and the Foo Fighters; Rachel was a founding member of indie-rock pioneers The Rentals and is currently on tour with Todd Rundgren; Tanya plays in several independent bands around Los Angeles and is married to actor/musician Jack Black, who gives a stirring rendition of "Old Joe Clark."
Haden helped change jazz playing with the original Ornette Coleman Quartet in the late 1950s and went on to record with John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett and Pat Metheny, as well as his own Liberation Music Orchestra and noir-tinged Quartet West, garnering over 15 Grammy nominations and 4 Grammys, and accolades.
Songs and featured musicians are:
1 Single Girl, Married Girl 2:38 Haden Triplets
Petra Haden,Rachel Haden,Tanya Haden-vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
2 Rambling Boy 2:56 Vince Gill-vocal
Traditional; Charlie Haden and Dan Tyminski-backup vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Russ Barenberg-guitar, Dan Tyminski - mandolin
3 20/20 Vision 4:16 Bruce Hornsby-vocal Traditional; Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton- guitar, Ricky Skaggs-fretless banjo
4 The Wildwood Flower 3:35 Rosanne Cash -vocal Maud Irving-lyrcs Joseph P. Webster-music; Charlie Haden - bass John Leventhal-guitar, Pat Metheny-guitar
5 Spiritual 6:15 Josh Haden-vocal Josh Haden ; Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Russ Barenberg-guitar
6 Oh, Take Me Back 2:17 Rachel Haden & Tanya Haden-vocals
Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
7 You Win Again 3:09 Elvis Costello - vocal Hank Williams,Sr.; Charlie Haden -bass, John Leventhal-guitar, Pat Metheny-guitar
8 The Fields Of Athenry 7:30 Petra Haden-vocal Pete St. John; Charlie Haden-bass, Pat Metheny-guitar, Jerry Douglas - Dobro, Russ Barenberg-guitar Stuart Duncan-fiddle
9 Ocean Of Diamonds 3:37 Dan Tyminski-vocal Traditional; Petra Haden & Rachel Haden-backup vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Stuart-guitar Ricky Skaggs-mandolin
10 He's Gone Away 5:45 Tanya Haden-vocal Traditional; Pat Metheny-guitar, Charlie Haden-bass, Bruce Horsnby-piano, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Russ Barenberg - guitar
11 Voice From On High 4:15 Haden Triplets Bill Monroe, Bessie Lee Mauldin -lyrics & music ; Petra Haden, Rachel Haden & Tanya Haden-vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton -guitar
12 Down By The Salley Gardens 4:32 Ruth Cameron-vocal Irish traditional; Charlie Haden-bass, Pat Metheny-guitar, Jerry Douglas-Dobro,Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Russ Barenberg-guitar, Bruce Hornsby-piano
13 Road Of Broken Hearts 2:28 Ricky Skaggs-vocal
Petra Haden & Rachel Haden-backup vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
14 Is This America? (Katrina 2005) 3:36 Pat Metheny & Charlie Haden Pat Metheny; Charlie Haden-bass, Pat Metheny-guitar Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle Russ Barenberg-guitar, Bruce Hornsby-piano
15 Tramp on the Street 5:20 Rachel Haden-vocal
Petra Haden & Tanya Haden-backup vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
16 Old Joe Clark 4:05 Jack Black-vocal Traditional; Bela Flek-banjo, Buddy Green-harmonica, Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas - Dobro, Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
17 Seven Year Blues 2:41 Haden Triplets
Petra Haden, Rachel Haden & Tanya Haden-vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
18 Old Haden Family Show 1:43
19 Oh Shenandoah 3:13 Charlie Haden-vocal Traditional; Pat Metheny-guitar, Jerry Douglas - Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Russ Barenberg-guitar
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 – Charlie Haden is known as a jazz bassist, but he's due for a huge change. His new disc coming out in September features traditional country and Americana and folks like Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Elvis Costello, Dan Tyminski and Rosanne Cash. "Ocean of Diamonds" will be out Sept. 23 on Decca. Also on the 19-song CD are his wife, son and triplet daughters.
Haden began his musical career when he was just 2 years old, singing on the radio with his parents and siblings in the late 1930s. Like many groups such as the Carter Family and the Delmore Brothers, The Haden Family traversed the mid- and southwest, performing on some of country's biggest radio stations, including WSM in Nashville and KWTO in Springfield, MO.
Haden's family is the main focus of 'Ocean of Diamonds,' with his wife and co-producer Ruth Cameron and all four of his children and son-in-law making an appearance. Charlie's son, Josh, a former Restless Records Artist with his band Spain, lends his voice to his mellow ballad "Spiritual," which Johnny Cash also recorded. His wife Ruth, a former Verve recording artist, sings the Irish ballad "Down by the Salley Gardens."
His triplet daughters Petra, Tanya and Rachel are featured on several tracks, as well as lend their impeccable harmonies behind Ricky Skaggs and Dan Tymknski. Petra is a former member of The Decemberists and has been performing with Sean Lennon, Ricky Lee Jones and the Foo Fighters; Rachel was a founding member of indie-rock pioneers The Rentals and is currently on tour with Todd Rundgren; Tanya plays in several independent bands around Los Angeles and is married to actor/musician Jack Black, who gives a stirring rendition of "Old Joe Clark."
Haden helped change jazz playing with the original Ornette Coleman Quartet in the late 1950s and went on to record with John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett and Pat Metheny, as well as his own Liberation Music Orchestra and noir-tinged Quartet West, garnering over 15 Grammy nominations and 4 Grammys, and accolades.
Songs and featured musicians are:
1 Single Girl, Married Girl 2:38 Haden Triplets
Petra Haden,Rachel Haden,Tanya Haden-vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
2 Rambling Boy 2:56 Vince Gill-vocal
Traditional; Charlie Haden and Dan Tyminski-backup vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Russ Barenberg-guitar, Dan Tyminski - mandolin
3 20/20 Vision 4:16 Bruce Hornsby-vocal Traditional; Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton- guitar, Ricky Skaggs-fretless banjo
4 The Wildwood Flower 3:35 Rosanne Cash -vocal Maud Irving-lyrcs Joseph P. Webster-music; Charlie Haden - bass John Leventhal-guitar, Pat Metheny-guitar
5 Spiritual 6:15 Josh Haden-vocal Josh Haden ; Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Russ Barenberg-guitar
6 Oh, Take Me Back 2:17 Rachel Haden & Tanya Haden-vocals
Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
7 You Win Again 3:09 Elvis Costello - vocal Hank Williams,Sr.; Charlie Haden -bass, John Leventhal-guitar, Pat Metheny-guitar
8 The Fields Of Athenry 7:30 Petra Haden-vocal Pete St. John; Charlie Haden-bass, Pat Metheny-guitar, Jerry Douglas - Dobro, Russ Barenberg-guitar Stuart Duncan-fiddle
9 Ocean Of Diamonds 3:37 Dan Tyminski-vocal Traditional; Petra Haden & Rachel Haden-backup vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Stuart-guitar Ricky Skaggs-mandolin
10 He's Gone Away 5:45 Tanya Haden-vocal Traditional; Pat Metheny-guitar, Charlie Haden-bass, Bruce Horsnby-piano, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Russ Barenberg - guitar
11 Voice From On High 4:15 Haden Triplets Bill Monroe, Bessie Lee Mauldin -lyrics & music ; Petra Haden, Rachel Haden & Tanya Haden-vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton -guitar
12 Down By The Salley Gardens 4:32 Ruth Cameron-vocal Irish traditional; Charlie Haden-bass, Pat Metheny-guitar, Jerry Douglas-Dobro,Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Russ Barenberg-guitar, Bruce Hornsby-piano
13 Road Of Broken Hearts 2:28 Ricky Skaggs-vocal
Petra Haden & Rachel Haden-backup vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
14 Is This America? (Katrina 2005) 3:36 Pat Metheny & Charlie Haden Pat Metheny; Charlie Haden-bass, Pat Metheny-guitar Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle Russ Barenberg-guitar, Bruce Hornsby-piano
15 Tramp on the Street 5:20 Rachel Haden-vocal
Petra Haden & Tanya Haden-backup vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
16 Old Joe Clark 4:05 Jack Black-vocal Traditional; Bela Flek-banjo, Buddy Green-harmonica, Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas - Dobro, Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
17 Seven Year Blues 2:41 Haden Triplets
Petra Haden, Rachel Haden & Tanya Haden-vocals Charlie Haden-bass, Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Sam Bush-mandolin, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Bryan Sutton-guitar
18 Old Haden Family Show 1:43
19 Oh Shenandoah 3:13 Charlie Haden-vocal Traditional; Pat Metheny-guitar, Jerry Douglas - Dobro, Stuart Duncan-fiddle, Russ Barenberg-guitar
Friday, June 20, 2008
Charlie Haden still keeps it in the family
Charlie Haden still keeps it in the family
By Ken Eisner
straight.com
Life is full of many odd circles and repetitions, but it's a rare person who starts performing in a family country band at only 22 months old and then sails past his 70th year heading his own brood of blood-related musicians. That, however, is exactly what jazz veteran Charlie Haden now finds himself undertaking.
After moving to Los Angeles in the 1950s, the Iowa-born Haden lent his probing bass lines to some of the most outré saxophone players the jazz world has ever known (Ornette Coleman, Archie Shepp, and Dewey Redman among them), as well as performing with idiosyncratic solo artists like Keith Jarrett, Carla Bley, and Yoko Ono. Over the years, Haden has also made his deep affection for rural folk music come alive, most notably in collaboration with fellow midwesterner Pat Metheny in 1997's Beyond the Missouri Sky.
When the Georgia Straight catches up with him, he is putting the last touches on a new album to be called Charlie Haden Family and Friends: Ocean of Diamonds. The record features the bassist-composer with his wife, singer (and producer) Ruth Cameron, son Josh Haden, and triplet daughters Petra, Rachel, and Tanya. (The last named is better known to some for having married Jack Black.) Other performers onboard include Metheny, Vince Gill, Béla Fleck, Rosanne Cash, and Elvis Costello.
"We've been talking about this ever since Pat and I did Missouri Sky and we went to visit my mom in the Ozarks and everybody sang for her 80th birthday," Haden says, reached at his L.A. home.
That was more than a decade ago, and the veteran musician is talking today because he's about to launch another tour with a different favourite entity, Charlie Haden's Quartet West. Now into its third decade, the foursome—with fellow Californian Ernie Watts on saxophone, New Zealand–born pianist Alan Broadbent, and new drummer Rodney Green—does have some connections with Haden's interest in Americana.
At its upcoming Vancouver International Jazz Festival show, Quartet West will play a blend of jazz ballads and obscure songs associated with old Hollywood and film noir in particular, as heard in a best-of album recently released on Verve. Using sampled snippets of dialogue, orchestral soundtracks, and the occasional Billie Holiday vocal, the group is known for its hushed sense of reverie, nostalgia, and surprise.
"You'll definitely get all that," Haden says. "We play music from an era when what was on the radio went a little bit deeper. I keep discovering and rediscovering things through whatever projects I'm working on. I love finding out more about the music that comes from America. The inspiration for Quartet West came from the beauty of our culture in the '30s, '40s, and '50s. But we don't just do older material. In Vancouver, we'll be playing new tunes of mine, and by Ornette Coleman and others."
After his Quartet West tour, Haden has some family-band dates, including a big August show at New York's Lincoln Centre—the culmination, perhaps, of a documentary on his life that's being filmed for Swiss television. Mostly though, he's still about the music.
"I've always been interested in all kinds of music and all kinds of musicians, ever since I was a kid," says the bassist. "My main goal has been to meet people who were on the same track—which is playin' music to help make the planet a better place."
To that end, Haden has had several runs at holding together—with pianist-arranger Bley—the Liberation Music Orchestra, a large group devoted to political provocation. (The LMO's most recent release, Not in Our Name, came out in 2005.)
"That group's about a lot of things. But mainly it's about wanting the governments of the world to appreciate life. We're playing at the Blue Note the week of the [U.S. presidential] election, so let's hope that has some small effect," he adds with a chuckle. "We're starting to have some expectations of change now, and that came into being because of the cruelty and greed of the government that came into power. Most people have finally opened their eyes to what has been going on; Pat wrote a song for the new record [Ocean of Diamonds] called ‘Katrina, 2005: Is This America?' Now these guys are in their anterooms, counting all the money they've stolen in the past eight years, and it's really sad that they won't be held accountable for their crimes."
If the bassist feels some glimmer of hope regarding U.S. politics, he still worries about the state of popular music in general.
"It's always been about good ears," he says. "If people are born with good ears, they can appreciate good music of all types. And people who weren't at least have the possibility of educating their ears. As it is now, the culture is in really deep trouble, musically. Of course, it's hard to know what people are listening to, with everyone walking around with iPod buds in their ears. I'd like to think they are into things that express deeper values, but how can you know when everyone is so isolated?"
In contrast, Haden just keeps getting more connected with his growing community of musical colleagues, and with the prairie populism that inspired him as a child.
"There's a kind of progressive innovation that comes from this country and keeps popping up," he notes. "When it happens, it can be very timely. But at its best, it's also timeless."
Charlie Haden's Quartet West plays the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts on Saturday (June 21).
By Ken Eisner
straight.com
Life is full of many odd circles and repetitions, but it's a rare person who starts performing in a family country band at only 22 months old and then sails past his 70th year heading his own brood of blood-related musicians. That, however, is exactly what jazz veteran Charlie Haden now finds himself undertaking.
After moving to Los Angeles in the 1950s, the Iowa-born Haden lent his probing bass lines to some of the most outré saxophone players the jazz world has ever known (Ornette Coleman, Archie Shepp, and Dewey Redman among them), as well as performing with idiosyncratic solo artists like Keith Jarrett, Carla Bley, and Yoko Ono. Over the years, Haden has also made his deep affection for rural folk music come alive, most notably in collaboration with fellow midwesterner Pat Metheny in 1997's Beyond the Missouri Sky.
When the Georgia Straight catches up with him, he is putting the last touches on a new album to be called Charlie Haden Family and Friends: Ocean of Diamonds. The record features the bassist-composer with his wife, singer (and producer) Ruth Cameron, son Josh Haden, and triplet daughters Petra, Rachel, and Tanya. (The last named is better known to some for having married Jack Black.) Other performers onboard include Metheny, Vince Gill, Béla Fleck, Rosanne Cash, and Elvis Costello.
"We've been talking about this ever since Pat and I did Missouri Sky and we went to visit my mom in the Ozarks and everybody sang for her 80th birthday," Haden says, reached at his L.A. home.
That was more than a decade ago, and the veteran musician is talking today because he's about to launch another tour with a different favourite entity, Charlie Haden's Quartet West. Now into its third decade, the foursome—with fellow Californian Ernie Watts on saxophone, New Zealand–born pianist Alan Broadbent, and new drummer Rodney Green—does have some connections with Haden's interest in Americana.
At its upcoming Vancouver International Jazz Festival show, Quartet West will play a blend of jazz ballads and obscure songs associated with old Hollywood and film noir in particular, as heard in a best-of album recently released on Verve. Using sampled snippets of dialogue, orchestral soundtracks, and the occasional Billie Holiday vocal, the group is known for its hushed sense of reverie, nostalgia, and surprise.
"You'll definitely get all that," Haden says. "We play music from an era when what was on the radio went a little bit deeper. I keep discovering and rediscovering things through whatever projects I'm working on. I love finding out more about the music that comes from America. The inspiration for Quartet West came from the beauty of our culture in the '30s, '40s, and '50s. But we don't just do older material. In Vancouver, we'll be playing new tunes of mine, and by Ornette Coleman and others."
After his Quartet West tour, Haden has some family-band dates, including a big August show at New York's Lincoln Centre—the culmination, perhaps, of a documentary on his life that's being filmed for Swiss television. Mostly though, he's still about the music.
"I've always been interested in all kinds of music and all kinds of musicians, ever since I was a kid," says the bassist. "My main goal has been to meet people who were on the same track—which is playin' music to help make the planet a better place."
To that end, Haden has had several runs at holding together—with pianist-arranger Bley—the Liberation Music Orchestra, a large group devoted to political provocation. (The LMO's most recent release, Not in Our Name, came out in 2005.)
"That group's about a lot of things. But mainly it's about wanting the governments of the world to appreciate life. We're playing at the Blue Note the week of the [U.S. presidential] election, so let's hope that has some small effect," he adds with a chuckle. "We're starting to have some expectations of change now, and that came into being because of the cruelty and greed of the government that came into power. Most people have finally opened their eyes to what has been going on; Pat wrote a song for the new record [Ocean of Diamonds] called ‘Katrina, 2005: Is This America?' Now these guys are in their anterooms, counting all the money they've stolen in the past eight years, and it's really sad that they won't be held accountable for their crimes."
If the bassist feels some glimmer of hope regarding U.S. politics, he still worries about the state of popular music in general.
"It's always been about good ears," he says. "If people are born with good ears, they can appreciate good music of all types. And people who weren't at least have the possibility of educating their ears. As it is now, the culture is in really deep trouble, musically. Of course, it's hard to know what people are listening to, with everyone walking around with iPod buds in their ears. I'd like to think they are into things that express deeper values, but how can you know when everyone is so isolated?"
In contrast, Haden just keeps getting more connected with his growing community of musical colleagues, and with the prairie populism that inspired him as a child.
"There's a kind of progressive innovation that comes from this country and keeps popping up," he notes. "When it happens, it can be very timely. But at its best, it's also timeless."
Charlie Haden's Quartet West plays the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts on Saturday (June 21).
Friday, February 15, 2008
Haden Family Album - From USA Today
Jazz, country stars join Haden's family
Charlie Haden brings together jazz and country for an album due from Decca Records in July. Ricky Skaggs, Bruce Hornsby, Vince Gill, Pat Metheny, Béla Fleck and others joined the Grammy-winning bassist in January for sessions at Skaggs' studio.
"We did some Stanley Brothers songs, some Carter Family songs, some things I used to do with my family when I was just a little kid," says Haden, who was in a country-gospel group called the Haden Family before becoming a jazz musician. "We did a lot of songs that weren't necessarily country, but it's all about when I was a kid and my family and the people I played music with."
The sessions involved Haden's wife, Ruth; his son, Josh; and triplets Petra, Tanya and Rachel, each of whom has a music career.
"My kids have been involved in music since they were 3 and 4," Haden says. "I really wanted to do a record with all of them, where they could be the Haden Family again."
•Brian Mansfield
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2008-02-14-coming-attractions_N.htm
Charlie Haden brings together jazz and country for an album due from Decca Records in July. Ricky Skaggs, Bruce Hornsby, Vince Gill, Pat Metheny, Béla Fleck and others joined the Grammy-winning bassist in January for sessions at Skaggs' studio.
"We did some Stanley Brothers songs, some Carter Family songs, some things I used to do with my family when I was just a little kid," says Haden, who was in a country-gospel group called the Haden Family before becoming a jazz musician. "We did a lot of songs that weren't necessarily country, but it's all about when I was a kid and my family and the people I played music with."
The sessions involved Haden's wife, Ruth; his son, Josh; and triplets Petra, Tanya and Rachel, each of whom has a music career.
"My kids have been involved in music since they were 3 and 4," Haden says. "I really wanted to do a record with all of them, where they could be the Haden Family again."
•Brian Mansfield
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2008-02-14-coming-attractions_N.htm
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Haden Family: Nashville Pt. 3
We spent today working on several songs that have vocals. Petra sang an Irish folk song that was very complex and very moving, and then after a break for lunch I sang my first song of the session, an anti-war song again in the Irish folk tradition called "The Green Fields Of France". Its a very famous song that's been covered by lots of different artists and I gave it my best shot, I hope I did it justice. After a short break my dad's wife Ruth sang another Irish song, I'll let the title be a surprise. Ruth sang it so beautifully.
In the studio with us today was Pat Metheny playing the most soulful and entrancing guitarwork I've ever heard, and Bruce Hornsby, who played piano in a way that made me feel like I was floating it was so heavenly!
I've known Pat ever since I was a kid. He gave me my first guitar when I was 13 and he's always been so encouraging to me and enthusiastic about my music. He is a true inspiration to me, and to my sisters as well!
Here's a photo of Pat with my sister Petra.
When I got to the studio this morning I wasn't completely awake yet and I turned a corner in the hallway and almost ran smack dab into Bruce Hornsby! That was a surprise! I'd never met Bruce before but I'd always admired his music and musicianship (and also knew that my dad is a huge fan of his), but I found out also that he is an incredibly nice guy, with a great sense of humor and positive attitude about everything.
Later that evening Pat, Bruce, and my dad (along with Russ Barenburg on guitar, Jerry Douglas on dobro, and Stuart Duncan on fiddle, these are legends people!) recorded a song with my sister Tanya on vocals solo this time. The song was an old folk ballad called "He's Gone Away" and my dad told me he remembers his mom singing it to him when he was a kid. With the guys playing and my sister singing they had the entire control room in tears! Bruce Hornsby had a particularly beautiful piano solo during that song.
Here's a picture of my dad in the session room during the recording of "He's Gone Away".
Here's Russ Barenburg, left, and Jerry Douglas in the studio during the same song.
But it wasn't all hard work today. We had a lot of fun too!
Party in the lounge! From left Rachel, Petra, Petra's boyfriend Fred Armisen, Bruce Hornsby, Jerry Douglas, and Tanya.
Today a cute dog named Pepper visited us.
Rachel and her boyfriend Atom Ellis went into town and bought some hip cowboy boots.
Drummer-at-large Jens Hannemann showed up unannounced with a new hairdo.
In the afternoon the man himself Ricky Skaggs came by to hang out for a few hours. He shook my hand and greeted me so warmly he made me feel like I was an old friend. He complemented my songwriting and I was tounge-tied! He'll be in the studio to record with us in the morning and I am so looking forward to it!
http://patmetheny.com/
http://brucehornsby.com/
http://www.myspace.com/russbarenberg
http://www.jerrydouglas.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Duncan
http://www.myspace.com/farmisen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_Ellis
http://www.dragcity.com/catalog/records/dc341.html
http://skaggs.musiccitynetworks.com/
In the studio with us today was Pat Metheny playing the most soulful and entrancing guitarwork I've ever heard, and Bruce Hornsby, who played piano in a way that made me feel like I was floating it was so heavenly!
I've known Pat ever since I was a kid. He gave me my first guitar when I was 13 and he's always been so encouraging to me and enthusiastic about my music. He is a true inspiration to me, and to my sisters as well!
Here's a photo of Pat with my sister Petra.
When I got to the studio this morning I wasn't completely awake yet and I turned a corner in the hallway and almost ran smack dab into Bruce Hornsby! That was a surprise! I'd never met Bruce before but I'd always admired his music and musicianship (and also knew that my dad is a huge fan of his), but I found out also that he is an incredibly nice guy, with a great sense of humor and positive attitude about everything.
Later that evening Pat, Bruce, and my dad (along with Russ Barenburg on guitar, Jerry Douglas on dobro, and Stuart Duncan on fiddle, these are legends people!) recorded a song with my sister Tanya on vocals solo this time. The song was an old folk ballad called "He's Gone Away" and my dad told me he remembers his mom singing it to him when he was a kid. With the guys playing and my sister singing they had the entire control room in tears! Bruce Hornsby had a particularly beautiful piano solo during that song.
Here's a picture of my dad in the session room during the recording of "He's Gone Away".
Here's Russ Barenburg, left, and Jerry Douglas in the studio during the same song.
But it wasn't all hard work today. We had a lot of fun too!
Party in the lounge! From left Rachel, Petra, Petra's boyfriend Fred Armisen, Bruce Hornsby, Jerry Douglas, and Tanya.
Today a cute dog named Pepper visited us.
Rachel and her boyfriend Atom Ellis went into town and bought some hip cowboy boots.
Drummer-at-large Jens Hannemann showed up unannounced with a new hairdo.
In the afternoon the man himself Ricky Skaggs came by to hang out for a few hours. He shook my hand and greeted me so warmly he made me feel like I was an old friend. He complemented my songwriting and I was tounge-tied! He'll be in the studio to record with us in the morning and I am so looking forward to it!
http://patmetheny.com/
http://brucehornsby.com/
http://www.myspace.com/russbarenberg
http://www.jerrydouglas.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Duncan
http://www.myspace.com/farmisen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_Ellis
http://www.dragcity.com/catalog/records/dc341.html
http://skaggs.musiccitynetworks.com/
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Haden Family: Nashville Pt. 2
First a little history.
The Haden Family were a country-gospel singing group that played in the 1930s-1950s all over the mid-west United States. They could be heard on gospel radio stations in Iowa, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, revival meetings and county fairs in Missouri. They were friends with many other country artists of their day including the Carter Family.
My father, Charlie Haden, was born on Aug. 6, 1937, and soon afterwards joined the act as Yodeling Cowboy Charlie, travelling and singing with his family until the age of 15, when a battle with polio damaged his vocal chords so badly he had to stop singing.
I don't have any photos of the original Haden Family with me but I did find a low resolution image from the 1950s online, go to the Springfield History Museum website at http://www.springfieldhistorymuseum.org/archives/index.php?Q=KGBX to check it out.
Later on my dad switched to the double bass, moved to Los Angeles, joined the Ornette Coleman Quartet, and became a jazz legend, but that's a story for another time.
For the past several years my dad has been trying to get a project off the ground which includes his kids, his wife Ruth, and various close friends and musical confidantes playing the old time gospel and country songs his family performed when he was a child and the world was a much more simpler and innocent place.
Well, this project is happening now and I'm so happy to announce it is proceeding as planned!
Today was a lot of fun, Béla Fleck played on a few tunes, and my sisters continued singing their vocal harmonies.
Here's a photo of (from left to right) Stuart Duncan, Buddy Greene, my sister Petra, Bryan Sutton, and my father rehearsing a song.
Here's Ruth and my dad with mandolin player Sam Bush.
Later on Pat Metheny came by and played an incredible version of...well, I'll just let that be a surprise.
Pat will be recording with us tomorrow as well and I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.
My sisters sang a rendition of "Single Girl Married Girl" with the band and I snuck into the vocal booth to document some of it.
Tomorrow I'll hopefully be singing on a song so I'm looking forward to that. I'll let you know how it goes!
http://www.belafleck.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Duncan
http://www.buddygreene.com
http://www.bryansutton.com
http://www.sambush.com
http://www.patmetheny.com
The Haden Family were a country-gospel singing group that played in the 1930s-1950s all over the mid-west United States. They could be heard on gospel radio stations in Iowa, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, revival meetings and county fairs in Missouri. They were friends with many other country artists of their day including the Carter Family.
My father, Charlie Haden, was born on Aug. 6, 1937, and soon afterwards joined the act as Yodeling Cowboy Charlie, travelling and singing with his family until the age of 15, when a battle with polio damaged his vocal chords so badly he had to stop singing.
I don't have any photos of the original Haden Family with me but I did find a low resolution image from the 1950s online, go to the Springfield History Museum website at http://www.springfieldhistorymuseum.org/archives/index.php?Q=KGBX to check it out.
Later on my dad switched to the double bass, moved to Los Angeles, joined the Ornette Coleman Quartet, and became a jazz legend, but that's a story for another time.
For the past several years my dad has been trying to get a project off the ground which includes his kids, his wife Ruth, and various close friends and musical confidantes playing the old time gospel and country songs his family performed when he was a child and the world was a much more simpler and innocent place.
Well, this project is happening now and I'm so happy to announce it is proceeding as planned!
Today was a lot of fun, Béla Fleck played on a few tunes, and my sisters continued singing their vocal harmonies.
Here's a photo of (from left to right) Stuart Duncan, Buddy Greene, my sister Petra, Bryan Sutton, and my father rehearsing a song.
Here's Ruth and my dad with mandolin player Sam Bush.
Later on Pat Metheny came by and played an incredible version of...well, I'll just let that be a surprise.
Pat will be recording with us tomorrow as well and I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.
My sisters sang a rendition of "Single Girl Married Girl" with the band and I snuck into the vocal booth to document some of it.
Tomorrow I'll hopefully be singing on a song so I'm looking forward to that. I'll let you know how it goes!
http://www.belafleck.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Duncan
http://www.buddygreene.com
http://www.bryansutton.com
http://www.sambush.com
http://www.patmetheny.com
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