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.
Showing posts with label Vince Gill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vince Gill. Show all posts
Friday, August 22, 2008
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!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Charlie Haden Family And Friends - First Ever Live Performance!
New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) - Charlie Haden Family and Friends will make their live debut at Lincoln Center's 25th Annual Roots of American Music Festival on Sunday, August 24th. Performing will be legendary bassist Charlie Haden, his wife, Ruth Cameron, his children Josh, Petra, Rachel, and Tanya - all of whom are established musicians in their own right - as well as a Nashville dream band made up of Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton, and Dan Tyminski.
The performance celebrates the release of 'Rambling Boy' (due out September 23 via Decca Records), an intriguing album of mostly traditional songs Charlie Haden learned as a young child while performing with his own siblings and parents as part of the Haden Family band in the 1930s.
Charlie's friends making an appearance on the album include such luminaries as Vince Gill, Bruce Hornsby, Ricky Skaggs, Rosanne Cash, Elvis Costello, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, his long-time collaborator Pat Metheny, and many more. Audiences can expect the same kind of stirring, emotional performances featured on the record. Haden's triplet daughters sing tight, heartbreaking harmonies. His son Josh and his wife Ruth both lend their bold and clear voices to several songs. Then there's Dad, Charlie Haden, whose musicianship is unmatched.
Charlie Haden Family and Friends will be appearing at the Roots of American Music Festival alongside some other very impressive artists. Other acts on the bill include the Music Makers Blues Revue, The Knitters, and Patti Smith and her band.
For more information, please visit: http://www.lincolncenter.org/show_events_list.asp?eventcode=-62548
WHO: Charlie Haden Family and Friends
WHAT: Live debut
WHERE: Damrosch Park Bandshell
Damrosch Park
Amsterdam Ave & West 62nd Street
WHEN: Sunday, August 24th - 4 PM - FREE
The performance celebrates the release of 'Rambling Boy' (due out September 23 via Decca Records), an intriguing album of mostly traditional songs Charlie Haden learned as a young child while performing with his own siblings and parents as part of the Haden Family band in the 1930s.
Charlie's friends making an appearance on the album include such luminaries as Vince Gill, Bruce Hornsby, Ricky Skaggs, Rosanne Cash, Elvis Costello, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, his long-time collaborator Pat Metheny, and many more. Audiences can expect the same kind of stirring, emotional performances featured on the record. Haden's triplet daughters sing tight, heartbreaking harmonies. His son Josh and his wife Ruth both lend their bold and clear voices to several songs. Then there's Dad, Charlie Haden, whose musicianship is unmatched.
Charlie Haden Family and Friends will be appearing at the Roots of American Music Festival alongside some other very impressive artists. Other acts on the bill include the Music Makers Blues Revue, The Knitters, and Patti Smith and her band.
For more information, please visit: http://www.lincolncenter.org/show_events_list.asp?eventcode=-62548
WHO: Charlie Haden Family and Friends
WHAT: Live debut
WHERE: Damrosch Park Bandshell
Damrosch Park
Amsterdam Ave & West 62nd Street
WHEN: Sunday, August 24th - 4 PM - FREE
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
Friday, January 11, 2008
Haden Family: Nashville Pt. 5
Please Note: Due to uploading problems with blogger I posted Haden Family: Nashville Pt. 4 on my MOG page, the link is in the column on the right, or cut and paste http://mog.com/Josh_Haden into your browser.
Today was the final day of recording, and what a day it was!
None other than country music superstar Vince Gill came by the studio to sing a version of "Ramblin' Boy", accompanied by my dad Charlie Haden and Dan Tyminski on backing vocals.
What an incredible sounding three-part harmony! I videotaped a short excerpt of their rehearsal in the control room. In the video are, from left to right, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Dan Tyminski, Charlie Haden, Vince Gill, and Steve Rodby. My dad's wife Ruth Cameron is working on the computer in the far right corner.
Vince Gill is such an incredible singer and he's also one of the nicest people I've ever met. It was an honor to meet him and listen to him in the studio.
Next we finally recorded the last two of the three songs I sing on. First was a faster, country-fied version of my song "Spiritual", with myself on vocals, Russ Barenberg on acoustic guitar, Jerry Douglas on dobro, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Dan Tyminski on mandolin, and my dad on bass.
Country legend Johnny Cash recorded "Spiritual" for his 1996 album "Unchained", but he stayed more-or-less true to the tempo and arrangement of the song as it was recorded by my band Spain on Spain's first album, 1995's "Blue Moods Of Spain".
Russ, Jerry, Stuart, and Dan sped up the tempo a bit and gave it a much more defined country styling, and I loved it! It has a real country soul gospel sound, and singing to it was a joy.
During the lunch break we took photos for the inside of the Haden Family cd jacket and I snapped a picture of my sisters looking all fancy.
After lunch we started recording the final song of our session, a vocal version of my dad's composition "American Dreams" from his 2002 album with Michael Brecker of the same name.
A few months ago my dad asked me to write lyrics to "American Dreams", which appears as an instrumental (with strings beautifully arranged by pianist Alan Broadbent) in its original version.
Anybody who knows me knows how much I love the national anthem as an art form, and that was the approach I took when writing the lyrics to "American Dreams"; writing the lyrics as if I were writing a pretend or perhaps alternative national anthem (not that I'm suggesting we need another U.S. National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner" is one of the most beautiful and moving songs ever written, in my opinion).
In the lyrics I praised the core values and beliefs of my country's founding fathers, while expressing concern that these values may have changed over the years into something the founding fathers would never have approved of.
The words I wrote for "American Dreams" extol the virtues of true love (love in its purity, if such a thing is possible) over materialism and that these virtues are, in my opinion, the real meaning of the American Flag.
Anyways, to make a long story short, the version of the song we recorded in the studio was nothing short of amazing, and it was a perfect way to end a productive, nostalgic, joyful, emotional, melodical, fun, and amazing musical family recording experience.
A million thanks to all of the great musicians who helped us with their out-of-this-world chops, and the studio techs whose expertise and skill were indispensible.
A special shout-out to Mark Fain for helping make everything possible and for his friendship.
Most of all thank you Ricky Skaggs and everyone at Skaggs Place Studio for being such gracious hosts. It was a true honor and I will never forget your hospitality.
Here is myself and Studio Assistant Lee Groitsch.
Best Studio Intern awards go to Morgan Hobbs and Dean Berner.
Here is my dad and engineer Bil VornDick
Tomorrow night we'll be going to the Grand Ole Opry to see how its REALLY done!
I'll be back next week with a new blog detailing my interesting life. Until then...
http://www.vincegill.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Tyminski
http://www.jerrydouglas.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Duncan
http://www.steverodby.com/
http://www.myspace.com/russbarenberg
http://www.johnnycash.com/
http://www.myspace.com/worldofspain
http://www.michaelbrecker.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Broadbent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner
http://www.myspace.com/fainbass
http://www.skaggsfamilyrecords.com/
http://www.myspace.com/deanberner
http://www.bilvorndick.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Ole_Opry
Today was the final day of recording, and what a day it was!
None other than country music superstar Vince Gill came by the studio to sing a version of "Ramblin' Boy", accompanied by my dad Charlie Haden and Dan Tyminski on backing vocals.
What an incredible sounding three-part harmony! I videotaped a short excerpt of their rehearsal in the control room. In the video are, from left to right, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Dan Tyminski, Charlie Haden, Vince Gill, and Steve Rodby. My dad's wife Ruth Cameron is working on the computer in the far right corner.
Vince Gill is such an incredible singer and he's also one of the nicest people I've ever met. It was an honor to meet him and listen to him in the studio.
Next we finally recorded the last two of the three songs I sing on. First was a faster, country-fied version of my song "Spiritual", with myself on vocals, Russ Barenberg on acoustic guitar, Jerry Douglas on dobro, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Dan Tyminski on mandolin, and my dad on bass.
Country legend Johnny Cash recorded "Spiritual" for his 1996 album "Unchained", but he stayed more-or-less true to the tempo and arrangement of the song as it was recorded by my band Spain on Spain's first album, 1995's "Blue Moods Of Spain".
Russ, Jerry, Stuart, and Dan sped up the tempo a bit and gave it a much more defined country styling, and I loved it! It has a real country soul gospel sound, and singing to it was a joy.
During the lunch break we took photos for the inside of the Haden Family cd jacket and I snapped a picture of my sisters looking all fancy.
After lunch we started recording the final song of our session, a vocal version of my dad's composition "American Dreams" from his 2002 album with Michael Brecker of the same name.
A few months ago my dad asked me to write lyrics to "American Dreams", which appears as an instrumental (with strings beautifully arranged by pianist Alan Broadbent) in its original version.
Anybody who knows me knows how much I love the national anthem as an art form, and that was the approach I took when writing the lyrics to "American Dreams"; writing the lyrics as if I were writing a pretend or perhaps alternative national anthem (not that I'm suggesting we need another U.S. National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner" is one of the most beautiful and moving songs ever written, in my opinion).
In the lyrics I praised the core values and beliefs of my country's founding fathers, while expressing concern that these values may have changed over the years into something the founding fathers would never have approved of.
The words I wrote for "American Dreams" extol the virtues of true love (love in its purity, if such a thing is possible) over materialism and that these virtues are, in my opinion, the real meaning of the American Flag.
Anyways, to make a long story short, the version of the song we recorded in the studio was nothing short of amazing, and it was a perfect way to end a productive, nostalgic, joyful, emotional, melodical, fun, and amazing musical family recording experience.
A million thanks to all of the great musicians who helped us with their out-of-this-world chops, and the studio techs whose expertise and skill were indispensible.
A special shout-out to Mark Fain for helping make everything possible and for his friendship.
Most of all thank you Ricky Skaggs and everyone at Skaggs Place Studio for being such gracious hosts. It was a true honor and I will never forget your hospitality.
Here is myself and Studio Assistant Lee Groitsch.
Best Studio Intern awards go to Morgan Hobbs and Dean Berner.
Here is my dad and engineer Bil VornDick
Tomorrow night we'll be going to the Grand Ole Opry to see how its REALLY done!
I'll be back next week with a new blog detailing my interesting life. Until then...
http://www.vincegill.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Tyminski
http://www.jerrydouglas.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Duncan
http://www.steverodby.com/
http://www.myspace.com/russbarenberg
http://www.johnnycash.com/
http://www.myspace.com/worldofspain
http://www.michaelbrecker.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Broadbent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner
http://www.myspace.com/fainbass
http://www.skaggsfamilyrecords.com/
http://www.myspace.com/deanberner
http://www.bilvorndick.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Ole_Opry
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