Showing posts with label country music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label country music. Show all posts

Saturday, December 24, 2011

In My Soul

I just released a brand new song for free via Bandcamp. Happy holidays everyone :)


Sunday, October 30, 2011

In 2008, when I was recording the Charlie Haden Family & Friends album with my family in Nashville, my dad gave all us kids a copy of a book called The Ozarks' Greatest Hits: A Photo History Of Music In The Ozarks by Wayne Glenn.

I'm reading books constantly, plus I subscribe to 20+ magazines and comic books so you can imagine how long my reading queue is, but I finally finished all 537 pages of it last week. When I first started reading it, I kept online bookmarks of all the music the book mentioned, both well-known and obscure, but after a little while I realized if I kept doing that it would take me forever to finish the book. Luckily, the author supplied a list of 50 of what he considered the most important artists to emerge from the Ozarks regions of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma between ca. 1800s to the 1980s: "50 of the Ozarks' Greatest Hits".

I found 28 of these artists on Spotify and made a playlist containing them which can be found here: http://open.spotify.com/user/123142301/playlist/4IxSmftWBsL0ELWNsBcNkP.

My dad was born in Shenandoah, Iowa in 1937 and moved along with his family to the Ozarks (Springfield, MO), when he was a kid. The Haden Family was an important country/western/gospel group in the Ozarks in the 1930s to the 1950s and they figure prominently in the book. My favorite picture is of Chet Atkins horsing around on guitar with my grandfather Carl.

A link to the book is here: http://www.amazon.com/Ozarks-Greatest-Hits-Photo-History/dp/0976966093. PBS did an amazing piece about it here: http://video.optv.org/video/1392424315/.

For those of you who don't have Spotify here's a list of the artists and songs:

I'd Like To Be - Hugh Ashley
Best Of Friends from The Fox & The Hound - Buddy Baker
You're The Greatest - Dallas Bartley
There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving - Elton Britt
Abraham Lincoln - Albert Brumley w/ Anita Kerr Singers
Green Onions - Booker T. & The MGs
Dooley - The Dillards
Tennessee Stud - Jimmie Driftwood
Peace In The Valley - Red Foley
Keep On The Sunny Side/Roll Us Over The Tide - Haden Family
Organ Grinder's Swing - Joe Haymes
The Weight - The Band
How The Other Half Lives - Jan Howard
Gone - Ferlin Husky
Just A Closer Walk With Thee - The Jordanaires
Green Door - Jim Lowe
Spaceship Orion - Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Cool Water - Sons Of The Pioneers
Gold Digger's Song - Dick Powell
Why Don't You Haul Off And Love Me - Wayne Raney
Frog Legs Rag - James Scott
Bop A Lena - Ronnie Self
Wishful Thinking - Wynn Stewart
A Satisfied Mind - Porter Wagoner
Skeleton Rag - Percy Wenrich
Speedin' West - Speedy West
Take My Breath Away (from Top Gun) - Tom Whitlock
Sparkling Brown Eyes - Wilburn Brothers

Monday, December 22, 2008

Upcoming Charlie Haden Family & Friends Radio Appearances

This morning (pacific standard time), Monday, December 22, my father Charlie Haden will be visiting KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic radio show to talk about Charlie Haden Family & Friends - Rambling Boy.

Charlie, joined by his brother, Carl Jr., will also be speaking today about the cd on Springfield, MO's KWTO.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 23, a previously taped live performance of Charlie Haden Family & Friends and interview with Charlie will be broadcast on the NPR radio show World Cafe. During this performance Charlie Haden Family & Friends played songs from the "Rambling Boy" cd, including the song "Spiritual", with vocals by yours truly.

In addition, the Charlie Haden Family & Friends segment on NPR's Fresh Air program will be rebroadcast on Thursday, December 25. Check local listings.

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.

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!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Jazz Bassist Charlie Haden to Perform Bluegrass

Jazz Bassist Charlie Haden to Perform Bluegrass
Date: July 30, 2008
Written By: Melissa Daniels

Famed jazz bassist Charlie Haden will be switching gears and performing bluegrass as part of Lincoln Center’s 25th Annual Roots of American Music Festival on Sunday, August 24.

To showcase the bluegrass-Americana song style from Haden’s upcoming album, the band slated to take the stage with Haden includes Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton and Dan Tyminski.

Featured on the album, as well as in the festival performance, is Haden’s wife Ruth Cameron and their four children—son Josh and triplet daughters Petra, Rachel and Tanya—all of whom have had followed in their father’s footsteps with careers as professional musicians.

The festival performance will mark the live debut of Charlie Haden Family and Friends, according to a press release. Other acts at the festival include the Music Makers Blues Revue, The Knitters and Patti Smith and her band.

Haden’s upcoming release, presently titled Rambling Boy, brings the bassist back to his 1930s roots of traditional Americana songs, when he performed as a small child with the original Haden Family band.

To be released on Sept. 23 by Decca Records, the album is packed with guest musicians matching Haden’s own talent—artists include Pat Metheny, Vince Gill, Bruce Hornsby, Ricky Skaggs, Rosanne Cash, Elvis Costello, Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush.

The performance will take place at the Damrosch Park Bandshell on Amsterdam Ave and West 62nd Street in New York City. The free show begins at 4 p.m., with the Haden family taking the stage at 7 p.m.

More information on the Roots of American Music festival can be found at the Lincoln Center Web site

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

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

Monday, June 2, 2008

Neil Hamburger - Jug Town Live

Last night I was lucky enough to see Neil Hamburger and his Too-Good-For-Neil-Hamburger-Band perform their L.A. debut at Spaceland in Silver Lake, California. They were performing songs from their just-released cd "Neil Hamburger Sings Country Winners", buy it today!

Here's a portion of their "Jug Town", as performed last night.



Here's some photos.



The Too-Good-For-Neil-Hamburger-Band (from left, Dave Gleason, Prairie Prince, Atom Ellis) laying down some choice country licks, setting the stage for the entrance of America's Favorite Funnyman.



A new band, a new sound, and a new look for Neil Hamburger. Yes, that's my sister Rachel on backing vocals!



Country guitar whiz Dave Gleason.



You can ususally tell how a Neil Hamburger show is going by looking at what's going on around his shoes.

Neil and his band will be performing soon in a town near you! If you are looking for some great entertainment, this is the show you've been waiting for.

Tue June 10 - VISALIA, CA - The Cellar Door
Wed June 11 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Great American Music Hall
Fri June 13 - PORTLAND, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
Sat June 14 - SEATTLE, WA - Sunset Tavern
Sun June 15 - BELLINGHAM, WA - Rogue Hero

For those of you who can't attend the above shows or if you don't like music, Neil will be performing his solo stand-up show soon in the following towns. Highly recommended!

Thu June 5 - PONTIAC, MI - The Pike Room
Tue June 24 - GAINESVILLE, FL - Common Grounds
Wed June 25 - TAMPA, FL - Crowbar
Thu June 26 - ORLANDO, FL - AKA Lounge
Fri June 27 - MIAMI, FL - PS14
Sun July 27 - LOS ANGELES, CA - Spaceland
Thu July 31 - NEW YORK, NY - Knitting Factory
Fri Aug 1 - BALTIMORE, MD - Ottobar
Sat Aug 2 - CHAPEL HILL, NC - Local 506
Wed Aug 6 - WASHINGTON, DC - Black Cat
Thu Aug 7 - PHILADELPHIA, PA - Johnny Brenda's
Fri Aug 8 - NEW HAVEN, CT - Cafe Nine