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| STONY PLAIN'S
NEWSLETTERS # 36 & #37
Edmonton, Canada |
STONY PLAIN'S NEWSLETTER
#36
March 2006
(Edmonton, Canada)
Where DOES the time go? The elves here promise that there will
be more frequent Newsletters than there have been - and there's LOTS to talk
about, including a packed Spring release schedule. All that, and we're celebrating
out 30th anniversary. Which, all modesty aside, seems utterly amazing to all
of us here. Thirty years - who would have thought it! Please keep in touch.
There'll be more from us in 10 days, including news of a special project with
the great singer Eric Bibb. Holger Petersen ( President, a&r boss, and occasional
office cleaner Stony Plain Records)
THIRTY YEARS OF STONY PLAIN
To mark Stony Plain's 30th anniversary, the label is releasing
a special three-record set, with two CDs with 35 tracks from an astonishingly
wide range of Stony Plain artists. The CDs include the first time release of
a cut by legendary bluesman Robert Nighhawk, recorded in Toronto in the mid-'60s,
as well as unreleased tracks by Jeff Healey & The Jazz Wizards, Billy Boy
Arnold and King Biscuit Boy. The package also includes a DVD with never before
seen footage of Jay McShann in the studio with Duke Robillard, a clip of label
owner Holger Petersen telling how he label was started, and no less than 10
videos by Stony Plain artists. "30 Years of Stony Plain" will be released
April 4 in Canada, and on May 16 in the United States (via Navarre Distribution),
in the UK (via Proper), and in Europe through Rounder. April is being declared
"Stony Plain Records Month" - with a variety of special concerts and
events, and retail store promotions.
DUKE ROBILLARD'S GROOVE
One of Duke Robillard's very best recordings, "Guitar
Groove-a-Rama" (SPCD-1316) was released March 14 in the US (Canadian release
was, as usual, a few weeks previously). Initial response has been terrific,
and it's likely to take a high position on radio and sales charts. And while
radio folk always like short tunes, a number of them are playing "Blues
A Rama," a 16:11 track - cut live off the floor in a single take - in which
Duke pays tribute to the styles of 10 of his guitar heroes. His recreations
of the styles of artists from Muddy Waters to Lowell Fulsom are uncanny. Even
more remarkably, they're all played on a single guitar, Duke's stock Les Paul.
JEFF HEALEY' STONY PLAIN DEBUT:
JOYOUS JAZZ WITH SPECIAL GUEST CHRIS BARBER
Ace guitarist Jeff Healey - which continuing to perform occasionally
as the Jeff Healey Blues Band - is an artist in career transition, following
his heart and his passion for the classic jazz of the '20s and '30s. Jeff Healey
& The Jazz Wizards' Stony Plain debut, "It's Tight Like That"
will be released in Canada on March 28, and in the U.S. and Europe a month later,
on April 25. It features the legendary British jazz trombonist Chris Barber
on nine live tracks recorded at Hugh's Room in Toronto; the band is also heard
on two cuts from an appearance at last year's Montreal International Jazz Festival.
The formation of The Jazz Wizards was the culmination of Jeff's lifetime affection
for early jazz - and many fans of his guitar work will be surprised that he
leads the band on trumpet. They needn't worry, however - there is lots of his
inventive, incisive guitar playing with the jazz band, made up of some of the
best young players in Toronto. Jeff also sins on half a dozen numbers. His first
CD for Stony Plain is a bright, fresh, up-tempo and swinging collection of great
songs that give classic jazz the joyful energy that's kept the idiom alive since
the tunes were originally recorded. The official "launch" the new
CD will be held at Jeff's club, Healeys, in Toronto on Thursday April 13. Terra
Hazelton, who sings on one track on the CD, will be the special guest - and
Stony Plain's Holger Petersen will fly in from Edmonton to host the event.
JAY McSHANN: 90 AND STILL PLAYING THE
BLUES
Stony Plain will release a new Jay McShann CD, "Hootie
Blues" (SPCD-1315), on March 28 in Canasda, and April 25 in the US and
Europe. "Hootie Blues" is a smooth, easy, relaxed, and invigorating
live album recorded in Toronto's Montreal Bistro, with the pianist and singer
backed up by Jim Galloway (soprano and alto sax), Don Vickery (drums) and Rosemary
Galloway (bass). McShann remains one of the great figures of jazz history -
and a player who links the related worlds of jazz and the blues. This is his
fourth album for Stony Plain - "Hootie's Jumpin' Blues" (SPCD-1237),
"Still Jumpin' the Blues" (SPCD-1254) and "Goin' to Kansas City"
all remain in the catalogue. Now 90 years old, he has great affection for Canada,
and while he doesn't travel as frequently as he used to, he's coming back to
the Montreal Bistro for three nights, May 3, 4 and 5.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR A FRIEND
Congratulations to Danny Marks, who was the winner of the Toronto
Blues Society's "Blues With a Feeling" Lifetime Achievement Award.
A fine guitarist, a one-time member of the Toronto band Edward Bear, Danny does
a terrific weekly blues show on 91.1 JazzFM in Toronto. Next month, Holger Petersen,
who hosts CBC Radio One's "Saturday Night Blues" hopes to be a guest
on Danny's show - which means folk can hear the Stony Plain boss on two different
shows, on two different stations, at the same time.
MARIA MULDAUR EARNS BLUES MUISC AWARD
NOMINATION
"Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul" (SPCD-1304) has earned two
more nominations for Maria at the 2006 Blues Music Awards (formerly the W.C.
Handy Awards). The CD is up for Acoustic Album of the Year, and Maria is nominated
as Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year. The Awards will be presented
in Memphis on May 11, 2006. And before that happens, she'll help close off Stony
Plain Records Month with dates in Toronto and Hamilton April 28 and 29.
KEEPIN' IN TOUCH WITH STONY PLAIN
* First of all , check out the new Stony Plain website: www.stonyplainrecords.com/Web
* Buy "product", check the back catalogue, read news from other recent
newsletters, and more
* Send snail mail to us at P.O. Box 861, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2L8, Canada
* Call or FAX Stony Plain: PH: 780 468-6423. FAX: 780 465-8941.
* Talk to the big boss man, Holger Petersen, via the magic of e-mail: holger@stonyplainrecords.com
* If you want off this list or need any media information, review or airplay
copies, etc, please let your 'umble editor know: rflohil@sympatico.ca
We'll be sad if you leave this list, but we'll get over it in time.
STONY PLAIN'S NEWSLETTER
#37
June 2006
(Edmonton, Canada)
In addition to being ridiculously busy, everyone at Stony Plain
is thrilled that both Corb Lund's albums are well on their way to achieving
Gold status in Canada - we're already planning a celebration! We're proud as
punch, too, of the Stony Plain debut of Jeff Healey - "It's Tight Like
That" is getting wonderful reviews. And our newest release, "Praising
Peace" is a wonderful tribute by Leon and Eric Bibb to the life and work
of Paul Robeson. It's a very special CD - and seems to address the same issues
and concerns and needs that Robeson himself did more than half a century ago.
Humanity is STILL seeking peace; the songs on "Praising Peace" keep
the hope alive. HOLGER PETERSEN ( President, a&r supervisor, and executive
in charge of hanging pictures in the office Stony Plain Records).
NEW RELEASES: AN UPDATE
"Praising Peace: A Tribute to Paul Robeson" - Leon
and Eric Bibb (SPCD-1318). Father and son - Robeson's long-time friend and Robeson's
godson - recall one of America's most significant musical figures.
"30 Years of Stony Plain" - Various artists. Two CDs, a fascinating
DVD, and a special way to mark the label's 30th year. (SPCD-1317).
"It's Tight Like That" - Jeff Healey & The Jazz Wizards with special
guest Chris Barber. Joyous and energetic jazz from the Wizards, fine trumpet
and guitar work from Jeff, and sterling work from British trad jazz legend Chris
Barber. (SPCD-1314).
"Hootie Blues" - Jay McShann. Sly, laid back and insouciant blues
and jazz from the legendary Kansas City pianist and singer, who is still recalling
the jazz history of a great American city. This is his fourth album for Stony
Plain (SPCD-1315).
"Guitar Groove-a-Rama" - Duke Robillard. Terrific music for guitar
fans, this is one of Duke's best-ever CDs. It contains his instant classic "Blues-a-Rama,"
a 16:11 track in which he reinterprets the sounds of 10 of the great blues guitarists
(SPCD-1316).
CORB LUND: REALLY A STAR OF STAGE, SCREEN,
RADIO & TV
Corb Lund's video for the title song of his second Stony Plain
album, "Hair in My Eyes Like a Highland Steer" (SPCD-1309) remains
in the #1 spot for the second week at CMT Canada. That's just one more sign
of one of the most surprising Canadian music success stories of recent years.
After winning a Juno Award for Solo Roots & Traditional Album of the Year,
Entertainer of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards, and Favourite
Folk Artist/Group at the 6th annual Canadian Indie Awards, Corb made his movie
debut. Lund and his band The Hurtin' Albertans are seen in "Slither,"
a horror picture that made its theatrical debut at the end of March. And, of
course, Corb retains his title as one of the busiest road warriors of all time.
In January Corb toured the UK with Chuck Prophet, returned shortly afterwards
to do eight days with Josh Ritter in Ireland. After a flying trip to SXSW, he
launched "Highland Steer" in the UK with eight shows in eight nights,
ending with a packed show at London's premier roots music venue, The Borderline.
After a quick trip to Halifax for the Junos and two dates in the Maritimes,
Corn flew to Vancouver for a UBC college date with The New Pornographers, and
then went to Australia for four shows in six nights, including the Byron Bay
Roots Festival. Following a 10-day break at home, the band flew to Ireland for
the Kilkenny Roots Festival and three weeks of dates in Ireland followed by
his first dates in Germany and shows in Norway, Denmark and France. Now Corb's
planning US and Canadian dates through to the end of July.
Corb's tour schedule: June 11 Bellows Falls, VT / June 13 12th
& Porter, Nashville, TN / June 14 Eddie's Attic, Decatur, GA / June 15 Star
Bar, Atlanta. GA / June 16 Rhythm & Brews, Chattanooga, TN / June 17 Newby's,
Memphis, TN / June 29 Kennedy Centre, Smithsonian Festival, Washington DC /
July 1 Canada Dayy Celebration, Washgington DC / July 7 BluesFest, Ottawa, ON
/ July 8 Molson Ampitheatre, Toronto, ON / July 13 Stampede, Calgary, AB / July
14 Country Jamboree, Craven, SK / July 15 PeaceFest, Peace River, AB / July
28/30 Hillside Festival, Guelph, ON / July 29 Dresden Fair, Dresden, ON. Website:
www.corblund.com
LEON & ERIC BIBB PAY TRIBUTE TO
PAUL ROBESON WITH A SPECIAL NEW RELEASE, "PRAISING PEACE"
Paul Robeson was one of the most charismatic figures in American
history. Born in 1898, his father an escaped slave, he earned fame - against
the odds all African Americans faced - as scholar, athlete, public speaker,
actor, activist and singer. The third black student in the history of Rutgers
University, he earned a law degree at Columbia, appeared on Broadway, made 11
films, and his rich, deep voice made him a concert star in Britain, Europe,
Russia, Australia and Africa as well as in the United States. In the late '40s
he was named by the Senator Joe McCarthy's House Committee on Un-American Activities,
and denied a passport by the State Department until1958. Among his many memorable
achievements was his concert in May 1952, when - at the Peace Arch on the US-Canada
border south of Vancouver - he sang for 40,000 from a flatbed truck, parked
one foot on the American side of the border. This briefest of histories sets
the background for "Praising Peace" (Stony Plain SPCD-1318) by the
father and son team of Leon and Eric Bibb. Leon Bibb, now in his 80s and living
in Vancouver, met Robeson in the 1950s, and they remained friends until Robeson's
death in 1976; his son Eric - who now mostly lives and tours in Europe - is
Robeson's godson. The album is a moving selection of songs, mostly recorded
in Canada, with the father and son duo sharing songs old and new. Paul Robeson's
voice is also heard; the title song is in the master's spirit and one can imagine
him singing it. Spirituals like " and "Motherless Child" "Weepin'
Mary" and "Home in That Rock" recall Robeson's concert repertoire,
while "Joe Hill" reminds listeners of the late artist's activism.
Paul Robeson Jr.'s sleeve notes sum up the album perfectly: "The tender
and loving care with which Leon and Eric, through their imaginative interpretations,
have contributed a sparkling fresh energy to my father's enduring musical legacy."
THE CRITICS WRITES AND THE WORLD READS
ON
Jeff Healey & the Jazz Wizards: It's Tight Like
That (SPCD-1314)
"Long before Jeff Healey burst onto the '80s blues-rock scene with an unorthodox
lap-steel-like approach to conventional guitar and a flair for radio-friendly
pop songs like 'See the Light' and 'Angel Eyes,' he had a deep jones for 1920s
and '30s jazz. "His first major release in that vein, a live recording
with his eight-piece Wizards and British jazz revivalist/trombonist Chris Barber
as his guest, takes Louis Armstrong's historic Hot Five recordings and Django
Reinhardt and the Hot Club band as its swinging twin axis of influences. Sure,
the results aren't ground-breaking, yet they're authentic and fun, thanks to
spirited performances and a selection of mostly playful up-tempo chestnuts,
including 'Sing You Sinners,' Georgia Tom Dorsey's suggestive title track, and
Bessie Smith's 'Keep It to Yourself.' Barber's trombone solos are hale and raucous,
but Healey's his own ringer, fretting elegant, classic guitar lines and pulling
boisterous double duty on ebulliently squawking trumpet." - Ted Drosdowski
on Amazon.com:
Duke Robillard: Guitar Groove-a-Rama (SPCD-1316)
"As the title implies, 'Guitar Groove-a-Rama' is a showcase for Duke Robillard
and his guitar
collection. It allows him to both flex his chops in a variety of styles and
display his impressive set of instruments - on the cover and in the grooves".
"The album's 16-minute centerpiece, 'Blues-a-Rama,' is a magnificent vehicle
for Robillard. He uses a standard slow blues to introduce and play licks in
the style of about a dozen influential guitarists, from the usual suspects such
as Buddy Guy and Freddie, Albert, and B.B. King to the slightly more obscure
likes of Clarence Gatemouth Brown. That track, like this terrific album, is
a mini history lesson in blues guitar that every lover of the genre will
enjoy and newcomers can use as a handy course." - Hal Horowitz on Amazon.com
Leon Bibb and Eric Bibb: Praising Peace: A tribute
to Paul Robeson (SPCD-1318)
"Paul Robeson (1898-1976), a magnificently-voiced singer, actor and human
rights activist, receives a glorious tribute on this album from his friend Leon
Bibb, and Leon's son and Robeson's godson, the blues artist Eric Bibb. "Most
of the album, including signature pieces like 'Joe Hill,' the powerful arrangement
of 'Ol' Man River' and such traditional African American spirituals as 'Weepin'
Mary' and 'Home In That Rock' are drawn from Robeson's repertoire. Robeson's
recorded voice is briefly heard during Eric's poignant version of 'Deep River.
"Most of these songs are sung solo by
either Leon, who remains in great voice at 84, or Eric. However they do a beautiful
duet on 'Praising Peace,' one of four moving originals that draw their inspiration
from Robeson. ****1/2 - Mike Regenstrief, Montreal Gazette
Jay McShann: Hootie Blues (SPCD-1315)
*Listeners will never suspect that the piano heard on this disc is being played
by ten 90 year old fingers. Actually, they would be technically correct as Jay
McShann was a mere 85 years old when he cut these tracks at The Montreal Bistro
in Toronto in 2001. "McShann is probably the sole survivor of the heyday
of Kansas City jazz which once included names like Count Basie, Ben Webster,
Buster & Bennie Moten, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Mary Lou Williams,
Dickie Wells and Buck Clayton. At 90, the legendary pianist continues to play
for eager audiences hungry to hear his nimble fingers on the keyboard. "McShann
obviously still enjoys playing and gladly shares the spotlight with the fine
some of Canada's finest traditional musicians; Jim Galloway is considered a
major player in North America. Blues broadcaster Holger Peterson conducts a
great 24-minute interview with McShann on a bonus track. Both jazz and blues
fans will enjoy McShann's latest album. It's a swinging session in every way.
- Richard Bourcier, Jazz.com
ALL THE ASSORTED STONY PLAIN NEWS ITEMS
THAT WE CAN FIT IN
Alberta music honoured by Smithsonian A tribute to the music
of Alberta, to be released on June 27 by Smithsonian Folkways, will include
no less than three tracks from the Stony Plain catalogue. The CD, titled "Alberta:
Wild Roses, Northern Nights" is a companion piece to a special programme,
Alberta at the Smithsonian, which is part of the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festive
being held on Washington's National Mall June 30-July 4, and July 7-11. The
opening track on the CD is "No Roads Here" from Corb Lund's first
Stony Plain album, "Five Dollar Bill" (SPCD-1284), the closing track
is Ian Tyson's classic version of "Four Strong Winds." Another Tyson
cut on the CD is "Land of the Shining Mountains" from Songs From the
Gravel Road (SPCD-1305). Other Alberta artists on the compilation include k.d.
lang, Diamond Joe White and David Wilkie.
Ian Tyson: A special award Stony Plain's Ian Tyson will be
presented with the Order of Excellence - the province of Alberta's highest honour
- at a special ceremony on October 19. Meanwhile Tyson continues to alternate
his live appearances with his day-to-day work running the Tyson Ranch in the
foothills of the Rocky Mountains, south of Longview, Alberta.
His upcoming tour dates: June 13 Gryphon Theatre, Brooks, AB
/ June 14 Swift Current Composite High School, Swing Current, AB / June 15 Mae
Wilson Theatre, Mosse Jaw, SK / June 17 Casino Regina, Regina, SK / July 1 Heritage
Park, Calgary, AB / Aug. 5 Summerland Folk Festival, Summerland, BC / Aug. 6
The ACT, Maple Ridge, BC / Aug. 12 Daines Rodeo Rach, Innisfail, AB Aug. 19
Havelock Country Jamboree, Havelock, ON
TALKING TO THE FOLKS AT STONY PLAIN
* First of all , check out the new Stony Plain website: www.stonyplainrecords.com/web.
Yes, of COURSE you can buy "product" hand-delivered to the Post Office
by Stony Plain's hard working staff
* You can also check the back catalogue, read news from other recent newsletters,
and check biographical material about ours artists.
* Write us a snail-mail letter to us at P.O. Box 861, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J
2L8, Canada
* It's faster, if you can, to call or FAX Stony Plain: PH: 780 468-6423. FAX:
780 465-8941.
* Talk to the big boss man, Holger Petersen, via the magic of e-mail: holger@stonyplainrecords.com.
(He's tall, that's all :)
* If you want off this list, or need any media information, review or airplay
copies, etc., please let your 'umble editor know: rflohil@sympatico.ca
or (416) 351-1323.
* We'll be sad if you leave this list, but we'll get over it in time.
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