Karla Bonoff has been described as one of the finest singer/songwriters of her gene-ration. And in her case, that description is not hyperbole. During her nearly 40-year career, Bonoff has enjoyed critical acclaim, commercial success, enduring popularity and the unwavering respect of her peers. In addition to achieving chart success with her own recordings, Karla has seen her songs become hits for such stellar artists as Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd and Linda Ronstadt. Many of Bonoff's ballads are now pop classics. But in all those years of writing, recording and performing, the singularly gifted singer/songwriter has never produced a live album...until now.
Karla Bonoff Live, in stores October 9, is a two-CD set containing 21 songs, including some of Bonoff's most popular material ("All My Life," "Someone to Lay Down Beside Me," "Tell Me Why," "Lose Again") plus two new compositions. All but one were recorded at a small club in Santa Barbara with Bonoff's regular touring band, including longtime friend and collaborator Kenny Edwards and noted guitarist Nina Gerber. And all showcase Bonoff's pure, plaintive vocals, which penetrate directly to the heart. Many fans and critics prefer Bonoff's own renditions of her songs, and they won't be disappointed here: The instrumentation is clean and spare, giving Bonoff's voice room to work its emotional magic on the listener.
Live is Bonoff's first solo album since 1999, when she released a 16-song greatest hits collection, All My Life: The Best of Karla Bonoff. Why a live album now? "I never really had done one, and I've been on the road forever," explains Bonoff. "And it seemed the band was sounding good, and I really wanted to get that on tape.
"You know, the songs have evolved a lot over the years," Bonoff continues. "When I first started recording I felt I wasn't that great of a singer. So some of the things on my first album I think I sing a lot better now than I used to. For fans who have never heard me live, I think this will be kind of interesting for them."
Karla Bonoff Live also contains two new songs. "What About Joanne" confronts a lover who has been seen around town with another woman. Bonoff describes the song as "personal, and pretty self-explanatory." "Baja Oklahoma" is a dreamy homage to the little things that tie people to a hometown. "I wrote it for a cable TV movie a while ago, but they didn't use it. So I sort of pulled that back out of the wastebasket," she laughs. "We've been performing it, and that's why it's on there."
A songwriter since the age of 15, Bonoff got her big break at the legendary Troubadour club in Los Angeles, where she met Kenny Edwards and Linda Ronstadt, formerly members of the Stone Poneys. In 1970, Edwards joined Bonoff, Andrew Gold and Wendy Waldman to form a new band called Bryndle. Although Bryndle eventually disbanded, Bonoff's career took off when Ronstadt recorded three of her songs ("Someone to Lay Beside Me," "If He's Ever Near" and "Lose Again") for her 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind.
That success helped Bonoff launch a solo career in 1977 with a self-titled album that included guest appearances by Ronstadt and Bonoff's fellow Bryndle alumni. Three more solo releases followed: Restless Nights (1979), Wild Heart of the Young (1982) and New World (1988). Bonoff's songs were included on the soundtracks to the movies "Footloose" and "About Last Night," and in 1989, Ronstadt and Neville won the Best Pop Vocal Grammy for their rendition of "All My Life."
Country artist Wynonna Judd's infectious version of Bonoff's "Tell Me Why" became a major hit in 1993, and in 1994, Bonoff notched an AC Top 10 with her ballad "Standing Right Next to Me" from the soundtrack to the film "8 Seconds." By 1995, Bonoff had gotten together with her former Bryndle bandmates and recorded enough material for their first album, which was released to much critical acclaim. Bryndle released a second album, House of Silence, in 2002. Bonoff released one more solo album, All My Life: The Best of Karla Bonoff, in 1999.
Throughout her career, Bonoff has continued to tour extensively, playing sold-out shows around the world. She's scheduled a slate of dates in support of Karla Bonoff Live that will showcase her remarkable talent. Listening to Karla Bonoff's moving vocals on her rich, expressive songs is like standing beneath a sparkling waterfall--refreshing, exhilarating, restorative. And hearing them live can be transformative.
Kasey Chambers
Sugar Hill Records is excited to announce the July 12th release of 'Little Bird' from one of Australia’s most accomplished singer-songwriters, Kasey Chambers. The 14 song collection – her first solo project in four years - is the result of an outpouring of new material from Kasey written within a hectic two week period in February of 2010, and Chambers is confident in calling 'Little Bird' the best recording of her career.
Recorded a month later in brother Nash’s Foggy Mountain Studio 'Little Bird' features an all-star band that Kasey dubs The Millionaires; John Watson on drums, Jeff McCormack on bass, Shane Nicholson, Jim Mogine (Midnight Oil) and Kasey’s dad Bill Chambers playing all manner of guitars and stringed instruments. Guest vocalists Missy Higgins, Camille Te Nahu, Patty Griffin and more accompany Kasey on various tracks.
“These guys are some of my favorite musicians and singers, including the backbone of my touring band, so there is a familiarity and intuitive understanding of where this music should go”, says Kasey. Nothing in the recording process sounds forced or labored; every track sounds fresh, positive, exciting. “When the songs are that fresh, there’s something magical about taking them into the studio and bringing them to life, right then and there”.
The new album, which is already certified Gold in Australia, represents a diverse spread of musical styles from Kasey’s glittering career, which has reaped multiple ARIA and APRA awards, number one hits and multi-platinum sales in Australia and around the world.
Despite the upbeat and optimistic vibe of 'Little Bird', Kasey notes that it also reflects on a young woman’s insecurities. “I started remembering how I felt when I wrote ‘Not Pretty Enough’ and comparing it to how I feel now. I was wondering how that sentiment would come out if I revisited it”, says Kasey. “I still have moments like that, of feeling insecure and unsure, but I feel differently about that now. I feel stronger and more powerful, not willing to compromise so much. This record is like the strong, secure version of ‘Not Pretty Enough’.”
Kasey excitedly rates 'Little Bird' as the best recording of her career. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited by a bunch of songs. They all came out completely differently. I was back in that same frame of mind that I had for the early albums. And it made me feel so confident. I was so absolutely in love with all these songs, I could not wait to make them come to life”.
www.kaseychambers.com
http://publicity.sugarhillrecords.com
Kate Campbell
"I've always written stories about people and how we get along," says Kate Campbell. "I kept thinking about that phrase, 'save the day,' and it can be used in so many different ways. It began to have a life of its own in this album."
With her compassionate tone and sometimes-quirky approach, Kate Campbell has made a musical niche for herself telling stories exploring the complex topics of race, religion, history and human relationships. It started with her first record, 1995’s 'Songs from the Levee', and continues with her latest offering, 'Save the Day'. The new project also includes shades of Kate's entire musical history - running the gamut from R&B and pop rhythms to gospel and folk sounds.
This is a quintessential Kate Campbell record, but it's a bit of a different approach. Campbell explains. "I usually have a theme that I've thought about for two or three years when I start writing for an album, but this time I just decided to write about things when they came to me."
With no set agenda going into the project, Kate turned to Alabama native Walt Aldridge, stepped up as producer, as he did on her 2003 collection 'Monuments'. Legendary keyboardist Spooner Oldham, who served as Kate's musical partner on 2006's 'For the Living of These Days', returns to accompany her on the 'To Kill a Mockingbird'-inspired song "Sorrowfree."
The incomparable John Prine's distinctive voice is heard on "Looking for Jesus." Kate also tapped her friend Nanci Griffith to sing on "Fordlandia," which is just the latest example of Kate's knack for uncovering peculiar, nearly forgotten stories and weaving them into song.
Kate's also has a reputation as a true wordsmith, so it's no surprise a few tunes were inspired by novels, including "The Color of Love," which tells the story of Gene Cheek's powerful Jim Crow-era novel of the same name. "Falling Out of Heaven" borrows a phrase from Langston Hughes for its title as well. Another tune, "Dark Night of the Soul" first appeared on 2006's 'For the Living of These Days', and is heard her in a full-band version, while "Everybody Knows Elvis" addresses the loneliness felt by both the King of Rock and Roll and Jesus Christ.
Kate is now curious to see how these 12 new songs fit with the rest of her material in concert. As she continues her musical journey, 'Save the Day' rightfully takes its place among her previous releases, which have earned high praise and features from media outlets like Entertainment Weekly and National Public Radio.
This album jumps right in there with real people, real stories. It has all the quirkiness and also the deep layers and the serious parts too. The whole record covers a lot of Kate Campbell.
"Save The Day" available here.
Keith Miles
"Frankly, I was amazed and humbled at the response to my first CD, "What It Was They Became," in 2006. I had hoped friends and family would give it a listen and they did. I had also hoped to get a few reviews and in that I was wonderfully surprised. I am particularly grateful to the many reviewers, radio programmers and individuals here and in Europe who responded to the album.
With "What It Is They Became" exceeding my modest expectations, it was only natural that I began to think of another project. My friend and producer, Jack Sundrud, and I had co-written many songs over the years. A couple were cut by artists. In the case of "Iola," by Jack's own band, Great Plains. I had the honor of seeing "Homeland" as the title track for the final Great Plains album, and then the excitement of hearing it covered by the legendary Kenny Rogers.
Jack and I began talking about another project in the summer of 2008. This one would be a collection of songs mostly co-written. Jack was able to call upon nearly everyone from the first CD to help us make a second one. The sessions guys included Russ Pahl, Dennis Crouch, Tim Crouch, Brent Truitt, Rick Lonow, Jim Hoke, Sue Braswell and Alan Webb. We were also joined by the legendary Billy Sanford, Bill Huber, Steve Herman, Kirby Shelstad, Tony Harrell, Angela Primm and Gale Mayes.
My intent has been to put together a project that works as a continuation on the themes and influences I explored in the first album - A mashup of country, folk, Americana, swing and roots music.
I included two covers on this album - "Samson & Delilah," which I learned from an old Rev. Gary Davis LP. My version is substantially different than the straight-blues of Davis, but I believe we stayed true to the spirit of the song. The second cover is "Them Dance Hall Girls," written by Allan Fraser, which I heard on an early 1970s album by Fraser and DeBolt. Alan Webb, Dave Smith and I used to perform that song many years ago in coffeehouses and bars in East Tennessee and it has always been a favorite of mine.
The idea for "Iola" came from perusing a road atlas one summer when the Midwest was gripped in drought. Jack, Sue Braswell and I wrote that one over the course of a couple of pretty hot Nashville summer evenings. Jack and Russ Pahl were putting together a band called Great Plains, and we were fortunate when producer Brent Maher chose the song for the album.
Jack and I wrote "The South," several years ago, but added the "Look homeward all you angels" verse this past winter. We also teamed up to write "Maybe I Shoulda." Steve Blazek of Lincoln, Nebraska, and I wrote "I Like To Drive" while he and his wife, Regina, still lived in Nashville.
The rest of the songs are mine, so it actually did not turn out to be the CD I originally envisioned.
"7 Cent Cigar Blues," is an old piece of whimsy that Jack, Sue and I used to perform when we went around Nashville as The Crows. I hope you agree that the addition of the horn section (brought to life with an arrangement by Jim Hoke) brings a really carnival feel to the song.
"Memories Of You," comes out of my East Tennessee days, as does "Road I'm On" and "Sweet Waters." Looking around for something with a little bit of western swing, I dusted off "Who's That Girl" and added a verse.
I hope you enjoy listening to these half as much as I enjoyed putting them together."
www.keithmiles.com
www.myspace.com/keithmiles
Kelly Dalton
"Music was very influential to me growing up. My parents were both producers-singer-songwriters, and played and sang in The Back Porch Majority, wrote jingles & produced other artists. I grew up hanging around recording studios, so I was introduced to the piano, guitars and how recording was done at an early age.
As a teenager, I began writing songs on the guitar & piano, but was too shy to get up and sing in front of anyone. So, I just played guitar in a couple of local Los Angeles bands, made a few indie albums, had some great times, but always felt like something was missing.
Unfortunately, in a short amount of time I lost a few people who were very close to me.
I took a deep breath and thought about my own life and what I've given or would leave behind. I didn’t want to someday regret not attempting what I knew I could do, so I felt it was time to get over my stage fright & start singing.
I found a comfortable stage at The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, where local singer songwriters were playing nightly. I drew inspiration and became friends with other local artists who were also getting their start there and shared the same passion in songwriting as I did.
In 2006, I recorded my first album 'The Love In Every Bar', an EP in 2008, 'Home', then I followed my producer Thom Flowers out to Texas to record the new album 'Everything Must Go' in 2010.
Within this time, I've performed from coast to coast, met some great people & have been introduced to cities I never would, if not for playing music. I've had some songs placed on TV, The ESPY Awards, college radio & been on as many adventures to last a lifetime. My loyal following online has helped me do these things including a tour overseas this year. I am truly grateful for all of this.
I’ve always known that I feel things deeply, maybe too deep at times. And it’s never been easy for me to share these feelings. I now consider myself one of the lucky ones who have learned through my words and music, that I can express myself in a way that is real and truthful for me.
Since my last time recording, I’ve felt the highs and lows of many life experiences, probably not all that different than others. Some highs were positive; some lows painful; some feelings were new, and others so familiar that I had to move on to avoid feeling them again. The songs on my new album 'Everything Must Go' were recorded during this period of time." ~ Kelly Dalton 2010
www.kellydalton.com
www.myspace.com/kellydalton
Kelly Jones
Kelly Jones is an adventurer. Her willingness to dive right in and experience things fully is what made her decide to jump headlong into music, as well as what propelled her to deliver such an accomplished second album in a very short amount of time. It's what led her to move from the laidback, tightly knit comfort zone that is Portland, Oregon directly into the frenetic pace and uncaring arms of New York City. And it's most certainly apparent in her songwriting, where she explores the dark corners of yearning with an unflinching eye, a keen sense of melody and an unfailing willingness to pick herself up, dust herself off and get right back in the ring no matter how many bruises she's sustained.
It's an unsurprising approach that was fostered at an early age. Not everyone gets to travel the world with their British father while being raised on a horse farm in rural Washington, or is reared in a home with a record player as likely to be spinning '60s French pop as American country music. In high school, Kelly trained in dance and shone at classical piano, only later picking up a guitar and - in a characteristically idiosyncratic move - beginning her career in rock covering classic pop/rock numbers at French nightclubs when she was studying abroad.
Handle With Care is only Kelly's second album but it sounds like something you'd expect from someone with far more years under herbelt. Where Brave Heartache was a phenomenal debut, Handle With Care is quite simply a stunning, confident and mature record that standsalongside such accomplished contemporaries as Kasey Chambers and Rhett Miller without qualification.
"My first album was really my first attempt at song-writing," says Kelly. "At that point I was just trying to say something honest while searching for what I was good at. Those were little songs that came out of my journal; songs that stemmed from situations I was trying to make sense of."
Part of being a fast learner is knowing who you can trust. When it came time to record Handle With Care, Kelly returned to her musical home of Portland and enlisted the help of the musicians who'd encouraged her from the start. A group of very talented friends – producer Patrick Tetreault and Drew Grow from Careen and guitarist Jaycob Van Auken - helped Kelly realize her vision.
"There was this collective fusion of tastes happening," Kelly says of the recording. Jaycob is an amazing guitarist, Patrick has an incredible pop sensibility and Drew, a talented song-writer, would faithfully challenge the arrangements to ensure an element of unpredictability. Everyone was doing their different thing, but applying their strengths to my songs."
The record was recorded at Ripcord Studio in Vancouver, Washington, (where Willie Nelson is rumored to have recorded) mixed at Supernatural in Oregon City, Oregon and mastered in Nashville, Tennessee - and the sound reflects that geography. Although undeniably polished, the record feels far more Northwest than Nashville.
"I have two very distinct sides to me" Kelly remarks. "There's the 'country side,' which guards everything organic and wide-eyed in me, and then there's the 'city side' that's always curious, searching for diversity and new experiences. I feel the two pulling at me constantly, and I'm always trying to balance them."
Balance seems to come easily to Kelly. While there's a sadness to much of her music, it's a sweet sadness - you can almost imagine her sitting alone in her bedroom, dreaming away the heartache. There's a fragility and vulnerability (sentiments perfectly conveyed by her sometimes girlish vocals,) but also an underlying strength and determination.
Handle With Care shows an artist who's constantly learning and evolving but never apologizing. On the album opener, the upbeat pop-rock number "Stuck Being Pretty", Kelly declares "I'm stuck being pretty, pretty down on myself." On "Make Me Cry," she admits, "I'm not happy feeling fine. Won't you make me cry?"
The noir-ish "Consolation" is melancholy at its most hauntingly beautiful, while "Panic" finds hope at the most irrational moment. Even heartbreakers like "Out of Nothing," "What's So Wrong" and "Heart Like Mine" find the optimist within. "Lonesome Heart" is a warning to a potential lover that the narrator is damaged goods and a dangerous proposition disguised as a beguiling, steel-guitar drenched country shuffle.
Kelly winds the album down with the languid acoustic number "Don't Forget Me." There's no danger that you will. Handle With Care is just the latest installment from a gifted singer/songwriter who's just hitting her stride.
The Kenn Morr Band
Kenn Morr’s songs have an elemental quality — water, earth, relationships, seasons, time, change, loss — like the great songwriters who inspired him early on: Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Graham Nash, and especially Gordon Lightfoot. He understands that when trouble comes, the trade winds bring an upside, and there’s always the redemptive power of music. “I’m not sure just how you do it”, he addresses the muse on “Worth Imagining”, his sixth and latest recording, “but sweet music tames my mind. It can keep you cool in the summer sun and warm in the winter time”.
Devouring his heroes’ songs on his older siblings’ vinyl while pursuing a school boy career as an ace pitcher on the mounds of Long Island, he found other inspirations on his own, including John Dawson of New Riders of the Purple Sage and Toy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker band. Rex Fowler of Aztec Two-Step became his friend and supporter. Kenn’s college baseball scholarship didn’t work out, but he turned — appropriately — to communications, a field for which he is well-suited. He’s got a radio announcer’s rich baritone and the kind of charisma that spellbinds audiences of all sizes, from an intimate coffeehouse to the stages of venues as demanding as the famed Bitter End in New York City or the International Festival of Arts and Ideas on the New Haven Green. He’s paid dues of every kind, played gigs of every stripe, including sharing the stage with artists like John Sebastian, Al Kooper, Eric Burdon, and John Wesley Harding.
Kenn tends to let the Universe bring him what he needs. After all, a chance subway encounter brought his supportive wife and two young sons, his motivation in all that he does. He left Long Island and found in Connecticut a home, new friends, and — eventually — the band that brings his music to life. That band has been together for several years, long enough to gel personally and musically, as it demonstrates on “Worth Imagining”, its strongest work yet, a veritable tapestry of textures and feels. The songs resonate with listeners because they come directly from the life Kenn Morr observes around him; they’re very much lived songs.
A masterful writer and soulful singer at the peak of his creative powers — as a listen to his latest Sandy Brook Studios recording, “Worth Imagining”, quickly attests — Kenn is the real deal. With airplay across the country and in Europe (where his popularity continues to grow), Kenn Morr’s star is on the rise.
Ken Stacey
Singer-songwriter, Ken Stacey, set to release his highly anticipated solo CD, 'I Will Still Be Me', on September 23, 2008, has yet another reason to celebrate. American Idol chose his song 'Only Love' as one of the Top 20 songs for its 2008 Songwriter’s Contest. Having beaten out literally thousands of other contenders for a place among the Top 20 best songs, Ken cherishes the accomplishment and is enthusiastic in the hope that 'Only Love’s' success will draw greater attention to his soon to be release full length CD.
Ken Stacey, certainly no newcomer to the American music scene, has achieved a long and impressive list of professional accomplishments. Notably, he earned both Gold and Platinum Records for his vocal contribution to Sir Elton John’s “One Night Only - Greatest Hits Live". He has also toured with Elton John as a background singer and acoustic guitarist. Additionally, Ken’s work includes national and international appearances with progressive rock’s super group Ambrosia, as lead singer, replacing David Pack.
Original in his musical style, Ken resonates moving vocals and is known for his soulful, poignant Americana rock, garnished with an occasional sprinkling of British and Latin influences, combined with a musically savvy awareness of contemporary pop. It is this innate ability to render uniquely intriguing vocals that have made Ken a sought-after and successful backing singer for legendary musical vocalists, including Neil Young, Bette Midler, Julio Iglesias, Bonnie Raitt, Phil Collins and the late Luther Vandross, among many others. Ken’s influences are equally diverse ranging from the Beatles, U2, Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois and Donnie Hathaway.
As a writer, Ken Stacey has placed many original songs in film and television ranging from Oprah Winfrey to TNT’s Secret Agent Club and many daytime television shows. Most recently, Ken has shifted towards writing for placement with other artists. This has lead to co-writing with some of the top songwriters in the business. As a matter of fact, “Only Love” was co-penned with Exies guitarist David Walsh and top LA session vocalist Windy Wagner, (Ken’s beautiful wife). Ken, like any successful songwriter and vocalist, acknowledges that it is genuinely the music fans that determine whether any song is a hit or a miss. “If a song doesn’t speak to the very heart of the listener, then it has fallen short of it’s purpose.”, says Stacey.
Ken Stacey’s CD, 'I Will Still Be Me', features contributions from Davey Johnstone, Bob Birch and Guy Babylon and John Mahon, all members of the Elton John band, David Walsh, former guitarist of The Exies, Greg Leisz from the kd lang band and Bruce Watson, top session guitarist (Sarah Bareilles).
The Kennedy Curse
"Hi! We used to be 'A Vodka Incident'. Now we're 'The Kennedy Curse'. These songs were recorded at Mike Cameron Force Studios in February 2009. Enjoy!"
Kenny Vaughan
Sugar Hill Records is proud to announce the September 13th release of "V", the long-awaited solo debut from Nashville’s not-so-secret weapon: Kenny Vaughan. Since first arriving in Music City in the late 80's from his home state of Colorado, Vaughan quickly set himself apart as a different breed of guitar-slinger — technically assured and, more importantly, armed with a deeply felt reverence for a wide range of musical traditions encompassing vintage country, classic pop, hard bop, and beyond. The ten tracks that comprise "V" dip toes in all of these waters, forming a handy crash course in the trademark wit, flash, and unfailing musicality that has kept Kenny Vaughan so in-demand for the past quarter-century.
Starting in 2001, Vaughan has been a member of Marty Stuart’s Fabulous Superlatives, a multi-faceted outfit capable of delivering anything from rollicking bluegrass to classic honky tonk to simmering gospel soul. Aside from one track featuring Vaughan’s Nashville-based organ trio, the Fabulous Superlatives back him throughout "V", which opens with the show-stopping Superlatives rave-up “Country Music Got A Hold On Me” and continues through an eclectic program that touches upon western swing (“Hot Like That”), evocative low-twanging instrumentals (“Minuit Sur La Plage”, “Mysterium”), Rockpile-inflected country-pop (“Things I Do”), and even a bit of gutbucket swamp-funk featuring the Oak Ridge Boys (“Okolona, Tennessee”), before concluding with a righteous gospel shuffle, “Don’t Leave Home Without Jesus”.
Recipient of the 2006 Instrumentalist Of The Year award from the Americana Music Association, Vaughan is one of the most prominent guitarists of today’s ongoing roots music renaissance. An early pupil of fellow Coloradoan (and fellow eclectic roots alchemist) Bill Frisell, Vaughan has since performed and recorded with an array acclaimed artists, including Lucinda Williams, Kim Richey, Rodney Crowell, Tim O’Brien, Jim Lauderdale, Elizabeth Cook, Greg Garing, and too many more to list. Equally comfortable on stage or in the studio, Vaughan can be relied upon for hot, twitchy country leads, bittersweet melodic jangle, and everything in between — all dispatched with the utmost taste and subtlety.
And, as "V" so aptly demonstrates, Kenny Vaughan is no slouch as a frontman, either. His songs and singing are charmingly conversational, with no shortage of memorable hooks and clever verbal volleys. His cohorts in the Fabulous Superlatives (including bossman Marty Stuart on guitar and mandolin) offer honest, road-tightened support that is honest and heartfelt. Sterling confirmation of the potential implied by each sideman gig, session, and walk-on, "V" may have been a little too long in arriving… but, after all, Kenny’s a busy guy.
http://publicity.sugarhillrecords.com
Kevin Jone
What instruments do you play?
I play guitar, bass, banjo, dobro, mandolin, ukulele — just about anything with frets on it — I don’t play violin or cello, keyboards and drums.
Occasionally you’ll have guest artists play at the Woodshed?
Yes, just last Friday I had Jonathan Edwards who was a hero of mine. Years ago, I lived in Washington, D.C., and I used to do a lot of opening acts. He was always the most engaging, appreciative guy.
What songs is he known for?
“Sunshine” — “Sunshine go away today, I don’t feel much like dancing” — and “Shanty” are his two best known songs, but he has a lot of lesser-known material that’s very good quality music.
Who else have you opened for?
John Sebastian, Roger McGuinn, Doc Watson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kingston Trio and some others.
What’s the scope of the Woodshed?
It’s primarily a lesson studio, but it’s also a store for instruments and musical supplies. And it’s a performance menu, either an open stage where people can just jam — sometimes we don’t even make it to the stage, we’ll just sit in the chairs — or “bigger” names like Jonathan Edwards or Melissa Greener from Austin, TX, and Grammy-winning producer John Jennings.
What’s your preference — Bob Dylan acoustic or electric?
Whatever song I’m listening to by Bob Dylan at the time. It’s not a controversy for me.
Do you have a desert island five albums?
I guess “Blood on the Tracks” and “Highway 61” by Bob Dylan, “Rubber Soul” by the Beatles, “Houses of the Holy” by Led Zeppelin, and an acoustic blues album like “Sweet Baby James” by James Taylor.
Do you have any material you have written or recorded?
I released a CD, “Nobody’s Father,” with Mary Chapin Carpenter and John Jennings singing and playing on it. It’s on Taxim Records. I have another one just being released called “Raising the Ebenezer”.
Kiki Ebsen
Eclectic jazz-pop chanteuse, Kiki Ebsen has a warm, relaxed, personal style of delivery that lets an audience know they're about to experience and be a part of a wonderful musical celebration. She has enthusiastic fans worldwide singing her praises including Steve Quirk, British DJ, who says "Kiki Ebsen is a sleeping giant in contemporary music... who deserves to be heard".
Her current studio release, simply entitled Kiki,, was produced by Grammy winning producer, Paul Brown. It is a collection of her shimmering, jazz-infused originals as well as a few well-rendered cover tunes. "Kiki" made the cut as part of Fusion Flavours "Best of 2005", checking in at #12. One of the gems on this CD is a song that her father, the late actor Buddy Ebsen, wrote called "Missing You”. Kiki was interviewed recently by A&E for her father’s Biography segment and sang a bit of "Missing You" in his honor. Kiki looks forward to another year of great musical performances including the 3rd Annual Temecula Jazz Festival and the 11th annual Waikaloa Music Festival in Hawaii. As a keyboardist and singer, she's had the good fortune to work with some of the best-known musical headliners in the world, including Chicago, Christopher Cross, Al Jarreau, Tracy Chapman, Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald. Her songs have also been featured in movies and TV including The Young and the Restless and Another World. She has opened for Peter Cetera, Christopher Cross and Al Stewart. Kiki's songs deal with the complexities of love and family relationships, and she believes that music and the arts can bless and enrich our lives everyday.
Born into an entertainment family, Kiki attended the California Institute of the Arts, receiving her BFA in vocal performance. Her last CD, "Love Loud", is "about as close to perfect as any recording can get" according to Les Reynolds at Indie Music.com. It also made The Muse's Muse Top 10 list of favorite records of 2002. Her first CD, "Red", features classic performances by Boney James and is (according to Beth Lewis of Mac Report), "the kind of debut most artists can only dream of creating". Both CD's showcase her talent as a singer and her tremendous gift for writing songs. Kiki also spent a season singing and playing keyboards in the band for the Wayne Brady Show (KCAL) .
She recently played keys and sang with Melissa Etheridge and Patty Griffin on the Women Rock concert series for the LIFETIME Channel. Her vocals are featured on the new Peter White CD "Déjà Vu" due out this year.
Kiki is passionate about animals and is a champion equestrian. She regularly donates her talent playing concerts to promote and raise money for animal rescue and encourages people to spay and neuter their pets.
Kimmie Rhodes
Kimmie Rhodes is a native Texan who grew up in Lubbock, Texas and began her singing career at the age of six with her family gospel trio. She moved to Austin in 1979, where she met DJ and producer Joe Gracey, an instrumental figure in the Austin progressive country scene who she eventually married. In 1981 she recorded her first album, Kimmie Rhodes and the Jackalope Brothers when Willie Nelson invited her to use his studio. In 1985 she recorded her second album, Man In the Moon. Her third album Angels Get The Blues, recorded at the original Sun Studio in Memphis, was released in 1989. These records led to a series of British and European tours which received rave reviews.
Her promotional tours created a solid fan base in the U.K. and Europe. She has headlined with her band at festivals in Canada, The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands and has appeared on many European and American TV and radio broadcasts. She has also appeared at many of Willie's Farm Aid concerts and July 4th Picnics. Willie says Kimmie is "an undiscovered superstar" and together they recorded two of her originals for his album Just One Love.
Kimmie recently appeared on Austin City Limits with Emmylou Harris, Dave Mathews, Patty Griffin, and Buddy & Judy Miller, where she and Emmylou performed their Grammy-nominee song "Ordinary Heart" (nominated for Best Female Country Vocal). She has also guested on Late Night With David Letterman, performing "West Texas Heaven" at his request. Kimmie's TV appearances also include a songwriter "guitar pull" Austin City Limits show with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Billy Joe Shaver as well as two episodes of The Nashville Network's "Legend Series" hosted by Willie Nelson and another hosted by Waylon Jennings. Waylon said, "When I hear Kimmie sing it makes me know what the phrase 'pulling on your heart strings' means."
Kimmie's songs have been recorded by such stellar acts as Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Amy Grant, CeCe Winans, Joe Ely, John Farnham, Waylon Jennings and Peter Frampton. Kimmie co-wrote a song, "Lines", with Waylon for his Justice release "Right For The Time". Kimmie's movie soundtrack credits include "A Heart That's True" for the "Babe: A Pig in the City" CD, "I'm Not An Angel" featured in the soundtrack of "Mrs. Winterbourne" starring Shirley MacLaine and Ricki Lake and a song in the "Daddy's Dyin' Who's Got the Will" soundtrack. Her song, "Shine All Your Light", co-written with Beth Nielson Chapman, was recorded by Amy Grant for the Touched By An Angel TV series soundtrack and CD, which reached the Top Ten in Billboard's CD charts. She recently co-wrote "Ordinary Heart" with Emmylou Harris and the song was featured in the soundtrack to the movie "Happy Texas". Emmylou's performance of the song was nominated for a Grammy.
Kimmie's 1996 CD West Texas Heaven features 12 of her original songs and includes duets with Waylon Jennings, Townes Van Zandt and Willie Nelson. USA Today says, "listening to West Texas Heaven is like a sweet unhurried ramble through bluebonnets", picking the album for their "Best Bets" section. In December, USA Today picked the CD as one of the Top Ten Country Records of 1996.
Kimmie's 1998 CD release is a compilation of original songs from her first three albums called Jackalopes, Moons & Angels. This Jackalope Records CD marks the first time these songs have been available on CD in one collection.
Kimmie 2000 release was Rich From the Journey (Sunbird), produced by her son Gabe Rhodes. Featuring a guest appearance by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings and performances by such great musicians as Kevin Savigar, the late Jimmy Day and John Gardner, the CD is a brilliant showcase for Kimmie's writing and performing abilities. Appearances promoting that record included the Victoria Folk Roots Festival, Calgary Folk Festival, and Edmonton Folk Festival in Canada followed by the prestigious Tønder Festival in Denmark.
In 2002, Kimmie released Love Me Like A Song (Sunbird). The CD features duets with Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Beth Neilsen Chapman, and Heartbreaker keyboardist Benmont Tench. Players inlcude Willie, Benmont, Gary Nicholson, Kevin Savigar, Floyd Domino, John Gardner, and producer Gabe Rhodes. An adventurous journey with all new Kimmie-penned songs, Kimmie once again takes us into new musical waters and the world of her fertile imagination. The CD artwork comes from a series of Kimmie's original oil paintings, prints of which are available on her website. For purchasing information on the originals, contact Austin Galleries.
In 2003 she released a compilation of duets with Willie Nelson titled "Picture In A Frame". It's their first duet CD, featuring the Tom Waits-penned title track, a brand new Willie song ("It Always Will Be"), five original Kimmie tunes, and classics from Rodney Crowell and Willie. The record includes new recordings of past duets as well as "Rhinestone Highway", a track from Kimmie's unreleased theatrical production soundtrack, Small Town Girl. Recorded at Willie's World Headquarters in Luck, Texas with a small acoustic group, this CD captures Willie and Kimmie at their most intimate and relaxed.
Her 2004 CD release is titled "Lost & Found". This is a new set of great songs and recordings, masters that were recorded between 1996 and 2003 and are now being released for the first time, featuring a song co-written with Waylon Jennings and other tracks with a host of talented writing partners, as well as some of Kimmie's best self-penned tunes.
Kimmie's current CD release is titled "Windlbown". This record will also serve as the soundtrack for a new performance art piece featuring live music, interpretive dance, and character portrayals by Joe Sears, scheduled for its debut performance in January 2005. More information about the play can be obtained here: http://www.windblown.biz
Kimmie lives in Austin and performs with her band which includes husband Joe Gracey on bass, son Gabe Rhodes on lead guitar and Kimmie on acoustic guitar and vocals.
Kimon & The Prophets
In the vast Prophets library of songs, anything is possible. Whether it’s raising eyebrows with their superbly crafted originals, exploding the hits of Stevie Wonder into the ultimate groove tune, or funkin’ up a Stevie Ray Vaughn blues jam, The Prophets do it all..... And they do it with a blues style all their own, and a funk back beat that will make you stand up and move your feet.
Veteran musicians who have long since paid their dues in the NYC club circuit and beyond, the members of the Prophets have been in numerous bands with national releases. Early on Kimon survived a long stint as guitarist and co-writer with an over-the-top, edgy NYC garage band called The Wilsons, later joining Hoboken NJ favorites Fear of Falling as guitarist where he met drummer Rob Savoy. There they gained much experience in making albums and performing via touring in Europe and the U.S. They both went on to form the electronic rock group Psonica, signing with the now defunct Navarre Entertainment. They released their debut effort, but disbanded soon after, at which point, Kimon went on to release 4 critically acclaimed solo albums, methodically cultivating his own brand of protest rock. Much of the material featured Savoy on drums.
Along with Savoy, and now joined by long time friend and musical conspirator Marc Gambino on bass and vocals (Marc enjoyed much European success as a member of the rock band Concrete Jungle and later a six year stint with Asbury Park favorites Maybe Pete) the trio emerged as Kimon & The Prophets, and quickly developed their own melodic blend of blues, funk, 70’s rock, and hip-hop; a musical homecoming back to their roots.
A true working class rock band, Kimon & the Prophets have performed up and down from MA to WV, from venerable original music clubs The Bitter End & Arlene’s Grocery in NYC, Maxwell’s & The Stone Pony in NJ, The Trocadero Balcony & Grape St. Pub in Philly.....
They are just about to release their new album "Roadhouse Party" on Ultrascene Entertainment.
www.kimon.tv
www.myspace.com/kimonk
Kina Grannis
Kina started playing shows at the age of four in front of her stuffed animals. Now she plays in front of people, though it wasn’t the quickest transition for the admittedly shy songstress. While attending college at USC, Kina often retreated to the secluded stairwells around campus where she could write and sing without being heard. Protected by their quiet confines, she found a safe haven and a creative outlet for her music. Armed with a guitar and a cup of tea, Kina wrote in every stairwell she came across. And it was within these stairwells that she developed her confidence as a songwriter and her poise as a performer.
In 2007, Kina joined YouTube, made a music video and entered herself into a contest. A few months later, her video for “Message From Your Heart” aired during the Superbowl and its 97 million viewers (or 194 million eyeballs, depending on how you’re keeping track), and she walked away with a record deal. Since then, Kina has regularly posted her songs on YouTube, amassing many millions of views, and toured throughout North America. Her songs have been heard on television shows such as ABC’s General Hospital and MTV’s College Life.
Kina has self-released three EPs', and this October Kina will release her debut full-length album, "Stairwells", in Europe, which debuted on Billboard’s Top 200 and #5 on iTunes’ Pop Chart.
Her music is both sweet and melancholy, but always filled with hope. She’d want you to know that she saves drowning honeybees from pools whenever she gets the chance.
Kip Boardman
Raised in the northeast on a healthy diet of Jimmy Webb and Rolling Stones, and drawn by the warm California sun, Kip Boardman began messing with the piano when he was five or so, and much to everyone’s chagrin and disappointment, never really let it go. A longtime bass player with many angeleno stalwarts, Kip has lately turned to the lonely art of songwriting and the more complementary piano and guitar.
Mostly preoccupied with dusty and obsolete forms of country, folk and pop, Kip has released two previous solo albums, 2003’s 'Upon The Stars' on Ridisculous Records and 2005’s 'Hello I Must Be…' on Mesmer Records. Kip continues to play the occasional show with his favorite musician ever, Tony Gilkyson and has recently toured with The Watson Twins. "The Long Weight" Kip Boardman's 3rd and most ambitious album to date was produced by Eric Heywood (Ray LaMontagne, Son Volt) and also features members of Ray LaMontagne’s Pariah Dog backing band, Jennifer Condos on bass, Jay Bellerose on drums and Ryan Freeland on accordion. Along with Patrick Warren on keyboards, David Ralicke on horns and and a dream team of first-call singers comprised of Gia Ciambotti, Claire Holley and Kristin Mooney.
Earthen and halcyonic, "The Long Weight" mines the rich musical landscapes of a distinctly American songbook with shades of Nilsson and Toussaint. "The Long Weight" is a step into late afternoon sun and promises to be one of the most intriguing discoveries if not one of the best albums of 2011.
www.kipboardman.com
http://kgmusicpress.com/kipboardman.cfm
Lonnie Kjer & Stefan Mørk
It is the lyrical elements that binds the two danish songwriters Lonnie Kjer and Stefan Mork.
The new Danish folk/pop duo was formed in 2009 and have just released their debut album, played live on Danish television and performed on several music stages.
.....and this is only the beginning.....
Kjer & Mork and their immaculate band will tour the most of Denmark and parts of the UK in 2010 and are already planning to record and release their second album later this year.
Their strongest inspirations are being drawn from poetry and film. Mork being a graduated filmmaker from The NFTS in London, is strongly inspired by filmmakers such as Bergman, Lynch and Kieslowski.
Lonnie Kjer began her musical career very early, as she won the Danish Song Contest in 1990, aged only 16. Since she has released two danish solo albums. Latest "Tæt På" (Close Up) in 2008.
Stefan Mørk has only just started publishing his music, though he has been writing for many years. In 2008 he released the poems and lyrics collection "Sleepless Roads" and in late 2009 he and Kjer released their debut duet album, "13 Songs".
The music is warm, tender and alive, created with old wooden instruments and comfortably led by Kjer and Mork's honest and fragile voices.
Though bleeding into the genres of Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash and Lou Reed, Kjer and Mork are positioning themselves somewhere on the Danish music scene that no one else before them have. Their album ”13 Songs” insists on being taken serious. Completely devoid of easy solutions and with the proverbial tongue firmly placed in the cheek, it stubbornly and proudly goes against mainstream and market shares to give a deeply honest example of how it sounds when music truly is taken seriously.
There are no sneaky shortcuts – only the direct path to the honest essence of musicality and deep love and devotion of music. Burning real and melting hot.
www.kjermork.com
www.myspace.com/lonniekjerstefanmork
Krista Detor
Krista Detor's debut album, 'Mudshow' ("a small miracle" ~ Rolling Stone), was released in 2006 to international critical acclaim, garnering an average of 4+ star reviews, and reaching the no 1 spot on the Euro Americana Chart. 
Her follow-up record, 'Cover Their Eyes' ("one of the best albums of the year" ~Revolver), achieved equally unanimous critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. Krista's music has been featured at the Cannes Film Festival, on NPR, PBS, the BBC, and countless US and European national, regional, and local radio shows. She has appeared on both US and European television and collaborated on the CD and stage show 'Wilderness Plots', which has received rave reviews and will continue to tour throughout the US well into the future.
In 2009, she was honored to be chosen to be a part of the Darwin Songhouse, with seven other songwriters in Shrewsbury, England, writing for seven days songs to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin in his hometown. The event, subsequent concert, and live CD release ("an impressive, intriguing album" ~ The Guardian) were covered extensively by the BBC.
2010 will see the release of 'Chocolate Paper Suites', Krista's fourth solo album, a series of 3-song suites, each connected by theme and/or imagery, and inspired by the works of Lorca, Dylan Thomas, and Darwin, among other thinkers, artists, and experiences.
Touring the US and Europe consistently, Detor has shared stages with Joan Armatrading, Aaron Neville, Suzanne Vega, Loudon Wainwright, Sam Phillips, Colin Linden, Chris Wood, Luka Bloom, Slaid Cleaves, Peter Mulvey, The Wailing Jennys, Jakob Dylan, Jez Lowe, Carrie Newcomer, Lucy Kaplansky, and John Gorka, among others, and travels with her partner and producer, David Weber.
www.kristadetor.com
www.myspace.com/kristadetor
Kristin Mooney
Eleventh of eleven. The jungles of east St Paul. Endless darkness of Minnesota winters. We don’t really know where the gift of songwriting, or musicianship comes from, but Kristin Mooney certainly has both.
She was bombarded with a wide variety of music from her brothers and sisters during the era of the late 60’s and 70’s. This may have had something to do with it, as she has clearly absorbed, filtered and condensed some of this music in hers.
Kristin started as a singer and interpreter of songs, developing her voice and as appreciation of how a good song works before venturing to write her own. Patience has paid off.
As both a full participant in and a reticent observer of life’s events and relationships, she has much to draw from as a writer. Her songs have a three dimensional quality – a broadness that is very satisfying. Personal and universal, with a cinematic vibe both sonically and lyrically.
Her new CD “Hydroplane” is an achingly familiar yet surprisingly fresh sounding recording of her new songs – a record beautifully unencumbered by attachment to any musical movement or scene. It has a healthy respect for what has come before without being in the least bit “retro” or imitative.
Good musicians have always been attracted to Kristin and her to them. The band she has assembled for “Hydroplane” is exceptional and together they have created a gorgeous record. Whatever the story, the history, influences – whatever paths led to this point, it is a high point for Kristin Mooney and well worth a good listen.
”Hydroplane” is Kristin’s third CD. It was co-produced by Kristin and drummer/ percussionist Jay Bellerose (Robert Plant/Allison Krause, T-Bone Burnett). The core band is Jay, Jennifer Condos (bass – Ray Lamontagne, Ryan Adams, Joe Henry), Eric Heywood (guitars and pedal steel – Son Volt, Ray Lamontagne, Richard Buckner) and Patrick Warren (keyboards – Fionna Apple, Aimee Mann). Ryan Freeland was the mixing engineer (Aimee Mann, Joe Henry, Jakob Dylan).
www.myspace.com/kristinmooneyband
Karla Bonoff
Kasey Chambers
Kate Campbell
Keith Miles
Kelly Dalton
Kelly Jones
Kenn Morr Band
Ken Stacey
Kennedy Curse
Kenny Vaughan
Kevin Jones
Kiki Ebsen
Kimmie Rhodes
Kimon & Prophets
Kina Grannis
Kip Boardman
Kjer & Mørk
Krista Detor
Kristin Mooney
