Ezell's Famous Chicken....Conquered

Straight from Seattle to Oprah's face:

EarthDance

St. James' Choir

The following email was sent by the Cathedral of St. James Director of Music, Dr. James Savage.  I am a member of this choir, and thought I would post this email, as it shows the power of music and the reasons why I belong to such a rewarding enterprise.

 

……………………….

Dear Sublime singers!!!

 

It wasn’t just I who thought you were terrific yesterday.   It took me 45 minutes to leave St. James yesterday thanks to the number of people, musicians and non-musicians who were sooooooo thrilled to have their choir back home.

 

Here’s a couple of notes that came in this morning

 

……………………….

Jim and Music Staff,

   Yesterday a friend of mine came to the 10:00am service. This person was a sort-of "fallen away Catholic" and had not been to the Cathedral in about 30 years. I had told him beforehand to "hang on to his socks, so they wouldn't be blown away".

   He told me afterwards that he was moved to tears by the sheer beauty of the service....the visual beauty of the Cathedral itself, and the beauty of the "stellar" music, and the beauty of how the music and the liturgical rituals so perfectly synchronized. And he told me that he felt very much at home at the Cathedral, and he wants to attend Mass here again next Sunday. He even asked me if I think he could join the Choir.

   Hope this makes all of you happy to know. I myself am still in heaven from yesterday's beautiful service. Have a wonderful week! Emmy p.s. I think Father Ryan should know about this too! Could you please forward this email to him. Thank you so much!

 

……………………………………

Dear Dr Savage,

 

"Did you notice the choir was back?" says Father Ryan.

 

AND HOW!
What a way to start!
The opening esp brought tears to my eyes!!! You were a few feet from me so I could see you were also enjoying yourself.

  

Have a great week!

Lisa

 

……………………………………

 

 

Your very proud,

Jim

TDS: Short and Sweet

Sunday Night Show

Download the show at Archive.org.

Set 1

01 Intro
02 If you're ever in Oklahoma
03 Classic Situation
04 Sometimes I've Won
05 Just the Same
06 What You're Selling
07 Little Rabbit
08 How 'bout you
09 Steep Grades, Sharp Curves*
10 Mother's only son#


Set 2

01 Intro
02 No Expectations
03 Dallas, TX
04 As Good As Ive Been to You
05 Ride the Wild Turkey
06 Looking Back over my Shoulder
07 King Ebeneezer
08 Granny Woncha Smoke Some
09 Going Across the Sea
10 Wheel Hoss

Notes:

With Darol Anger the whole show, Danny Barnes and Dan Brodeur all second set.
& w/ Anders Beck, David Grier, Shad Cobb, and Bryn Davies
$ contains 3rd Stond From the Sun Jam

Climbing Yonder Mountain in 2006

In 2006, so far, Yonder Mountain String Band has launched the online download series Yonder Mountain Live, released a live album, are releasing a new studio album in approximately one week, announced headlining gigs at Wakarusa, Smilefest, Telluride, The NorthWest String Summit and announced an extensive continent-spanning tour that includes dates with Gov't Mule, Dave Matthews Band and The Allman Brothers Band. And they opened a www.myspace.com site.

They're smart to ride the wave they've created. "It's funny," explained Jeff Austin, "but now we're playing before 4,000 people in Denver. Last year we played before 700 people in Atlanta and we recently sold-out a 3,000 seat venue there." When asked to explain this success, the band stays true to their humble bluegrass roots. "Well," said Ben Kaufman, "I just think that there's something about the banjo that makes people feel good."

That may be true, but the band owes more to their success than a happy banjo sound. Five years of constant touring has honed the band to a sharp edge, expanding their already formidably musical talents. This, combined with their fearless exploration of tradition fused with modernism, has helped them build a large fanbase.

"Some of the most important influences on our sound would have to be bluegrass, like JD Crowe And The New South, Flatt And Scruggs, Bill Monroe; but also some rock and roll like The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan," says Dave Johnston.

Contemporaries also play a part in having some influence, like Hot Rize, Tim O'Brien and Danny Barnes. Keep an eye out for those folks and see them whenever you can, you won't be disappointed. "Sometimes a song will start out with a real traditional vibe to it," he continued, "but it may end up incorporating many elements that have very little to do with traditional bluegrass. Usually the non-traditional or cover tunes that we select have a lot to do with what kind of acoustic textures we can bring to a particular song and how we can blur the lines between what is considered traditional and what isn't."

"We've always been about letting ourselves experiment to the full width of the spectrum," Austin added. "It was a part dying to come out on the new album."

And come out it did. Their first with a rock and roll producer (Tom Rothrock) and the first totally spontaneous album, it found the band writing and recording on the spot. It also found them adding drums by Elvis Costello's drummer Pete Thomas. "We've ended up with an album that's got ripping bluegrass on it, explained Ben Kaufman , "but that we approached in a non-traditional way, which really appeals to me because we're not a traditional band. We've always been forward thinking and this is the first time we've captured that in the studio."

Johnston agreed. "The new release was really exciting to make, and I think it showcases the band's collaborative efforts and potential. At points, there are some deviations from traditional bluegrass that find us behaving more like we would at a live show, and at other points, there are some songs that highlight our understanding of traditional music."

Indeed the album retains the band's stellar reputation for clean and fast picking. The breakdowns whip between speakers and the banjo and mandolin plaintively wail world-weary note. But then there's the fiddle solo in "Angel," which, as Kaufman described, is "clearly channeling the spirits of the rock guitar gods." Then there's the actual electric guitar in "How 'Bout You" which duels with the banjo all while the humble acoustic instrument brings the axe to a draw. It's beautiful and intense.

One of my favorite songs, "East Nashville Easter" also blends the genres. Incorporating high lonesome harmonies, frantic banjoing frailing, very active strumming and an Allman Brothers Band-esque electric guitar bridge, it creates an Americana rock that feels like a refreshing breeze across the musical landscape.

"Midwest Gospel Radio" is another standout number. An instrumental, it apparently arose from producer Rothrock's request for a spiritual number. Unfortunately short, it is a mellow relaxing piece.

The album ends with another of my favorites, "Wind's On Fire." Starting off with a bluesy grind, and subtle feedback, it creates a darker singer/songwriter feel; "Look at the size of your skin…keep on tearing your world apart…look at the size of your soul…hang that old hanging judge…keep on tearing your soul apart…look at the size of the world…" It is a song I could play over and over again without ever tiring of it.

So with the release of their eponymous titled Vanguard Records debut, YMSB looks to get even busier in 2006. Mature performers, stellar songwriters and intuitive musicians, Kaufman, Johnson, Austin and Aijala are taking the traditions of The Stanley Brothers, The Grateful Dead and The New Bluegrass Ramblers to new and exciting places.

"I think," added Aijala, "that expanding the horizons of the bluegrass sound by thinking outside the box yields some really rewarding songs."

-Kynd Music (http://kyndmusic.com)

Interview: YMSB

Interview: YMSB

The Daily Show