Robert Plant’s voice in this song is just sex…<3 Alison Krauss too…

♫ 8Tracks

The Appalachian Folk Carol, Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head, was collected by folk musicologist John Jacob Niles (composer of I Wonder As I Wander), in the early Twentieth Century.  Scott Watson’s hauntingly beautiful arrangement of the tune explores the Nativity with peaceful reverence and mysterious wonder.  His writing includes expressive tempo changes, lush scoring for full band, transparent episodes for woodwinds, and delicate percussion writing, offering bands ample opportunity for performing with musical beauty and eloquence.

Robert W. Smith has woven several holiday favorites into Colors of Christmas, a jubilant, fanfare-style overture perfect for opening the beginners’ portion of your holiday concert!  Even with the limited range of the first six notes, interesting percussion (mallets, chimes, & ‘toys’) and mature-sounding writing ensure that this work will impress!  This is a great addition to your beginning band library that can be used for years to come!

Dynamic and jubilant, From the Realms of Glory! is ideal to ring in the holiday season as an opening fanfare or celebratory closer to your holiday concert!  Intertwining three well-known carols (Angels from the Realms of Glory, Angels We Have Heard on High, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing), Patrick Roszell has crafted an uplifting arrangement that is a worthwhile addition to your Christmas music library!

Hark! (A Holiday Celebration) is a pleasant, mature-sounding opener full of color and style changes perfect for your second year players.  Using themes from O Come All Ye Faithful, Angels We Have Heard on High, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and even a delightful hint of The Twelve Days of Christmas, William Owens has created a work that is festive and interesting, but not an outright medley.

A nice, fun alternative to standard Christmas fare, Old-Fashioned Sleigh Ride contains many teaching concepts (light vs. legato articulation, 8th note subdivision, steady tempo), in addition to amping up the programmatic fun factor with wood blocks, sleigh bells, whip cracks, and a horse whinny!  A perfect introduction to program pieces, your students will enjoy the gimmicks while your audience will enjoy its warmth and cheer.

A gorgeous addition to your Christmas program, A Peaceful Christmas is a beautiful, lush arrangement featuring your mallet players (cued in other parts). Part ballad, part lullaby, James Swearingen’s lovely setting is perfect for developing ensemble blend and phrasing, in addition to giving your students experience in the accompanists’ role.

Opening with a one-beat canon in the flute and clarinet, this arrangement of the traditional Irish Wexford Carol retains much of its ethnic flavor thanks to an Irish drum, and appropriate stylistic ornamentation. Reminiscent of the setting with Allison Kraus on Yo-Yo Ma’s Songs of Joy & Peace album, this arrangement also highlights a brass choir section, and will add an alternative lyrical touch to your holiday concert.

In 1995 he met Scott Weiland and the two became friends. In 1998 he partnered with Scott to form Lavish studios (Burbank Ca) At the same time the two began collaborating and writing together. One of the first songs they wrote together “Big Black Monster” is featured on the newest Weiland solo record “Happy in Galoshes” it is one of 16 songs Grean co-wrote on the record as well as co-producing, engineering, mixing and playing guitar, bass, lap steel, banjo and keyboards. Grean also plays in Weiland’s solo band and acts as his musical director.

In 2005 Doug Grean appeared on the 47 th annual Gammy awards with Velvet Revolver as keyboardist performing with an allstar cast including Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones, Bono, Steven Tyler, Brian Wilson and Allison Kraus.

Doug Grean has worked or performed with many talented artist including. Sheryl Crow, Riki Lee Jones, Glen Campbell, Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland, Slash, Velvet Revolver, Tim Mcgraw, Cindi Lauper, Annabella Lwin (Bow Wow Wow), Corey Glover (Living Color), The Crystal Method, Camp Freddy, DJ Hurricane and John Taylor (Duran Duran).

Between his own career and those of the people he has surrounded himself with, I want to find out what he feels the key to success has been and how to be heard above the noise!

Aaron Bethune. Music Specialist.

Interview with Doug Grean

You can visit Doug’s site here: www.douglasgrean.com

Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake in 'Crazy Heart'

Growing up a Texan and a rebel, I did everything I could to avoid the country music that dominated the airwaves and my friends’ tape decks. Occasionally, a country song would seep into my consciousness, but I fought it as hard as I could. In the end it was a losing battle. Years ago I finally threw in the towel and admitted to myself that I do like country music, some of it quite a lot. It’s still not the main type of music I listen to and I prefer classic old country to the newer stuff, but I’m open to it. I’ve worked it into the mix.

I also discovered something weird. Even though I never listen to country stations and stare blankly when country fans talk about their favorite singers, when I go to a bar with country music on the jukebox and get a pretty good buzz going, I not only like the songs, a lot of times I know the words. I remember years ago, sitting with a bunch of folks, all of us singing along to David Allan Coe’s “You Never Even Call Me By My Name” at the top of our lungs & having the best time ever. “I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison…” Apparently the little drunk guy in my brain is always gonna be a country music fan whether I like it or not.

And on the subject of country music and alcohol… I saw Crazy Heart last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. The movie stars Jeff Bridges as a washed-up, drunk country singer trying to get his act together. He was very convincing as a drunk and a singer. Kinda reminded me of Waylon Jennings. And in fact, he did sing, very well. Turns out he sings for fun in his spare time and they did a real nice job writing songs that fit his range, which is rather deep.

I had a pretty good idea I would like it when I realized T Bone Burnett was one of the producers and had a hand in writing the songs. “The Weary Kind,” co-written with Stephen Bruton, was in fact nominated for an Oscar.

I’ll give this movie 4 stars out of 5. Great story, acting and music. Also Maggie Gyllenhaal is a serious hottie.

And btw, if you only know T Bone Burnett from his work on movie soundtracks and production for artists like Allison Kraus and Robert Plant, you should check out his solo work too. His 2006 album True False Identity is a classic. (And not country, but rootsy crunchy rock ‘n’ roll).

With Allison and Ashley on their 21st

In an effort to catch up on my slight blog hiatus, I wanted to pass along new photos from Washington DC and my visit to Kansas. (My apologies for the insane amount of photos of my dog…)

You can see my new album here, but I promise to some day updated my Flickr account. I am surprised I haven’t chosen do that while procrastinating, but I guess that is evidence that I haven’t really even had time to procrastinate.

Alison Krauss – Down to the river – those who know me have heard this song before. But is one of my absolute favourites – and acappella This video does not show her – but it has great audio!

Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris – Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby – The sirens song from O Brother where are though (can not embedd – see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjVZB34ibNo for the singers or below for the movie scene)

Flying Pickets – Only You – good old 80′s stuff, remember?

Bobby McFerrin – Drive. The Master!

The Golden Gate Quarett – Mockingbird (from A Song is born – if you love music go see this movie!!!)

Bonus Track: Comedian Harmonists – Auf Wiedersehn – Munich, 1934 (!)

Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation – Soundstage: Live is available at Amazon for $17.99. To Order click here
Amazon Product Pages contain a lot of other details on this product as Customer Reviews, Sales Ranking, Special Offers, Alternate products that customers are going for and much more.Want to read these details? click here

Want to get some other Format / Binding / Version? You can search for them from here

Other Products of Interest

• Raising Sand
• No Quarter – Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded
• Nine Lives (Box Set)
• Mighty Rearranger
• Led Zeppelin – The Song Remains the Same

“what’s on your ipod?”

Now, I understand I’m not going to get EVERYTHING on the iPod, but it’s just fun to know what types of music people listen to.

Within the past year, if you know me and you have my myspace/facebook, you might have noticed that I’ve really loved, ok, been obsessed with, this band called Crooked Still. All I really listen to is them and their type of music. But let me tell you, it didn’t start with them, I’ve liked their type of music since I was a little girl.

Crooked Still is amazing because they take old Hymnals and traditional bluegrass tunes or songs from the Appalachia and Delta areas and make them their own, while still keeping that bluegrass style. For instance, they have a cello in their band, probably the best part of the band (for the first two albums), which you wouldn’t necessarily find if you went back to old timey Appalachia and watched them play their tunes. But I’ve liked this type of music since when my dad first played me Bob Dylan.

Yep, that’s right, I said it. Bob Dylan. He was really influenced by Bluegrass and the Blues like Robert Johnson and, believe it or not, incorporates a lot of those styles. So does Grateful Dead, especially Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. Then I heard Taj Mahal, probably one of the most famous blues/bluegrass musicians, and I fell deeper into my love of the sound. Then Michelle Shocked. Doc Watson. Ralph Stanley. Emmylou Harris. Allison Kraus. I could go on foreverrrr.

So what is on your ipod? Do you like Crooked Still, or any other types of bluegrass? Who?

By the way, here’s a YouTube clip for you to watch.

Lastly, I would love to hear your list or alternate opinions/choices. Tell me why I’m full of it about Radiohead or why I totally missed the boat on Springsteen’s ‘Magic’ (yep, not on my list). The list will count down from number 10 with a new album each day.. Here we go!

10) Neon Bible (The Arcade Fire)
9) April (Sun Kil Moon)

8: Raising Sand (Robert Plant & Allison Kraus)

I don’t consider myself to be in either the demographic of people enjoying Led Zepplin or the demographic who love the strains of bluegrass. Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate both styles of music, but neither one inspires me or brings me a whole lot of joy. It was for these reasons that I was highly skeptical about this collaboration. ‘Where would they find common ground?’, I wondered. Then I heard the first 30 seconds of the lead track, ‘Rich Woman’, and my wondering turned to wonderment.

The magic captured here is what Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris failed to discover in their ‘All the Roadrunning’ duet from 2006. Where that record struggled, this one surpasses all expectation. There is no hint of either laboring or overstimulation on this record – Nearly every song on this album falls into a midtempo groove that recalls the finest within the alt-country and folk-rock traditions.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the album’s producer, T. Bone Burnett. Mr. Burnett was involved every step of the way in this collaboration, from song selection to the final mix, and he doesn’t have a noticeable misstep in either area. The spirit of the songs fit perfectly with the voicing and Burnett’s Lanois-esque, atmospheric mix gives the recordings an ethereal almost mystical quality. If you worship Allison Kraus or Led Zepplin, this is probably not the record for you. If you long for the days when Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris were crooning together, than you may want to check out their spiritual successors: Robert Plant & Allison Kraus.

..Since I’ve shared anything about the music I’ve been enjoying.

Lately I have been writing more music and enjoying my own personal creations,.. but this has not dissuaded my pursuit of new and interesting musical artists.

So, here are the albums/artists I’ve been enjoying:

Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago

This is an album that takes repeated listens to fully appreciate,.. and, in the case of a few songs, begin to appreciate. This is an album of subtlety, layers, falsetto and looming disaster. The most accessible song on the album, ‘Skinny Love’ (listen to it here on my Muxtape), has a pretty standard singer-songwriter folk feel to it, but the rest of the record plays like an experiment in going as far away from that construct as possible. Alternately sparse and overflowing, this is a fantastic debut record that only reveals itself if the listener gives it time.

Bruce Cockburn: You Pay Your Money And You Take Your Chance

This is an old live record with 6 fantastic songs from Bruce Cockburn’s zenith as a songwriter. Yesterday’s post was the lyrics for ‘Call It Democracy’, a song on this album. Check it out and appreciate the poetic lyrics of good old Bruce.

Elvis Perkins: Ash Wednesday

Elvis Perkins is the son of a Anthony Perkins,.. famous for his role as Norman Bates in the movie Psycho and since passed away from AIDS. On September 11, 2001, an American Airline plane hit the first World Trade Center with Elvis’ mother on board. Needless to say, this debut album does not lack for emotion, a sense of mortality or catharsis. However, it all happens in a very old-timey folk style helped along with some brilliant hooks. His accompanying band is made up of a stand-up bass, pump organ and brush-led drum set. Elvis’ lyrics are particularly strong and the opening song is a of the ‘can’t-miss’ variety (listen to it here on my Muxtape). It’s hard to triangulate his sound, but I imagine that if you enjoy literate songwriting in the vein of Iron & Wine or Neutral Milk Hotel, this will be appealing on some level.

Robert Plant & Allison Kraus: Raising Sand

A lot of ink has been spilled about this collaboration and there is no question it deserves all the accolades it gets. The successful pairing of Led Zepplin’s front man and the Queen of bluegrass can be attributed to the fanciful instincts of T. Bone Burnett. The further genius of his record was cloaking the songs in a Lanois-style atmosphere (think Dylan’s ‘Time Out Of Mind’ and ‘Oh Mercy’). This record is chock-full of fantastic harmonies, perfect instrumentation and impeccable song selection. The first song, ‘Rich Woman’, is pretty indicative of the entire record and you can listen to it here at my Muxtape. This may be my favorite album of the ones listed here.

Son Lux: At War With Walls And Mazes

Thanks to Andy Whitman for turning me on to this great artist. The only way to describe this record is through extended analogy: Imagine that Thom Yorke left Radiohead and went to study under the Dalai Lama for several years. After returning from his sabbatical, Thom decides to re-record his solo album, ‘The Eraser’, using accompaniment from the New York Philharmonic,.. only he decides to retrain the players on electronica-instruments, keyboards, theremins and other random instruments. If that sounds appealing to you, check it out. Again, a sample is on my Muxtape.

Sun Kil Moon: April

Mark Kozelek has not come out with original material on an album since 2003. That, of course, was the perfectly suited ‘Ghosts Of The Great Highway.’ The long wait is over and man was it worth the time. ‘April’, in my opinion, is Kozelek’s best album ever dating back through his work with Red House Painters. The songs are long, unwieldy, repetitive and incredibly perfect. This album is another one whose virtues are only experienced through patience and intentional listening. It must be allowed to wash over and soak the listener to the core. I don’t have a sample song up because the individual songs are best appreciated within the context of the entire album. If you run out and buy one of these records, this one should probably be it.

Will Johnson: Vultures Await

Another extended analogy is necessary here: Imagine that Ryan Adams gets back on the hard liquor and for about six months the only thing he does is get drunk and listen to early Tom Waits’ records. Feeling inspired, Adams buys an abandoned property in the middle of Denton, Texas and records an entire record of Damien Jurado covers in the middle of a barn. That’s about as close as I can get to the sound and feel of this record. Check out the first track on my Muxtape.

Have fun listening and let me know your thoughts on these and other albums..R

I imagine many of you are like, “Winter? We had weather like that 3 months ago!” Yeah I know. It doesn’t even stay cold until we get to January and February. We’re back to 80 degrees and sunny this Friday.

4. Guitar Player Magazine – Featured Mark Tremonti an issue or two ago. My boy Jim brought me the article to peruse today! I’m very excited, it looks very good.

3. Robert Plant and Allison Krauss – Gone, Gone, Gone (Done moved one) – How in all the music that I review did I miss this?!?! The video gets a bit cheesy at the end, they kind of ran out of ideas and real smiley happy for like the last 45 seconds but goodness gracious if this is what the whole CD is like then I’m heading to iTunes today! Too bad I didn’t believe the hype when it was first released!

2. College Football – Why oh, why did it take me this long? I mean is every season like this? This has been ridic! I found myself watching the Oregon vs. Oregon St. game and it didn’t even matter it how the BCS Championship game was going to be determined but WHAT A CRAZY GAME! Both number 1st and 2nd ranked teams losing in the final week! The top 10 getting shuffled like a deck of cards man. What a day of football and just as I thought it was over…we start again with the bowls! Plan your parties now boys and girls!

1. LSU – Again, what a crazy day! How’d you like to start off your day like this:

We had some injuries and guys not up to full speed. We had a strong football team to contend with! I think the best line of the day was Les telling the girl walking off at half time that he wasn’t worried, “We’re a second half team!” HA that might be the understatement of the year
My Dad proved his powers of telling the future! “We need an interception here.” BLAMO the next play: interception! He did that twice!

Tennessee – 14
LSU – 21

WE’RE GOING TO THE BCS CHAMPIONSHIP BABY!

Here’s what’s needed for a toe-tapping hoe down Bluegrass Sunday:

• Banjo – essential!
• Fiddle – essentially awesome!
• Drums – boom chuck boom chuck
• Mandolin – man it sounds great!
• Harmonica – it’s the distorted sustain of bluegrass
• Harmonies – need those vocals
• Guitar – it’s probably the least important

It makes my week a living nightmare because this is so far out of my comfort zone it’s not even funny but it’s so different from anything we do that the people love it! And bluegrass, in small quantities is fun.

Songs we’re looking at:

• Foggy Mountain Breakdown – Prelude
• When the Saints Go Marching In
• I’ll Fly Away
• Power in the Blood
• Wholly Yours – Crowderesque off B Collision
• I’ll Fly Away – Crowderesque off A/B Collision

That afternoon:

• Hope lifted
• I’ll Fly Away
• Ain’t No Grave
• Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven – Alison Kraus style
• Stars

The blending in of the Crowder stuff gives familiar songs a cool new feel to it and pleases those not entirely embracing the Bluegrass.