June News
Hip Hop Public Health and the Partnership for a Healthier America today announced the release of Songs for a Healthier America, an innovative collaboration between musicians, physicians, public health researchers, health advocates and school-aged children designed to motivate kids to make healthier exercise and wellness choices. The album was announced on NBC's The Dr. Oz show and features Paul Burch and the WPA Ballclub along with Doug E. Fresh, DMC, Artie Green, Jordin Sparks, and many others. Stay tuned for more news and events about the album and read more about it here.
The WPA Ballclub's Fats Kaplin will host a special performance at Grimey's Records in Nashville on Friday, June 28 to celebrate the release of his critically acclaimed one-two punch collection Fats Kaplin plays The Fatman Cometh and World of Wonder. When we say "Fats Kapin & Friends" are performing, you can be sure it will be seriously good. 6pm downbeat. Don't miss it.
Two longtime friends of the WPAB, Mark Knopfler and bandmate and producer extraordinaire Richard Bennett have new albums out. Knopfler's Privateering was recorded at British Grove Studios where the WPA cut East to West. And Bennett's fantastic For the Newly Blue was produced at George Bradfute's Tone Chapparal, the site of many WPAB sessions including "Life of A Fool" featured in David Cronenberg's History of Violence and "Sparks Fly Out" from HBO's True Blood. Check 'em out.
The new Paul Burch album will soon be officially announced but we can tell you it features --who else?--the WPA Ballclub along with chanteuse Kelly Hogan. We can also tell you the artwork is being drafted by Dean Blackwood, the Texas wizard behind GRAMMY winning Revenant Records. Revenant will have some very interesting news of their own in the near future. Be prepared to be amazed.
Jen Gunderman, the WPAB's badass Queen of the Keys can be seen this summer on stage with Sheryl Crow on keyboards, tambourine, and harmony. Jen also gets a Gold Glove as assistant producer on Still Your Man and Words of Love. Check out Sheryl and our own Fats Kaplin on CMT's Crossroads birthday salute to Willie Nelson.
Dennis Crouch, upright bassist extraordinaire and a founding member of the WPA Ballclub (class of 1995) is on tour this summer with the great Diana Krall in support of her new album Glad Rag Doll produced by T Bone Burnett. It's a great show--don't miss it.
RECENT HAPPENINGS
Look for news soon on David Olney's new album, Predicting the Past, produced by Paul Burch and featuring Olney's longtime compadre Sergio Webb along with Ballclub members Fats Kaplin, Dennis Crouch, and Jen Gunderman. The album was recorded at Pan American Sound live to tape. We look forward to previewing this beautiful album soon. And congrats to David whose terrific song, "Postcard from Mexico," was featured for the second time on ABC's Nashville.
Thanks to Bob Delevante, one of our favorite photographers and designers, for the beautiful new pics. Bob is a hammer-strong songwriter and performer on his own and rumour has it that he might be headed to Pan American Sound studios very soon with longtime producer and E-Street Band bassist Gary Tallent. Look for Bob's photos in our Snaps section and stay tuned for further pics, films, and clues to the new WPA Ballclub album soon.
Check out Chrissie Dickinson's recent feature in the Chicago Tribune on the good Dr. Ralph Stanley which features an interview with PB about recording "Little Glass of Wine" with Ralph at Studio B in Nashville. You'll also find Ralph's terrific sense of humor is intact especially when he describes touring in the early days of the Stanley Brothers. "It was harder then," said Ralph. "We have a lot better roads now. Back then we had sheep paths."
American Songwriter chose PB's "Flight to Spain" as #26 in their Best Songs of 2012. Hear "Flight to Spain" on PB's fab album with The Waco Brothers, Great Chicago Fire, on Bloodshot Records. Great Chicago Fire features songs by Jon and Dean and PB and were all arranged quickly, recorded fast, and mixed loud. Trouble your neighbors, disturb the peace, make yourself heard amongst the 99% with The Great Chicago Fire.
PB and the Waco Brothers's Great Chicago Fire is a classic slow-burn album. It started with a big spark (and was hailed by the Chicago Tribune-"If the Rolling Stones were still making great records, they would sound like this.") and has since become one of those albums that will not go quietly into that good night. Fans who caught the quintet hammering out their 3-day tour of the midwest last fall can attest to the healing powers of PBWACO rock and roll. Missed it? Fear not. The fire's not out. The kind folks at KDHX in St.Louis recorded the boys during a Sunday breakfast (3pm) show. As you might expect, it's the music equivalent to the assault on Bastogne. Hear the onslaught at the KDHX website.
Dig The Tennessean's new podcast with PB over a wide range of subjects including the Waco Brothers, Tootsie's, Lambchop, the WPA Ballclub, and what Nashville can learn from Taylor Swift.
