It’s not country, it’s just music
Brennen Leigh’s “visceral, evocative grounding” for home makes her a nigh near perfect country musician.
All posts tagged: Asleep at the Wheel
Willie and the Wheel
Fresh off their performance at the National Preservation Conference in Tulsa last fall, Western Swing band Asleep at the Wheel has joined with country music legend Willie Nelson for a new CD of Western Swing classics entitled Willie and the Wheel. The Washington Post’s J. Freedom du Lac wrote a strong review of the album in which he said, For several years, the iconoclastic singer-songwriter Willie Nelson has been surrounding himself with unlikely musical collaborators, from pop ditz Jessica Simpson and jazzman Wynton Marsalis to the rapper Snoop Dogg, with whom Nelson shares an abiding love of lighting up — and seemingly little else. The pairings have produced more misses than hits as Nelson’s musical proffer has become wildly uneven. (Witness Nelson’s dreadful 2005 reggae experiment, “Countryman,” which should be filed in record bins under Jamaica Mistake.) But for Nelson’s new album, “Willie and the Wheel,” he found the perfect partners: Western swing preservationists Asleep at the Wheel, who helped the aging country outlaw get in touch with his inner Bob Wills, to marvelously vibrant effect. …
Take Me Home Down Route 66
Just arrived home after a week in Tulsa for the National Preservation Conference. National Trust staff posted some great updates throughout the week on the PreservationNation.org blog which I recommend. I did see some great art deco architecture and thought the Gilcrease Museum was a real treasure (check out the amazing Ansel Adams exhibit). But since I spent the better part of the week in partner and board meetings, I’m not the best judge of all the city had to offer. So I’ll just post this picture from last evening’s terrific closing party with Asleep at the Wheel and say thanks to Marty, Marcia, Cliff and all our hosts from Oklahoma for a great week. We’ll let Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel take us home with a great version of Route 66! More to come… DJB
Asleep at the Wheel and Cain’s Ballroom – Can It Get Any Better?
Tulsa’s historic Cain’s Ballroom – the home of Bob Wills – was the perfect setting to hear Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel. We were there for the final party of the 2008 National Preservation Conference, and Benson used the occasion for a history lesson of western swing. With his beautiful bass voice, fluid guitar lines, and expert showmanship, Benson had the crowd in his hand from the opening notes of Take Me Back to Tulsa. The tight band worked through song after song in the western swing catalog (“Western Swing Ain’t Dead…It’s Asleep at the Wheel!) We danced to Choo Choo Boogie, Faded Love, and so much more. It was great to hear this band with so many friends and colleagues. Kaye told me they are her favorite band and she cleans the house while listening to their CDs. Ed told me he saw them once in New York, but “they’re much better here.” Must be that cultural context. Newcomers to the music kept saying, “what a terrific band.” Indeed. Great way to …
MORE TO COME... 