Continuing a series looking back at the old Bruce Hornsby newsletters that Melissa Reagan would post out in the 1990s. This one previews the imminent “Hot House” and highlights Bruce’s first solo concerts. The reference to Bruce’s concert with the Grateful Dead on June 25 would turn out to be his last a a full-time touring member of that band.
Hot House
Bruce Hornsby’s fifth album, “Hot House,” will be released July 18. As reported in the last newsletter, the band consists of drummer John Molo, bassists Jimmy Haslip and J.V. Collier, keyboardist John “J.T.” Thomas, trumpeter John D’earth, trombonist Bobby Read, and vocalist Debbie Henry. “Hot House” was recorded and mixed at Bruce’s studio in Virginia by engineer Wayne Pooley. Guest artists include Pat Metheny, Jerry Garcia, Bela Fleck, Chaka Khan, David Hollister and Levi Little from Blackstreet, and Joe White.
The first single is “Walk in the Sun,” although other cuts will be previewed on certain radio formats prior to the album’s availability in the stores. The video for “Walk in the Sun” was shot by filmmaker David Hogan, who has done videos for Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, and The Dave Matthews Band, in mid-June. Shot in Southern California, it includes appearances by members of the California Angels baseball team.
When asked how “Hot House” compares to his previous releases, Bruce responded, “This record is our most festive, exuberant, ‘live’-sounding record to date. There’s a lot of stretching on it and more of a soul element than on our past records. It gives us lots of good, new uptempo songs for our gigs.”
Solo Benefit Concerts
Bruce performed two sold-out solo piano concerts in May in Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia, benefiting Virginia Special Olympics and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The concerts netted over $100,000.00 for the organizations. Bruce practiced three to five hours a day for four months in preparation for the solo shows. For years, Bruce received requests to perform solo piano, and plans to continue with additional solo piano concerts are under consideration.
Bruce has performed in other benefits this year, notably Gloria Steinem’s Voters for Choice concert in Washington, D.C., Keyboard Magazine’s 20th Anniversary concert in Anaheim, CA, an Austin City Limits benefit concert in Texas, and Earth Day, performing on the Mall in Washington, D.C.
National Anthem
Basketball fans Branford and Bruce were honored to play the National Anthem at the last-ever Boston Garden home game of the Boston Celtics. Three weeks earlier, Bruce played the anthem solo for Larry Bird Night. The historic Boston Garden is to be razed and will no longer be home to the Celtics.
Bruce also played the National Anthem at the first game of the NBA Finals in Orlando, FL. on June 7. Bruce played a version similar to the one available on the soundtrack of Ken Burns’ “Baseball.”
Other Projects
Bruce has made several guest appearances on other artists’ records. In January, he played accordion for Warren Zevon’s upcoming release. He also played piano on Bela Fleck’s new album titled “Tales from the Acoustic Planet,” released in May Bruce, Branford Marsalis, Patti Austin, and others recorded the Leonard Bernstein song “Cool” for an upcoming West Side Story tribute album to Bernstein.
Chaka Khan wrote words and Bruce wrote music for “Love Me Still”, a ballad that will be the end-title song in Spike Lee’s new film, “Clockers.” Chaka came to Virginia to collaborate with Bruce and ended up staying on for some background vocals on “Country Doctor” on “Hot House.”
Bonnie Raitt will record a live album in July in Northern California. Bruce will play piano on “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and a new ballad.
VH1 “Naked Cafe”
Bruce recently filmed a segment for “Naked Cafe” on VH1. He took batting practice with Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew and the California Angels before their game with the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. No air-date has been scheduled for the show, but it will be announced on VH1.
The Grateful Dead
Bruce sat in with the Grateful Dead in March in Charlotte, NC. It was the first time he played grand piano with the band since he stopped playing with them full-time in March, 1992,.
In addition to the March gig, Bruce played at the Dead’s sold-out shows in Washington, D.C. on June 24 and 25.
Don’t Forget the ‘Net
If you have access to the Internet, there is a newsgroup devoted to Bruce and his music. In addition to comments from all over the world, this newsletter, tour dates, and other important information about Bruce are posted regularly. Subscribe to rec.music.artists.bruce-
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Hot House Tour
The “Hot House Tour” will begin this summer. Concerts with the band were still being scheduled when this was mailed, so expect more dates.
Borders Appearances
Bruce will be making special appearances at Borders stores throughout the U.S. Borders is a new concept in superstores, offering music, books, and coffee under one roof. Bruce will perform solo piano and answer questions during a post-performance meet-and-greet. Call your local Borders for more details.
Questions for Bruce
1. Why don’t you have a guitar in your band anymore?
We like the space, the openness of the no-guitar line-up. It allows us to be more spontaneous and go anywhere we want with the music. The basic fact is this: electric guitar and acoustic piano are a hellish combination, very unwieldy, and hard to make work. For instance, Neil Dorisman, co-producer of our second record, jokingly nicknamed us “Bruce Hornsby and the Mid-Range” because of the overly thick combination of electric guitar and piano.
2. Why do you still practice? What is accomplished?
I recently recommitted myself to the piano, in the sense that I haven’t really concentrated on the piano other than in isolated spurts in years, being more into songwriting. I’m developing areas of playing that I never had gotten together before, and to be specific about it would be an hour-long discussion. So, in short, A LOT is accomplished.
3. Do you have a favorite song from “Hot House”?
My favorite song, by a hair, is “The Changes.” I really like the mood we captured on the track, and I felt I was able to capture the setting and the feeling I was looking for in the lyrics. It is basically a song about our band in the old lounge days, trying to play jazz to great indifference.
4. Will you be on TV anytime soon?
I’m scheduled for “The Late Show with David Letterman” on July 28, but there will be other morning TV appearances and probably “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” around the time of the release of “Hot House.”