Bruce guests on others’ albums while working on his own, and JT Thomas scores CBS’ “The Story of Santa Claus”! Continuing a look at the Bruce Hornsby newsletter archive, sent by Melissa Reagan direct from Bruce’s office in the 1990s/early 2000s. Links have been added where appropriate to add context. The “new album” was Spirit Trail, subsequently released in 1998.
The New Album
Bruce is currently at work on his sixth album, as yet untitled, which will likely be released in the spring of ’97. Dennis Herring is co-producing the album. The band (John Molo on drums, J.V. Collier on bass, J.T. Thomas on keyboards, John D’Earth on trumpet, Bobby Read on saxophone, and Debbie Henry, vocals) has been recording in Bruce’s studio in Williamsburg in November. Bruce will be recording in New Orleans in December at Herring’s request and will return to Virginia for more recording in January. Song titles include “See the Same Way”, “Sad Moon”, “King of the Hill”, “Preacher in the Ring”, and “Resting Place”.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert Album
The CD set of performances from the Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recorded live last September in Cleveland, has been released on Epic Records. The CD includes Bruce and the band’s version of “I Know You Rider” as a tribute to the late Jerry Garcia, as well as tracks by Al Green, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, James Brown, and the Allman Brothers, among many others.
Other Recordings
A tribute album to the late bluegrass legend Bill Monroe, known as the “Father of Bluegrass”, is being put together by Ricky Skaggs, former “Bluegrass Boy” member. Bruce is one of many artists who will contribute music to this project.
In addition, Bruce is writing a new song to play and sing on Randy Scruggs’ album, to be recorded in January. Other guest artists include Bob Dylan, Vince Gill, and Neil Young.
Bela Fleck’s latest album, “Live Art”, features Bruce’s piano solo on “More Love”. Bruce will perform with Bela at the Berks Jazz Festival on March 23 in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Jazz Festivals
Bruce and his band will perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which runs from April 25 to May 4. The exact performance date has not been confirmed. Bruce and his band thoroughly enjoyed performing at the JVC Newport Jazz Festival last August and have been asked to play several more jazz festivals in 1997.
Furthur and Furthur
The Furthur Festival will return next summer with Bruce and the band again part of the traveling troupe. Dates are tentatively scheduled in the U.S. for June 15 to August 1. Expect a change in the line-up from last year.
Benefit with Jackson Browne for the Sacred Heart Center
Jackson Browne and Bruce played a night of acoustic music for a sold-out audience in Richmond, VA on October 18. Each performed separately and then came together to do four songs at the Running on Empty, which Bruce last performed at The Cave in Virginia Beach in 1979. The Sacred Heart Center is a nonprofit community center serving low-income families in South Richmond.
JT and the Christmas Special
John Thomas, the keyboardist in Bruce’s band, has just completed cowriting the music and lyrics for CBS’s new animated special, “The Story of Santa Claus“. It is scheduled to air December 4, and will feature the voices of Ed Asner, Betty White, and Tim Curry.
“Tin Cup”
If you saw the Kevin Costner golf movie, you may have recognized Bruce’s voice on two songs. Bruce wrote “Big Stick“, a Bruce-described “Cajun Golf Song” and re-recorded “Nobody There But Me” Tor the film’s soundtrack. (“Nobody There But Me” was written by John Hornsby, bassist Charlie Haden, and Bruce and originally recorded by Willie Nelson). Both songs have a country flavor, and the soundtrack is available at music stores.
Other Stuff
Bruce was recently invited to join the Board of Directors of the Rex Foundation, begun in 1983 by members and friends of the Grateful Dead in memory of deceased crew member Donald “Rex” Jackson. The foundation provides funding in the form of block grants to a variety of non-profit agencies, projects, and artists throughout the country.
Also, Bruce is the national spokesman for “Rock & Wrap It Up”, a program initiated by Syd Mandelbaum encouraging musical artists on tour to donate their unused backstage food and drinks to shelters in the cities where they perform. During last summer’s Furthur Festival tour, over 3,000 pounds of food was collected; enough to put food on over 8,000 plates.
Questions for Bruce
1. When did you write the songs for this new album? Do you take a block of time and concentrate your efforts, or do you write on and off?
My writing process is a very nebulous, never-ending search that remains fairly mysterious, even to me. Writing is never jar from my mind; just hardly ever come up with anything I like. People who know me well know that when I get that “spaced” look and have drifted away from the conversation at hand, it’s often because I’m thinking of a song idea.
2. What’s the hardest thing about starting to record a new album?
No one thing is harder than another. I’ve never really enjoyed the recording process. I’ve always found it difficult. Frankly, I only find avoiding it to be easy.
3. Are you ever going to record a solo piano album? Or release your version of “The End of the Innocence”?
Yes, I probably will record a solo piano album. Innocence will surely come out on some live or compilation album one of these days.
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