STONY PLAIN'S E-MAIL NEWSLETTER # 41

Exciting news. First of all, right now TWO Stony Plain CDs are currently on Billboard's blues chart. Duke Robillard's "World Full of Blues" is at #7, and Maria Muldaur's "Naughty, Bawdy & Blue" is at a lucky #13. And at the same time, our very special Harry Manx and Kevin Breit CD ("In Good We Trust") is #2 on the Folk/Roots chart at Galaxie, CBC's continuous music channel. Secondly, we're proud to announce the release of "The Gift: A Tribute to Ian Tyson." The first single is a wonderful version of Ian's best-known song "Four Strong Winds", by Canada's favourite roots-rock band, Blue Rodeo. And the summer is meant to be the quiet time around here!

HOLGER PETERSEN

Five New Releases From Stony Plain

VARIOUS ARTISTS: "THE GIFT: A TRIBUTE TO IAN TYSON" (SPCD 1322).

Featuring BLUE RODEO, JENNIFER WARNES, CHRIS HILLMAN, GORDON LIGHTFOOT, and many more. Released in Canada July 17, and in the US, via Koch Distribution, October 9.

MARIA MULDAUR: "NAUGHTY, BAWDY & BLUE" (SPCD 1319) Already released internationally. Currently #13 on Billboard's Blues Chart, and earning rave reviews.

DUKE ROBILLARD: "WORLD FULL OF BLUES" (SPCD 1323) Already released internationally. This week at #7 on Billboard's blues chart.

HARRY MANX & KEVIN BREIT: "IN GOOD WE TRUST" (SPCD 1320) Already released internationally.

VALDY & GARY FJELLGAARD: "CONTENDERS TWO: STILL IN THE RUNNING" (SPCD 1321) Released in Canada. A smashing follow-up to their first CD, "Contenders" (SPCD 1262). Simple, strong and sincere songs, shot through with the truth; an off-stage best-seller everywhere they play.

Koch Distribution to handle Stony Plain distribution in the U.S.

The purchase of Navarre Distribution by Koch Inc. means that Stony Plain's catalogue - with well over 100 active titles - will now be handled in the United States by a different distributor. Stony Plain's Holger Petersen said the move had been made easy. "We had talked with Koch in the past about handling the label in the U.S.; when the company acquired Navarre, which had been working with Stony Plain for four years, I got a call from Michael Koch. He laughted and said 'We always wanted to distribute Stony Plain, so we had to buy Navarre to make it possible.'" Petersen said he was happy that a number of the people at Navarre who had worked with Stony Plain are now with Koch. "The changeover has gone well, and we're delighted to work with a company that understands the roots music scene."

All-Star Tribute to Ian Tyson

Ian Tyson has been one of Canada's most distinctive songwriters for more than 40 years. Since the early '60s, he has created a spectacular body of work - and now a distinguished group of Canadian and American artists have recorded some of his classic songs for a tribute album in his honour. The first single from the CD is Blue Rodeo's rocking version of Tyson's best-known song, Four Strong Winds. The CD is available in Canada July 17, and in the U.S. on October 9.

"The Gift: A Tribute to Ian Tyson," has been in the works for more than a year. Stony Plain Records' Holger Petersen and award-winning music journalist Peter North asked Tyson's friends, associates, admirers and one-time sidemen to contribute, and shepherded their songs through production. The response was both positive and immediate. Fifteen of Tyson's songs are performed by an all-star cast including Jennifer Warnes, one-time member of The Byrds Chris Hillman, Gordon Lightfoot, and rowdy Alberta renegade Corb Lund.Former musicians who have worked with Tyson over the years - David Rea, Stewart MacDougall, Amos Garrett, Cindy Church, Buddy Cage and Jeff Bradshaw - all contributed tracks. Other participants, in addition to Blue Rodeo, include Ramblin' Jack Elliott, The Good Brothers, The McDades and Tom Russell. Tyson, who marks his 75th birthday next year, continues to run the Tyson Ranch in the foothills of the Rockies south of Calgary, and tours in Canada and the U.S., playing some 75 concerts a year. He's a member of the Juno Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Order of Canada.Said producer Peter North, longtime music writer for the Edmonton Journal and music director of Alberta's CKUA radio network: "Tyson's songs cross a musical landscape that includes the folk revival of the '60s, the birth of country rock, hardcore honkytonk music and his own chosen place as a spokesperson for cowboy culture." "A tribute to Ian, who is certainly not ready to call it a day on the ranch, has definitely been in order for some time now."

Tyson tribute track listing: 1. Four Strong Winds Blue Rodeo 2. MC Horses Corb Lund 3. Blue Mountains of Mexico Jennifer Warnes 4. What Does She See Chris Hillman 5. Red Velvet Gordon Lightfoot 6. The Gift David Rea 7. Range Delivery Cindy Church 8. Smuggler's Cove The McDades 9. Some Kind of Fool Amos Garrett 10. Old Cheyenne Tom Russell 11. Someday Soon The Circus in Flames with Buddy Cage 12. Will James Ramblin' Jack Elliott 13. You're Not Alone Anymore Stewart MacDougall 14. Summer Wages The Good Brothers 15. Moondancer Jeff Bradshaw
(Bonus Track: Interview with Ramblin' Jack Elliott & Buddy Cage)

Rave reviews for Maria Muldaur, Duke Robillard, Jeff Healey, and Harry Manx & Kevin Breit

MARIA MULDAUR: NAUGHTY BAWDY AND BLUE: THE RAVES CONTINUE"

'Naughty, Bawdy & Blue' is the third installment in a series of exceptional albums that Maria Muldaur has recorded for Stony Plain in tribute to the pioneering blues artists of the 1920s and '30s. Collaborating here with James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band, Muldaur turns in absolutely wonderful renditions of sassy, double-entendre-rich songs like Victoria Spivey's 'One Hour Mama' and Alberta Hunter's 'Early Every Morn.' Among the set's highlights is an absolutely delicious duet with Bonnie Raitt on Sippie Wallace's 'Separation Blues.' Five stars." - Mike Regenstreif, Montreal Gazette

"Maria Muldaur's series of old-time blues and jazz releases for the Stony Plain imprint concludes with this appropriately titled set. Muldaur sure has the pipes and integrity for this - alternatively playful, sexy and downtrodden, and these dozen tracks find her inspired both by the strong, occasionally humorous material and the superb backing musicians in James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band. "There is no attempt to modernize these classic vaudeville and Dixieland era tunes; rather the intent is to be true to the original style with acoustic backing played in, and with, the spirit that made them so popular in their day. "It's a fun, frisky and enlightening ride from a vocalist who has always promoted this music mixed in with her other styles, and an album that leaves the listener anticipating a follow-up. - Hal Horowitz, www.amazon.com

"On 'Naughty, Bawdy & Blue,' Muldaur wraps herself in 'red hot mama' finery, which looks as good on her as on Mae West curled on a velvet divan. Muldaur eats it all up and sings it back, her voice a husky bravado, her phrasing dripping with blues and playful sensuality. "Compare her performance with that of Bonnie Raitt, her duo partner on 'Separation Blues': Raitt is great, but Muldaur has found her place deep in the beckoning bosom of this music." - Bob Doerschuk, No Depression. July/August.

DUKE ROBILLARD: HITTING THE TOP OF HIS GAME

"Progressing from a Roomful of Blues to a World Full of Blues, Robillard's all-killer-no-filler double disc takes you deep into the guitar ace's heart, soul and mind. Playing all the stuff that's meaningful to him, you follow the path and have no regrets. This is a veteran ace just hitting the top of his game after a career already full of high points." - Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Recap, June

"Veteran blues guitarist Duke Robillard latest release 'World Full of Blues' seems like a long life wish of the Duke. Mr. Robillard's intention was to record a set of music that touches upon nearly all the areas of blues and blues related music - the result is a great success. "Grammy nominee Robillard succeeds in making a double CD which keeps fascinating and swinging for the full 115 (!!!) minute length of the CDs. If you like blues music and you are not a so-called purist this is an album that has to be in your collection." - Ton Wanton, www.triplerblues.com, Holland

JEFF HEALEY HITS ONE OUTTA THE PARK

"Trad jazz often feels like another lap around the block- old songs, old arrangements, old-fashioned cheer. Chris Barber, a graceful musician with some growl in his trombone, has run that race for 50 years and won it a few times. His guest appearance here rounds out a band that builds on the Hot Club as much as the Big Easy, and completes Healey's own transformation from blind blues guitarist to trumpet king." - Tom Hull, The Village Voice, NY, reviewing "It's Tight Like That" by Jeff Healey & The Jazz Wizards (SPCD-1314)

HARRY MANX & KEVIN BREIT: A MATCH MADE IN GUITAR HEAVEN?

"'In Good We Trust' is the second installment of the occasional collaboration betwixt Canadian string-slingers Kevin Breit (who leads the Sisters Euclid and plays with Norah Jones) and Harry Manx (who has a fine catalog of world-beat blues solo albums). "The emphasis here is not on technical virtuosity. There's plenty of that, mind you, especially when Breit spins off a jazzy solo or Manx mans his mohan veena (a sort of Indian slide guitar). But the collection is all about songs and what each man can bring to them, from the banjo/slide mandolin duets on 'Better Man's Waltz' to the mysterious vibes on 'Death Have Mercy' to Manx's homemade cigar box slide on a cover of Bruce Springsteen's 'I'm on Fire.' And that's not mentioning Manx's warm singing throughout. "This is roots music made by musicians who respect tradition but don't define themselves by it, making 'In Good We Trust" a constant delight." - Michael Toland, www.Communitylivejournal.com/highbias

"There's no other way to describe this union of Canada's two most strikingly unorthodox string wielders than by calling it a match made in guitar heaven. It was bound to happen, although most assumed the fates would delay the confab by a few years. "The great news is that 'In Good We Trust' fulfills one's anticipations from the opening. While eight of the 11 tracks are vocals, the hypnotic interweaving of an armada of stringed instruments is so effortless it would be an appropriate Freudian slip to call the protagonists Harry Breit and Kevin Manx. "So kick back, find your favorite relaxing place, and treat yourself to one of the most sublime listens this side of the Himalayas." - Gary Tate, Jazz Report ________________________________________

Memorial service in UK for Long John Baldry

A memorial service for the late Long John Baldry is to be held at St. Lawrence's Church, Whitchurch Lane, Edgware, London, at noon on Sunday July 22. Melanie Baldry, John's sister-inlaw, writes: "We would not wish to think that anyone who may like to attend was not aware of the service being held." John's long involvement with Stony Plain Records is something that everyone with the label - as well as his fans around the world - treasures deeply. He was indeed a legendary singer; a unique, witty, eccentric, and loveable person. He will always be missed.

Stony Plain news notes: Jeff Healey, Harry Manx, Corb Lund

Great Canadian Blues Award Harry Manx is the winner of the 16th annual Saturday Night Blues Great Canadian Blues Award. It's a lifetime achievement award voted on by the listeners of Saturday Night Blues, the long-running CBC blue show.

Corb Lund honoured by COCA Corb Lund has been honoured by the Canadian Organization for Campus Activities (COCA) with the Contemporary Music Recording Award. This is the first time the award has gone to a non-rock artist - previous winners include Theory of a Deadman, The Trews, and Sam Roberts.

Honour for Jeff Healey

Jeff Healey will receive an honorary licentiate from Conservatory Canada, London, Ontario, in celebration of a new jazz syllabus. The licentiate is Conservatory Canada's equivalent of an honorary degree. The award ceremony will take place on November 10 at the London Public Library's Wolf Performance Hall. Healey's being recognized for his extensive knowledge of classic jazz, and for his work as trumpeter and guitarist within the idiom as leader of his ensemble the Jazz Wizards. Healey is also recognized by Conservatory Canada as an excellent role model for their students. Previous honourees include pianist Oscar Peterson and soprano Mary Lou Falls (Toronto).

Reach Out to Stony Plain

Check the new Stony Plain website to buy music, check the back catalogue, get bio information on our artists, and read news from past newsletters:

www.stonyplainrecords.com/web

o Snail-mail goes to P.O. Box 861, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 2L8, Canada
o Phone: (780) 468-6423
o FAX: (780) 465-8941.
o Write to Stony Plain's head man, Holger Petersen, via e-mail at holger@stonyplainrecords.com

o The man in our too-busy stock room is Peter Chapman. Mail orders, web enquiries, occasional coffee making - this guy does it all!

If you want off this list, need media information, review or airplay copies, etc., please get in touch with newsletter editor Richard Flohil: rflohil@sympatico.ca, or (416) 351-1323.