In this issue...
• Stony Plain's E-mail Newsletter #52 March 25, 2009
• Ryko to distribute Stony Plain in the U.S.
• International touring for Joe Louis Walker
• Major award nominations for Stony Plain artists
• Sunny and Her Joy Boys: Everything old is brand new
• News from Stony Plain central
• Videos To Watch
• Quote of the month
• Media folk have their say about our artists
• Quick checklist of new releases
• How to keep in touch with Stony Plain
|  Stony Plain's E-mail Newsletter #52 March 25, 2009
March is a busy month, and it's been a significant one for us here at Stony Plain. First of all, we've finalized a new distribution deal for our records in the U.S. with our friends at Ryko. The first Stony Plain CDs to be released under the arrangements are Ian Tyson's new one, and the wonderfully understated new jazz album by Sunny and Her Joy Boys. It's also a busy month for conventions, with Folk Alliance in Memphis, Canadian Music Week in Toronto, and South By South West in Austin. We'll also be at the Juno Awards in Vancouver, and the upcoming Blues Awards in Memphis, which will be marked by a special appearance by B.B. King. Spring's coming, everyone! Honest!! HOLGER PETERSEN |  Ryko to distribute Stony Plain in the U.S.
Stony Plain has signed a new U.S. distribution agreement with Ryko Distribution. The agreement aligns the Canadian-based label with a company that has set the standard for distribution organizations that deal in blues, roots music and deep catalogue. Says Stony Plain's Holger Petersen: "Everyone at Ryko has such enthusiasm and a real awareness of good music. Last year, they experienced a 10% increase in sales - despite all the difficulties the music industry is facing. We're very pleased to be working with a company that is full of music lovers and who specialize in genre music and catalog. "It's a new start for us in the world's biggest music market, and it comes as we move into our 33rd year." Ryko president Jim Cuomo describes the deal as "a union of like minded, kindred spirits - and one that was long overdue. "The passion, creativity and perpetuation of the highest levels of professional and artistic integrity that Holger and Stony Plain vice president Alvin Jahns bring to the community are the kind of stuff that will help you to keep the faith." Cuomo added: "We're both honored and privileged to welcome Stony Plain to the Ryko family in the United States." The first Stony Plain releases under the new agreement rolled out yesterday, with the March 24 release of new CDs by legendary singer/songwriter Ian Tyson (Yellowhead to Yellowstone and other Love Stories) and the debut album from Sunny Crownover (Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys), which features the singer backed by a band led by guitarist/producer Duke Robillard. To celebrate the new releases, we have two free mp3 downloads from Ian Tyson's new album. Visit our Ian Tyson page to get them! Domestically, Stony Plain will continue to be distributed by Warner Music Canada, while distribution in other territories is handled by a variety of companies. Ryko Distribution is part of the Warner group of companies in the U.S. |  International touring for Joe Louis Walker
Following a special concert March 5 at the Beacon in New York, where he was a special guest with Levon Helm, Joe Louis Walker continued to build his reputation as an international blues artist second only to B.B. King and Buddy Guy. This month he tours in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany and then follows up with April dates in Scandinavia with L'il Ed & The Imperials. After some California concerts at the month's end, he's set to return to France, Belgium and Switzerland. And, to fill more pages in his passport, he's set for July dates in Canada, including a date in Sackville, New Brunswick and the Atlantic Jazz Festival in Halifax on July 11. - March 25 Twist, Germany Heimet Haus
- March 26 Mol, Belgium Café Moulenberg
- March 27 Cleon, France La Traverse
- March 28 Cuijk, NL Blues Alive
- April 1 Stockholm, Sweden Faching
- April 2 Copenhagen, D'mark Amager Bio
- April 3 Sweden TBA
- April 4 Aarus, Denmark Djurs Festival
- April 24 Folsom, CA Po' Boyz
- April 25 San Francisco, CA San Francisco Jazz Gala
- April 26 San Francisco, CA Biscuits N' Blues
>> Listen to clips and purchase the album "Witness To The Blues" from stonyplainrecords.com | Major award nominations for Stony Plain artists The Stony Plain releases nominated for Juno Awards - the Canadian equivalent of the Grammies - are: - Get Way Back: A Tribute to Percy Mayfield - Amos Garrett
- Acoustic Blues: Got 'em From The Bottom - Big Dave McLean
- Mess Of Blues - Jeff Healey
The Juno Awards will be presented in Vancouver, BC, Sunday March 29. Stony Plain artists/releases nominated for Blues Foundation Awards are: - Acoustic Artist of the Year - Rory Block
- Acoustic Album of the Year - Blues Walkin' Like a Man - Rory Block
- Rock Blues Album of the Year - Mess of Blues - Jeff Healey
- Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year - Maria Muldaur
- Guitar Player of the Year - Ronnie Earl
- Horn Player of the Year - Doug James
- Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year - Bruce Katz
- Blues DVD of the Year - Hope Radio Sessions DVD - Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters
The Blues Foundation Awards will be presented Thursday May 7 in Memphis, TN. |  Sunny and Her Joy Boys: Everything old is brand new
Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys is the voice of newcomer Sunny Crownover and the brainchild of Stony Plain's award-winning guitarist and producer Duke Robillard, and it's a collection of tunes from the great era of American popular song. Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys was released by Stony Plain in Canada and the U.S. on March 24. It's the latest of many eclectic and wildly different projects Robillard has brought to Stony Plain over the years, and it's also the first that's featured a woman singer, and a band of classic jazz players. And it's the first Robillard project without a drummer. The CD salutes the golden era of women vocalists of the '20s through the '50s, where big bands and small combos alike created classic American pop, swing and blues songs of the day. Robillard says he's wanted to cover this sort of classic jazz for 35 years. "I'm really fond of the swing-era female vocalists, and tunes from the Depression Era, Tin Pan Alley tunes and tunes by the great writers. Until now, I never found the right vocalist." Robillard assembled a small all-acoustic group to provide sympathetic backing to Crownover's voice, with Billy Novick on clarinet and alto saxophone, Duke and Paul Kalesnikow on arch top guitars and Jesse Williams on acoustic bass. Many of the tracks were done in a single take, a testament to the chemistry between the singer and band. The label expects major play for Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys on jazz stations, and strong support from jazz-based publications. >> Listen to clips and order the album "Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys" from stonyplainrecords.com |  News from Stony Plain central
One of the most moving books to cross Stony Plain's desk in recent years is Labours of Love: Canadians Talk About Adoption , by Deborah A. Brennan and published by Dundurn Press in Toronto. The book includes a chapter in which the author interviews Jeff Healey, and tells the story of how this boy, first fostered and then adopted, and how his parents coped with the blindness that developed early in his life. There's a positive message from Jeff himself, who passed away just before the book went to the publishers: "I can say completely and to the end of my days that concerning my life everything that has happened has happened for a reason. The people who by the grace of God were supposed to take care of me adopted me. "They were smart enough to recognize my health problems and get the help I needed. So I can very easily and justifiably say that adoption was the right thing for me." Toronto's massive Luminato Festival will open June 5 with a major free concert in the city's Yonge-Dundas Square – featuring Duke Robillard, Randy Bachman and Digging Roots, the latter a well-known Aboriginal duo. Kevin Breit and Harry Manx will revive their guitar duo at another free concert the following night, along with Alvin Youngblood Hart and Taj Mahal among others. Breit is also musical director of a tribute concert, The Canadian Songbook which will replicate the songs that Neil Young performed at his first Massey Hall concert in January 1971. Harry Manx is again in the lineup, with numerous other Canadian artists, including Holly Cole, Roxanne Potvin and Cowboy Junkies. Ian Tyson's song "La Primera" provides the text - and the title - of a new children's book published by Tundra Books in Toronto, La Primera: The Story of Wild Mustangs . The story of the reintroduction of the horse into North America by the Spanish conquistadors some 500 years ago was one of the songs on Tyson's Lost Herd album (SPCD-1255) released in 1999. The book features stunning paintings by artist Adeline Halvorson, who lives in Chilliwack, BC. And the first reviews for the book, designed to appeal to students between grades four and seven, have been very positive. "The poem empathetically expresses La Primera's imagined perspective on the history of wild mustangs, beginning with his voyage in 1493. The song works as a free-verse poem supported by quality images. A brief history of the mustangs is included at the end and lends a sharp reality to this story. "This unconventional approach to discovering the unique contributions and adventures of these wild horses should prove to be an appealing addition to school collections," wrote a teacher from Taunton, Maine. Joe Louis Walker has completed an interview with satellite radio host Bill Wax, as part of an upcoming segment on B.B. King's Bluesville show. Walker also appeared as a special guest with the Levon Helm Band at New York's Beacon Theatre earlier this month. Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys will be one of three "CD's Of The Month" on the internationally-syndicated House Of Blues Radio Hour in April. This includes email blasts starting in mid-March, a banner ad on their website, a free download at the site and radio exposure. The other two releases are by The Mick Fleetwood Band and Susan Tedeschi. Amos Garrett and Big Dave McLean will play the Yale, Vancouver's best known blues club, as part of JunoFest on Saturday March 28. They are scheduled to play late at night, since both of them will be at the Gala event the same evening, where they are two of the three Stony Plain artists nominated for the Juno for best blues album. (The third nominee is the late Jeff Healey, and his parents – Bud and Rose Healey - will be present at the gala.) |  Videos To Watch
Joe Louis Walker in the studio making Witness for the Blues, with some cool chatter with producer Duke Robillard - and a shout-out for Peter Green. Tim Hus in an appearance without his band: Canadian cowboy music with heart and soul. Rodney Crowell's video for "Sex and Gasoline," the title song of his brilliant new album. Jeff Healey recorded live in London, and a reminder of a friend we lost a year ago. Great sound on this version of "I'm Tore Down." |  Quote of the month
Stony Plain's friend Spider Robinson writes to us from his Tottering on the Brink home on Bowen Island in bucolic BC. Spider is the world-famed science fiction writer, and the 2008 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award for Lifetime Achievement. He also thoroughly approves of the new Duke Robillard-produced CD Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys. "A man of my advanced hipness expects any album that numbers Duke Robillard among the personnel to be the bee's knees. But even by his standards this is simply gob-smacking: Sunny And Her Joy Boys are not merely the bee's knees, but the cat's spats, the whelk's kneecap, and the dromedary's drawers. "Their debut Introducing Sunny Crownover... is what the doctor ordered, why the preacher danced, and about as much fun as you can have with your pants on. "Sunny Crownover is just miraculous, a truly breath-giving talent. Together she and Her Boys are perfect avatars of what the world needs now more than ever: Good Time Music, Like They Used To Have. I started to smile seconds into the first track, and never stopped. "The emotional weather created in my head was defined by the group creating it: Sunny, warm and humid, with cool breezes. Sunny and Her Joy Boys definitely gave this boy toy the flatfoot floogie with a floy floy, Roy." >> Listen to clips and purchase the album "Introducing Sunny And Her Joy Boys" from stonyplainrecords.com | Media folk have their say about our artists SUNNY AND HER JOY BOYS
Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys (SPCD-1341) "Ah, another reason we think Duke Robillard rocks. For 35 years he's wanted to do a retro album celebrating the golden age of jazz thrushes. He finally found his thrush. Everybody on board gets a pat on the back for turning in the neo-classic take on a look back at jazz vocalists from the middle of the century. A wonderful, wild ride through the oldies that almost has you tasting the martinis and the smoke in the air. A winner throughout." - Chris Spector, Midwest Record, Chicago "Just received Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys today and, yeah, what a joy it was on fist spin! With Duke backing her, Sunny puts on quite a fine display of her vocal range; she is a quite a talent to be reckoned with. This will fit into both jazz and blues shows although I probably will feature it more heavily as a vocal jazz piece." - Mike Reicz, WDPS-FM, Kettering, Ohio IAN TYSON
Yellowhead to Yellowstone and other Love Stories (SPCD-1339) "Remember the shock of hearing Bob Dylan's completely transformed voice on Nashville Skyline? Gone were all the rough edges and idiosyncratic phrasings; suddenly Dylan was a velvety voiced country singer, crooning 'Lay Lady Lay.' Well, veteran Canadian folkie Ian Tyson debuts an equally dramatic but rather opposite vocal metamorphosis on this album, his first in two years. Though his voice was recently as smooth as Gordon Lightfoot's, he now sounds rough and gravelly-more reminiscent of Dave Van Ronk than of Lightfoot.
"But he may have gained as much as he gave up: His new voice exudes emotion and the wisdom of age and seems well matched to the material here. Just as important, that material is terrific. This is the guy who wrote 'Four Strong Winds,' which Neil Young has called 'the most beautiful record I've ever heard,' not to mention 'Someday Soon' and 'Summer Wages.' New standards are bound to emerge from this melodic, poetic batch of majestic cowboy anthems about love and loss." - Jeff Burger, www.nodepression.com "Album number 11 in a span of 25 years, Yellowhead to Yellowstone and Other Love Stories again gives good witness to the austere and authentic cowboy-country sound that is uniquely Tyson.
"This is despite a really tragic loss. As recently as two years ago at age 73, his rich tenor was still molasses smooth and instantly recognizable. That is gone now as a result of straining his voice in an outdoor show and then contracting a virus. However, his voice is still tuneful, oddly distinctive and appealing.
"More significantly, his lyrical tales and song structures are still drawn from traditional western culture - both western Canada and the western United States - and from an era of roots cowboy life that transcends borders and time." - Wilfred Langmaid, Fredericton Gleaner "The photos of this well-packaged release have Tyson looking to be a weathered John Wayne, an extremely iconic portraiture of exactly his milieu, and the music reminds the listener more than a little of the best of Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, but more picturesque. Where I find a lot of Willie and Johnny to be inconclusive and facile, Tyson is far more satisfying, not just for the entire musical package but also for his persona, which has always emerged strongly on each CD.
"It hurts not a bit either that Tyson now sounds more than a little like Clint Eastwood, nor that his backing band is drenched in the sweetest most rustic tonicities of yesteryear, the two walking hand in glove down the rutted trail to round the strays and wanderers back into the warm fold of home and hearth amid the wide skies, verdant forests, and rolling meadows, surroundings Tyson knows very well indeed." - Mark S. Tucker, www.acousticmusic.com RORY BLOCK
Blues Walkin' Like a Man: A Tribute to Son House (SPCD-1329) "Rory Block and Son House were separated by almost half a century in age when they met in 1965, but the two were united in a passion for the blues. This is music distilled to its purest essence featuring Block's heartfelt vocals and her sterling slide guitar work, (but she) sets down her guitar for 'Grinnin' in Your Face,' and sings without accompaniment.
"Emmylou Harris once observed that songs need new voices to sing them in places they've never been sung before in order to stay alive. Block has accomplished that with her tribute." - Tom Wilk, Icon Magazine, Philadelphia RONNIE EARL
Hope Radio Sessions DVD (SPDVD-1326) "If you were to make a list of great blues guitarists who are not known commensurate with their talent, Earl would be very near the top of the list. Earl very rarely plays live but this film catches him in concert on two evenings, opening the first night with the swinging 'Bobby's Bop' before moving into a slow burn sizzler called 'Blues for the Homeless.' The second set is only three songs long but comprised of lengthy Chicago-style jams 'Blues for Otis Rush' and 'Blues for the West Side.' All of the songs are instrumentals and all are electric until Earl switches to acoustic to close out the show with 'Lightnin' Hopkins Thing.'" - Kevin Wierzbicki, www.antimusic.com |  Quick checklist of new releases
SUNNY AND HER JOY BOYS: Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys (SPCD-1341)
Classic American pop music, lovingly sung by Sunny Crownover and exquisitely played by a drummerless band featuring Duke Robillard. IAN TYSON: Yellowhead to Yellowstone and other Love Stories (SPCD-1339)
A powerful statement from Canada's most iconic singer-songwriter. His most moving and most personal record in years. RODNEY CROWELL: Sex & Gasoline (SPCD-1338)
The Nashville hit maker reveals a deeper, more thoughtful approach to his music - and to life. (Released on Yep Roc in the United States) JOE LOUIS WALKER: Witness to the Blues (SPCD-1337)
One of the most versatile blues guitarists and writers anywhere. TIM HUS: Bush Pilot Buckaroo (SPCD-1336)
Just as Ian Tyson has championed Corb Lund, so Corb has been vigorously supporting Tim Hus, a rough-and-tumble Alberta alt.country singer. BIG DAVE McLEAN: Acoustic Blues - Got 'em from the Bottom (SPCD-1334)
Fine acoustic blues from the veteran Winnipeg-based Juno-nominated musician. JEFF HEALEY: Mess of Blues (SPCD-1333)
Jeff's final blues rock album, completed only months before his untimely death. DUKE ROBILLARD: A Swingin' Session with Duke Robillard (SPCD-1331)
With classics like 'Deed I Do,' 'They Raided the Joint,' and 'When Your Lover Has Gone,' Duke returns with an infectiously happy album. AMOS GARRETT: Get Way Back: A Tribute to Percy Mayfield (SPCD-1330)
A collection of 11 brilliant songs by one of the great songwriters of the r&b era, and a major influence on Garrett's storied career. RORY BLOCK: Blues Walkin' Like a Man: A Tribute to Son House (SPCD-1329)
This heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest figures in blues history is a tour de force. NEW GUITAR SUMMIT: Shivers (SPCD-1328)
Three astonishing guitarists (Jay Geils, Duke Robillard and Gerry Beaudoin) tackle originals and imaginative covers. RONNIE EARL AND THE BROADCASTERS: Hope Radio Sessions DVD (SPDVD-1326)
A special treat for all guitar fans - the reclusive Ronnie Earl has his mojo working overtime with performances heard on his recent CD. RONNIE EARL AND THE BROADCASTERS: Hope Radio (SPCD-1324)
A stunning album of blues instrumentals with superb playing, plenty of jazz influences, and both heart and spirituality. | How to keep in touch with Stony Plain - Check the Stony Plain website to buy music, unearth the back catalogue, get bio information on our artists, and read news from past newsletters: www.stonyplainrecords.com
- Send snail-mail to P.O. Box 861, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 2L8, Canada.
- The phone is (780) 468-6423. And we still have a FAX machine: (780) 465-8941. E-mail the boss, Holger Petersen
- 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 call him at (416) 351-1323.
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