journal.nonesuch.com

Nonesuch Relaunches Website

Nonesuch Records is happy to announce the relaunch of its website, nonesuch.com. The new site will remain a great source for in-depth information on the extensive and diverse Nonesuch catalog, spanning more than 500 titles, and will include a number of new and improved features, in what we hope will be a much more user-friendly and enjoyable online experience.

Among the site's features are: a multi-station radio with full-song streams of tracks organized into genres or combined into one all-inclusive Nonesuch Mix; a dedicated multimedia section with video and photo galleries; improved album pages with more detailed information and more sound clips from each track; a brand-new "think map" feature on our Artists page that showcases many of the connections among Nonesuch artists; and an enhanced store section, where you can choose from nearly 200 new and catalog CDs available with instant, high-quality album MP3 downloads at no extra cost, with many more to come in the months ahead.

Most relevant to the Nonesuch Journal, the redesign features a fully integrated Journal within the site, making it easier than ever to catch up on all the latest news from your favorite Nonesuch artists. From now on, simply visit nonesuch.com for all the news, reviews, and information you've come to find on journal.nonesuch.com.

We thank you for your support and look forward to your comments.

New Magnetic Fields Album Announced for January

Nonesuch Records is happy to announce that the new album by The Magnetic Fields, Distortion, will be released on January 15, 2008. The band will perform a small number of US tour dates in February and March. Specific details regarding venues and ticket pre-sales will be announced shortly.

For all the latest news from The Magnetic Fields and to sign up for the band's newsletter, visit houseoftomorrow.com.

Youssou N'Dour Leads Petition to Free Imprisoned Journalist

Reporters Without Borders, an organization established to protect freedom of the press around the world, just announced that Youssou N'Dour was among the first to sign its petition calling for the release of Moussa Kaka, the Niger correspondent for Radio France Internationale and Reporters Without Borders. Kaka was arrested on September 20 for being in contact with members of a minority rebel group in Niger and could face life in prison. To read the petition, click here.

Punch Brothers Celebrate Post Photo Shoot

The guys of Punch Brothers celebrate the end of a successful day's photo shoot for their upcoming Nonesuch Records debut. The shoot took place in and around Nashville with photographer Autumn de Wilde, who took this one last pic over dinner at East Nashville's Margot Cafe and Bar.

Punch Brothers Visit Nonesuch

Newly signed Nonesuch artists Punch Brothers—Chris Thile (mandolin), Chris Eldridge (guitar), Greg Garrison (bass), Noam Pikelny (banjo), and Gabe Witcher (fiddle)—dropped by the Nonesuch offices. Their trip included a very productive tour of the Nonesuch CD closet. Here are a few snapshots of the guys getting ready to do some "research" on their new label mates:

Chris Eldridge (guitar):

From Chris's bag: Steve Reich - Different Trains, k.d. lang - Hymns of the 49th Parallel, John Adams - Chamber Symphony/Grand Pianola Music

Greg Garrison (bass):

From Greg's bag: Orchestra Baobab - Specialist in All Styles, Kenny Garrett - Beyond the Wall, Steve Reich - Drumming

Noam Pikelny (banjo):

From Noam's bag: Caetano Veloso - Livro, Steve Reich - Different Trains, Caetano Veloso - Caetano Veloso

Gabe Witcher (fiddle):

From Gabe's bag: Kronos Quartet - Caravan, Kronos Quartet - Morton Feldman: Piano and String Quartet, Steve Reich - New York Counterpoint 

Laurie Anderson & Dawn Upshaw Win Prizes

Laurie Anderson has been awarded the 2007 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize---which includes a $300,000 cash award---for her outstanding contribution to the arts. To learn more about this prestigious honor, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/25/arts/music/25arts-LAURIEANDERS_BRF.html

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has named Dawn Upshaw among the 2007 recipients of the MacArthur Fellowship. Known as the "genius award," the fellowship recognizes exceptional creativity and continued promise with a five-year grant totalling $500,000. The Foundation singled out Upshaw for "stretching the boundaries of operatic and concert singing and enriching the landscape of contemporary performance through her advocacy of established and emerging composers."

Visit the MacArthur Foundation website at macfound.org for more information.

Laura Veirs Video Contest Winners

Congratulations to Laura Veirs fan Doug Savage from Vancouver, British Columbia, for creating the winning video in the Laura Veirs Video Contest. Laura and the band picked Doug's video for "Phantom Mountain" from stacks of incredibly creative entries sent in from fans across the country. Among the prizes he's won are tickets to one of Laura's upcoming shows.

Watch the winning video below, and visit www.lauraveirs.com to see more great fan videos.

 

Wilco on Jay Leno Tonight

Please tune in to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight (NBC, 11:35pm–12:35pm ET) to hear Wilco perform “Either Way” from their latest record, Sky Blue Sky

"Either Way" is featured in a new Volkswagen commercial, along with several other Wilco tracks. Watch all the videos at nonesuch.com/wilcovw

John Adams: A Flowering Tree

John Adams' new opera, A Flowering Tree, will be premiered in London this weekend. Listen to John discuss the piece in an interview on BBC Radio 3.

Laurie Anderson's "Big Science"

Laurie Anderson's 1982 album "Big Science" has been reissued in a remastered version with new liner notes, bonus track and video content.

To learn more about the the making of the album and watch video conversations with Laurie, visit laurieanderson.com.

Pitchfork reviewed the album; read it here

Listen to "Let X=X" from Big Science:

Jeff Tweedy on WNYC's Soundcheck

Tune in to WNYC’s Soundcheck (93.9 FM) today at 2:15pm to hear Jeff Tweedy talk about Sky Blue Sky. You can also stream the interview later today here:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/2007/06/26

Laura Veirs Video Contest

Create your own video for any song on Laura Veirs's new album "Saltbreakers" (besides "Cast a Hook", which already has a video) and Laura & her band will vote on the entries.

The winner will recieve tickets to one of Laura's shows, signed CDs, tshirts, and a whole lot more! Visit www.lauraveirs.com for more info on how to enter.

Wilco on AOL Sessions

Watch Wilco perform live at AOL Sessions.

Sufjan Stevens on Joni Mitchell

Sufjan Stevens writes about "Free Man in Paris," his contribution to A Tribute to Joni Mitchell. Read it at Asthmatic Kitty.

To listen to Sufjan's track and Joni's original, visit atributetojonimitchell.com

Ibrahim Ferrer's "Mi Sueno"

Listen to a review of "Mi Sueno" by Ibrahim Ferrer on NPR's "Fresh Air"

More music , video and info at nonesuch.com/ibrahim

Wilco Live in London

Visit wilcoworld.net/roadcase to hear Wilco perform live from Shepherd's Bush in London today at 4pm EST.

Wilco: Prairie Home Companion & Videos from "Sky Blue Sky"

Wilco performed live on Minnesota Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion this past Saturday. Click to listen to the show.

Watch "Shake It Off", the trailer for the DVD that comes with the deluxe edition of Sky Blue Sky:

Watch "What Light" from Sky Blue Sky:

Youssou N'Dour / The TIME 100

Youssou N'Dour has been selected as one of TIME Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" and will perform, along with John Mayer, at the gala celebration tomorrow night. Visit TIME.com for more info.

Interview with Jeff Tweedy on Pitchfork

Read an interview with Jeff Tweedy on Pitchfork. Jeff discusses Wilco's new album, Sky Blue Sky.

The Black Keys on NPR

Listen to The Black Keys do an interview/performance on WXPN's World Cafe

A Tribute to Joni Mitchell

"A Tribute to Joni Mitchell" features covers of 12 tracks from Joni's career, both rare and well-known.  Visit www.atributetojonimitchell.com to listen to the interpretations alongside the originals, and read statements from the artists about their experiences recording Joni's music.

The tracklist:

1. Free Man in Paris - Sufjan Stevens
2. The Boho Dance - Björk
3. Dreamland  - Caetano Veloso
4. Don't Interrupt the Sorrow - Brad Mehldau
5. For the Roses - Cassandra Wilson
6. A Case of You – Prince
7. Blue  - Sarah McLachlan
8. Ladies of the Canyon - Annie Lennox
9. The Magdalene Laundries - Emmylou Harris
10. Edith and the Kingpin - Elvis Costello
11. Help Me - k.d. lang
12. River - James Taylor

Visit www.atributetojonimitchell.com for more info

Ry Cooder on "Prarie Home Companion"

Ry Cooder gave a rare live performance this past Saturday, March 24, on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, which was broadcasting from New York’s Town Hall. Listen online.

Ry and his band played songs from his new record, My Name Is Buddy

UPDATE! Ry Cooder: My Name is Buddy

UPDATE: Ry Cooder In-Store
After 40 years, Village Music in Mill Valley, CA will be closing its doors in the Fall of 2007.  Ry Cooder will be honoring the historic Bay Area vinyl store with a rare in-store on Saturday March 10, performing songs from "My Name is Buddy".

More info at www.villagemusic.com

Listen to "Suitcase in My Hand":

Listen to an interview with Ry Cooder on NPR's "Morning Edition." Ry discusses his new album, My Name is Buddy

 

To learn more about the album, visit nonesuch.com/mynameisbuddy

Stephen Sondheim's "Company"

Listen to and learn more about Stephen Sondheim's "Company"

For ticket info, click here.

Cheikh Lo

Watch a piece about Cheikh Lo on Reuters.com

Cheikh's most recent album is Lamp Fall

Listen to "Senegal-Brasil" from Lamp Fall:

John Adams @ 60

John Adams makes the San Francisco Chronicle's society page!

Adams will conduct the American Composers Orchestra at Carnegie Hall on April 27, 2007.

Ry Cooder in The Observer

"Hugely entertaining.  It's a road trip through vernacular American music, dustbowl blues, gospel, folk and bluegrass in the company of three unlikely characters: Buddy Red Cat, a hobo tabby and the friends he meets along the way: Lefty the Mouse, a union rodent till he dies, and the Reverend Tom Toad, a blind, gospel-singing, guitar-playing amphibian, forced out of his home by the Ku Klux Klan.  It sounds a little like Animal Farm as conceived by Woody Guthrie, or Bruce Springsteen's take on Wind in the Willows."

Read  the rest of Tim Adams's review of Ry Cooder's upcoming album, "My Name is Buddy", in the UK's Observer.

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson

Read Taylor Ho Bynum's tribute to Lorraine Hunt Lieberson on his blog.

David Byrne on WNYC

Listen to David Byrne interviewed live on WNYC.

David Byrne's "Perscpectives" series at Carnegie Hall starts this Thursday, February 1.

Randy Newman: "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country"

Read the full lyrics below to Randy Newman's "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country", which appeared in an abridged version today in the New York Times.

The song is now available exclusively at iTunes.

Watch Randy perform the it live:

A Few Words in Defense of Our Country

I’d like to say a few words
In defense of our country
Whose people aren’t bad nor are they mean
Now the leaders we have
While they’re the worst that we’ve had
Are hardly the worst this poor world has seen

Let’s turn history’s pages, shall we?

Take the Caesars for example
Why within the first few of them
They were sleeping with their sister
Stashing little boys in swimming pools
And burning down the City
And one of ‘em, one of ‘em
Appointed his own horse Consul of the Empire
That’s like vice president or something
That’s not a very good example, is it?
But wait, here’s one, the Spanish Inquisition
They put people in a terrible position
I don’t even like to think about it
Well, sometimes I like to think about it

Just a few words in defense of our country
Whose time at the top
Could be coming to an end
Now we don’t want their love
And respect at this point is pretty much out of the question
But in times like these
We sure could use a friend

Hitler. Stalin.
Men who need no introduction
King Leopold of Belgium. That’s right.
Everyone thinks he’s so great
Well he owned The Congo
He tore it up too
He took the diamonds, he took the gold
He took the silver
Know what he left them with?
Malaria

A President once said,
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”
Now it seems like we’re supposed to be afraid
It’s patriotic in fact and color coded
And what are we supposed to be afraid of?
Why, of being afraid
That’s what terror means, doesn’t it?
That’s what it used to mean

[To the first eight bars of “Columbia The Gem Of The Ocean”]

You know it pisses me off a little
That this Supreme Court is gonna outlive me
A couple of young Italian fellas and a brother on the Court now too
But I defy you, anywhere in the world
To find me two Italians as tightass as the two Italians we got
And as for the brother
Well, Pluto’s not a planet anymore either

The end of an empire is messy at best
And this empire is ending
Like all the rest
Like the Spanish Armada adrift on the sea
We’re adrift in the land of the brave
And the home of the free

Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye.

New Wilco album Sky Blue Sky to be released May 15

Wilco are currently wrapping up work on a new studio album entitled Sky Blue Sky, which will be released on May 15. It is the first studio album since their 2004 Grammy Award-winning CD A ghost is born and the first newly written and recorded material to feature the now firmly established band line-up of Jeff Tweedy (guitars, vocals), John Stirratt (bass, vocals), Glenn Kotche (drums), Mike Jorgensen (keyboards), Nels Cline (guitars) and Pat Sansone (guitars, keyboards, vocals). Guitarist Nels Cline and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone joined the band after the completion of A ghost is born.

The new album was recorded at The Loft, the band’s Chicago studio. While the final album selections are not yet confirmed, some of the eighteen-plus tracks being considered for inclusion are “Shake It Off,” “Side with the Seeds,” “Glad It’s Over,” “Either Way” and “Walken.” Many of the new songs have been performed in recent Wilco concerts and by Jeff Tweedy on his current solo tour.  Sky Blue Sky is produced by Wilco.

Caetano Veloso Discusses "Ce"

Listen to Caetano Veloso's new album "Ce" and watch video interviews with Caetano and his band.

The Black Keys on Conan O'Brien

The Black Keys will perform live on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on Thursday, January 11. Tune in around 12:30am EST

Neruda Songs on NPR

Listen to an interview with Peter Lieberson on NPR's Weekend Edition. He discusses Neruda Songs, his collaboration with his late wife Lorraine Hunt Lieberson.

Scritti Politti MP3 on Pitchfork

Visit Pitchfork to download an exclusive Scritti Politti mp3, "The Last Time I Looked."

Listen to "The Boom Boom Bap" from White Bread Black Beer, chosen as one of the Top 100 Tracks of the Year by Pitchfork.

The Fountain Soundtrack Nominated for Golden Globe

Clint Mansell's soundtrack to The Fountain was nominated for "Best Original Score" at the 64th  Golden Globe Awards. The awards will be broadcast live on January 15, 2007.

The Fountain, composed by Clint Mansell for the recent Darren Aronofsky film, features music by Kronos Quartet and Mogwai.

Listen to "First Snow":

Grammy Nominations

Nonesuch artists received four Grammy nominations this morning

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group:
  Kenny   Garrett, Beyond the Wall

Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album:
  Mark Knopfler   & Emmylou Harris, All the Roadrunning

Best Contemporary World Music Album:
  Ali Farka Toure, Savane

Best Musical Show Album:
  Sweeney Todd — The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

John Adams on "A Flowering Tree"

Read John Adams' article in The Guardian about his new opera, "A Flowering Tree", working with Peter Sellars, and the influence of Mozart.

Listen to a clip of "A Flowering Tree" and read more about it at earbox.com

The Gothic Archies on NPR

Listen to Stephin Merritt and Daniel Handler perform songs from "The Tragic Treasury" and discuss the new Lemony Snickett book live on NPR's All Things Considered.

Listen to "Shipwrecked" from The Tragic Treasury

Visit nonesuch.com/thegothicarchies to hear more.

The Black Keys Live on NPR

Listen to The Black Keys interviewed on NPR's Morning Edition

The Black Keys' concert at the 9:30 club in DC was webcast live on NPR

Steve Reich on Pitchfork

Read an interview with Steve Reich at Pitchfork.com

The Fountain

The soundtrack to the film by Darren Aronofsky, with music by Clint Mansell, and featuring Kronos Quartet and Mogwai.

Listen to "Death is a Disease":

Shawn Colvin on WNYC

Listen to Shawn Colvin live on WNYC's Soundcheck

Fred Rzewski

Read Mark Swed's review of Frederic Rzewski's recent concert in California:

"The man was Frederic Rzewski, the greatest pianist-composer of our time and something of a legend in modern music." More...

Scritti Politti and Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello interviews Scritti Politti's Green Gartside in the LA Times.

Pat Metheny & Brad Mehldau on Studio 360

Studio 360's Kurt Anderson interviews Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau about their recent collaboration.

Listen at studio360.org

Jeff Tweedy: "Sunken Treasure" stream

For details and info, visit wilcoworld.net

Shawn Colvin on NPR

Shawn Colvin performed three songs live on NPR's Weekend Edition. Listen at www.npr.org

Wilco: Live on NPR

Listen to Wilco perform live from the 9:30 club on NPR

Celebrating Steve Reich @70

In honor of Steve Reich's recent 70th birthday, Carnegie Hall has created a site celebrating his career. Read more and listen at carnegiehall.org

Happy 70th Birthday, Steve Reich

Steve Reich @ 70 by Jeffrey Herman

John Schaefer and Steve Reich @ WNYC

The Nonesuch staffwishes Steve Reich a wonderful birthday. Many happy returns!

Click on the links below to hear and read recent press celebrating this momentous occasion.

NPR: Weekend Edition

WNYC: Soundcheck

NPR: Song of the day

The New York Times

PRI: Echoes

Phases: A Nonesuch Retrospective

Kill Rock Stars' Slim Moon Leaves KRS for Nonesuch

As reported by Kate Llewellyn on Pitchfork today

Kill Rock Stars and Nonesuch might not seem like they have much in common. One label is known for launching pioneering riot grrrl bands (Bikini Kill, Bratmobile), experimental outfits (Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu), and indie rock titans (Sleater-Kinney, the Decemberists).

The other, a Warner Bros. subsidiary, specializes in "world" music (the Nonesuch Explorer Series, Youssou N'Dour, Caetano Veloso), NPR fare (Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin), and Wilco (Wilco).

But the pair just got a lot tighter with the announcement that the founder/head honcho of Kill Rock Stars, Slim Moon, will leave his position at KRS sometime this fall to work in A&R for Nonesuch. Moon's wife, Portia Sabin, will take over both Kill Rock Stars and its 5RC imprint.

Audra McDonald: Build a Bridge

Please tune in to see Audra McDonald guest co-host The View tomorrow, September 26, at 11am on WABC in New York and at 10am on KABC in Los Angeles, along with guests Ray Liotta and Bridget Moynahan (check website for local airtimes.) At the end of the show, Audra will perform “Bein’ Green” from Build a Bridge.

A profile of Audra McDonald aired on Saturday, September 23, on NPR's All Things Considered. The piece included an interview with Audra, as well as ones with her long-time music director Ted Sperling and NY Times critic Stephen Holden.  Additionally, NPR prepared a special webpage, with pictures, extra interview audio, a few songs from the new album Build a Bridge, and links -- you can find it at www.npr.org

Click to listen to Build a Bridge, and find out more about Audra's upcoming tour.

Photo by Michael Wilson

In Memoriam

Over the last few months, four artists   with whom the company had an important association have passed away: Hamza El Din, Ali Farka Toure, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson and Edward Aldwell.

The Black Keys / Magic Potion

Listen to Magic Potion, the new album from The Black Keys:

http://nonesuch.com/theblackkeys/index.html?pmc=bkbg

Watch the band perform live on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic"

"Your Touch" featured on NPR's "Song of the Day"

BLACK KEYS TV!

Guitar shopping with Dan:

Euro promo tour:

The band will be touring the US this fall:

9/6/06	Seattle, WA	Showbox
9/7/06	Portland, OR	Roseland Theatre
9/9/06	San Francisco. CA	Fillmore
9/14/06	Hollywood, CA	Avalon
9/15/06	San Diego, CA	House of Blues
9/16/06	Tempe. AZ	Marquee Theatre
11/2/06	Boston, MA	Avalon Ballroom
11/3/06	New York. NY	Nokia Theatre
11/4/06	Philadelphia, PA	Electric Factory
11/5/06	Washington, D.C	9:30 Club
11/6/06	Washington, D.C	9:30 Club
11/8/06	Norfolk, VA	The Norva
11/9/06	Carrboro, NC	Cat's Cradle
11/10/06	Atlanta, GA	Variety Playhouse
11/15/06	Louisville, KY	Headliners
11/27/06	Madison, WI	Majestic Theater
12/12/06	New Orleans, LA	House of Blues

Scritti Politti

Green Gartside from Scritti Politti was on WNYC's Soundcheck program today. Listen to the live performance and interview with John Schaefer.

Scritti Politti's upcoming album, White Bread Black Beer, was nominated for a Mercury prize in the UK. Other nominees include Thom Yorke and Arctic Monkeys. The winner will be announced on September 5.

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson

Nonesuch mourns the loss of our friend, the incomparable mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson.

The New York Times: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Luminous Mezzo, Dies at 52

The Rest Is Noise

The Boston Globe

The Standing Room

Stereophile

Listen to Lorraine Hunt Lieberson on Nonesuch Radio (click icon at left)

Photo by Michael Wilson.

Two New Albums from Brad Mehldau

Two new records featuring Brad Mehldau's compositions are available today: House on Hill, the final recording from his long-time trio with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jorge Rossi (Jeff Ballard is the group's current drummer) and Love Sublime, which comprises songs Mehldau wrote specifically for world-renowned operatic soprano Renee Fleming, as part of a Carnegie Hall commission. The New York Times calls House on Hill "a marvel of collective self-assurance, worth hearing not only for Mr. Rossy's weightless time feel but also for Mr. Mehldau's thoughtful compositions," and says Love Sublime is "thoughtful too, sometimes achingly so."

Click here to listen and learn more about the albums.