talbotlucas.org: a word to the wise is sufficient

The news from Kurt Elling's web site is that a new CD is in the works. Said Kurt:

Hi -- just putting the finishing touches on the next record. Laurence and I will fly to Los Angeles to mix and master with the great Al Schmitt beginning the 26th [of January 2003], and hope to turn in the final version by the end of that week. This means the record should be out June 1 or so.

This time, I'm focusing on my vocalese habit -- look for a studio version of John Coltrane's "Resolution" and Wayne Shorter's solo on "A Remark You Made" from "Heavy Weather" -- also a new composition for which Laurence wrote music called "Man In The Air", which I think will be the title track for the side.

Thanks very much to those of you who have been writing in asking for us to come visit and perform -- we won't be doing much touring until after the record comes out. In June, I'll be setting up a number of performances celebrating the record's release in the Chicago area. Then, I'll be taking "Four Brothers" with Jon, Mark and Kevin to Europe for the month of July. I'll stay with the band in Europe (I hope London, Paris, Amsterdam, poss Barcelona, et al) through Labor Day. We'll do the East Coast thereafter until Thanksgiving, and the West Coast through New Years, 2004. Then, I hope we'll make another tour of Australia in January of 2004. In between all these hits, I promise not to ignore the great Midwest, and have some concert surprises in store for the future. Keep your fingers crossed.

All best, KE

In the meantime, for those of you who know the huge contribution Laurence Hobgood's piano talents make to KE's tunes, Laurence has his own CD, Left To My Own Devices. My copy should be arriving any day now, and I'm very much looking forward to it.

We've also just picked up a collaboration by Tony Bennett and k.d. lang, A Wonderful World. I couldn't pass it up; it contains one of my favorite songs, "Dream A Little Dream of Me." As much as I like Mr. Bennett, my favorite version is still Mama Cass's. I inherited the 45 rpm version of Mama Cass singing this song from KLC and it was scratchy years ago (probably from being so overplayed), but the good news is that a beautifully clear digital version is available. So clear that you can hear the emcee announce, "..now, to sing this lovely ballad, here is...Mama Cass." When I was little I used to lean over onto our photograph player to try to hear the announcer's voice--I thought it was sooooooo cool. And I still do.