By Brian Gardiner
Hot off an on-stage part in the Royal Opera's "Anna Nicole: The Party Always Ends," John Paul Jones is set to compose an opera himself. Jones has been involved in work to compose an opera based on the Isabel Allende short story, "The Judge's Wife."
Jones's opera composition is set for a fall 2013 production. It is to feature a libretto by Amanda Holden and direction from Gerald Thomas. Stuart Stratford has been pegged as conductor.
In December, Jones and Thomas met at the Hoxton Hotel in London to discuss the opera project. Their meeting appears on YouTube.
Thomas's current play, "Throats," features a piano composition by Jones. It is currently playing at the Pleasence Theatre in London through March 27.
"Anna Nicole" has two more performances at the Royal Opera House: on Tuesday, March 1, and Friday, March 4.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Well-tuned Band of Joy to appear on PBS
Fresh on the heels of Robert Plant's last televised in-concert special, PBS announced it would be featuring Plant and the Band of Joy on an upcoming episode of the series "Live from the Artists Den."
PBS cameras filmed the group's second concert in Nashville earlier this month as Plant and the Band of Joy went on a two-month break before further U.S. dates resume.No airdate has been announced for the episode, but it will be one of the episodes in the third season of the "Artists Den" series, kicking off this April. Update: The episode premieres April 22. For more audio and photographs from the concert, click here.
Incidentally, Band of Joy singer/guitarist Patty Griffin performed a solo concert for the first season of "Artists Den." The third season is set to get underway in April with a performance from Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes, which features T Bone Burnett, who produced 2007's Raising Sand for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss before accompanying them on their 2008 tour.
The current six-member Band of Joy began touring in July 2010, in advance of Plant's Band of Joy CD release in September. As the tour progressed, so did the interplay among band members. A London gig of theirs shot last September aired this past weekend on the cable network HDNet.
It's safe to say an even more captivating performance can be expected out of Nashville, which is home for most of the Band of Joy musicians. The aptly nicknamed "Music City" was also the location of their recordings beginning in December 2009 and last summer's tour rehearsals.
PBS cameras filmed the group's second concert in Nashville earlier this month as Plant and the Band of Joy went on a two-month break before further U.S. dates resume.
Incidentally, Band of Joy singer/guitarist Patty Griffin performed a solo concert for the first season of "Artists Den." The third season is set to get underway in April with a performance from Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes, which features T Bone Burnett, who produced 2007's Raising Sand for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss before accompanying them on their 2008 tour.
The current six-member Band of Joy began touring in July 2010, in advance of Plant's Band of Joy CD release in September. As the tour progressed, so did the interplay among band members. A London gig of theirs shot last September aired this past weekend on the cable network HDNet.
It's safe to say an even more captivating performance can be expected out of Nashville, which is home for most of the Band of Joy musicians. The aptly nicknamed "Music City" was also the location of their recordings beginning in December 2009 and last summer's tour rehearsals.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Robert Plant unsure of Led Zeppelin reunion odds; singer tells BBC, 'I don't bet'
By Brian Gardiner
Robert Plant spent an hour sitting in with Chris Evans on the "Chris Evans Breakfast Show" on BBC Radio this morning. The singer is in London between legs of his American tour -- a schedule that is dictated by the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. You have to "plan your career, set our priorities right," Plant quipped.
Led Zeppelin was, Plant also offered, a lot like the Wolves: really good some nights, really bad others.
In good spirits, Plant even pontificated on that question he hates answering. The Led Zeppelin reunion:
Evans also asked Plant to pick the better guitarist: Jimmy Page or David Gilmour?
He has been accused recently of not getting along with the other members of Led Zeppelin, so it's good to hear he's on terms with Jimmy Page, even if they won't be working together soon.
About the Band of Joy, Plant said he was pleased for Patty Griffin winning a Grammy. But:
For an early morning radio show Plant sounded in good form, and offered quips about many people. Paul McCartney, for instance, was the first person to hug him after his Grammy winning night for Raising Sand. And who gave him the shortest hug? Alison Krauss.
Listen to the show here.
Robert Plant spent an hour sitting in with Chris Evans on the "Chris Evans Breakfast Show" on BBC Radio this morning. The singer is in London between legs of his American tour -- a schedule that is dictated by the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. You have to "plan your career, set our priorities right," Plant quipped.
Led Zeppelin was, Plant also offered, a lot like the Wolves: really good some nights, really bad others.
In good spirits, Plant even pontificated on that question he hates answering. The Led Zeppelin reunion:
"All those big guys saw it as being the next big roll out. Led Zeppelin was worth far more than that ... it was great to do it once properly."And then, unprompted, he went further:
"What happens in the future really is based on kinship, camaraderie. Whether or not there's life in the old beast."If you're a betting man? Evans asked. "I don't bet," Plant answered.
Evans also asked Plant to pick the better guitarist: Jimmy Page or David Gilmour?
"Listen to Pagey. Jimbob. He's wild. He's brilliant."It was, no contest, Plant said. He also suggested he talked to Jimmy Page yesterday, and would see him again Wednesday.
He has been accused recently of not getting along with the other members of Led Zeppelin, so it's good to hear he's on terms with Jimmy Page, even if they won't be working together soon.
About the Band of Joy, Plant said he was pleased for Patty Griffin winning a Grammy. But:"You gotta be sharp with this lot, because they do soundchecks, which I never knew about. Then they go and eat broccoli."And while it occurred to Plant a person had to look after themselves, he still likes a drink, which is OK because "a lot of musicians are drinking again."
For an early morning radio show Plant sounded in good form, and offered quips about many people. Paul McCartney, for instance, was the first person to hug him after his Grammy winning night for Raising Sand. And who gave him the shortest hug? Alison Krauss.
Listen to the show here.
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