Archive for the ‘Van Dyke Parks’ Category
The Kids Are Alright — Tune In This Saturday at 9am on AM1690!
I’m sorry, I shouldn’t make demands of you like that without the backstory. I just get too excited sometimes!
This upcoming Saturday The Kids Are Alright program (AM 1690) will be featuring none other than esteemed executive director/voiceover enthusiast Lain Shakespeare.
Even better (unless you’re just into Lain’s sonorous voice — then there is nothing better), the show will have a theme: Brer Rabbit! Well, Brer, other rabbits, and a touch of “wait a sec — animals can talk?”
The previously lauded Huckleberry Hound album is scheduled to make an appearance, as well as Wren’s Nest Staff Favorite Van Dyke Park’s “Jump!” and none other than “Little Bunny Foo Foo” (of course).
Even more excitingly, Akbar will tell a few stories on the air, which are bound to be excellent. How do I know? Because Akbar is always excellent.
AM1690 – The Voice of the Arts — is kindly featuring us to help promote Wren’s Nest Fest, which is next Friday, June 11th. Please tune in and support not only Lain and the Nest, but the kind folks who were generous and thoughtful enough to include us. Thanks!
ps- This isn’t Lain’s first rodeo. Remember when he was talking about Song of the South‘s anniversary on WABE‘s City Cafe with John Lemley?
Categories: Fame and Fortune, Shameless Promotion, Storytelling, Van Dyke Parks |
Vic Chesnutt, Singer and Songwriter, Passed Away Yesterday
Yesterday Vic Chesnutt died in Athens, GA at the age of 45.
Chesnutt was a prolific, influential songwriter and musician who collaborated with a whole mess of folks over a twenty year career — from Michael Stipe to Widespread Panic to our friend Van Dyke Parks.
This Fresh Air interview with Terry Gross from earlier this month discusses his music, his life, the accident that left him a quadriplegic, and his flirtation with suicide.
I mention his passing because in 2003 Chesnutt wrote and recorded a song called “Wren’s Nest” that also refers to plenty of other Georgia heritage sites.
Categories: Sing Songery, Van Dyke Parks | Tags: Vic Chesnutt,
Music from Jump! by Van Dyke Parks
A while back, I mentioned Van Dyke Parks’ adaptations of the Brer Rabbit stories. Parks published three books (with beautiful illustrations by Barry Moser), plus one album — Jump! — based on the stories.
I finally got around to embedding the (quite impressive and catchy as all get out) album below.
If you’re pressed for time, the Wren’s Nest Staff recommends “Opportunity for Two,” “Come Along,” “Home,” and “Hominey Grove.”
In the words of one astute Amazon reviewer —
“Jump! must be the best score in the history of Broadway rejects. A gifted melodist and arranger, Parks digs deep into his Southern roots and pulls out this Brer Rabbit of a bouncy, melancholy masterpiece. Not for those who like their pop predictable, ironic or cynical, I predict that Jump! will be Van Dyke Parks greatest legacy, the truest reflection of his extraordinary grasp of the heart of American music.”
Indeed. Parks has toured for this album before, and he told me that he’d be into playing at the Wren’s Nest.
Previously: Illustrations and Music from Jump!, That Time Van Dyke Parks Left an Amazing Comment on This Blog
Categories: Barry Moser, Brer Rabbit, Van Dyke Parks | Tags: Barry Moser Uncle Remus, Brer Rabbit, Jump!, Van Dyke Parks,
Illustrations and Music from Jump! — the Brer Rabbit Adaptation by Van Dyke Parks and Barry Moser
Have you heard of Van Dyke Parks?
He’s the musical genius from Mississippi who wrote and recorded SMiLE with Brian Wilson. He turned down joining The Byrds. He’s arranged for Danger Mouse …and just about everyone else.
Parks also wrote the score for a musical and children’s book (along with Malcolm Jones) called Jump! based on the Brer Rabbit stories in the early 1980s. He followed Jump! (the book) with Jump Again!
Both books have been at my mom’s house ever since I was little, but I never bothered to pick them up. I grew up with enough Brer Rabbit, okay?
On Monday I was at my mom’s house in a hazy, food-poisoned delirium and I stumbled across both books. Renowned illustrator Barry Moser provided the water color illustrations. And boy howdy, these are easily my favorite Brer Rabbit illustrations. I can’t believe these books have been staring me in the face for all these years.
I’ve included 9 illustrations below, but there are plenty more where these came from. Make sure you click ‘em for full size versions. Listen to the title track from Jump! while you take a gander to really do it up right.
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Miss Meadow’s Place is my favorite. You just don’t see houses of ill repute with big Coke signs out front anymore.
I couldn’t find these books on any publishers’ website, so I don’t think they’re still in print. Stinks. We would make a fortune selling them. They’re just wonderful.
Also, how do we get Jump! the musical produced in Atlanta? Or, even better, how could we get Van Dyke Parks to play a concert in our back amphitheatre? Maybe we could bring Barry Moser to the Decatur Book Festival? Got any schemes to share?
For more on Van Dyke Parks and Jump! check this article from Musician magazine in 1985.
Categories: Barry Moser, Brer Rabbit, Tar Baby, Van Dyke Parks |