Tonight’s guests will be The SteelDrivers, Darrell Scott, Shawn Camp and the everybodyfields.

In addition to live performances from each of the musical guests, Jim will be chatting with the bands, finding out what they have been doing, and what they have on the horizon. He will also participating in a songwriters session with Shawn Camp and both Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton from The SteelDrivers.

WDVX will be the base radio home for Tennessee Shines, and discussions are now underway to bring the show into wider syndication, and hopefully satellite radio as well.

Guests have been booked for the September edition of Tennessee Shines, and the lineup will be announced during this evening’s program. Tonight’s show is sold out, but tickets to attend future shows can be obtained through the Tennessee Theater box office, and as available, at the door.

Tune in from 7:00-9:30 p.m. to catch the debut program tonight.

Lauderdale’s approach to songwriting and recording appears to be somewhat unique.

In typical Lauderdale style, he’s writing the lyrics after the instrumentation has been tracked, so he comes in to sing whenever he finishes a song.

It’s worked for him in the past…

It’s being recorded at Randy Kohrs’ Slack Key Studio in Nashville. The recording began back in March, and is nearing completion now. Jim’s goal is to finish the recording by Sept 1, 2008, though I don’t yet have any info as to a release date, or even a title.

I enjoy Lauderdale’s singing, and his songwriting. I thought Diaries was a great recording, and I’m looking forward to hearing this latest CD. We’ll bring you updates as we get them.

Lauderdale is currently touring in support of his newest CD Honey Songs (a more-or-less country record), but he’s not going to let that slow down production on a new bluegrass CD. Every free moment in Nashville is being spent in Kohrs’ Slack Key Studio working on the new CD.

Randy shared a few thoughts at the outset of this recording effort.

We were both thrilled with the way “The Bluegrass Diaries” came out sonically, and my studio has been upgraded even more since then. Thanks to companies such as Stage Ninja, Great River Electronics, Violet Microphones, new Lauten Audio Microphones, and Forssell Electronics, along with the top-of-the-line equipment I already had, we’re confident this next project will sound even better. Jim’s songs and vocals, combined with the talents of the other musicians, insure that the CD will be great no matter what, but recording them in a way that will do them justice is always the biggest goal.

As much as we enjoyed the last CD, we’ll wait anxiously for this one. We’ll be sure to bring you more updates as they become available.

Jim introduced his producer, Randy Kohrs, as he was accepting the award, and recognized all the pickers on the album by name. He also referenced each of the other nominees (Seldom Scene, Cherryholmes, JD Crowe & The New South and Tony Trischka), and paid his respects for their contributions.

Congrats, Jim.

Shooting took place in the Fanny Mae Dees park in the Hillsboro Village neighborhood of Nashville – where Jim does Tai Chi every morning. Director Harold Jarboe developed a concept based on the notion that the only way to avoid getting hurt is to cut yourself off from all human – and even animal – contact.

After being painfully and publicly dumped on a park bench, Jim calls in a bevy of bodyguards to protect him from the possibility of future hurt. They are dressed and behave like Secret Service agents, played by various musicians who tracked with Jim on The Bluegrass Diaries (Jay Weaver, Randy Kohrs, Richard Bailey, Aaron Till) as well as Darren Shoemaker (Ronnie Bowman band) and Ollie O’Shea (Lauderdale touring band).

Ashley Brown of Randy Kohrs & The Lites was involved in the shoot, and passed along some inside details.

“To incorporate some of Jim’s true character, he dressed up in a Manuel suit with Yin-Yang symbols all over it and we shot him doing Tai Chi in the park, surrounded by the “secret-service bodyguards.” Needless to say, we got some pretty odd looks from onlookers!

Much of the video was shot in Randy’s “award-winning” Slack Key Studio diner. I have a scene, where I play a stereotypical hard-edged waitress, that was filmed in our kitchen. The bodyguards taste-test his food for him, and the disgusted look on Jim’s face is priceless!”

Jarboe also tried a concept which he felt had not been used in a music video before, having each of the musicians play their instruments, but never together as a band. The result is random shots of the bodyguards playing instruments, but never more than one at a time.

“In true secret service fashion, we had to have someone take a ‘bullet’ for Jim, and we picked Ollie to do it. The bullet comes in the form of a newspaper as the paperboy tosses it in the yard and tries to hit Jim with it. Ollie actually did hurt himself diving in front of it and had left early, limping away.”

Ashley didn’t want to give any more of the video away, but did volunteer that it has a happy ending.

As much as I do like that record, it seemed as if the live show was even better than the CD. Lauderdale is a consummate performer who was witty and funny while maintaining a high level of professionalism throughout. The music was great, and Jim provided a few laughs in-between songs.

The material last night was not constrained to Jim’s latest CD. He reached way back into the catalog and brought out a few songs he recorded last year on his Bluegrass album. He even went all the way back to a track from 2004 at one point. It was a running joke that played well to an audience that was, I’m sure, familiar with Jim’s well established songwriting career.

Jim had in tow an all star line up for his backing band. Randy Kohrs was his right hand man on dobro and vocals. Randy produced this new CD and Jim obviously holds him in high regard. Other band members included Richard Bailey on banjo, Aaron Till on fiddle, Ashley Brown on fiddle, Jesse Cobb on mandolin, Bryn Davies on bass, and Clay Hess on guitar.

The only downside about this show was that it set the bar so high for the rest of the week!

On Wednesday (9/05), Jim will join XM Satellite Radio’s Kyle Cantrell on Bluegrass Junction for the World Premiere of the new CD. They will play each track, and discuss the songs, the recording – or whatever else may pop into Jim’s head in the studio.

The debut airing is tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. (ET), with rebroadcasts over the next two weeks leading up to the release date. Bluegrass Junction can be found at Channel 14 on the XM radio dial.

• Saturday, September 8: 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 12: 9:00 p.m.
• Sunday, September 16: 12:00 Noon
• Tuesday, September 18: 3:00 p.m.

All times are eastern. You can find out more about the CD in Brance’s earlier post.

I was a fan of Jim’s Bluegrass album, and I’m equally enthralled with The Bluegrass Diaries. Produced by dobro master Randy Kohrs, The Bluegrass Diaries is a collection of tunes showcasing Lauderdale’s originality, diversity, and authenticity. Accordingly, the song writing demonstrates Lauderdale’s breadth as an artist. All the songs were either written or co-written by Lauderdale himself, and they’re all good.

The opening tune, This Is The Last Time (I’m Ever Gonna Hurt), begins the CD energetically with a great bluegrass theme. Other tracks on the CD increase the pace. One Blue Mule (track 7) is a classic fast bluegrass song with the requisit blazing solos from both Randy Kohrs and Clay Hess. The CD finishes in the same manner with Ain’t No Way To Run, another barn burner featuring smoking solos from all the musicians, including Randy Kohrs, Jesse Cobb, Cody Kilby, Richard Bailey, and Aaron Till.

Can We Find Forgiveness (track 5) is an example of all that I love about Lauderdale’s songwriting, singing, and arranging. Great lyrics, an interesting melody, and a great arrangement are all to be found in this one tune. My Somewhere Just Got Here is another tune that introduces an unexpected twist in the melody on the chorus.

Chances (tracks 6) is slated as the first single from the album and is already available for purchase as a download.

The pace changes with a couple of classic country ballad type songs like I Wanted To Believe (track 3), which features some great harmonies from Randy Kohrs and Cia Cherryholmes, and Are You Having Second Thoughts.

The CD is, without a doubt, bluegrass in it’s very essence. But it does give you a taste of the diversity you’ll find in Lauderdale’s songwriting. Jim commented on that aspect of his career.

I recognize that my diversity can create a challenge for those that need to categorize me. Where even though I might have Ralph Stanley singing with me, there’s also some singer/songwriter stuff and some country stuff — so which bin does it belong in at the record store? That’s just not for me to decide. That kind of question has nothing to do with making music.

This is a great CD that I highly recommend. If you liked Bluegrass, you’ll love The Bluegrass Diaries. Jim’s label, Yep Roc Records, is offering the CD for pre-order now, and the first 100 people who order will recieve their copy autographed.

This new CD was produced by dobro player Randy Kohrs. Randy describes the new CD as “bluegrass with a classic-country edge.” Every song on the project was either written, or co-written, by Lauderdale.

The line up of musicians on this CD is impressive.

• Cia Cherryholmes
• Dave Evans
• Shawn Camp
• Randy Kohrs
• Jesse Cobb
• Cody Kilby
• Clay Hess
• Jay Weaver
• Richard Bailey
• Bryn Davies
• Ashley Brown

Look for this new release from Jim Lauderdale to be released on Yep Roc Records sometime in September of 2007.

Lauderdale has just released a music video for the song Who’s Leaving Who. The video is airing on both CMT and GAC, but it can also be viewed online at Jim’s website.

The video features several bluegrass musicians from other bands, including Jesse Cobb from The Infamous Stringdusters, Randy Kohrs and Lites’ fiddle player Ashley Brown.

The February edition of the widely read British publication Country Music People (CMP) magazine features Jim Lauderdale on the front cover.

Lauderdale, whose new album, Bluegrass, was released last September on the Yep Roc label, discussed his song writing and recording career with Janet Apsley as they got together on what was described as a drizzly, dank November evening in Essex. He says he would do anything for bluegrass and speaks of his occasional song writing collaborations with Ralph Stanley. The article covers a complete five pages.

The second and concluding part of an interview with living legend Mac Wiseman, conducted by Nashville-based reporter Walt Trott, is also included. Titled Mac Wiseman: Music and Memories, the article resumes Wiseman’s story in the Spring of 1947, following his departure from Molly O’Day’s band. This later period in his musical life covers the bluegrass era – with Bill Monroe, and Flatt and Scruggs, among others – the Dot Record period and the years thereafter. The comprehensive article, covering ten pages, includes a photograph of the first twin fiddlers in bluegrass; Tommy Jackson and Dale Potter.

Among the CDs reviewed in the magazine are the J D Crowe & The New South Lefty’s Old Guitar (3 out of 5 stars), David Davis And The Warrior River Boys’ Troubled Times (3 stars) and Vernon Oxford Sings Gospel, Country & Bluegrass (3 stars).

Country Music People is available at all good British news vendors and by subscription. Their web site gives readers an idea of its usual content, though the site features an older edition of CMP.

Jens wanted to let us know that Jim would be appearing at CountryGala this weekend (2/17-18) at Vara Konserthus in Vara, Sweden. G2 will be appearing on the show both nights, and Jens will be performing on banjo with Jim.

You can hear samples of G2’s contemporary bluegrass music on their MySpace page.

Jim talks about his discovery of bluegrass music while still a young teen.

When I first heard the Stanley Brothers do Rank Stranger, that really gripped me. I drifted into bluegrass when I was about 13 or 14, and all at once there was the Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and then I started discovering folks like the Seldom Scene and Don Stover a few months later. There was just something about it that I can’t really put my finger on, but it would electrify me when I’d hear it.

They continue to discuss his move into songwriting, and the success he has enjoyed in that field.

Read the whole piece at CMT.com.

The first time I remember seeing and hearing Jim was on the songwriter stage at Merlefest a couple years ago. Authentic is one of the first words that comes to mind when trying to describe his sound. Bluegrass captures that sound very well. With thirteen songs all written or co-written by Jim himself, this album showcases his songwriting talents as one would expect, but it also shows off his vocal talents as well. His singing is honest and strait forward evoking thoughts of Buck Owens at times, but uniquely Lauderdale and always enjoyable.

And the songs! This CD is a workshop for aspiring bluegrass songwriters. All thirteen songs are worth listening to, but I’ll highlight a couple of my favorites.

The kick off tune is Mighty Lonesome and Randy Kohrs’ opening dobro lick immediately makes you think of classic Flatt & Scruggs recordings. Randy also covers the tenor harmony vocals on the CD. Jim has written a masterful bluegrass song in this one. One of those bluegrass songs that is mighty lonesome, but makes you smile and tap your foot at the same time.

The third song on the disc, I’m Still Living For You, is done in what Ron Stewart once referred to as “heavy 3/4″ time that sounds like something Dr. Ralph Stanley would have cut. Jim artfully builds the emotion in his voice through each verse leading into a chorus that opens with the line “How it’s turned, out by mistake. I hope this is a dream, and that soon I’ll awake.” As Jimmy Martin once said, “Now that’s lonesome!”

Other songs include hard driving bluegrass, old country ballads, and while played in a more or less strait bluegrass style, There Goes Bessie Brown would have made a great newgrass song has Sam Bush gotten ahold of it. Believe me it would be hard to choose a favorite from among the thirteen great songs on this disc. My advice? Just enjoy them all!

The disc is available for purchase from Yep Roc Records. It’s also available through iTunes.

Rhonda Vincent and Bobby Osborne are nominated in the Best Country Collaboration With Vocals category for Midnight Angel, from Rhonda’s All American Bluegrass Girl CD.

The Del McCoury Band received a nomination for The Promised Land in the Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album category.

Then, of course, we have the Best Bluegrass Album category. Those nominees are:

See the complete list of nominees on the Grammy web site.

UPDATE 8:00 a.m. Also receiving a Grammy nomination yesterday was Ralph Stanley. His A Distant land To Roam CD was nominated in the Best Traditional Folk Album category.

The new Rebel release is Hillbilly Heartache, and features Don’s band, Midnight Call. Members include Shayne Bartley on guitar, Dale Vanderpool on banjo, Jesse Wells on fiddle & clawhammer banjo, Robert Maynard on bass and of course Don on mandolin, guitar, and lead vocals. All of the band members contribute vocally as well.

Hillbilly Heartache includes songs by Shawn Camp, Larry Shell, Tim Stafford, and Jim Lauderdale, and will be available in stores on July 18.

No audio samples are yet up on either Don’s or Rebel’s web sites, but the CD should be available soon on iTunes and other sites with audio snippets enabled.