Buddy Miller’s Majestic Silver Strings
Buddy Miller exemplifies the spirit of Americana Music, in all of its country-bluesy-folksy-rootsy glory. Maybe it’s because his skills are as diverse as all those types of music: a singer, songwriter, recording artist, bandleader, ace musician and Grammy-nominated producer. Maybe it’s because he brings a sense of community with him wherever he goes, whether performing with Robert Plant and his Band of Joy, or Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin and Shawn Colvin during the “3 Girls and Their Buddy” Tour. Or maybe—just like the musical genre—he defies an easy description. He’s just flat-out great no matter what he does.
For his latest release, Buddy teamed up with esteemed guitarists Marc Ribot, Bill Frisell and Greg Leisz to create The Majestic Silver Strings, a re-imagination of country songs, loaded with guitars, atmosphere and attitude. Guest vocalists on the album include Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, Lee Ann Womack, Chocolate Genius, Ann McCrary and Julie Miller. A bonus DVD with concert footage of the first, and only performance to date with Buddy, Marc, Bill and Greg playing the tracks selected for this project, is included with the CD.
On The Majestic Silver Strings, the musicians re-interpret classic country songs written by some of the most esteemed songwriters including Lefty Frizzell, Roger Miller and George Jones, whose hit “Why Baby Why” is sung by Buddy on the record. The band also tackles a few traditional compositions and several new songs including “God’s Wing’d Horse” written by Julie Miller and Bill Frisell. Many projects boast one guest vocalist; Buddy has six revered friends lending their voices to the recording including Emmylou Harris on “Why I’m Walkin’,” Lee Ann Womack on “Meds,” and Shawn Colvin on a pitch-perfect performance of “That’s The Way Love Goes.” Buddy also does a duet of “I Want To Be With You Always” with Patty Griffin.
Buddy, who has spent much of this year on the road leading Robert Plant’s Band of Joy, recently collaborated with both Plant and Patty Griffin to produce two Grammy nominated albums. (Robert Plant’s Band Of Joy was nominated in the Best Americana Album category while Patty Griffin’s Downtown Church was nominated in the Best Traditional Gospel Album category.) Buddy currently holds the Americana Music Association honor as Instrumentalist of the Year, while two years ago he swept the awards taking home trophies in almost every category including Album of the Year for Written in Chalk, a collaboration with his wife Julie.
(Photo of The Majestic Silver Strings, from left: Bill Frisell, Buddy Miller, Greg Leisz and Marc Ribot)
Category: Be Heard Jukebox Archive
So great to see Buddy play, never got the chance to do so before I moved to Taiwan, maybe someday before our Lord’s Throne I’ll get to hear him and Julie lead praise… until then, Thank God for Youtube!
Thanks, Pat, for the clarification — and I’m so jealous. Bet that was incredible. I’m bummed I missed them when they played in Nashville. I’m crossing my fingers for a tour, too!
It’s not true that the Nashville show was the only time these four gents got together to play these songs. During Bill Frisell’s residency at Yoshi’s Oakland last year, one night consisted of two shows by the (then-nameless) group. I saw the first set, which was brilliant. I hear that Shawn Colvin joined them during the second for a song.
In any event, here’s hoping for a tour by TMSS.