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Listen to excerpts from Live Returns |
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Jon Carroll Last year, Jon Carroll's debut release on Azalea, LOVE RETURNS, was voted the 2007 ALBUM OF THE YEAR by the Washington Area Music Association. A total of 7 Wammies were earned, including Song of the Year (Paint That Dollar), Musician, Rock Male Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year. This year, Jon and this 2-CD live set, LIVE RETURNS won D.C.'s 2008 Pop Rock Recording, Musician, Instrumentalist, Male Vocalist, and Songwriter of the Year awards. The hi-fi and horn-charged performances that night at The Barns at Wolf Trap were captured on multitrack and the result is an exciting double-disc romp that lets up only slightly for a breathtaking ballad or two. An all-star cast that includes John Jennings, J.T. Brown, The Grandson's Chris Watling & Alan MacEwen make up a hearty ensemble that rocked the sold-out crowd at The Barns that night. The CD presents peerless musicianship delivering material to match, including a combustible version of Get Closer, Carroll's tune which was covered by Linda Ronstadt, and the tribally funky Walk Tall, which was covered by Tom Jones. The set also includes electrically charged and inspired special guest appearances by singer-songwriters Ben Carroll and Bill Danoff. ... the performances are tour-tight. ..it's Carroll's evocative grand piano and impassioned vocals that sell the songs. This is, after all, the guy who won Grammys in 1976 for "Afternoon Delight" with the Starland Vocal Band, when he was just 18. There's a Brill Building vibe to the arrangements--check out the gospel-pop push in his cover of Bob Dylan's "Tight Connection To My
Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love)". Visit Jon Carroll's website! |
