Guelph singer/songwriter James Gordon is releasing his 40th album.
The Heritage Hall Sessions will be released at a launch concert set for March 29 at Heritage Hall on Essex Street.
In a news release, Gordon, who is also a city councillor for Ward 2, said the latest album is a new musical direction for him.
It is his 40th recording if you count the 13 albums he made with his former band Tamarack.
"For The Heritage Hall Sessions he gathered five of his favourite musical collaborators together in Guelph’s historic Heritage Hall, run by the Black Heritage Society; they sat in a circle, created richly textured arrangements, then recorded live with no overdubs or editing, the old fashioned way, finishing their three-day residency in front of a live audience.
The instant all-star band consists of well-known artists each with their own thriving solo careers: Ian Bell, known for his frequent CBC radio contributions and for his work as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist added concertina, melodeon, harmonica, bass, banjo, guitar and mandolin. James’ long-time band mate from Tamarack, Jeff Bird, currently with the Cowboy Junkies, played mandolin, bass, and harmonica.
Anne Lindsay, known as a member of the Jim Cuddy Band and for her work with The Skydiggers, Blue Rodeo and John McDermott, put her considerable fiddle skills to good use here. Singer/songwriter Katherine Wheatley held things together with her guitar playing and back-up vocals, and yet another great Guelph singer and songwriter Tannis Slimmon added her heavenly harmonies.
James got to focus on his singing and let the band ‘carry the tunes’. The album was produced by James’ son Evan Gordon who has been gaining a reputation in the production/engineering side of things.
All band members but Lindsay will be celebrating the launch at the concert on March 29, performing the 12 songs from the recording and adding some of their own work to the mix as well, says the press release.
The concert will be followed by an American tour in April and May, Ontario dates and a trip to the Maritimes in the fall.
The March 29 show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online.
