COWBOYS IN CYBERSPACE - December 2003

Each month guitar picker and Webmaster Bob Howe brings you the latest Country Music happenings on the Internet.
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Cowboys In Cyberspace - December 2003

"DING DONG MERRY-LEE"

A list for Santa from an Albert Lee fan.

CD cover Long time readers of this column will know that I'm a huge ALBERT LEE fan, so the release of his new album Heartbreak Hill sparked a new round of Web searches here at the COWBOYS IN CYBERSPACE office. The first time I saw Albert Lee play was at the U.K. Wembley Country Music Festival in 1977. Back then he was the new member of the Emmylou Harris Hot Band which is where he cemented his reputation as the finest country-rock guitarist ever to come out of England, and also when he honed his signature style of playing that would become highly recognisable and widely imitated.

Heartbreak Hill is now available in Australia and is Albert Lee's personal tribute to Emmylou Harris and her music. Aiding him in the task are Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Rodney Crowell, Jerry Douglas, Patty Loveless, John David Souther, Buddy Miller, and Maura O'Connell, with liner notes by Emmylou herself. As well as some amazing picking and singing, the CD is enhanced by a short video of Albert recording in the studio and chatting with banjo legend Earl Scruggs, who returns the favour from when Albert played on Earl's Grammy winning version of Foggy Mountain Breakdown.

Since the last time he was featured in this column, ALBERT LEE now has his own Web site that is a great launching pad for the latest news on his shows and workshops. Links from there will take you to his two main touring outfits, 'Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes' and 'Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings'.

More Links: You can learn to pick guitar in the style of Albert Lee...good luck!

EMP Albert Lee Guitar Seminar

Guitar Notes: Albert Lee Type Licks

TrueFire: Private Lesson With Albert Lee

Finishing on a different theme, some music to surf to: ROBERT EARL KEEN has a great new album called Farm Fresh Onions, but this holiday season I'll be giving extra spins to Merry Christmas From The Family, from his new compilation The Party Never Ends (Songs You Know From The Times You Can't Remember).

Until next time, happy holidays and super seasonal surfing!

DVD-A/V REVIEW
DVD cover

DORIAN MICHAEL -
ACOUSTIC BLUES
with Albert Lee and Laurence Juber
AIX Records via Rockian Trading

DORIAN MICHAEL plays guitar and mandolin in a style that is akin to the sound of modern country and bluegrass, with extra touches of blues and jazz. He is joined on several tunes of this acoustic instrumental session by none other than ALBERT LEE and also LAURENCE JUBER, who was once the guitarist in Paul McCartney's WINGS. These are genuine musicians at work, doing what they do best. Quite apart from the music, which is rich in melodic ideas and stunning improvisations, this is also the most versatile use of the DVD format I have ever seen in a music title.

One side of this double-sided disc contains three different mixes of the music (including 5.1 surround sound), a multiple camera angle video of the session, a Play-Along mix with the solos removed, a video Master Class in Blues Guitar Playing and printable Chord Sheets for all the tunes. On the other side of the disc are the DVD-Audio 96 kHz/24 bit tracks. This means that if you have a DVD-Audio Player you will be treated the highest dynamic range and fidelity sound that makes this recording come to life. So whether you want to watch the masters at work, learn a few tricks for your own playing, or just sit back and listen to the perfect sound reproduction, this is the disc for you.

AIX Records 80016
(66 Mins plus many extras)
From Rockian Trading: Phone (03) 9808 5867
www.rockian.biz

TRACK LISTING:
Jam On This
Broad Street Blues
All Blues (featuring Dorian and Laurence)
Gardenia Shuffle
Easy Does It (featuring Dorian and Albert)
All Dressed Up (featuring Dorian and Albert)
Oakdale Special
Very Blue Hawaii (featuring Dorian and Albert)
Slow Blues in C
El Morro
Gravel Flats (featuring Dorian and Albert)

If you want to share the location of an interesting site you've seen
or request a topic for discussion in future columns, why not E-mail me.

Don't forget to listen out for cyberBob each month on the radio waves with Belinda Miller of Murri Country, 4AAA (98.9 FM in Brisbane) and Barbara Morison on 2SER (107.3 FM in Sydney and on the Web).

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"DING DONG MERRY-LEE"

Would YOU would like to be added to our FREE mailing list and be automatically notified each time a new Cowboys in Cyberspace article appears on the web? Just enter your E-mail address (and/or comments) here and click the button once!(If your browser doesn't support 'forms', E-mail us above)

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