BRUCE HORNSBY’S ABSOLUTE ZEROPREMIERES VIA NPR MUSIC’S FIRST LISTEN, OUT APRIL 12
April 8, 2019
FEATURING YMUSIC, JUSTIN VERNON,
BLAKE MILLS, THE STAVES, JACK DEJOHNETTE AND MORE
EMBARKING ON U.S. TOUR APRIL 25
photo credit: Sarah Walor; album cover
Pianist, singer and songwriter Bruce Hornsby’s highly anticipated new album Absolute Zero—out on April 12—premieres via NPR Music’s First Listen, who proclaim, “Absolute Zero is the sound of an artist subverting expectations and pulling it off brilliantly. At this point in his career, Hornsby could easily coast on writing cozy songs and settling for that. Thankfully for us, he’s still up for an adventure.” Listen to the album here: https://n.pr/2UEklzj
Hornsby’s previously released song “Cast-Off,” which was co-written with and features Justin Vernon,continues to receive critical praise— The New York Timessays, “Vernon’s singing is characteristically pastel, while Hornsby’s has a heavy, urgent grounding. Their hymnal give and take owes something to folk and roots music, and something to jazz, and it’s surprising, given how different their vocal approaches are, just how much their words appear to be hugging each other, balms in an emotional storm,” while UPROXXcalls it, “as delightful as it is unexpected.”Consequence of Sound furthers, “Musically, ‘Cast-Off’ is a natural melding of both Hornsby’s and Vernon’s worlds. On the one hand, there’s a cinematic coolness to the tune, a nod to Hornsby’s acclaimed work for the big screen (see: all his material with 2018 Filmmaker of the Year Spike Lee); the song’s intricately layered arrangements also call to mind a less electronic version of Bon Iver’s 22, A Million.”
In support of the release, Hornsby will embark on an extensive run of U.S. tour dates, which include performances at Brooklyn’s National Sawdust, Los Angeles’ Troubadourand more. Tickets are on-sale now and are available at BruceHornsby.com. See below for complete list of tour dates.
Predominantly produced by Hornsby, the 10-track album includes added production from Vernon (Bon Iver), Tony Berg(Phoebe Bridgers, Andrew Bird, Public Image Ltd.) and Brad Cook(Sharon Van Etten, Hiss Golden Messenger). Absolute Zero also includes musical contributions from yMusic,The Staves, Blake Mills, Jack DeJohnette, Sean Carey, The Orchestra of St. Hanks (Frost School/Univ. of Miami), Hornsby’s longtime band The Noisemakersand more. The track “Take You There (Misty)” was co-written with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter.
Based out of Williamsburg, VA, Hornsby first rose to national prominence with The Way It Is, his 1986 Grammy-winning debut album with The Range. The title track became the most-played song on American radio in 1987 while Tupac Shakur’s timeless song “Changes” builds on “The Way It Is” and set the stage for many subsequent versions of the track. In 1991, Hornsby collaborated with Bonnie Raitt, playing on her iconic hit “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Additionally, Hornsby was a part-time member of the Grateful Dead from September 1990 to March 1992, performing over 100 concerts in America and Europe. Hornsby has written six full film scores and contributed music to four others including Lee’sNetflixseriesShe’s Gotta Have Itand BlacKkKlansman.
The 13-time Grammy nominee has solidified his status as a highly sought after collaborator. Hornsby’s own 20 albums have sold over 11 million copies worldwide, and Hornsby has appeared on over 100 records including releases with Bob Dylan, Don Henley, the Grateful Dead, Ricky Skaggs, Bob Seger, Chaka Khan, Brandon Flowers, Bonnie Raitt, Sting, Mavis Staples, Leon Russell, Willie Nelson and more.
ABSOLUTE ZERO TRACKLIST
- Absolute Zero (featuring Jack DeJohnette)
- Fractals
- Cast-Off (featuring Justin Vernon)
- Meds (featuring Justin Vernon, Blake Mills and Rob Moose)
- Never In This House (featuring yMusic and The Staves)
- Voyager One (featuring yMusic)
- Echolocation
- The Blinding Light Of Dreams (featuring yMusic)
- White Noise
- Take You There (Misty) (featuring yMusic and The Staves)
BRUCE HORNSBY AND THE NOISEMAKERS LIVE
April 25 – Wilbur Theatre – Boston, MA
April 26 – Ridgefield Playhouse – Ridgefield, CT
April 27 – Ulster Performing Arts Center – Kingston, NY
April 29 – National Sawdust – Brooklyn, NY
April 30 -National Sawdust – Brooklyn, NY
May 3 – Beachlife Festival – Redondo Beach, CA
May 6 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA (SOLD OUT)
June 18 – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC *
June 19 – Knight Theater – Charlotte, NC *
June 21 – Atlanta Symphony Hall – Atlanta, GA #
June 23 – Lime Kiln Theatre – Lexington, VA *
June 25 – Bijou Theatre – Knoxville, TN *
June 26 – Salvage Station – Asheville, NC *
June 28 – The Majestic Theatre – Gettysburg, PA *
June 29 – Smith Opera House – Geneva, NY *
June 30 – Tupelo Music Hall – Derry, NH *
July 12 – Pocono Mountain Event Center – Mt Pocono, PA
July 13 – Roxian Theatre – McKees Rocks, PA
July 14 – Goodyear Theater – Akron, OH
July 16 – Rose Music Center at the Heights – Huber Heights, OH %
July 18 – The Grand Casino Theater – Mashantucket, CT %
July 20 – Maymont Park – Richmond, VA %
July 21 – Spirit Pavilion – Charlottesville, VA %
July 23 – North Carolina Museum of Art – Raleigh, NC %
July 24 – Wolf Trap – Vienna, VA %
August 7 – Pabst Theatre – Milwaukee, WI **
August 9 – Pantages Theatre – Minneapolis, MN **
August 10 – Okoboji Blue Water Festival – Arnolds Park, IA
August 16 – Dillon Amphitheatre – Dillon, CO
August 18 – Denver Botanic Gardens – Denver, CO
April 14, 2020 – Cincinnati Music Hall – Cincinnati, OH ^
# – w/ Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
* – w/ special guest Sam Amidon
% – w/ Amos Lee
** – w/ special guest S. Carey
^ – w/ Cincinnati Pops