This week's musical miscellany

Remember a while back when I mused aloud my desire to see a DVD release of Renaldo and Clara? Looks like that dream just may become a reality . . .

Bob Dylan's Renaldo and Clara To Be Finally Released (Levi Asher/Literary Kicks)

Report - Bob Dylan's 'Renaldo & Clara' to be released on DVD (Harold Lepidus/Bob Dylan Examiner)

Here's a short snippet of one of my favorite Rolling Thunder-era songs.  "Never Let Me Go" was officially released on a rare DJ promo EP, 4 Songs From "Renaldo And Clara," and you can occasionally find it for sale on eBay.  I look forward to (hopefully!) seeing and hearing this in much better quality.



The Banjo Project: The Story of America's Instrument is a documentary/multi-media presentation by producer Marc Fields and banjoist Tony Trischka that aims to "chronicle the journey of America's quintessential instrument - the banjo - from its African roots to the 21st century."  It's narrated by Steve Martin and features a staggering array of interviews and performances from musicians such as Pete Seeger, Ralph Stanley, Béla Fleck, and Rhiannon Giddens.  To generate much-needed funding to complete the project, Fields and Trischka turned to Kickstarter.  The pledge period ended yesterday; the total amount raised was nearly double the goal figure of $25,000 ($46,098).  Check out the trailer below, and keep an eye out for the finished film in the near future.

The Banjo Project Trailer from The Banjo Project on Vimeo.

See also Dustin Ogdin's excellent article and interview with Marc Fields at ear•tyme music show.

My friend Scott Barretta and photographer Ken Murphy have recently released the stunningly beautiful book Mississippi: State of Blues.  Both chronicle and love letter, it is the fruit of three years of traveling and photographing the rich, living blues heritage of my beloved home state.  Yesterday they were 

interviewed on Mississippi Public Broadcasting's Mississippi Arts Hour; the program is now available for download via podcast.  For a list of retailers offering copies of Mississippi: State of Blues for sale, click here.

Shooter Jennings is spearheading a new musical genre/movement that aims to represent those artists whose music falls "between the cracks of country and rock," and who have been largely overlooked by the mainstream musical press and radio.  He's dubbed it XXX, after the markings found on old-fashioned moonshine jugs (why, what else did you think he meant?).  If this idea runs right up your melodic alley, read more about it and sign the petition at www.givememyxxx.com.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation has just released the list of this year's performers, and it's quite the smorgasbord, as always.  Check out the lineup and order your tickets here.

Wanda Jackson and Jack White's performance on the Late Show with David Letterman last Thursday night took the roof off of the Ed Sullivan Theater.  

As previously reported, The Party Ain't Over is out tomorrow; they will perform again on Conan tomorrow night. 

The Queen of Rockabilly Returns (John Jurgenson/WSJ.com)

Wanda Jackson, Rockabilly Queen, Prolongs Her Party (Melena Ryzik/NYTimes.com)

Live review: Wanda Jackson at the El Rey Theatre (Evelyn McDonnell/Pop & Hiss)

Must read: Adam Sheets' review of The Party Ain't Over at No Depression.  He loves her new album as much as I do!

Other random items I've enjoyed recently:

Patti Smith: Warrior Poet (Paul Zollo/American Songwriter)

Mick Without Moss (Zoe Heller/NYTimes)

Interview: Merideth Sisco Discusses The "Winter's Bone" Soundtrack & The Music Of The Ozarks (Chris Mateer/No Depression)

John Cohen's Passionate Pursuit, From Kentucky To Peru (Karen Michel/NPR)

And last, but certainly not least, there's this . . . 

Tom Waits - Potter's Field from Phil Bebbington on Vimeo.