A New Solo Album – Ashes & Dust
From Storied Guitarist Warren Haynes
Featuring Railroad Earth
Grammy-Award winning vocalist-songwriter and admired guitarist Warren Haynes will release a new solo studio album featuring the Americana band Railroad Earth and entitled Ashes & Dust on July 24 2015 via the Provogue / Mascot Label Group.
The album, only the third ever released under his own name in a lengthy career, is one of his most musically rich and personal albums to date, for me shining an entirely new light on Haynes’ skills and music sensibilities.
Long recognized as a prolific musician and key figure of the American music landscape, Haynes has brought his virtuosic artistry to the Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule and The Grateful Dead. But despite all of the ground that Haynes has covered, this album is a delightful surprise and he makes it clear on Ashes & Dust that he has a lot more to offer.
When you listen to Ashes & Dust, there’s an immediate and luminous difference to his most-known, eminent style. The album encompasses beautiful acoustic arrangements, a rootsy/Americana soundscape, earthy songwriting and soulful vocals (his voice has never been in better fettle). It showcases new dimensions of Haynes as a guitarist, seeing him dive deeper into acoustic guitar & playing more slide guitar. Also, the guitar prowess is not omnipresent and when it is in evidence, it is subdued and well contained within the songs’ fabric.
A critical component here is the canny decision in bringing Railroad Earth as collaborators. The band’s illustrious musicianship has allowed Haynes’ to flourish, thereby meaning that he is not required to take the mantle of guitar wunderkind.
According to Haynes’ website: “I have a cool chemistry with those guys—they add their own personality to the songs, but they’re really great at interpreting, as well,” says Haynes. “We’ve known each other casually for several years, and then at Del-Fest a few years ago, we winged a few songs together and it went really well. A little later, when I was opening the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, they joined me for part of the set. We did that with a little more rehearsal, more preparation, and it was a great experience. At that point, I started thinking that maybe I should make my next record with these guys.”
The tracks on the album include a mix of new songs, covers and songs written decades ago, ones that didn’t necessarily fit in with past collaborations or previous solo material.
Also featuring on the album are Grace Potter (who joins Haynes for the only duet on the album on “Gold Dust Woman”), Grammy-Award winning singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin and harmonica player Mickey Raphael who each make an appearance on “Wanderlust.” Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge and percussionist Marc Quinones play on “Spots of Time,” a song written by Haynes and Phil Lesh from The Grateful Dead.
Ashes & Dust is a rich, sublime and well-concocted collection. It has an undeniable attraction and sweet vibe throughout. If you considered like me you had Warren Haynes pegged, think again and have a listen to this captivating release.
Ashes and Dust Track list:
1. Is It Me Or You
2. Coal Tattoo
3. Blue Maiden’s Tale
4. Company Man
5. New Year’s Eve
6. Stranded In Self-Pity
7. Glory Road
8. Gold Dust Woman featuring Grace Potter
9. Beat Down The Dust
10. Wanderlust
11. Spots Of Time
12. Hallelujah Boulevard
13. Word On The Wind
Ashes & Dust will be out July 24 from the Provogue / Mascot Label Group
