Produced by Tom Waits, featuring 12 Waits-penned tunes
Celebrating his 40th year of performing and recording, venerated blues artist John Hammond releases Wicked Grin on March 13, 2001 marking his fifth album for Pointblank / Virgin Records and his 28th solo album overall. For the new album, Hammond enlisted the aid of long time friend Tom Waits to helm the production. Once in the studio, the album evolved into a selection of Waits' songs, performed by Hammond, produced by Waits. The concept of an artist producing an album of his own compositions performed by another artist is certainly a rare event, if not unprecedented. Yet the results feel as natural as day and night.On Wicked Grin, Waits has been able to bring Hammond's unique sound into the realm of his own singular vision. The result is a raw and dynamic synthesis of the Delta style Hammond has perfected over his long career and Waits' eclectic and fascinating portraits of American outsiders."It's the most evocative, imagistic, incredible material I've ever recorded," Hammond declares with unbridled enthusiasm."I've been a fan of John's since his first record and was proud to be a part of this," says Waits. "He's a great force of nature. John sounds like a big train coming. He chops them all down."Hammond and Waits met over 25 years ago, when Tom opened a gig for John in Arizona. They had an instant rapport and became fast friends, continuing to cross paths ever since. Waits contributed a song to Hammond's 1992Got Love If You Want It album, while Hammond appeared on Waits' 1999 Grammy Award-winning release,Mule Variations. It was during the latter recording sessions that the idea of Tom producing John first arose. The two tossed around thoughts for the next few months and met up again during Waits' "Get Behind The Mule" tour, where Hammond joined him onstage at NY's Beacon Theatre."Since I first heard Tom play, on a show with him in 1974, I have been in awe of his talent," Hammond recalls. "His ability to put across his songs so effectively and dynamically is overwhelming."The notion of Hammond performing Waits' material evolved organically during the recording process. John's ease with one of Tom's tunes was the first clue that the marriage would be a happy one. Waits liked the way Hammond put his own brand on the songs so much that it inspired some additional writing. "Kathleen Brennan and I wrote one fresh song for John - 'Fannin Street,' which he does like Hank Williams."Previously, Waits had only produced his own albums, "so I was a little nervous about it and I almost backed out because it was too intimidating. But I picked the studio and musicians. We brought in Larry Taylor (Canned Heat, Jerry Lee Lewis, Percy Mayfield, Big Joe Turner, Kim Wilson, Tom Waits) on upright bass; Augie Meyers (Bob Dylan's Time Out Of Mind, Sir Douglas Quintet, Texas Tornadoes, Flaco Jimenez) on keyboards, Stephen Hodges (Fabulous Thunderbirds, James Harmon, Smashing Pumpkins) on percussion and drums; and (fellow blues great) Charlie Musselwhite (everyone) on harmonica," says Waits, who joined in on rhythm guitar and added a guest vocal on the album's final track. The song, titled "I Know I've Been Changed," is a traditional gospel tune and the only non-Waits composition on the disc."As the project came together, with the arrival of the musicians, a new shape took form," Hammond remarks. "There was magic involved. And with Tom on hand and in the band, the songs just came together. I was inspired. Another side of me emerged. I feel as good as I have ever felt about this recording session," Hammond says with conviction. "The musicians involved were all inspirational players. We worked as though we had been playing together for years. It was an unforgettable experience for me."And that's saying a lot from this veteran bluesman who is entering his fifth decade as a professional musician. Hammond has played the gamut -- from coffeehouses and nightclubs to concert halls and major international festivals -- entertaining blues, folk and rock fans around the world. With his acoustic and National steel guitars, harmonicas and a massive repertoire of tunes, Hammond has followed the path of such singing poets as Woody Guthrie, Lightnin' Hopkins and Sonny Boy Williamson, taking musical stories of life and love from one regional corner of the globe to another. Over the course of his stellar career, Hammond has worked with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, The Band, Bill Wyman, J.J. Cale, John Mayall, Michael Bloomfield, Dr. John and such blues greats as Koko Taylor, Charlie Musselwhite and John Lee Hooker, among others.As evidenced in all of his recordings, from his first Vanguard album released in 1962, through Wicked Grin, Hammond possesses the unpretentious, wide-eyed enthusiasm of a music fan, despite his distinguished status in America. According to Waits, "Sometimes 'producing' is just drinking coffee, waving your arms around and nodding 'yes' or saying nothing at exactly the right time. John's particular dialect in music is that of Charley Patton's shoe size and Skip James' watch chain. He has a blacksmith's rhythm and the kind of soul and precision it takes to cut diamonds or to handle snakes." Free MySpace Layouts by Iron Spider
