The Gospel according to Water

I guess those, who know already the way to my writings over here, already received the exciting news a few days ago. Don't worry; I did to, but Time is a lion.... So only now, I can sit and write.

Joe has officially announced a new album entitled 'The Gospel according to Water', to be released on November 15th. 

Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram

COME NOVEMBER Announcing a new album: The Gospel According To Water Come 15 November, I will be releasing a new album ––my 15th studio offering as a solo act. The album is called The Gospel According To Water. It was recorded over two days this past June ––and fairly blind-sided me, when I thought I was merely making reference demos of thirteen new songs ahead of forgetting them. All but two of these songs were written between Valentines and Fathers Days; all having flowered from the black earth of recent experience ––namely a cancer diagnosis late last fall that left me reeling ––though, as well, set into motion many wild blessings and positive shifts in my life, along with an unprecedented songwriting flurry. With only a handful of friends playing in support, I entered the studio and tore through these songs with determination and joyful abandon, then went home. I had let nothing clutter or distract me from their essential and true heart; and upon waking the morning after, I understood that something significantly more had transpired ––that the songs as articulated had sparked an ember that somehow remained bright and alive before me, moving beyond my expectations. I unexpectedly heard the songs as complete, and vividly so; and knew that the casual circumstances had not limited my expression but in fact liberated me from the cloying aim for posterity that can make weighty any session, and landed me instead in a place both unencumbered by the past and unattached to futures. Though they have all grown out of darkness, I don’t believe any of these songs themselves to be “dark” in nature, nor about the circumstance that prompted their discovery. In them, I hear the re-accessing of my imagination and its greater invitation; hear deep gratitude, and a compassion toward self that I don’t always possess; an optimism I did not know I’d allowed to flourish. These recordings are raw and wirey and spare because the songs insisted they be. But I believe them to be as wholly realized ––as “produced” as anything I’ve touched, as well as being deeply and fundamentally romantic: in love with life, even when that life founders and threatens to disappear; lustfully a

Een bericht gedeeld door Joe Henry (@joehenrymusic) op 26 Sep 2019 om 7:54 (PDT)

A first single has also been released


Bloom : a beautiful song about when we are faced with a new reality, and seeing it as such. for Joe facing a cancer diagnosis last year.  "To carry on from here...."
(on a side note : The intro reminds me a lot of  'Lead me on' .)
 
I am deeply moved and humble seeing how Joe faced his new reality. With such Grace, strenght and humanity.

On Joe's official website you can pre-order the album in various formats. If you place your order before November 1st, it will be a signed copie. So Joe : start exercising your hands and wrists !

But that's not all : You can also buy a few signed photoprints made by  Jacob Blickenstaff  during Joe's concert in L.A. last July. (I have my favorite picture, not simply for Joe, but more for its total esthetics. A true artits you are, Mr Blickenstaff).

And off course : A new album, new songs,... they long to be performed live. So on the day of release (November 15th) you can hear Joe at Largo at the Coronet, L.A. performing these songs,.. And I'm sure many more.

Some more details : 

tracklist : 

Famine Walk
The Gospel According To Water
Mule
Orson Welles
Green Of The Afternoon
In Time For Tomorrow (Funeral For Sorrow)
The Fact Of Love
Book Of Common Prayer
Bloom
Gates Of Prayer Cemetery #2
Salt And Sugar
General Tzu Names The Planets For His Children
Choir Boy


Musicians :  
Joe Henry – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
Levon Henry – tenor saxophone and Bb clarinet
John Smith – acoustic guitar
Patrick Warren – upright piano and additional keys
Special guests: David Piltch – electric bass / Allison Russell and JT Nero (Birds of Chicago) – backing vocals

I truly am looking forward to this new album. Maybe more then ever, learning the backgroundstory of how this album came to be.

Humbly I greet you,
Much love, and more than Ever...
Stefan. 

AmericanaFest award show 2019

Joe was one of the many musicians (Brandi Carlile, Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens, I’m With Her, Delbert McClinton, Lori McKenna, Maria Muldaur, John Prine, Amanda Shires and Mavis Staples, along with present-day buzz generators Jade Bird, Mark Erelli, Ruston Kelly, J.S. Ondara, Our Native Daughters, Erin Rae, The War and Treaty, Yola...) during this years Americana award show.

He performed, in Duet with Rodney Crowell, 'Girl from the North Country'. At the end of the show he participated in an 'all-artist' sing-along of  'I'll fly away' 

The award show will be broadcasted on November 23rd as an episode of Austin City Limits on PBS.

Joe performing with Tony Trundle & Frank Kilkelly

When Joe was in Ireland last year he did a few shows.
I found 2 clips from then, together with Tony Trundle & Frank Kilkelly.

Enjoy !