JH Producing Luísa Sobral

Joe is back in the studio working on a new Production project.

Portuguese artist Luísa Sobral started recording her 4th album in LA, and approached Joe as a producer.

Joe Henry :

"In my job as a producer, I receive a lot of new music to hear and evaluate; and as diligent as I try to be to give all its due, I find more than not that I know within moments if the songs are truly speaking to me, and whether or not I have something to offer them in return.

Such was the case when I was first approached about working with Luisa Sobral: I was barely a verse into the first song demo that I heard when I knew that I wanted to work with her, and would if invited. I heard a fully-formed songwriter at work, and knew too that she was fully committed to the process, possessing both a point of view, and an open-hearted, collaborative spirit.

I don't need much else to go on. Songs are always the compass blade pointing the way forward; and when the artist is invested in following that direction, I know that real discovery is possible. And discovery is whole game where music is concerned." (source)

Source : FB page Luisa Sobral

Here is a song from her debut album, released in 2014.

In Close Contact

In Close Contact is a crowdfunding project from Jacob Blickenstaff.

Jacob Blickenstaff  is a Photographer and journalist who interviewed, and made portraits of some wonderful artists.

Since I post of it, there is off course Joe Henry, but besides him there are f.e. : Jackson Browne, Dr. John, Yo La Tengo, Daniel Lanois, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Robert Glasper, Steve Earle, Richard Thompson and Blake Mills.

The goal is to be able to deliver quality prints of these portraits, together with interviews with these artists.

Jacob has today reached 74 % of his goal, and 22 days left to make it.


Visit the following page to pledge.

Joe to perform on AMA's spring celebration

John Prine, Lee Ann Womack and Joe Henry will perform on the 6th anual Americana spring celebration.

This event will take place between March 31 and april 3, 2016  at Blackberry farm. The event is organised by the Americana Music Association.

The AMA is a professional non-profit trade organization whose mission is to advocate for the authentic voice of American roots music around the world.

Reservations are available by calling 1-800-557-8864 or visiting Blackberry farm. 



Several Critics call John Prine one of Joe's big influences. And Lee Ann Womack was f.e. a guest artist on the album album KIN, songs by Rodney Crowell and Marry Karr, wich Joe Produced.   

Release date set for 'Birds of Chicago' Album

On February 19, 2016 'Real Midnight' will be released.

'Real Midnight' is the 2nd album of 'Birds of Chicago' and was produced by Joe. This recordingsession was the last set of recordings done in the Garfield House.

Here is some more info from a previous entry


The Wall street Journal released a 1th track of that album. The song 'Dim Star Of The Palisades'.

To be honest : If this song sets the standard, we are about to receive a stunning Album ! Yes, I'm a fan !

Source Pictures

The 58th annual Grammy Nominees

The nominees for the 58th Grammy awards have been announced.

2 Projects, produced by Joe are nominated.

The travelling kind, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell 
- Nominated for Americana Album of the year.
- Nominated for Americana Roots song of the year.



Worthy, Bettye Lavette
- Nominated for Blues album of the year.




Already a well deserved acknowledgement, and we'll keep our fingers crossed.

The grammys will be announced on February 15, 2016.

Love the Coopers

Joe was Music consultant for the Christmas movie 'Love The Coopers'.

 interview with Joe :



direct link : http://www.traileraddict.com/love-the-coopers/interview-joe-henry

And the official trailer :

Allen Toussaint

Oh, how I wish I could write this entry in more cheerful times....

On Monday evening, Allen Toussaint unexpectedly died after a concert in Madrid. I personally received the news in an e-mail. I was going to see his show in Antwerp 3 days later. On tuesday an e-mail popped up entitled "Concert Allen Toussaint canceled". I first thought they canceled the tour because of an illness. How big the shock was reading what had happened. I stopped doing what I was doing, stepped in the car and drove around.......

Rest In Peace Allen Toussaint. Thank you for your music.


Some weeks ago Joe Henry was in the sudio with Allen Toussaint recording a new album. The label (nonesuch records) anounced its release somewhere in 2016.

According to the announcement, the recording "took place at two sets of sessions over the past several years: The first were solo piano recordings made at Toussaint's home studio in New Orleans in 2013, while the second, featuring a core band of musicians with several guest soloists, were completed in Los Angeles in early October 2015."


Joe Henry wrote the following words:

"Joining Allen over four days this past October in a Hollywood studio were the rhythm section of Jay Bellerose and David Piltch joined by other masters of understated invention—guitarist Bill Frisell; legendary tenor saxophonist Charles Lloyd; multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz; the luminous singer Rhiannon Giddens; and the irrepressible composer/arranger/pianist Van Dyke Parks, who had a long friendship and collaborative relationship with Allen dating back to the early 1970s.
"I have been working with Allen Toussaint—under his spell and subject to his influence—for a full decade now. He was a quiet radical, musically-speaking, and a prince of great humility. In listening to all of the recordings these past days, reeling from the shock of his sudden death, it has meant so much to feel Allen's spirit, vibrant and undiminished. Allen's family, our friends at Nonesuch, and I look forward to sharing the music with the world."

source