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Black Hen Music Set To Release Jim Byrnes CD, My Walking Stick on May 19th VANCOUVER, BC – Black Hen Music announces a May 19 U.S. release date for My Walking Stick, the latest CD from multi Juno Award-winning blues-roots artist, Jim Byrnes. Black Hen Music is distributed in North America by Burnside Distribution. My Walking Stick was recorded in Vancouver and teams Byrnes again with one of North America’s most critically acclaimed roots music producers, Steve Dawson, who also produced his prior two award-winning albums for Black Hen Music, House of Refuge in 2006 and Fresh Horses in 2004. Most recently, House of Refuge won “Blues Album of the Year” at the 2007 Juno Awards, “Album of the Year” at The Maple Blues Awards, and “Vocalist of the Year” at the 2006 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Steve Dawson also contributes guitar, banjo, keyboards and percussion on My Walking Stick, which also utilizes gospel trio powerhouse The Sojourners on backing vocals, as well as an all-star band of players including Keith Lowe on bass (Bill Frisell, Fiona Apple) Chris Gestrin on keyboards (Randy Bachman), and Jesse Zubot on violin; plus world renowned drummers Stephen Hodges (Tom Waits, John Hammond, Mavis Staples) and Matt Chamberlain (Edie Brickell, David Bowie). My Walking Stick continues along the path forged by his previous albums and explores the gritty and soulful influences of ‘60s R&B, blues, country, roots and gospel sounds, both in its choice of cover material, as well as Byrnes’ own original songs. Featured are Jim’s take on classic gospel (“What Are They Doing in Heaven Today?,” “I Want My Crown,”) and R&B material (“Lookin’ for a Love,” ”Drown in My Own Tears,” “I’m Living Off the Love You Give”), mixed with his original songs and some classic Canadiana by The Band (“Ophelia”), and Oh Susanna (“3 Shots”). Throughout the album, Byrnes weaves tales of wanderers, lost souls, love lost and found, death and redemption. “You know, since I first got in cahoots with Steve Dawson, I knew I'd found a great ally in genre bending and eliminating the pigeon holes often foisted on musical creativity,” says Byrnes about the sessions. “I've been at this professionally for more than 40 years and I really feel that I'm only now discovering my true voice.” The title track was recorded by Leon Redbone, among others, but Jim’s version leans more towards the way he first heard the song by Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers on an old record his mother used to play. Likewise, his take on “Lookin for a Love” has more in common with the Valentinos original 1962 single on Sam Cooke’s SAR label than the rocked-up version the J. Geils Band did in the ‘70s. On the Robbie Robertson composition, “Ophelia,” Jim ratchets-up the soul quotient, changing the tempo to a slow, burning plea.. Owner of a dual citizenship, Jim Byrnes has been based in Vancouver for many years, but was originally born and raised in St. Louis and grew up surrounded by music on the north side of the city. Chuck Berry, Ike and Tina Turner, Ray Charles and Muddy Waters played nearby and were major influences. Jim’s parents even lived for a time in the same apartment building as Chuck Berry’s legendary piano player, Johnnie Johnson. As a tribute to Ray Charles, Byrnes covers “Drown in My Own Tears,” a highlight track on My Walking Stick, featuring one of Jim's greatest vocal performances. In addition to being a musician, acting always seemed to strike a chord, ever since he did Shakespeare in the Park in St. Louis when he was 15. He went on to study acting at Boston University and St. Louis University. Jim Byrnes lost both his legs many years ago, when he was hit from behind by a car while helping push a stalled truck on a highway. After recuperating, he pursued work as a musician, which also led to the acting career for which he had once trained. If his face looks familiar, it’s because Jim Byrnes is also a talented actor, best known for playing “Lifeguard,” the communications expert and link to the “organization” on the CBS-TV series, Wiseguy (1987-1990), and as Joe Dawson, one of the “Watchers” tracking the immortals on Highlander (syndicated, from 1993-98). He continues to do both film and TV work, including a recurring role on Sanctuary, the Sci Fi Channel original series, as well as voiceovers for animated film and TV. Over the years, he’s won and been nominated for several acting awards. Jim Byrnes regular plays over 150 dates a year, including major folk and jazz festivals in North America and Europe. He’ll support the release of My Walking Stick with regular tours of clubs, festivals and showcase venues around the world. For more information , visit www.blackhenmusic.com, www.jimbyrnes.org, www.myspace.com/jimbyrnes. To download a hi-res jpg of Jim Byrnes, click on this link: Jim Byrnes Color Photo |
