Jack was recently in Manhattan sequencing his new album, All Quiet in Cuicoland (working title), which will be released before the end of the year (probably within a few months). Meanwhile, Jack, Andy Summers and Dennis Chambers are on for a tour of their new band, HotFlash. Details forthcoming.
Jack and Larry Corryel have issued a new CD single in the UK featuring a classic song: Manic Depression.
Backbeat Books (formerly Miller Freeman Books) have released a book by Chris Welch, titled Cream, that chronicles the band's two-year transformation of rock. Smiles & Grins, the Jack Bruce Appreciation Society newsletter, are selling the book for US $19.95 + $3.50 s/h (US) or $5.00 s/h outside of the US. A review of the book will be posted on ROPE LADDER soon.
Balafon Press will publish a new book on Cream in November for Miller Freeman. The book, titled Cream: Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker - the Legendary 60s Supergroup, will feature new interviews with Jack, Ginger and Pete Brown. Among the several contributing writers will be Chris Welch, author of Cream: Strange Brew.
Jack has announced the formation of a new trio: "HotFlash", with Andy Summers of the Police on guitar and virtuoso Dennis Chambers on drums. (See JACK'S DIARY for details.) An album and tour are to follow early next year. Meanwhile, All Quiet in Cuicoland continues to develop. Jack plans to finish recording the new solo album in November, with a little help from some well-known friends.
Dave Black has organised another Jack Bruce Internet Broadcast Radio Show for 16 March 2000 at 10AM Central Daylight Time (1700 to 1900 Greenwich Mean Time) and 6PM to 8PM (0100 to 0300 Greenwich Mean Time on March 17th). Hard to find pieces that are representative of Jack's varied career will be included, as with similar shows in the past. Tune in on 16 March at http://www.angelfire.com/celeb/jbsupershow2000/. Check ROPE LADDER in the future for more details. Dave had this to say about the show: "None of the tracks played on the show are for sale, except through authorized agents (e.g. recording companies and other entities that have financial agreements with Jack), No downloading for re-sale is authorized, no MP3s are available for download. This is an amateur labor of love for fans --please help us keep it that way."
Jack has decided not to appear in the Australian tour of the "Ultimate Rock Symphony". Instead he will tour Australia with Ringo Starr later in the year 2000. See JACK'S DIARY for a personal message from Jack regarding his decision.
Jack has done it again. During November and early December 1999, he was toiling in Manhattan studios, recording tracks for a promising new album. The project, tentatively titled All Quiet in Cuicoland, is a Jack Bruce solo effort done in collaboration with co-producer Kip Hanrahan. Kip's rhythm players perfectly complement Jack's extraordinary bass playing and exquisite vocals, lending Jack's already unique compositions a modern, Latin tinge.
Special guest artists include Jack's son Malcolm, Doctor John, Gary Moore, Vernon Reid, Changito and many others. The new album is a fine work drawing on diverse musical influences and legendary talents. Jack's voice is in top shape. His new compositions range in style from classic, Willie Dixon inspired blues to the subtle and gentle beauty that reflect his growing introspective approach to songwriting.
Jack composed literally dozens of new pieces in preparation for the new album. From these, Jack and Kip selected some ten gems for inclusion. In addition, Jack re-invented a half dozen previous compositions, including classics he wrote during his days with Cream, West, Bruce & Laing, and selections from his solo albums Songs for a Tailor and I've Always Wanted to Do This.
Below are some photographs from the sessions, taken by Jack and the Webmaster.
Ringo Starr's new triple-CD All Starr Box Set will include live performances featuring Jack. Sunshine of Your Love and I Feel Free are included among other, non-JB tunes on which Jack plays bass and/or sings backing vocals. The Box Set is scheduled for release on 22 February.
Several albums featuring Jack, some old and some new, have been released: the CD Midnight Daydream is currently on sale, 2 cuts featuring Jack; a new Gary Husband trio double CD From the Heart, featuring Jack on the cut Once I Loved, is available in the UK; and the classic Graham Bond albums Sound of 65 and There's a Bond Between Us is available in the UK.
Renaissace Records have issued a disc of live material featuring JB ad Friends on their 1981 tour. The disc is titled Concert Classics - Volume 9. This version of JB and friends featured Billy Cobham, David Sancious, and Clem Clempson. The Discography section will soon feature a descriptive page.
Jack will join Ringo Starr and the Alan Parsons band for a charity concert in Munich. See our TOUR SCHEDULE for details.
Jeff Berlin and Jim Roberts are to collaborate on a book about Jack, to be published by Miller Freeman Books and Hal Leonard Corp. The book will include a biography, a discography, a section on Jack's gear, and a series of bass line transcriptions by Jeff. Watch the JB NEWS page for more details.
UPDATE : Unfortunately, Miller Freeman Books have called off the Jeff Berlin/Jim Roberts book about Jack, mentioned above. Any further news will be listed on this page.
It's A Curious Life, the debut CD by English composer and guitarist Anthony Hindson, has just been released and features Jack singing and playing bass in the company of such masters as Shankar (double violin), Tony Williams (drums), Zakir Hussain (tabla), Gary Husband (keyboards/drums), and Scott Thunes (bass). A unique and extraordinary cutting edge global fusion album only available on the Internet.
Another Jack Bruce internet broadcast has been scheduled for 11 March. Visit http://www.angelfire.com/wi/jbruceshow99/ for details.
Jack will be on tour again with Ringo Starr and the All Starr Band, featuring Joe Walsh, Todd Rudgren, Gary Brooker, Jack Bruce and Simon Kirke. See our TOUR SCHEDULE for dates.
Gary Husband is to release a CD tribute to the late Tony Williams. Jack is to appear on several tracks.
Jack is scheduled to make recordings for a new Bruce Cameron - Midnight Daydream CD, along with ex-Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell. Jack will play the bass on at least two cuts and sing on at least one. The sessions are scheduled for Dec. 1-5, 1998 in Wilmington, NC. USA. Other guest artists on these historical recordings will be the Band Of Gypsys, Harvey Dalton Arnold from the Outlaws, Ken Hensley, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith of Alice Cooper, Bunk Gardner of the Mothers and ANT-BEE.
Schirmer Books have published a new book on Cream in their Classic Rock Albums series: Disraeli Gears, by John Platt. The 172 page book sells for US $14.95 and includes good interviews with Jack, as well as Baker and Clapton. Though the book focuses on the making of Cream's second LP, it spans the band's entire history. Also included is a thorough discussion of Jack and Ginger's careers prior to Cream. In-depth review to folllow
Reportedly, a 4CD box set of Graham Bond recordings (many featuring Jack) is in the works, to be released as early as October. It will include all of the Columbia singles and B sides as well as The Sound of 65, There's a Bond Between Us, Solid Bond and some unreleased live material.
