Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony
Encyclopedia
Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony is a live album
and fourth album overall by the American singer-songwriter
Brandi Carlile
, released on May 3, 2011 through Columbia Records
. Recorded during two sold-out shows in November 2010 at Benaroya Hall
in Seattle, Washington, the album features Washington-native Carlile and her long-time band (including brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth) performing alongside the Seattle Symphony
. Seattle-based producer and audio engineer Martin Feveyear
recorded the concerts, which contained orchestral arrangements by Paul Buckmaster
and Sean O'Loughlin. Carlile had previously performed with the Seattle Symphony in 2008 at the same venue.
The album contains three songs from Carlile's second studio album The Story
(2007), five from Give Up the Ghost
(2009), and three covers
, including Elton John
's "Sixty Years On
", Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence
", and Leonard Cohen
's "Hallelujah" (which also features Alphaville
's "Forever Young
"). Critical reception of Live at Benaroya Hall was positive overall. In the United States, the album reached peak positions of number sixty-three on the Billboard 200
and number fourteen on the Top Rock Albums chart.
Give Up the Ghost
(2009). Carlile, who claimed that she and the band always wanted their fourth release to be a live album, had initially hoped to record at a famous venue but decided to return to Benaroya Hall
since she had performed there alongside the symphony in 2008. Prior to the single rehearsal Carlile had with the 30-member strong Seattle Symphony, string arrangers generated charts and sent computer-generated demos to Carlile for approval. Carlile was reportedly "shock[ed]" to hear the orchestra "weaving in and out" of her music. While the recording process, according to Carlile, was not complicated, she later commented on rehearsing with the full symphony:
Live at Benaroya Hall features arrangements by British arranger and composer Paul Buckmaster
, who previously worked with Carlile on Give Up the Ghost, and Sean O'Loughlin. Seattle-based producer and audio engineer Martin Feveyear
, who had previously mixed Carlile's debut album
in addition to other live EPs and demos, recorded, mixed and mastered the album. Carlile had not spoken to Feveyear prior to the first rehearsal, but was pleased with the result of his work. Carlile's band included long-time members (and siblings) Phil and Tim Hanseroth on guitar and bass, Josh Neumann on cello, and Allison Miller on drums. The Seattle Symphony was led by Assistant Conductor
Eric Garcia.
The pop rock
album opens with the curtain call
, strengthening the impression of a live recording rather than a studio album. Three tracks, "Shadow on the Wall", "Turpentine", and "The Story
", appeared on Carlile's second studio album The Story
(2007). "Looking Out", "Before It Breaks", "I Will", "Dreams", and "Pride and Joy" all appeared on Give Up the Ghost. Believing in the cultivation of standards
, Carlile included six cover versions in the set list
, three of which would appear on the album. "Sixty Years On
", originally written by Elton John
and Bernie Taupin
, was arranged by Paul Buckmaster. Carlile, a fan of the "dark" string arrangements that appear on John's album Tumbleweed Connection
(1970), contacted Buckmaster following advice from her manager. Carlile first heard the Hanseroth brothers singing Paul Simon
's "The Sound of Silence
" in 2009 and requested that they perform it during the set. She does not contribute vocals to the version that appears on the album. Carlile's cover of Leonard Cohen
's song "Hallelujah", also arranged by Buckmaster and topping eleven minutes in length, includes a "tease" of Alphaville
's "Forever Young
". Carlile said the following of Cohen's song: "'Hallelujah' is going to be a standard that our grandkids, our great-great grandkids will learn to sing in church. It's one of those really, really special songs. The thing that's going to make it that, besides that it's so great, is that everyone knows about it because hundreds of songwriters have been moved by that song and have covered it. And that's just something really important that we do in every generation."
The number of cover songs, which play a prominent role in Carlile's live act, represent the amount she typically includes in a concert. By her's own admission, "Before It Breaks" and "I Will" were the most difficult to perform emotionally. Carlile felt as though she were a member of The Beatles
when the audience stood and loudly sang the words to "Dreams". Carlile "jokes" with the audience between songs, which she felt was well-received, and requests their participation in a three-part harmony
during "Turpentine". During the concert, the band experienced technical difficulties and a bra thrown from the audience, intended for the drummer, hit Carlile on stage. Carlile said the "rock 'n' roll symphony album" was "the meeting of two worlds, two different kinds of artists who got together for completely different reasons". She insists the album is the one she and her band are most proud of, believing it truly represents their live act.
wrote that "standout" tracks included "Dreams" and "Pride and Joy", which highlighted Carlile's "unique folk-rock style" and "enthralling, emotional and fun" voice. The Hanseroth brothers' cover of Paul Simon
's "The Sound of Silence" was deemed "spot-on" by Allmusic's Andrew Leahey and "breathtaking" by Gene Stout of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
. The Source Weekly contributor Mike Bookey complimented the album for capturing Carlile's live act and recommended this album for first-time listeners of her music. Glide magazine's reviewer complimented Carlile's "authentic and raw" vocals and appreciated that recorded flaws were not covered up. Stephen Carradini of the Oklahoma Gazette
also noted the errors, but summarized his review by saying that "Things aren't perfect; they're still beautiful." Carradini also complimented the successful transition of Carlile's acoustic-based songs to orchestral arrangements. The Salt Lake Tribune
s David Burger gave the album an A– rating, asserting that Live at Benaroya Hall captures the "unbridled spirit" of Carlile's live act more than any of her studio albums. Burger also wrote that Carlile's "well-crafted" songs were "gloriously illustrated" by Buckmaster's and O'Loughlin's arrangements. Gregg Shapiro of the LGBT
-related Bay Area Reporter
said listening to the album is a must even for people that do not often enjoy live albums. Paste
magazine included the album on its list of "12 May Albums Worth Checking Out". The magazine's contributor Jeff Leven wrote that the album was "anthemic" and "captivating" but "over-stacked" with covers song, and that Carlile's passion was contagious. "Leahey's review concluded: "This isn't Brandi Carlile's first concert album, but it's certainly the best." Similarly, Visser called the album Carlile's "best work to date".
Personnel adapted from Allmusic and album liner notes.
and number fourteen on the Top Rock Albums chart.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
and fourth album overall by the American singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile is an American singer and songwriter.-Early life:At age eight, Carlile performed a rendition of the country music song "Tennessee Flat Top Box" with her mother. She began to play the guitar and write songs at fifteen. At sixteen, she began to perform as a backup singer for an Elvis...
, released on May 3, 2011 through Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. Recorded during two sold-out shows in November 2010 at Benaroya Hall
Benaroya Hall
Benaroya Hall is the home of the Seattle Symphony in Downtown Seattle, Washington, USA. It features two auditoria, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, a 2500-seat performance venue, as well as the Nordstrom Recital Hall, which seats roughly 500...
in Seattle, Washington, the album features Washington-native Carlile and her long-time band (including brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth) performing alongside the Seattle Symphony
Seattle Symphony
The Seattle Symphony is an American orchestra based in Seattle, Washington. Since 1998, the orchestra is resident at Benaroya Hall. The orchestra's season runs from September through July, and serves as the pit orchestra for most productions of the Seattle Opera in addition to its own concerts...
. Seattle-based producer and audio engineer Martin Feveyear
Martin Feveyear
Martin Feveyear is a British record producer and audio engineer based in Seattle, Washington. Beginning as a singer-songwriter and musician, Feveyear soon began recording work for artists in both the UK and US before moving to Seattle at the age of 25. Together with Christian Fulghum , he opened...
recorded the concerts, which contained orchestral arrangements by Paul Buckmaster
Paul Buckmaster
Paul John Buckmaster is a Grammy Award-winning English artist, arranger and composer.He began learning the cello at the age of 4 and graduated from the Royal College of Music at age 16....
and Sean O'Loughlin. Carlile had previously performed with the Seattle Symphony in 2008 at the same venue.
The album contains three songs from Carlile's second studio album The Story
The Story (Brandi Carlile album)
The Story is the second album by folk rock singer Brandi Carlile, and was released on April 3, 2007. The album peaked at #58 in the Billboard 200 on May 5, 2007....
(2007), five from Give Up the Ghost
Give Up the Ghost (album)
Give Up the Ghost is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, released on October 6, 2009, through Columbia Records. The album was produced by Grammy Award winner Rick Rubin and contains a collaboration with Elton John titled "Caroline"...
(2009), and three covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
, including Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's "Sixty Years On
Sixty Years On
"Sixty Years On" is a song written and performed by Elton John which first appeared on his eponymous album, Elton John. The lyrics were written by long-time writing partner Bernie Taupin....
", Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence
The Sound of Silence
"The Sound of Silence" is the song that propelled the 1960s folk music duo Simon & Garfunkel to popularity. It was written in February 1964 by Paul Simon in the aftermath of the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy. An initial version preferred by the band was remixed and sweetened, and has become...
", and Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's "Hallelujah" (which also features Alphaville
Alphaville (band)
Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum,...
's "Forever Young
Forever Young (Alphaville song)
"Forever Young" is the title track from German rock/synthpop group Alphaville's 1984 debut album of the same name. Though it was not the group's highest-charting European hit and failed to reach the American Top 40 despite three separate U.S...
"). Critical reception of Live at Benaroya Hall was positive overall. In the United States, the album reached peak positions of number sixty-three on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and number fourteen on the Top Rock Albums chart.
Background
Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony was recorded at two sold-out shows in November 2010 during Carlile's tour in support of her previous studio albumStudio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
Give Up the Ghost
Give Up the Ghost (album)
Give Up the Ghost is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, released on October 6, 2009, through Columbia Records. The album was produced by Grammy Award winner Rick Rubin and contains a collaboration with Elton John titled "Caroline"...
(2009). Carlile, who claimed that she and the band always wanted their fourth release to be a live album, had initially hoped to record at a famous venue but decided to return to Benaroya Hall
Benaroya Hall
Benaroya Hall is the home of the Seattle Symphony in Downtown Seattle, Washington, USA. It features two auditoria, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, a 2500-seat performance venue, as well as the Nordstrom Recital Hall, which seats roughly 500...
since she had performed there alongside the symphony in 2008. Prior to the single rehearsal Carlile had with the 30-member strong Seattle Symphony, string arrangers generated charts and sent computer-generated demos to Carlile for approval. Carlile was reportedly "shock[ed]" to hear the orchestra "weaving in and out" of her music. While the recording process, according to Carlile, was not complicated, she later commented on rehearsing with the full symphony:
Composition
Paul Buckmaster
Paul John Buckmaster is a Grammy Award-winning English artist, arranger and composer.He began learning the cello at the age of 4 and graduated from the Royal College of Music at age 16....
, who previously worked with Carlile on Give Up the Ghost, and Sean O'Loughlin. Seattle-based producer and audio engineer Martin Feveyear
Martin Feveyear
Martin Feveyear is a British record producer and audio engineer based in Seattle, Washington. Beginning as a singer-songwriter and musician, Feveyear soon began recording work for artists in both the UK and US before moving to Seattle at the age of 25. Together with Christian Fulghum , he opened...
, who had previously mixed Carlile's debut album
Brandi Carlile (album)
Brandi Carlile is the debut album from American folk rock singer Brandi Carlile. It was released July 12, 2005 on Red Ink Records.-Track listing:# "Follow" – 4:13# "What Can I Say" – 2:50...
in addition to other live EPs and demos, recorded, mixed and mastered the album. Carlile had not spoken to Feveyear prior to the first rehearsal, but was pleased with the result of his work. Carlile's band included long-time members (and siblings) Phil and Tim Hanseroth on guitar and bass, Josh Neumann on cello, and Allison Miller on drums. The Seattle Symphony was led by Assistant Conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
Eric Garcia.
The pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
album opens with the curtain call
Curtain call
A curtain call occurs at the end of a performance when individuals return to the stage to be recognized by the audience for their performance. In musical theater, the performers typically recognize the orchestra and its conductor at the end of the curtain call...
, strengthening the impression of a live recording rather than a studio album. Three tracks, "Shadow on the Wall", "Turpentine", and "The Story
The Story (song)
"The Story" is a song written by Phil Hanseroth. It was released as a single by American folk rock singer Brandi Carlile in 2006, from her 2007 album The Story. The song has been covered by Sara Ramírez for Grey's Anatomy and on her 2011 extended play Sara Ramirez-Composition and recording:"The...
", appeared on Carlile's second studio album The Story
The Story (Brandi Carlile album)
The Story is the second album by folk rock singer Brandi Carlile, and was released on April 3, 2007. The album peaked at #58 in the Billboard 200 on May 5, 2007....
(2007). "Looking Out", "Before It Breaks", "I Will", "Dreams", and "Pride and Joy" all appeared on Give Up the Ghost. Believing in the cultivation of standards
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
, Carlile included six cover versions in the set list
Set list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
, three of which would appear on the album. "Sixty Years On
Sixty Years On
"Sixty Years On" is a song written and performed by Elton John which first appeared on his eponymous album, Elton John. The lyrics were written by long-time writing partner Bernie Taupin....
", originally written by Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
, was arranged by Paul Buckmaster. Carlile, a fan of the "dark" string arrangements that appear on John's album Tumbleweed Connection
Tumbleweed Connection
Tumbleweed Connection is the third album by English international recording artist Elton John. It is a concept album based on the Country and Western/Americana themes. All songs are written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John with the exception of "Love Song" by Lesley Duncan. It was recorded at...
(1970), contacted Buckmaster following advice from her manager. Carlile first heard the Hanseroth brothers singing Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
's "The Sound of Silence
The Sound of Silence
"The Sound of Silence" is the song that propelled the 1960s folk music duo Simon & Garfunkel to popularity. It was written in February 1964 by Paul Simon in the aftermath of the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy. An initial version preferred by the band was remixed and sweetened, and has become...
" in 2009 and requested that they perform it during the set. She does not contribute vocals to the version that appears on the album. Carlile's cover of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's song "Hallelujah", also arranged by Buckmaster and topping eleven minutes in length, includes a "tease" of Alphaville
Alphaville (band)
Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum,...
's "Forever Young
Forever Young (Alphaville song)
"Forever Young" is the title track from German rock/synthpop group Alphaville's 1984 debut album of the same name. Though it was not the group's highest-charting European hit and failed to reach the American Top 40 despite three separate U.S...
". Carlile said the following of Cohen's song: "'Hallelujah' is going to be a standard that our grandkids, our great-great grandkids will learn to sing in church. It's one of those really, really special songs. The thing that's going to make it that, besides that it's so great, is that everyone knows about it because hundreds of songwriters have been moved by that song and have covered it. And that's just something really important that we do in every generation."
The number of cover songs, which play a prominent role in Carlile's live act, represent the amount she typically includes in a concert. By her's own admission, "Before It Breaks" and "I Will" were the most difficult to perform emotionally. Carlile felt as though she were a member of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
when the audience stood and loudly sang the words to "Dreams". Carlile "jokes" with the audience between songs, which she felt was well-received, and requests their participation in a three-part harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
during "Turpentine". During the concert, the band experienced technical difficulties and a bra thrown from the audience, intended for the drummer, hit Carlile on stage. Carlile said the "rock 'n' roll symphony album" was "the meeting of two worlds, two different kinds of artists who got together for completely different reasons". She insists the album is the one she and her band are most proud of, believing it truly represents their live act.
Critical reception
Overall, critical reception of the album was positive. Nick Vissey of The Seattle TimesThe Seattle Times
The Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
wrote that "standout" tracks included "Dreams" and "Pride and Joy", which highlighted Carlile's "unique folk-rock style" and "enthralling, emotional and fun" voice. The Hanseroth brothers' cover of Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
's "The Sound of Silence" was deemed "spot-on" by Allmusic's Andrew Leahey and "breathtaking" by Gene Stout of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
. The Source Weekly contributor Mike Bookey complimented the album for capturing Carlile's live act and recommended this album for first-time listeners of her music. Glide magazine's reviewer complimented Carlile's "authentic and raw" vocals and appreciated that recorded flaws were not covered up. Stephen Carradini of the Oklahoma Gazette
Oklahoma Gazette
The Oklahoma Gazette is a weekly multi-award-winning independent paper distributed throughout Oklahoma City. It covers statewide news dealing with topics such as theater, music, and sports...
also noted the errors, but summarized his review by saying that "Things aren't perfect; they're still beautiful." Carradini also complimented the successful transition of Carlile's acoustic-based songs to orchestral arrangements. The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune is the largest-circulated daily newspaper in the U.S. city of Salt Lake City. It is distributed by Newspaper Agency Corporation, which also distributes the Deseret News. The Tribune — or "Trib," as it is locally known — is currently owned by the Denver-based MediaNews Group....
s David Burger gave the album an A– rating, asserting that Live at Benaroya Hall captures the "unbridled spirit" of Carlile's live act more than any of her studio albums. Burger also wrote that Carlile's "well-crafted" songs were "gloriously illustrated" by Buckmaster's and O'Loughlin's arrangements. Gregg Shapiro of the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
-related Bay Area Reporter
Bay Area Reporter
The Bay Area Reporter is a free weekly newspaper serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities in the San Francisco Bay Area; it is the oldest-continuously published, and one of the largest LGBT newspapers in the United States....
said listening to the album is a must even for people that do not often enjoy live albums. Paste
Paste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
magazine included the album on its list of "12 May Albums Worth Checking Out". The magazine's contributor Jeff Leven wrote that the album was "anthemic" and "captivating" but "over-stacked" with covers song, and that Carlile's passion was contagious. "Leahey's review concluded: "This isn't Brandi Carlile's first concert album, but it's certainly the best." Similarly, Visser called the album Carlile's "best work to date".
Track listing
Track listing adapted from Allmusic and album liner notes.Personnel
- Jennifer Bai – violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Mariel Bailey – violin
- Michael Bauer – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Theresa Benshoof – celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
- Geoffrey Bergler – trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- William Brown – assistant
- Paul BuckmasterPaul BuckmasterPaul John Buckmaster is a Grammy Award-winning English artist, arranger and composer.He began learning the cello at the age of 4 and graduated from the Royal College of Music at age 16....
– orchestraOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l arrangementArrangementThe American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
s - Jonathan Burnstein – double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- Brandi CarlileBrandi CarlileBrandi Carlile is an American singer and songwriter.-Early life:At age eight, Carlile performed a rendition of the country music song "Tennessee Flat Top Box" with her mother. She began to play the guitar and write songs at fifteen. At sixteen, she began to perform as a backup singer for an Elvis...
– composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - John Carrington – harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
- Leonard CohenLeonard CohenLeonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
– composer - Vince Comer – violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
- Michael Crusoe – timpaniTimpaniTimpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
- Andrew Detloff – assistant
- Tony Dilorenzo – trumpet
- Roberta Downey – cello
- Wesley Dyring – viola
- Zartouhi Dombourian Eby – fluteWestern concert fluteThe Western concert flute is a transverse woodwind instrument made of metal or wood. It is the most common variant of the flute. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist, flutist, or flute player....
- Justin Emerich – trumpet
- Martin FeveyearMartin FeveyearMartin Feveyear is a British record producer and audio engineer based in Seattle, Washington. Beginning as a singer-songwriter and musician, Feveyear soon began recording work for artists in both the UK and US before moving to Seattle at the age of 25. Together with Christian Fulghum , he opened...
– engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
, mixing, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Alex Gardner – live sound engineer
- Mara Gearman – viola
- Sande Gillette – violin
- Artur Girsky – violin
- David Gordon – trumpet
- Valerie Muzzolini Gordon – harp
- Vivian Gu – cello
- Phil Hanseroth – acoustic bass, bass, composer, vocals
- Tim Hanseroth – composer, electric guitar, guitar, vocals
- Ben Hausmann – oboeOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
- Patrick Herb – trombone
- Dylan Hermiston – photography
- Michelle Holme – art directionArt directorThe art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
- Adam Iascone – French hornHorn (instrument)The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
- Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
– composer - Josh Neumann – cello, piano
- Joe Kaufman – double bass
- Seth Krimsky – bassoonBassoonThe bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
- Joe Larosee – assistant
- Mae Lin – violin
- Mary Kate McElvaney – photography
- Emma McGrath – violin
- Allison MillerAllison Miller (drummer)Allison Miller is a New York City-based drummer, singer, and composer.Miller has performed with songwriting vocalists Ani DiFranco, Natalie Merchant, and Erin McKeown, and toured with avant-garde saxophonist Marty Ehrlich and organist Doctor Lonnie Smith....
– drums, snare drumSnare drumThe snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
s - Michael Miropolsky – violin
- Sean O'Loughlin – orchestral arrangements
- Jon Pagan – electric guitar, piano
- Mark Robbins – French horn
- Jon Schlukebier – engineer
- Christopher Sereque – clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
- Kim Sessions – cover photo
- Mikhail Shmidt – violin
- Paul SimonPaul SimonPaul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
– composer - Bernie TaupinBernie TaupinBernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
– composer - Brian Valentino – engineer
- John Weller – violin
- Michael Werner – percussion
- Jeannie Wells Yablonsky – violin
- Ko-ichiro Yamamoto – trombone
Personnel adapted from Allmusic and album liner notes.
Charts
In the United States, Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony reached peak positions of number sixty-three on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and number fourteen on the Top Rock Albums chart.
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
63 |
| US Top Rock Albums | 14 |
External links
- Seattle Symphony's official website
- "Concert review: Singer Brandi Carlile reveals new dimensions" – Tom Keogh's review of Carlile's 2008 performance with the Seattle Symphony