Slingshot Professionals
Encyclopedia
Slingshot Professionals is an album by American
blues
singer and guitarist Kelly Joe Phelps
, released in 2003.
. Phelps is joined by guitarist Bill Frisell
and bassist Keith Lowe on two tracks: "Not So Far to Go" and "Cardboard Box of Batteries," and the rest of the album features bassist Andrew Downing, as well as fiddler Jesse Zubot
and guitarist Steve Dawson
. Petra Haden (daughter of jazz musician Charlie Haden
) whose album Townsend was producing at the time, harmonizes on one song.
wrote "The transformation from revivalist bluesman to contemporary singer-songwriter, which began on 1999's Shine Eyed Mister Zen
, continues apace on his fifth album. His songs are now mini stories, sans verse-chorus-bridge restraints, populated by seekers of truth and peddlers of dreams."
Production notes:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singer and guitarist Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe Phelps is an American musician and songwriter. His music has been characterized as a mixture of delta blues and jazz.-Career:...
, released in 2003.
History
Slingshot Professionals was Phelps' first album with producer Lee TownsendLee Townsend
Lee Townsend is an American independent music producer, curator, artist manager and co-owner of Songline/Tone Field Productions, specializing in recordings of singer-songwriters, bands, contemporary composers, improvising musicians and cross-cultural musical collaborations.-Background and...
. Phelps is joined by guitarist Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell
William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
and bassist Keith Lowe on two tracks: "Not So Far to Go" and "Cardboard Box of Batteries," and the rest of the album features bassist Andrew Downing, as well as fiddler Jesse Zubot
Jesse Zubot
Jesse Zubot is a Canadian musician primarily known for his unique violin playing. Zubot also works as a producer, engineer, and composer.-History:...
and guitarist Steve Dawson
Zubot and Dawson
Zubot and Dawson are a "Strang" music group from Vancouver, BC. Canada. The group is composed of Jesse Zubot on fiddle and Steve Dawson on guitar who play "Strang", which is in short a blend of folk and jazz music.- History :...
. Petra Haden (daughter of jazz musician Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
) whose album Townsend was producing at the time, harmonizes on one song.
Reception
Music critic Mark Allan wrote in his Allmusic review the album was "well worth a listen" The UK magazine UncutUNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
wrote "The transformation from revivalist bluesman to contemporary singer-songwriter, which began on 1999's Shine Eyed Mister Zen
Shine Eyed Mister Zen
Shine Eyed Mister Zen is the third album by American blues artist Kelly Joe Phelps, released in 1999.Shine Eyed Mister Zen was recorded at Phelps' home with all the tracks recorded in single takes...
, continues apace on his fifth album. His songs are now mini stories, sans verse-chorus-bridge restraints, populated by seekers of truth and peddlers of dreams."
Track listing
All songs written by Kelly Joe Phelps.- "Jericho" – 6:29
- "Window Grin" – 3:50
- "Slingshot Professionals" – 5:07
- "Not So Far to Go" – 5:16
- "It's James Now" – 4:22
- "Waiting for Marty" – 5:05
- "Knock Louder" – 4:24
- "Cardboard Box of Batteries" – 5:18
- "Circle Wars" – 7:05
- "Rusting Gate" – 4:51
Personnel
- Kelly Joe PhelpsKelly Joe PhelpsKelly Joe Phelps is an American musician and songwriter. His music has been characterized as a mixture of delta blues and jazz.-Career:...
– vocals, guitar, harmonica - Andrew Downing – acoustic bassAcoustic bassThe term acoustic bass may refer to one of the following bass instruments:*Double bass - an upright contrabass violin*Acoustic bass guitar - the acoustic version of the bass guitar...
- Steve Dawson – WeissenbornWeissenbornWeissenborn or H. Weissenborn is a brand of lap slide guitar manufactured by Hermann Weissenborn in Los Angeles in the 1920s and 1930s....
lap steel guitarLap steel guitarThe lap steel guitar is a type of steel guitar, an instrument derived from and similar to the guitar. The player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings instead of by pressing strings against the fingerboard.... - Bill FrisellBill FrisellWilliam Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
– electric guitar - Chris Gestrin – organ, piano, accordion
- Scott AmendolaScott AmendolaScott Amendola is an American jazz drummer from the San Francisco Bay Area. His styles include jazz, blues, groove, rock and new music. He is considered central to the Bay Area music scene....
– drums, percussion, talking drum - Petra HadenPetra HadenPetra Haden is an American violinist and singer. She is or has been a member of several bands, including That Dog, Tito & Tarantula, and The Decemberists; has contributed to recordings by The Twilight Singers, Beck, Mike Watt, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age,...
– background vocals - Keith Lowe – acoustic 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...
- Jesse ZubotJesse ZubotJesse Zubot is a Canadian musician primarily known for his unique violin playing. Zubot also works as a producer, engineer, and composer.-History:...
– mandolin, violin
Production notes:
- Produced by Lee TownsendLee TownsendLee Townsend is an American independent music producer, curator, artist manager and co-owner of Songline/Tone Field Productions, specializing in recordings of singer-songwriters, bands, contemporary composers, improvising musicians and cross-cultural musical collaborations.-Background and...
. - Engineered by Tucker MartineTucker MartineTucker Martine is an American, Grammy nominated record producer, musician and composer who has worked with artists such as My Morning Jacket, Mudhoney, Bill Frisell, The Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens, R.E.M., Laura Veirs, Spoon, and Tift Merritt...
and Shawn PierceShawn PierceShawn Pierce is a Canadian musician, audio engineer, mixer, music editor and film composer. He is noted for his music for the TV series Wildfire, Todd and the Book of Pure Evil and Haven.-Career:...
. - Edited and mixed by Shawn Pierce
- Assistant engineers - Sheldon Zaharko and Greg Kolchinsky
- Mastered by Greg Calbi
- Design by Chris Pew