Howe Gelb to release new album Future Standards, to ramble around the US like a tumbleweed to promote it

Howe Gelb to release new album Future Standards, to ramble around the US like a tumbleweed to promote it

Not AT ALL content with the current state of the “Great American Songbook” — chiefly because that mighty whisper of a name “Howe Gelb” isn’t in it yet — Howe Gelb has decided to take matters into his own worn, sure, and insanely capable hands and to just fucking go ahead and record & release his OWN stab at an album of songs meant to become “future-standards.”

No. For real. Literally. He did that. The album is literally called Future Standards (“jazz tinged tunes inspired by the piano standard and accompanied by a trio […], written with the intention of creating something that will last through the ages”), and it’s out January 27 on Fire Records. Monk, Cohen, Bacharach, Haggard… Gelb? Why the hell not!

“This is an attempt at writing a batch of tunes that could last through the ages with the relative structure of what has become known as ‘standards,’” Gelb has no problem stating frankly.

The challenge […] lies in the culmination of 3 essential elements: 1st, writing a sophisticated chord structure that allows the melody to weave beyond its confines. 2nd, a lyrical playfulness. The science of love revealed and reveled, the celebration and the lament, while remaining vulnerable and still intact with new knowledge of where it can only go. 3rd, an offhanded execution. To display each song as if it’s already an old standard. Keeping it intimate and communal in one go. Making it a party instead of making it precious. To deliver the lines with natural serendipity, lingering behind the beat, offering a pause in love’s resignation through resonation.

Maybe add to that list the one, teensy-weensy additional challenge of anticipating the musical-future of American popular taste, and BOOM: done. But, if like me, you’re pretty convinced that if anyone can do this, it’s THIS MAN, then pony-up and pre-order the vinyl LP now. If you feel you need a little bit more convincing first, then check out the tour of these United States that Gelb is also embarking on at the end of the month and hear some of this Gershwin-ante-upping shit for yourself.

(P.S. I guarantee you that Nick Cave is currently very jealous that he didn’t think of this idea first.)

Future Standards tracklist:

01. Terribly so
02. Irresponsible Lovers
03. A Book You’ve Read Before
04. Relevant
05. Ownin’ It
06. Clear
07. Impossible Thing
08. Shiver
09. Mad Man at Large
10. May You Never Fall in Love
11. Sweet Confusion
12. Mad Man at Home

Howe Gelb spring tour:

01.22.17 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Jazz Festival (Supporting The Bird and The Bee)
01.26.17 - Los Angeles, CA - The Resident
01.27.17 - Sacramento, CA - Old Ironsides
01.28.17 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of The Hill
02.03.17 - Seattle, WA - Triple Door
02.04.17 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
03.31.17 - Champaign, IL, - The Accord
04.01.17 - Columbus, OH - Rumba Cafe
04.02.17 - Nashville TN - Exit / In
04.04.17 - Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light
04.05.17 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern
04.06.17 - Raleigh, NC - Kings
04.07.17 - Washington, DC - Hill Country Live
04.08.17 - Jersey City, NJ - Monty Hall at WFMU
04.09.17 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade
04.11.17 - Somerville, MA- ONCE Ballroom
04.12.17 - Hamburg, NY - Marty & Susan’s House
04.13.17 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Andy Warhol Museum
04.14.17 - Detroit, MI - El Club
04.15.17 - Chicago, IL - Old Town Of Folk Music

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