Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jorma Kaukonen is premiering his new album, Ain't In No Hurry, this week at NPR Folk Alley's as their "Hear It Now" selection. The album will be released through Red House Records on February 17, 2015. The accompanying interview finds the artist sharing thoughts on the album and his ability to stay inspired after more than 50 years as a songwriter and performer. Stream the entire album and read the interview at http://bit.ly/1A8VCDP.
"I believe music is in the DNA of our souls. No matter what kind of music one likes, one has to have it," Jorma says. "You might have a favorite period, a favorite genre, but it never gets old and there is always something new to set you on fire.
This new version features Jorma's Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna bandmate and longtime collaborator, bassist Jack Casady. Ain’t in No Hurry is available for pre-order now on iTunes and Amazon. Jorma is currently on tour (scroll down for dates) and has announced 2015 tour dates that include both solo and Hot Tuna shows as well as an appearance at SxSW (scroll down for complete dates).
In a career that has already spanned a half-century, Jorma remains one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and Americana with a history that influenced popular rock-and-roll. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy nominee as well as one of Rolling Stone's "Top 100 Guitarists of All Time," he is a founding member of two legendary bands, Jefferson Airplane (celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year) and the still-touring Hot Tuna, and is recognized as one of the leading practitioners and teachers of finger-style guitar. Jorma’s renown goes far beyond his involvement creating psychedelic rock; he is a music legend and one of the finest singer-songwriters in music. He's also an avid motorcyclist, a gallery owner (the Psylodelic Gallery, dedicated to the arts and culture of the 1960s arts) and co-owner of the Fur Peace Ranch, a 119-acre concert venue, guitar camp and recording studio where Jorma conducts workshops, bringing in such guitar masters as G.E. Smith and Larry Campbell.
Ain't In No Hurry is a collection of classic American songs, blues, rockers and Jorma originals including a lost Woody Guthrie lyric set to music by Jorma and Larry Campbell (Levon Helm, Bob Dylan). All tracks frame his life, development as an artist and where he stands today. Special guests include Jorma’s longtime Hot Tuna partner Jack Casady, mando wizard Barry Mitterhoff, Larry Campbell on all matter of strings, Teresa Williams on backing vocals, and the rhythm section of Myron Hart and Justin Guip.
“You just can’t go backward. The arrow of time only goes in one direction," says Jorma. "At this point in my life perhaps I should be in more of a hurry, but for me it's more important that each piece fits in the right place at the right time. The songs you hear in this album cover a lot of ground for me. Some are very old, and some quite new. From where I came from to where I am today... it is all here. Music does not happen in a vacuum. The orbit of my life is constantly tangential to others and I am richer for it. I am surrounded by friends who help give voice to my dream."
Jorma Kaukonen is constantly looking to take his musical horizons further still, always moving forward, always infusing his classic sound with fresh insights and the depth that comes with a lifetime as a performer.
Check out an in-depth interview with Jorma here at The Huffington Post
JORMA SOLO DATES
2/14 - 2/22 trio with Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
2/25 - 2/28 Jorma solo
3/05 - 3/15 duo with Barry Mitterhoff
SA 2/14/15 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe's
SU 2/1515 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe's
MO 2/16/15 Phoenix, AZ - Instrument Museum
TH 2/19/15 Salt Lake City, UT - State Room
FR 2/20/15 Boulder, CO - ETown Hall
SA 2/21/15 Boulder, CO - ETown Hall
SU 2/22/15 Denver, CO - Swallow Hill, Daniel's Hall
WE 2/25/15 Houston, TX - Dosey Doe
TH 2/26/15 Dallas, TX - Kessler Theatre
SA 2/28/15 Nashville, TN - City Winery
TH 3/05/15 Leesburg, VA - Tally Ho Theatre
FR 3/06/15 Phoenixville, PA - Colonial Theatre
SA 3/07/15 South Orange, NJ - South Orange Performing Arts
SU 3/08/15 Newton, NJ - Newtown Theatre
SA 3/14/15 Fairfield, CT - Stage One
SU 3/15/15 Bayshore, NY - Boulton Center of the Arts
TU 3/17 Austin, TX - SXSW
WE 3/18 Austin, TX - SXSW