The Jeff Buckley International Newsletter
The Only Official Fan Club & Newsletter
(Authorized & guided by the family of Jeff Buckley)
*All rights reserved* Vol. 13:09 03/31/11
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IN THIS ISSUE:
NYC JEFF BUCKLEY TRIBUTE
– Thanks for all who came !
– Friday March 18, 2011
– Knitting Factory Williamsburg
– Event Photos & Video
– To Benefit Road Recovery
ROAD RECOVERY
– Helping Young People Battle Adversities
– Mission Statement
– How You Can Help !
ARTISTS INSPIRED BY JEFF BUCKLEY
– Damon Daunno
– Live at KF JB Tribute- 3/18/2011
– New EP “Adulterated Trappings ”
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
– Knitting Factory JB Tribute
– “Grace Around The World”
– Raffle Winners !
JEFF BUCKLEY – SCENE & HEARD
– Robert Pattinson
– Italy’s Style Mag
– Jeff Beck
– Chicago Tribune
– Rufus Wainwright
– The Greek Theatre
MARY’S MAILBAG (With Love from MG)
– “So Real: Songs From Jeff Buckley”
– UK’s NME:
– “100 Gigs You Should Have Been At”
– Special Thanks to Bert & Adam Bretherton
CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
– Twitter, You Tube, FB & MySpace
– The Official Jeff Buckley Forum
Let Us Know! Help Us Grow!
– We’re Looking for References!
– JBIN Rules – Tell a Friend!
– Addresses & Contacts
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Thanks for all who came out Fri. March 18th
Jeff Buckley Tribute Event
at the Knitting Factory!
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We are pleased to report that the benefit-tribute concert at The Knitting Factory Williamsburg – Friday, March 18th raised over $2000 for Road Recovery!!
It was a fantastic show, and we would like to thank all the artists who generously donated their time to make the show an exciting collection of many different talents and outstanding performances:
Haydée Milanés, Damon Daunno, Alessio Franchini, Diana Silveira, Jeffrey Lewis, Nicholas James, Mossa Bildner, Fay Victor, Jann Klose, Pete Pidgeon, Felice Rosser & Faith, Danielle De Luca, Villa Delirium, Marianne Nowottny, Kevin McWha Steele, Lynda McLaughlin
Jeff Buckley Music’s friend and beloved “Romeo” in The Last Goodbye, Damon Daunno, brought down the house!
Check out some of his performance from Friday night here !
To learn more about Road Recovery and the incredible work they do to help young people battle addiction and other adversities by harnessing the influence of entertainment industry professionals who have confronted similar crises, please visit their website here .
Thanks again everyone!
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ROAD RECOVERY
Helping Young People Battle Adversities
How You Can Help !
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ROAD RECOVERY is dedicated to helping young people battle addiction and other adversities by harnessing the influence of entertainment industry professionals who have confronted similar crises and now wish to share their experience, resources and knowledge. With support from the mental health field, ROAD RECOVERY provides hands-on mentorship training, educational/performance workshops, peer-support networking, and “all access” to real-life opportunities by collaborating with young people to create and present live-concert events.
Learn More at: http://www.roadrecovery.org/
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ARTISTS INSPIRED BY JEFF BUCKLEY:
DAMON DAUNNO – Artist Interview
NEW EP: “ADULTERATED TRAPPINGS”
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Download EP on iTunes
Damon Daunno is a New York based musician and actor. Last year, he was cast as Romeo in Michael Kimmel’s compelling adaptation of Romeo and Juliet called “The Last Goodbye”, which weaves Jeff’s music throughout Shakespeare’s infamous tale. The show had a hugely successful run at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, and Damon’s performances were outstanding. We caught up with him after he performed at the recent Jeff Buckley Tribute at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn to find out more!
JBIN: TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE PLAYING ROMEO IN THE PRODUCTION OF “THE LAST GOODBYE” THIS SUMMER AT THE WILLIAMSTOWN THEATER FESTIVAL
Damon: This summer was, as Sonya (our choreographer) would say, “so many things.” Williamstown itself is a gorgeous one-mile town in the Berkshires, and being surrounded by mountains and grass can do wonders when you’re cooped up in the city all the time – even walking to the store was a joy. Creatively, it was one of the most intense, inspiring, challenging, and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. It’s difficult to pin down in a few sentences, but the material itself meant so much to everyone involved. To have that many exceptional people giving all they had to one common goal and sharing in this incredibly personal process, with the most rich and inspiring material of all time, was truly special. Playing Romeo and singing a concert’s worth of Buckley are, in themselves, intimidating challenges to say the least. I definitely had my share of anxiety and self-doubt throughout, and was forced to confront my fears and insecurities. I learned so much and made so many favorite memories. I was playing Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet” with the love of my life as Juliet, and my two best friends as my two best friends, while singing the music of my personal hero beside his mom in the Berkshire mountains at one of the most premier play festivals and (not to cheapen it) getting a check once a week… All in all, it was just simply bananas. I feel inexpressibly grateful for “The Last Goodbye” coming into my life.
JBIN: HOW ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT LAST FALL IN THE MUSICAL “BRIEF ENCOUNTER”?
Damon: Brief was just as big of a banana sandwich as “The Last Goodbye”. The British theater company Kneehigh created the show, which ran at Roundabout’s Studio 54, and I was one of two Americans in it. I came home from Williamstown and was on a plane to London two days later to begin rehearsals. The first thing we did the first day was put up a net and play volleyball for an hour – I knew right away I was in good company. I didn’t have any idea what I was in for, and everyone was so uniquely talented. The whole operation was so off kilter that it helped open up a more spontaneous, more playful energy. I had to learn ukulele and stand-up bass, and got a chance to play drums and guitar. It was a trip being on Broadway (in a British accent, no less) and I was so excited showing up everyday, I’d get there hours early just to hang out alone in the theater. The house staff… everyone was your friend, and it felt like my home for four months. I am grateful for all I got to experience and for breaking that ice, as it were.
JBIN: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING TO JEFF’S MUSIC? WHAT KIND OF INFLUENCE HAS HE HAD ON YOU?
Damon:I first heard about Jeff from a bandmate in high school. He put Grace on after a gig one night and it immediately floored me. I thought it was better than Radiohead – like the coolest, darkest, most ghostly harmonious sound of all time. After that I was completely hooked, and took to Jeff like my new best friend. I lived with Grace and Sin-e and everything else I could find, soaking it up as much as I could. I went to school in New York, so I totally geeked out, visiting old haunts as I read up. He completely helped open up how I thought of singing, writing, reading, listening… I wanted to find my inner “Jeff” … my maximum potential… the freedom or grace, if you will, that he pursued (and conquered if you ask me, but probably not if you had asked him). I’m still nowhere near it but I owe everything to him… he became my guide, my reminder to keep digging around to find my own truth… my own source. I suppose that’s a lifelong search and rescue, but he helped put me on that creative plane and I was able to grow so much because of it. Since then the relationship has only deepened, with such cosmic driblets as The Last Goodbye and the two tributes I’ve been a part of (Chicago’s Uncommon Ground and The Knitting Factory). I have met some of the best people of all time and have been inspired enough for three lifetimes, all thanks to his brilliance and dedication. I can only hope for all things Buckley to continue on in this fashion.
JBIN: WE HEAR YOU ARE QUITE THE JEFF BUCKLEY HISTORY BUFF. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT JEFF THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULDN’T KNOW?
Damon: Well, it’s true. Admittedly, I am a super-geek for all things JB, and lord knows I’m not the only one so I’d hate to say something that the die-hards will think is a lay-up…But, I have recently learned that after signing with Columbia, Jeff used some of that money to enroll in poetry classes at NYU (my alma-mater)…how’s that? I was temporarily befuddled a bit myself but find it terribly encouraging!
JBIN: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU NEXT?
Damon: I recently released a 3-song EP online called “Adulterated Trappings,” and just got back into the studio to start another EP. I also play Monday nights at Niagra on 7th! (112 Ave. A, New York, NY 10009 at 7th St). More info at: http://www.myspace.com/damondaunno
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CONGRATULATIONS !!!
Knitting Factory JB Tribute
“Grace Around The World” – Raffle Winners !
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Congratulations to the recent raffle winners at The Jeff Buckley Tribute Event, March 19th at the Knitting Factory in NY ! All proceeds go to a great cause, Road Recovery. Read more about their amazing efforts in this issue JBIN. Pictured here are raffle winners Arnold Pinkhasov, Jack Bookbinder of Road Recovery, along with other raffle winners from the evening: Rebecca Daugherty, Patty Bernstein, Kim Engler and Cindy McCormick.
Thank you all for participating and enjoy those “Grace Around The World” hoodies !!!!
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SCENE & HEARD
JEFF BUCKLEY NEWS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD !
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Modoration Online reports that Robert Pattinson graces the cover of the new issue of Italy’s Style magazine … chatting with Style about a number of topics.
On Music:
“[It’s] a key aspect of my life. I wish I could play a
movie about Jeff Buckley. His voice, his songwriting gave me a lot.”
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In the March 27th Chicago Tribune, Greg Kot interviews Jeff Beck, who when asked about his musical technique, mentions Jeff ‘…. The simplicity and beauty of Jeff Buckley’s voice sounded amazing to me. I felt that if I could do with my guitar what he can do with his voice then I could have something pretty special’ (on Beck’s 2010 album “Emotion and Commotion”). It’s worked! …
Read more online at : Chicago Tribune
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Rufus Wainwright performed at The Greek Theatre recently and was all witty banter, even chiding the crowd member who called out for “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen’s masterpiece) one song into the second set: “That’s soooo L.A.” Instead, he played “Memphis Skyline,” his ode to Jeff Buckley, confessing an initial jealousy toward Buckley that later became deep admiration. (He now refers to him as his “fellow Hallelujahian.”) A few songs later, the Cohen cover appeared.
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For the most up to date Jeff Buckley news, connect with us online at Twitter, Facebook, The Official Jeff Buckley You Tube Channel and Jeff Buckley My Space.
The Official Jeff Buckley Forum
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MARY’S MAILBAG
…with love from M. G.
If you have a question for Mary, please tell us what City/Country you are writing from and send them to: [email protected] Letters reprinted by permission
Dear Mary,
I wanted to let you know how wonderful I feel the So Real release is. This is BY FAR the best sounding release and the best sounding, most pleasing versions of all the songs that I have had heard. I find myself longing for true audiophile versions of all the albums and this is a sure sign to me that it is possible. I would love to own a vinyl version of any of the albums with the level of mastering that The Lodge has provided here. I’m not sure everyone “gets” this release, but I certainly do and I applaud the effort that went into its making. Thank you so much! I look forward to more of the same!
Sincerely,
Josh Rosenthal
Dear Josh,
This is such a great letter, and the very fact that you noticed something different about these tracks tells me you are a very astute listener. So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley actually has an interesting back-story, and very few people understand why in the world we wanted to make this album since most of the music had been previously released.
When George Marino (Sterling Sound) and I were re-mastering the Grace sessions for the Legacy release, we noticed that the original recordings had so much more depth and clarity than those that had been heard by the public. The high fidelity studio recordings were symphonic masterpieces, but were being “dumbed-down” by compression for “commercial reasons.” In spite of George’s and my vehement opposition, the record label’s A&R department insisted on adding compression, and Grace Legacy Edition was released as such.
Three years later, when the label approached me about putting out a “best of” album, I took the opportunity to insist that I have complete control over the final master. My friend Hal Wilner suggested I work with Emily Lazar at The Lodge. You all have her to thank for the amazing sounds you are listening to. It was such a relief to see her face the first time we listened to the original sessions. I knew I had a chance to get the REAL sound of those sessions to you. Even if I couldn’t go back in time and re-do all the GRACE material, I could make a gorgeous sonic gift of the tracks we chose for this one release. I adore Emily. She’s an amazing woman and she has a remarkable pair of “ears”, as they say in the biz. I love that you got to hear it, too! Many people, who don’t understand there is always good reasoning behind everything we do, have reviewed So Real as a pointless album that I “had no good reason” to produce. I knew then, and still know, that people who have great ears will hear it all and get what a treasure these tracks are. Audiophiles are very good at spreading the word about something special. I leave it up to you and folks like you to spread “my little secret”.
Thanks so much for writing in!
Best,
Mary
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**We would like to send a special thanks to Bert and his son Adam from Stockport Cheshire, England for sending us their copy of April’s NME, listing the “100 GIGS YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT,” featuring Jeff’s March 18th, 1994 performance at Bunjie’s/12 Bar in London at #86.
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Hi Mary and all of Jeff’s friends,
Hope you are all well and happy. You may like the mention on page 19 of Adam’s music magazine. We are always looking and listening.
Best wishes,
Bert and Adam
Dear Bert and Adam,
So nice to hear from you, as always! Thank you for being such great and supportive fans of Jeff’s, and continuing to send in material we’d love to see!
All the best,
Mary
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For the most up to date Jeff Buckley news:
Connect with us online at Twitter, Facebook,
The Official Jeff Buckley You Tube Channel