Bill Bourne
Voodoo King
© 2002 Second Storey Records (628740648926)
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
SPECIAL: 40% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!
Folk music that glides seamlessly from raunchy to sublime
tracks
try this
albums you will love
genres you will love
By Location
links
notes
"I always thought Bill Bourne should have starred with Gene Hackman and Clint Eastwood in 'The Unforgiven.' He's a goddamn movie star, I'd say, with that black top hat and card shark face.
More importantly, he is a 'shining light' in the 'North American' Folk Roots scene. He sings, plays guitar and writes with deep soul, and on the current musical landscape these talents constitute a revolutionary act of ART.
Listen to Bill Bourne; get Religion, brother and sister. This is the real thing."
Tom Russell
El Paso, Texas
2003
"Veteran Canadian folk artist Bill Bourne has the whiskey-soaked, smoke-cured voice of a bar room poet who has been around the block more times than he can remember...This powerful CD's 11 masterful songs are full of broken hearts and reflective regrets balanced by a streetwise philosophy of acceptance. "Portland," for example, reminds one of Tom Waits crying over a warm beer. Bourne's backing crew includes vocalists and instrumentalists on electric and slide guitars, cello, saxophones, percussion and bass, adding ot the bittersweet moods that draw you back again and again."
- Gary Joyner (Acoustic Guitar)
"Canadian roots rocker Bill Bourne has the voice of a soul that's lived life at its toughest and survived to tell about it. With the same bent as Tom Waits under the influence of a strong bourbon, Bill Bourne's delivery is as much performance art as it is musical. His vocals are expressive and resonant as he accompanies himself with sparse, raw, in-your-face acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric slide guitar, walking bass and percussive drumming.
Bourne is seemingly comfortable with any genre he attacks. Whether it be gutbucket blues like 'Hilfiger Heaven' or 'Which Way?', the African rhythms of 'Holy Holy', the storytelling of 'The Ballad of Moses Jane', the Celtic strut of 'Whadiddydo', or the Cat Stevens infected 'Burning Candles', Bourne wraps it up tight and sells it in convincing style.
He's a veteran storyteller and his new album Voodoo King is proof positive that he's got some tales he'd like to share in his own inimitable way.
Stellar."
- Douglas Sloan (Metronome Magazine)
VOODOO KlNG glides seamlessly through a range of musical styles from the raunchy to the sublime. The gritty, playful 'Portland' gives way to the African high-lile inspired 'Holy Holy'. 'Voodoo King' explores the realm of a moody atmosphere looming on the fringe of a dream world where people are "bound for glory, or bound to disappear." The remaining tracks include classic folk, blues, whimsical snapshots of lile in these times. and an overall hopeful feeling that culminates in 'Grace' - the improvisational scat-infused journey of blind faith that rocks your soul!
BiII Bourne adds his contribution to a tradition of Northern innovation that includes artists such as Joni Mitchell. Gordon Lightfoot. Neil Young. and many others.
Bourne's live performances are a spiritually moving experience. On acoustic guitar, he improvises at will, moving from intensely solid rhythmic grooves to inspiring and imaginative solos; influences that emerge in his music range from African Highlife to Blues, Swing, Gospel, Cajun, Celtic, Aboriginal and Flamenco. Even strains of the sitar are evident at times. He rivets the audience with his soulful voice and free form scat singing, and a relentless heartbeat rhythm from his left foot underpins the magical experience.
Critics have called him a master folk musician, an iconoclast, shamanistic and a national treasure. His songs are anthemic, thought provoking and inspiring. Through eight albums of original material he has built a repertoire that carries itself, and propels the artist through hour long sets that leave the audience spellbound.
bill bourne - Chronological Biography
2005 - the year begins with the creation of a new song, 'Higher Ground', in collaboration with Gary Koliger, Edmonton studio champ. 'Higher Ground' is about the Tsunami disaster in southeast Asia. On February 4, it is performed in Edmonton's Winspear Centre for Music as part of the Tsunami Children's Concert. Bill sings lead & plays guitar along with flautist/vocalist Aysha Wills, a ten year old native of Hong Kong, who convinced 56 symphony players and an 88 piece choir to join them. The result is a concert that raises more than $650,000.00 to benefit Tsunami child victims.
Bill and Eivør Palsdottir meet up in Montreal in February, then head west for some very special concerts. Word about Eivør & Bill travels like lightning through the music community. Summer sees the pair performing at major festivals together, in Canada and in Europe.
Bill is asked to perform for HM Queen Elizabeth II.
2004 - a deep musical connection with Faroese soprano, Eivor Palsdottir (Faroe Isl.) is a surprise development of the May Icelandic excursion. In September, Bill produces Eivor's new CD, 'eivor'. He plays lead guitar and sings harmonies and some lead. The album features 2 of Bill's songs; 'Only a Friend of Mine' and 'Where Are the Angels?'. The CD is released in Scandinavia on November 23, and almost immediately is nominated 'Best Pop Album of 2004' in Iceland, alongside Bjork and others.
Production of legendary Manitoba song-writer Dan Frechette's debut LP, Lucky Day, receives positive previews.
Feb and March see the seeds of a new band with Dublin born, award winning film composer Paul Carroll on drums and percussion, and Ghanian Highlife & smooth jazz guitar master, Pa Joe. Tours Europe in April with Tri-Continental and the group records a new 'live' CD, 'Drifting', featuring Madras native Ramesh Shotham on percussion.
Bravo Television airs the video of 'Portland' from the Voodoo King CD on November 24. Film work interest increases.
2003 - Voodoo King, released in Canada in August/02, is nominated for a Juno Award. It is Bill's eighth Juno nomination. Voodoo King is released in U.S. and U.K. in the spring of 2003. Highlight of Voodoo King International Tour is California teacher Tracy Rauschcolb delegating her students to do essays on Bill's songs and attend his concert at The Palms Playhouse in Winters California, for credits in their English course. Tri-Continental releases their 3rd recording, 'Let's Play', done in-studio in Bremen, Germany, with Indian percussionist Ramesh Shotham.
2002 - January - Tri-Continental 'Live', recorded live in Bremen, Germany, is released in Canada. February, Bourne & MacLeod - Bootleg, a collection of various B & M recordings & demos, is released in Canada. Bourne & MacLeod tour western Canada and plan a new recording. Tri-Continental tours Europe for July & August, covering many festivals from northern Germany through Italy & Spain. Bill's new solo recording, Voodoo King, is released in August and receives critical acclaim.
2001 - Tri-Continental receives Juno Award for best roots recording in Canada. Bill straddles Tri-Continental tours with solo tours throughout the year.
2000 - early January Bill begins recording his next solo CD, Voodoo King. Starts touring in late January in L.A. & then crosses the Pacific to perform at The Port Fairy Festival in Australia. Bill Bourne, Lester Quitzau & Madagascar Slim release Tri-Continental to critical acclaim. Touring increases as Bill crosses Canada and the U.S. with his friends, The Be Good Tanyas, from Vancouver, B.C. Tri-Continental makes initial foray into the European market by performing at Switzerland's prestigious In Guitar Festival in August. A second club tour of Germany follows in the fall.
1999 - Sally's Dream receives a Juno nomination for best roots recording. Bill tours from L.A. to New York to support Sally's Dream. Catches the Voodoo vibe on the west coast. Does a few gigs in the west with Lester Quitzau & Madagascar Slim, an idea put forward by their booking agent, Hugo Rampen. In November they go into the studio and record an album called Tri-Continental.
1998 - Records acoustic solo CD Sally's Dream with Nashville engineer, Miles Wilkinson & producer Rick Fenton. Tours from New York to L.A. in his '68 Lincoln Continental. Historic Yukon River 5 day flotilla in conjunction with the Dawson City Music Fest the highlight of his busy '98 festival tour.
1997 - Victory Train receives a Juno nomination. Releases solo disc, Bill Bourne - Farmer, Philanthropist & Musician, a 75% reissue compilation. Releases acoustic traditional blues CD No Special Rider with Vancouver's Hans Stamer & Andreas Schuld. No Special Rider receives a Juno nomination for best blues CD in November.
1996 - Bill Bourne & Shannon Johnson release Victory Train to critical acclaim.
1994 - releases Dear Madonna with fiddler Shannon Johnson of Edmonton.
1992 - records Bourne & MacLeod's second album, Moonlight Dancers. Macleod contributes some pipe melodies and Bill writes the songs and sings. Stan Rogers bass player, Jim Morison provides the bottom end with MacLeod's younger brother Todd on drums - as well as numerous guests. Moonlight Dancers is nominated for a Juno Award.
1991 - Dance & Celebrate receives a Juno Award for best roots recording.
1988 - imports ex Tannahill Weavers piper, Alan MacLeod, forms Bourne & MacLeod and records Dance & Celebrate CD, a collection of Bill's songs, accented by MacLeod's stellar pipes.
1981/85 - joins Scottish traditional superband The Tannahill Weavers and tours North America & Europe playing bouzouki, fiddle and bass pedals. Records Tannahill album 'Passage'.
1980 - records solo album with Radio Canada International with jazz masters Tom Dorin & George Koller.
1978 - forms old time band Sweetgrass with second cousin Jim Morison (later as Stan Rogers bass player) and mandolin/guitar master Dave Richards, and plays to standing-room-only taverns around the Alberta bar circuit.
1975 - begins professional music career as a renegade solo lounge singer. Fired several times for not using a drum machine and playing top 40 music.
1970 - quits school and runs away from home to the big city to become a famous musician. Sees Woodstock movie and takes acid at Strawberry Fields. 'Nuff said.
1968 - hears Oscar Brands' TV show 'Let's Sing Out!' and finds his calling. Learn guitar on Mom's Lone Ranger.
1965 - learns Stranger on the Shore by Acker Bilk on his unlcle's borrowed clarinet. Takes lesson for one winter. Clarinet proves too uncool for Stones & Dylan stuff - drops out.
1954/60 - soaks up old time, gospel, blues and celtic music as performed by his parents band at house parties and dances. Favourite sleeping place - behind the piano.
1954 - born William Sigurd Bourne, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
Music
In Bill Bourne's own words: "People everywhere are an unstoppable energy, exerting and expanding a natural state of goodwill. This energy of goodwill gently eradicates the existence of fear and leads us into harmony (harmony - New Miriam-Webster Dict. 1 : musical agreement of sounds; esp : the combination of tones into chords and progressions of chords. 2 : a pleasing arrangement of parts; also : ACCORD 3 : internal calm). A community in harmony is creative and healthy and a good place to live and a great place to celebrate.
In all people - we see the harmony of billions; beautiful heroes; gentle, truth loving people who want their children to know sustainable justice, to know the power of their own gift of creativity. No matter where I am, I love the people I meet They are all precious and vital; believably amazing. Always. I hope I never ever miss a gig. The music people bring into the gigs in their presence, in their energy, is beautiful and exhilarating. Thank you beautiful people for your creative energy, for your harmonic presence, for your dance..."
Since 1990, Bill Bourne has been nominated for 8 Juno Awards and has won 3 Juno's.
1990 - Bourne & MacLeod - "Dance and Celebrate" ***
1992 - Bourne & MacLeod - "Moonlight Dancer"
1993 - Various Artists - "Saturday Night Blues" ***
1996 - Bill Bourne & Shannon Johnson - "Victory Train"
1997 - Bourne, Schuld, Stammer - "No Special Rider"
1998 - Bill Bourne - "Sally's Dream"
2000 - Tri-Continental - "Tri-Continental" ***
2003 - Bill Bourne - "Voodoo King"
(*** indicates a Juno Award Winning Recording)
"Music is a dance; a happy heart. Music is the great teacher. The life in Music is its power of transcendence: Music is a healing force that benefits all living things."
- bill bourne
reviews
Please log in to review this album.
Alternately raw and sweet, raunchy and melodic--I could listen to Bill play his
author: Jude WongNot as good as the live performance I saw at the Guild Hall last month in Whitehorse, but very very enjoyable and a pleasure to have in my collection. It's gentle in a very textured and well-worn-with-love-and-life kind of way. I didn't miss Eivor, as this is a completely different genre. My favorite track is the fiddle track. I'd like to see Margie Gillis dance to this. I missed the Pie and Ice Cream song. Thanks!