A Sideman’s Journey Includes Don Nix and Bonnie Bramlett.
Pictured at Ardent Studios in Memphis are (L-R) engineer/mixer Jason Latshaw, Don Nix, Bonnie Bramlett and Klaus Voormann.
At the suggestion of Don Nix, celebrated artist, musician and record producer Klaus Voormann traveled to Ardent Studios to track and mix his debut album, A Sideman’s Journey.
German-born Voormann is known for his long association with The Beatles, for whom he designed the cover of their album Revolver. He was also bassist with the British Invasion group Manfred Mann and later a respected session player and record producer. He recorded extensively with John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Carly Simon, among numerous others. In 1996 Klaus was asked by Apple Records to design the covers for the Beatles Anthology albums. He painted the covers along with his friend, fellow artist Alfons Kiefer.
Ardent’s own Jason Latshaw engineered the new Voorman project. Memphis players participating included Rick Steff/keyboards, Joel Williams/drums, Steve Potts/drums, Jackie Johnson and Susan Marshall/background vocals. Bonnie Bramlett duets with Nix on “Mockingbird.” Other players include David Hood/bass of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Kelvin Holly from Little Richard’s band, and John Fohl/guitar.
Tracks recorded at Ardent include “My Sweet Lord,” “Imagine,” “Mockingbird” and a Voormann original, “So Far.” The roster of players that contributed tracks recorded outside of Ardent include Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, Carly Simon, Dr. John, and Jim Keltner, to name a few.
Don Nix (Stax artist, producer and writer) and Voormann’s friendship goes back to the ’70s. In addition to his vocal contributions, Nix helped coordinate the new project’s players, studio and engineering. Initially scheduled to track several songs at Ardent, Voormann decided to complete overdubs and mixing, too.
The project explores his career, visiting people and locations that changed his life, meeting friends and colleagues, singing and sharing old stories, making music and recording new versions of old songs he has participated in.
Proceeds from the record will go to benefit the Lakota Sioux Sacred Wilderness Environment and Health Project: http://lakota-village.de/. Produced by Christina and Klaus Voormann, “A Sideman’s Journey” is scheduled for release late Spring, 2009.
For more info about Ardent Studios, visit: http://www.ardentstudios.com
