Jeff Black’s Plow Through the Mystic Album Available TOMORROW, November 22, 2011

Features Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Matraca Berg, Gretchen Peters and Kim Richey Plow Through the Mystic Funded by Jeff’s Blacklist - Black’s Patronage and Subscription Content Delivery Model Catch Jeff on WSM-AM Tomorrow at 8:30 am CST Chatting with Bill Cody About the New Album

Nashville, Tenn.  – November 21, 2011 – Acclaimed singer/songwriter Jeff Black releases his new album Plow Throw the Mystic TOMORROW, November 22, 2011. Jeff will celebrate release day with a visit to WSM-AM.  Don't miss Jeff chatting about his new record at 8:30 am CST tomorrow.  After four critically acclaimed commercial releases on label homes, three fan favorite independent releases on his own Lotos Nile imprint, song placement on numerous independent films, thirty plus years of celebrated live performing and songs covered by artists as diverse as Alison Krauss, Waylon Jennings, Sam Bush, Blackhawk and Dierks Bentley, Jeff solidifies his reputation as a creative force in the roots genres with this eighth album. Black’s grassroots following has allowed him to build a career like few other singer/songwriters in the business and to sustain his contribution as an artist in the disrupted music business environment. 

“I feel like I already have the brass ring in my pocket, just being able to nurture this thing that I’ve wanted, this need to observe and relate, since I was 10 years old,” says Black. “But I had to ask myself, ‘What’s the best way to do it now?’ Over the past decade I’ve learned that I have to make changes in how I create music and put it out there.”

Produced and recorded by Black in his own Arcana Studio, Plow Through the Mystic delivers a richly textured and intimate canvas of acoustic roots and world instrumentation.  The album features contributions from mandolin legend and Newgrass founder Sam Bush, Resonator guitar master Jerry Douglas along with vocal contributions from Matraca Berg, Gretchen Peters and Kim Richey.  The album’s 14 tracks take listeners down personal paths of faith, doubt and spiritual grit, liberated by tones of gritty neo-folk and dirt blues.  At times Black’s delivery is intimately conversational like an old, trusted friend, other times fiery with an almost tribal fervor.

Jeff entrusted the mix to Dave Sinko, known for his work with The Punch Brothers, Sam Bush and legend Don Williams. “I met Dave Sinko in 1991 when we were working on a project for Warner Chappell. It was a blessing to reconnect with him. Dave’s clarity and his observance of space for acoustic instruments is an art unto itself and I knew he would bring everything into that place where nothing gets lost and every interval shines. He is the original craftsman.” Mastered by Grammy winning engineer Joe Palmacchio (Jeff Buckley, Bill Withers, Hank Williams Sr.). “He’s a technical giant but emotion and human condition come first I believe, for Joe, and that’s why it was important to me for him to be part of it.”

The widest signal relay for carrying Jeff’s songs has been his fans. Next to that, Black’s series podcast “Black Tuesdays,” profiled as pioneering by NPR in 2005, constitutes 100+ downloadable EPs that continue to grow both his live audience and drive record sales and patronage. It is the convergence of Black’s direct connection with his fans via old school touring, together with the immediacy of digital content delivery that created this community of loyal fans who in turn made Plow Through the Mysticpossible.

Continuing to evolve as a writer, performer and recording artist, Black has never before expressed so much of the creative process on his own terms, deepening his work and leaving the listener with Black’s most fully formed and resonant album of his career.

SIMPLY SIX: Chris Daniels

Chris Daniels is a singer/songwriter from Denver, Colorado.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

"Yes, it was the movie The Last Waltz. Rick Danko walks up to the mic and sings "See the Man With The Stage Fright" and he has the very shaky voice and it is not pretty -- but his conviction -- his ability to have no fear -- the power of his belief in the song with no apology for his funny sounding voice -- well it changed me in my belief about my own singing -- that I could do that -- that all you have to do is believe in yourself." C Daniels

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

"My favorites change. Right now it is a duo called 'The Weepies' who are doing some of the best songwriting -- they are just fantastic. Also Bela Fleck's Africa album and the new Sam Bush CD." C Daniels

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

"Wow, interesting question -- biggest crowd was 450,000 at Parkpop in Holland -- but greatest moment -- sometimes the greatest moment is in overcoming a bad gig -- in feeling the band rise above the bad PA or feeling myself working to rise above all the crap that is going on with my wife and I and the emotional destruction from a long painful time to put that pain into the song I'm singing or the solo I'm playing -- those are the great moments when you fight to get into the moment and you achieve it." c Daniels

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

"That is easy, just think of Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit." That song is so powerful and was part of the movement to end lynching in the South ... that's what music can do." C Daniels



5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

"Yes, And it's a great thing. Musicians used to believe that they could just hand over their lives to a manger who would take care of them. It was paternalistic....'of take care of me.' and that is such crap. Now, artists MUST get involved in the process of making their music available and known by the public ... and that is great ... and the labels that used to control the music are now not even relevant except for the giant Jonas Brothers corporate music bands. The musicians, like the Randolph family, are getting a chance to be known -- and that is magic." C Daniels

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

"Old, very comfortable tennis shoes. The shoes you put on when you don't give a shit what anybody thinks of how you look. The shoes that you put on when you are safe, home and happy. The shoes that make your feet feel good and make you want to dance in your kitchen with your favorite drink as you cook dinner for a true friend who loves you as you are."