If you score a Billboard No 1 with one of your first singles, it's inevitably going to overshadow the rest of your career somewhat. That's just the way it is – some things will never change. But, as evidenced by this year's excellent Absolute Zero, Bruce Hornsby has travelled a long way since bre...
If you score a Billboard No 1 with one of your first singles, it’s inevitably going to overshadow the rest of your career somewhat. That’s just the way it is – some things will never change.
But, as evidenced by this year’s excellent Absolute Zero, Bruce Hornsby has travelled a long way since breaking out with The Range in the mid-’80s. The album combines the smooth yet subtle complex heartland rock he’s best known for, with neo-classical, jazz, funk and avant-garde flourishes, reflecting a long and varied career.
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For years, the singer and pianist has been part of the Grateful Dead family, playing with the band for 12 years and continuing to perform with a variety of Dead spin-off projects. His own solo albums have incorporated everything from bluegrass to jazz, with guests of the calibre of Wayne Shorter and Eric Clapton. He’s played on records by everyone from Bob Dylan to Chaka Khan, and formed fruitful creative partnerships with the likes of Ricky Skaggs and Spike Lee, who’s recruited Hornsby to provide music for numerous film and TV projects, most recently Blackkklansman.
And while his signature blend of piano-led Southern rock and smooth jazz was, for years, considered a little unfashionable, a new generation led by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon has reappraised the music’s subtle complexities and emotional resonance. Vernon guests on Absolute Zero, with Hornsby returning the favour on Bon Iver’s new one, i,i.
So what do you want to ask Bruce Hornsby? Send your questions to audiencewith@www.uncut.co.uk by Thursday (August 15) – please note the new email address – and Bruce will answer the best ones in a future issue of Uncut. You can also peruse his 2019 tour dates below:
01/11/19 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
03/11/19 London O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
04/11/19 Cologne Theater Am Tanzbrunnen
07/11/19 Berlin Admiralspalast
08/11/19 Antwerp De Roma
11/11/19 Utrecht Tivoli
