It' All About Chocolate

Chris Wood, Oliver Wood, Kenny Wollesen, John Medeski

I caught The Wood Brothers at the Bowery Ballroom the other night and it was thoroughly amazing. Their new album 'Loaded' is out on Blue Note. Produced by John Medeski, it's chock full of wonderful songs blending blues, folk & rock, harking more to the traditional side of those genres. Oliver Wood's voice is beautiful and enchanting. Amos Lee guest sings at the show and on the record.

I went to check out the credits on the album and guess what? Jennifer Choi plays violin on it!



Speaking of Jenny Choi, here's a clip of Jenny and Randy Woolf in the studio last week with several esteemed members of the String Orchestra of New York City (SONYC) giving a lecture and demonstration to the Road Recovery kids. They played a segment from a Schubert Quartet in a whole bunch of different styles to show off what the strings can do. The kids are writing a song that Major Who will produce utilizing these strings from the SONYC. Randy (on Jenny's right) will help orchestrate and arrange them. All of this is made possible by a grant from Randy's 'Music Alive' residency with Meet The Composer.

Kronos Quartet is playing Randy's arrangement of 'Round Midnight' a lot these days (track produced by Major Who). Also, check out the premier of Randy's piece 'Blues for Black Hoodies' at The Kitchen next Tuesday, May 27th, SONYC performs.