AES News

— AES Show Keynote event will expound on the value of connecting with collaborators on a variety of levels to create the ultimate creative environment —

The Audio Engineering Society is delighted to welcome Jackson Browne and friends for a featured keynote event on October 30 at 3:30pm EDT as part of the AES Show Fall 2020 Convention. In this AES Show Special Event, titled “Let the Rhythm Lead: How the Chemistry of People and the Recording Process Fosters Inspiration,” legendary songwriter, recording artist and producer Jackson Browne leads a comprehensive and intimate roundtable conversation with musical collaborators Jenny Lewis, Jonathan Wilson and Paul Beaubrun, reflecting on their recent collaborative project Let The Rhythm Lead: Haiti Song Summit Vol. 1,  and how to remain connected and authentic in our pursuits as music continues to take on a vital role in our lives. The event will be moderated by the Host and Moderator of the GRAMMY Museum’s Public Programs series, Scott Goldman.  

Event Link: https://www.eventscribe.com/2020/AESNY/index.asp?presTarget=1439375

The collaborative album Let the Rhythm Lead: Haiti Song Summit, Vol. 1, conceived by Jackson Browne, included singer-songwriters Jenny Lewis, Jonathan Russell and Jonathan Wilson; Haitian guitarist, bandleader and bass player Paul Beaubrun; Malian singer and guitar virtuoso Habib Koité; flamenco guitarist, musicologist and producer Raúl Rodríguez; and Haitian artists Lakou Mizik and Sanba Zao, as a benefit project for Artists for Peace and Justice and the Artists Institute of Jacmel, Haiti. Hailing from four different countries, interweaving North American Indie Rock with beats and percussion of Haitian Vodou, Spanish and Malian guitar, and Tres Flamenco, with songs in English, Creole, Khassonké, Manding and Spanish, Let the Rhythm Lead celebrates the work of Artists for Peace and Justice in Haiti, and was recorded at the Artists Institute on the island's southern coast, in the town of Jacmel.

For this AES Keynote event, Lewis, Wilson and Beaubrun will be joining Browne in the discussion and lending their insights on how the project unfolded, the importance of collaboration and the chemistry among the players, and the use and sharing of recording techniques with the audio students at the Artists Institute in Haiti – along with the universal language of music, which served to span cultures and distance to help bring change and innovation to those struggling with difficult circumstances.

About Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne has written and performed some of the most literate and moving songs in popular music and has defined a genre of songwriting charged with honesty, emotion and personal politics. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2007. His debut album came out on David Geffen's Asylum Records in 1972, and since then, he has released fourteen studio albums and four collections of live performances. Browne is currently working on a new studio album, set for release in March 2021. 

Browne is known for his advocacy on behalf of the environment, human rights, and arts education. He's a co-founder of the groups Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) and Nukefree.org and a member of the Ocean advocacy group Ocean Elders.

About Jenny Lewis

One of the most respected artists of her generation, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Jenny Lewis started her career in Los Angeles. She appeared in films such as Troop Beverly Hills and The Wizard before she co-founded L.A.’s underground band Rilo Kiley in 1998. She has gone on to release four solo albums, is a member of The Postal Service, NAF, Artists for Peace and Justice and others. Lewis has collaborated and recorded with Elvis Costello, Beck, Bon Iver, Jackson Browne, Don Was, and Benmont Tench, to name a few. As a composer she has scored two motion pictures, Very Good Girls and Song One, and co-written original songs for Disney’s Bolt and for Meryl Streep’s performance in Jonathan Demme’s final film Ricki and The Flash. In 2019 her latest album, On The Line, received widespread critical acclaim, was named on many Best Albums Of The Year lists and featured Ringo Starr and Jim Keltner on drums. 

About Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer whose acclaimed solo albums have garnered accolades and awards from the likes of Billboard, Rolling Stone and beyond. His diverse recording styles and musical genres have most recently led him from his Los Angeles-based DIY recording roots to Nashville’s session-driven recording scene for his latest release, Dixie Blur, produced by Pat Sansone of Wilco and featuring premier session players including bass player Dennis Crouch, Russ Pahl on pedal steel, multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke, and world renowned fiddle master Mark O’Connor. Other projects have included producing works for Father John Misty, Dawes, British folk legend Roy Harper, and Conor Oberst, as well as serving as musical director, guitarist and vocalist on the Roger Waters Us+Them tour.

About Paul Beaubrun
A scion of Haitian musical royalty, Paul has spent his life living to the beat, from his roots in the GRAMMY®-nominated band Boukman Eksperyans, to his move to New York as a youth where he was inspired by his heritage to begin crafting a sound all his own. Constantly aware of his roots, the struggle of an immigrant and the drive of New York life, Paul began to create a path where music, activism and history meet. His unique and transfixing sound he calls “Roots/Blues” weaves together his impeccable guitar skills, rich vocals, musical ingenuity and cultural history, all while performing a smooth melange of both English, French and Creole (the native tongue of his Haitian roots). In April 2020, Beaubrun released his much-anticipated live album Rasanbleman (Red Moon) with his band Zing Experience. The album features some of Haiti’s best talent including Michael Brun, Anie Alerte, J Perry, Mikaben, TROUBLEBOY HITMAKER, Gardy Girault, Jean Caze, Kanis and Kabysh. He has played alongside some of the world's top artists including Ms. Lauryn Hill, Maxwell, Arcade Fire, Jackson Browne and Bob Weir, reaching fans in venues around the globe while furthering awareness of Haitian art, culture and promoting the incredible talent of Haiti's youth.

About Scott Goldman
Since 2010, Goldman has served as the Host and Moderator of the GRAMMY Museum’s Public Programs series, conducting interviews with hundreds of artists from across the musical spectrum. He has also served as both the Artistic and Executive Director of the Museum, setting the curatorial direction for the institution. Since 2008 he has served as the principal researcher/writer and interviewer for the GRAMMY Museum’s Living Histories Project, conducting oral history interviews with legendary artists and executives in music. Goldman previously served in Executive positions with the charitable affiliates of the Recording Academy – The GRAMMY Foundation and the MusiCares Foundation – and served seventeen years directing the City of Hope’s philanthropic campaigns in the music industry. He has produced numerous high-profile, multi-artist events, and has written and produced tribute events to B.B. King, Gregg Allman and Iggy Pop (among many others). In addition to his work at the Museum, Goldman is currently writing and hosting a podcast for the Concord Music Group celebrating the 70th anniversary of Prestige Records.

Find out more about this and other AES Show Special Events, the Partner Showcase, the world-renowned Technical Program and the rest of the full schedule of Audio Engineering Month events at AESShow.com. AES Show 2020 Showcase registration is open to all AES Members as a member benefit, or complimentary for others with a VIP promo code from one of the AES Show Partners. All Access Registration is just $149 for AES Members ($99 for AES Student Members) and $274 for non-members – the latter including one year of AES membership and benefits.

Event Link: https://www.eventscribe.com/2020/AESNY/index.asp?presTarget=1439375

Register Now at AESShow.com