Vince Gill's 2011 CD, Guitar Slinger. Photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Vince Gill is getting personal on his new album. Very personal. In some ways, the title Guitar Slinger downplays the heavy themes that Vince confronts on his new twelve-song collection. Songs with names like “If I Die,” “Threaten Me With Heaven” and “When Lonely Comes Around” give an indication that strong feelings will not be ignored. Vince, who wrote or co-wrote every song on this record, took much inspiration from events or people in his own life when writing it and offers a look at the human condition in the process.

Guitar Slinger, which was recorded at Vince’s home studio, is a complex work that deals with, and sometimes questions, human nature. Take “Billy Paul” for example, a thumping outlaw country-inspired tune with a reserved vocal trying to work through the actions of a man Vince knew well. Through the second verse, Vince sings, Said they found a woman dead up in your room/ I hit my knees and prayed it wasn’t true/ Man, it killed me when I found out it was you, before wondering, What made you go crazy, Billy Paul?

“Threaten Me With Heaven,” the album’s first single, is an introspective take on the meaning of one’s passing. With a sad, reflective guitar lead and open chords, the song dives into weighty subject matter. What’s the worst thing that could happen if they say my time is through?, Vince sings with a subtle strength before delivering powerful lines like, I hear angels through the window pane calling my name. “Threaten Me With Heaven” is also one of the finest examples of Vince’s beautiful, instinctive guitar work and where the title, Guitar Slinger, really comes alive.

In many places throughout the record, Vince’s soulful lead guitar work is like a fantasy meeting of Eric Clapton and Brad Paisley. “When The Lady Sings The Blues,” a R&B/blues-infused cut with dancing blues riffs and a thick bass line, pays understated tribute to Billie Holiday while dropping song names like “God Bless This Child” in the last verse. The title-cut “Guitar Slinger,” which opens the record, feasts on a twangy lead theme while offering not one, but two fiery guitar solos over a honky-tonk blues. Well I was livin’ the life of a guitar slinger/Womens and wines and whiskey for dinner/ Oh, I knew I was in trouble the first time I seen her/ I went and married that Contemporary Christian singer, he sings with a little chuckle on the song. Continue Reading

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Vince Gill performs with Albert Lee at Eric Clapton's 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival. Photo courtesy of Erin Morris.

Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Paul McCartney: several halls of fame are bursting with news about their programs or their members.

The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame have new inductees on the way, the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum has a couple of fundraisers on the docket in Nashville and Los Angeles, and one Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member invoked the names of two Country Hall of Famers when he played next door to Nashville’s best-known museum.

Here’s a bundle of Hall of Fame-related music news:

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Vince Gill photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Vince Gill made his way to Chicago this weekend to take part in Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, and he was surrounded by some pretty impressive players.

John Mayer, B.B. King, Steve Winwood, Jeff Beck and ZZ Top were all there, and Vince’s set found blended him with some very respected fellow musicians. Acoustic bluesman (and new Nashvillian) Keb’ Mo’ joined Vince along with Earl Klugh, a jazz guitarist who recorded with Chet Atkins; and Albert Lee, who appeared on Brad Paisley’s Grammy-winning “Cluster Pluck.” Vince also got an on-stage visit from former Elvis Presley sideman James Burton, whose collaboration on “Mystery Train” was one of the highlights of the day, according to The Chicago Tribune.

As if that weren’t enough, Sheryl Crow popped out to join Vince on a version of Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally,” Premier Guitar reported.

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Tammy Wynette photo courtesy of tammywynette.com.

Albums. Concerts. Books. Movies.

Creating entertainment in all its forms is/was the central tenet of such major stars as Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette, and numerous members of the Country Music Hall of Fame have had their names in the headlines in recent days for essentially doing what they do. Or for contemplating what they do and how they do it.

You can add Willie Nelson, Vince Gill and Merle Haggard to that list. Here’s what country’s Hall of Famers have had on tap:

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Vince Gill photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Imagine being able to see one of country’s biggest stars playing in a small club every week for only $10.  Vince Gill fans, rejoice — because you can do just that, as long as you’re in Nashville.

The Tennessean reports that Vince — who in 2009 was considered a “part-time” member of the Grammy-nominated country and western swing band, The Time Jumpers — is now a full member of the band for 2010.

Each Monday in Nashville (unless he’s on tour), you’ll be able to see Vince at the legendary Music City club, The Station Inn. Continue Reading

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Sugarland photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

For the 16th straight year, the Recording Academy is celebrating its awards show with the 2010 Grammy Nominees CD, with five of the 20 tracks on the latest edition coming from country acts: Taylor Swift, the Zac Brown Band, Sugarland, Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts.

It marks the most country releases ever featured on the multi-genre compilation, which has previously never had more than two from Nashville’s best-selling idiom in a single year. In fact, during four of the previous 15 years, no country artists made the nominees CD at all.

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