We lost a great one last week. Chris Feinstein passed away in New York. His funeral and memorial were in Nashville two days ago. Tommy Womack put it well when he said that Chris was a “masterpiece of a human being”. Chris was a great bassist, guitarist, drummer, songwriter, producer—you can hear his work on albums by Shadow 15, The Questionnaires, Bedlam, Iodine, Matthew Ryan, Patty Griffin, Jack Ingram, Santogold, and Ryan Adams and the Cardinals. He worked on the soundtrack of films like “I Am Sam”. Chris Feinstein was one of the most talented people I ever knew. The last time I saw him play, he was with Ryan Adams. Chris and Brad Pemberton had grown up to be one of the best rhythm sections in rock n roll. I stood there and smiled a big proud smile all night long.

But the real story is that Chris was the kind of person who made you feel good about yourself. He was a good friend to a whole lot of people all over the world. He was one of the funniest people you could ever meet. Doug Lancio says that Chris could make you laugh just playing the guitar. Make you laugh all night. Doubled over.

So here’s to you, Feinstein. You gave love and we love you. My heart goes out to Chris’ family, his loved ones, to his closest friends.

I got mentioned in the New York Times’ review of “Buffet Hotel”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/arts/music/14choi.html

Billboard:

http://www.billboard.com/news/jimmy-buffett-goes-back-to-roots-for-hotel-1004049362.story#/news/jimmy-buffett-goes-back-to-roots-for-hotel-1004049362.story

Sweet Home:

http://blog.al.com/just-coasting/2009/12/jimmy_buffett_tells_tales_of_h.html

Here are the first three parts of a four part interview I did with Blake Phillips of Eugene Oregon:

http://ourkindofmusic.wordpress.com/

Happy holidays…Will Kimbrough and DADDY CDs make most excellent stocking stuffers and gifts for those very special somebodys.

Today is release day for Jimmy Buffett’s new album, “Buffett Hotel”. I thought I’d mention it, because I played on the album, sang on it, and co-wrote four of the songs on the CD. One of the songs, “Nobody From Nowhere”, was written with Tommy Womack and is also on the latest DADDY CD, “For a Second Time”. Another song, “Wings”, was written with Jimmy and will be on my next solo CD. Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band have been playing “Surfing in a Hurricane” on tour all Summer and Fall. I wrote the song with Jimmy last January. The fourth song is “A Lot to Drink About”, written with Jimmy and the great Mac McAnally last year.

Best Buy has the album on sale for $7.99!! —

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Buffet+Hotel+%5B12/8%5D+-+CD/9509971.p?id=2057265&skuId=9509971&st=

Or you can order directly from Mailboat Records —

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Buffet+Hotel+%5B12/8%5D+-+CD/9509971.p?id=2057265&skuId=9509971&st=

…but hey, $7.99 is pretty good…

Also featured on the CD are slide guitar master Sonny Landreth, Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, Mississippi bluesmen Cedric Burnside, Steve “Lightnin’” Malcolm and African Kora legend Toumani Diabate.