Bruce Hornsby

Bruce Hornsby

Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...

's tenth studio album is titled Levitate. This is Hornsby's third studio album with his current band, Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers. This album marks Hornsby's first release with Verve Music.

Somewhat a musical departure for Hornsby and the Noisemakers, Levitate features no piano solos. Many of the songs also feature lyrical motifs of science and nature.

The title track was used in Spike Lee

Spike Lee

Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....

's documentary "Kobe Doin' Work." "Invisible" was featured in the Bobcat Goldthwait movie World's Greatest Dad

World's Greatest Dad

World's Greatest Dad is a 2009 American black comedy film written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. It stars Robin Williams, Daryl Sabara, and Alexie Gilmore. The film was released on July 24 on video on demand providers before its limited theatrical release on August 24, 2009...

, in which Bruce also makes a cameo appearance as himself.

Much like the 2004 release Halcyon Days, Levitate features guest artists and those close to Hornsby, most notably Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton

Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...

, Hornsby's twin sons Russell and Keith, Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...

 lyricist Robert Hunter

Robert Hunter (lyricist)

Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...

, and Hornsby's nephew R.S. Hornsby, who was killed in a car accident less than a week after recording a memorable guitar solo on "Continents Drift." The album has been dedicated to his memory.

Track listing

1. "The Black Rats of London" (B.R. Hornsby)
2. "Prairie Dog Town" (B.R. Hornsby, Pharrell Williams, Calvin Broadus, Chad Hugo)
3. "Cyclone" (B.R. Hornsby, Robert Hunter
   Robert Hunter (lyricist)
   Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
   
   )
4. "Continents Drift" (B.R. Hornsby, Chip DeMatteo)
5. "Paperboy" (B.R. Hornsby, Chip DeMatteo)
6. "Invisible" (B.R. Hornsby)
7. "Levitate" (B.R. Hornsby, Thomas Newman (Score from The Shawshank Redemption
   The Shawshank Redemption
   The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman....
   
   ))
8. "Here We Are Again" (B.R. Hornsby, Chip DeMatteo)
9. "Space is the Place" (Sonny Emory, J.V. Collier, B.R. Hornsby)
10. "Michael Raphael" (B.R. Hornsby, Chip DeMatteo)
11. "Simple Prayer" (B.R. Hornsby, Chip DeMatteo)
12. "In The Low Country" (B.R. Hornsby)
13. "I Truly Understand" - Bonus Track (B.R. Hornsby)

Personnel

• Bruce Hornsby - Piano, Lead Vocals, Dulcimer, Accordion
• J.V. Collier - Bass
• Sonny Emory - Drums, Samples
• John "J.T." Thomas - Keyboards, Organ, Vocals
• Bobby Read - Saxophone, Clarinet
• Doug Derryberry - Guitar, Vocals
• Eric Clapton
  Eric Clapton
  Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
  
  - Guitar on "Space is the Place"
• R.S. Hornsby - Guitar on "Continents Drift"
• Andy Leftwitch - Fiddle on "The Black Rats of London"
• 12 year old Keith and Russell Hornsby - Vocals on rap on "Space is the Place"