Judith Owen Gets Wachtel, Sklar & Kunkel For 'Ebb & Flow,' Out May 6

Judith Owen pays homage to LA's troubadour sound of the 1970s with her new album, 'Ebb & Flow', out May 6. To get that sound, the "London-Welsh" singer-songwriter assembled a backing band straight from the source: guitarist Waddy Wachtel, bassist Lee Sklar and drummer Russ Kunkel, who played on seminal albums by Carole King, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Jackson Browne and hundreds of others. 'Ebb & Flow' marks the first time the three musicians have played together in the same room in 15 years.

A "charismatic singer and keyboardist," "fearless and funny performer" and "heir of [Joni] Mitchell" (NY Times), Owen splits the difference between Carole King and Randy Newman on 'Ebb & Flow,' a just contribution to the troubadour tradition. The songs are built around Owen's theatrical writing, impassioned voice and accomplished piano playing, sweeping melodies.

The album, produced by Owen and David Z in London and Los Angeles, features potent songs about love and loss, dreams and despair, exploring the duality of the human condition. "You're Not Here Anymore," about the early loss of her mother, and "I Would Give Anything," about the recent passing of her father, contrast perfectly with covers of Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime," whose chords and melody Owen reworks to sound more pensive than boisterous, and a rousing version of James Taylor's "Hey Mister, That's Me Up on the Jukebox."

Owen, whose husband and frequent collaborator is actor and humorist Harry Shearer (The Simpsons, Spinal Tap), has been called "a charmer and seducer, a rocker and a jazz chanteuse" (Variety) and "a drier, hipper Norah Jones who is whip smart, soulfully cool and deeply introspective" (L.A. Times). In addition to her solo music and work in comedy and theater, she's made a name as the female foil of Richard Thompson, the British folk-rock legend, anchoring his internationally celebrated "1,000 Years of Popular Music." She's also known for her annual "Holiday Sing-Along" tour, her Christmastime variety show with Shearer and friends, which kicked off this year on December 7 in Brooklyn.

Judith Owen on the Web:

http://judithowen.net/
https://www.facebook.com/officialjudithowen
http://shorefire.com/client/judith-owen