Finally, Knoxville's Breakthrough Album?

Rolling Stone bassist Bill Wyman considers his new CD, Anyway the Wind Blows, his best post-Stones effort. It's a fascinating mixture of old-fashioned jazz, nightclub R&B, and swingin' pop songs. It's really a large collaborative effort between '60s Brit-invasion star (and later jazz vocalist) Georgie Fame, blues singer Beverley Skeete, guitarists Albert Lee and Martin Taylor, former Stones keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, and even, if briefly, Peter Frampton and Eric Clapton. Wyman, who wisely doesn't actually sing on the CD, is just the bassist and author of a half-dozen of these 16 songs, but it gives you a strong sense of the wide rift between the stubborn Stones' standards and Wyman's cooler, more whimsical musical sensibilities. Wyman is maturing gracefully.

What does this impressive and mostly British effort have to do with Knoxville? Well, buy the album and look at the sepia cover photo. Then look again. Then look again. You've seen this scene somewhere before: a freight yard with crisscrossing tracks and a long Norfolk-Southern train. In the background is a viaduct and a big building with a Philco ad painted on the side. It's downtown Knoxville.

That photograph of the old Southern tracks near the Old City—that's the Gay Street viaduct in the background—was taken by frequent Metro Pulse contributor Aaron Jay. Knoxville design firm The Write Stuff got the contract to do the Wyman album cover.

The image seems to suit the title track—a cover of J.J. Cale's classic blues song, played here with a railroady bass line. For us, Anyway the Wind Blows might be subtitled, Even Here.

Keepin' Up With R.B.

Admittedly, Zippy was a little concerned when Knoxville's R.B. Morris canceled his opening gig with chanteuse Iris DeMent. Just think of the exposure he'll be missing, we thought. If the audience digs Ms. DeMent, they'll double-dig Mr. Morris. It's a low-down cryin' shame, we mused, and he better have a good excuse.

Well, he did. Morris is currently in Nashville recording his next Oh Boy! release. Our details are currently limited to gossip overheard at a Gay Street watering hole, when Morris and producer R. S. Field (who has also produced Webb Wilder, Sonny Landreth, and Billy Joe Shaver) were discussing their plans for the new disc, but we will be sure to fill y'all in on more extensive information once we have it.

I Want My CTV

Knoxville seems to be becoming a home for folk/ Americana/ bluegrass/ whatever-the-heck-they're-calling-it-this-week. We've got R.B. Morris. We've got the V-Roys. And we've got dozens of acts who are playing in local dives to hone their chops and build a fan base.

What we've also got is a Community Access TV show dedicated to giving these hard-working musicians a way to reach possible listeners who refuse to set foot in a dark, smoky bar. Benny Skyn's Performers Showcase is the brainchild of Benny Skyn, a much-traveled singer-songwriter. The Showcase, FYI, has been moved, from 9 p.m. on the first and third Monday of the month to 6:30 p.m. on those same days.

But the neat part is that Skyn and his BCA Records is looking for singer/songwriters who do their own original music to be part of the show, which is taped at Manhattan's every Sunday night at 8 p.m. Interested acts should contact BCA at 546-9108 or [email protected]. And the public is more than welcome at the Manhattan's tapings, which are both a great way to support local music and a wonderful way to get your face on TV.

Go, See, Do

For you, dear scenester, a day-by-day guide of stuff to do, culled from the ever-inclusive and increasingly thorough calendar pages. I don't guarantee that every event will be a winner but will promise that every event will be an event.

Thursday: Nunsense—A Men, produced by the Masque Theatre. You'll never look at nuns the same ever again!

Friday: Knox Rocks at Campus Pub. Four bands—Mindwalk, Zipper, Audio Poolside, and Martha's Thirst—will take the same stage (consecutively, not simultaneously) in order to pull together Knoxville's somewhat fractious music scene. And it's only five bucks.

Saturday: Beeswax with subbluecollar at the Longbranch. I'm a little bit emo. I'm a little bit new wave. But, I'm free.

Sunday: The candle making workshop at Blount Mansion. Hey, we all have an inner Martha Stewart.

Monday: Sarah Jordan at Michael's. Jordan is just the right antidote for when you got the blues so bad you can hardly walk erect.

Tuesday: Son Volt at the Bijou. Son Volt's Wide Swing Tremolo doesn't really break new ground for the band, but it is still a great, fun-filled disc.

Wednesday: Ghostsat Clarence Brown Theatre. You'll never look at syphilis the same again!

—Zippy "Inner Martha >my ass" McDuff