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I added three rare photos to the miscelleanous files section. They show Van Dyke Parks and band performing live at The Coconut Grove, at the Ambassador Hotel, in Los Angeles, CA. playing Clang of the Yankee Reaper. The images are shown by courtesy of the Michael Ochs Archives. I also updated the links page.

Van Dyke Parks Performed At A Benefit Concert in L.A.

As reported in a review by the Los Angeles Times Van Dyke Parks performed at a benefit concert helt on 29th November for the "FolkScene" radioshow. Other performers included Jackson Browne, Jennifer Warnes, David Alvin, the Joel Rafael Band, Judy Henske and Peter Case. The concert took place at the sold-out Troubadour in Los Anegles.

The Van Dyke Parks lyrics archive is finally online. It features the lyrics to all of the songs on Van Dyke Parks' studio albums for Warner Brothers Records, as well as the lyrics for two songs from the 1980s which Parks never has recorded in studio so far. The lyrics archive further includes a revised transcription of the lyrics to the album "Jump!" courteously submitted by Mr.Parks for inclusion on this site. The archive also features a full transcription of the lyrics to the album "Clang Of The Yankee Reaper", previously available only with the Japanese edition of the album. This transcription has been revised by Mr.Parks as well.

Van Dyke Parks Conducted During The L.A. Concert Of Brian Wilson's "Pet Sounds Symphony Tour"

During the Los Angeles concert of Brian Wilson's "Pet Sounds Symphony Tour"on 24th September Van Dyke Parks conducted the orchestra during the "Brian Wilson Suite", a suite he arranged especially for this tour.

About Van Dyke Parks' arrangement work for this special tour Variety magazine wrote in its Sept. 26, 2000 issue : "Van Dyke Parks' orchestral odyssey ran a colorful gamut with the "Good Vibrations" chorus forming bookends in his 25 minute suite. Neither serious nor 101 Strings-sappy, the work was at its strongest when it turned bright and blissed out with the orchestra playfully jabbing from side to side. As a setup for the evening, however, you couldn't ask for more".

Click here for further tour dates on Brian Wilson's official homepage.

I updated the links page and added pages with front and back cover scans of two rare European 45 picture sleeves to the discography.

Parks Writes Statement for "Artists For Gore/Lieberman" Campaign

Beside (so far) Michelle Phillips, Michael Doster, Lou Reed, Greil Marcus and Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks has provided a statement for the "Artists For Gore/ Lieberman" campaign initiated by Michael Ochs of the Michael Ochs Archives. The statements of the artists are illustrated with very interesting images of the respective artists. You can read the statements by visiting the homepage of the MOA. After reaching the main page (with Elvis Presley as featured artist), click on the "Artists For Gore/Lieberman" banner, which appears when the page has fully loaded.

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

I uploaded a major update to the page listing Van Dyke Parks' work for other artists.

Legendary Beach Boys Engineer Chuck Britz Dies

On Sunday it has been reported that the famous Californian arranger Jack Nitzsche died at the age of 63 in Hollywood, CA.

Jack Nitzsche became a legandary figure in the music business due to his multifaceted work as arranger, songwriter, studio musican, producer and composer of film scores, Nitzsche hired Van Dyke Parks on Parks' first rock & roll job in 1963. He assigned him 2nd tambourine on an Anthony & Cleopatra (later to become Sonny & Cher) session at Goldstar Studios, in Hollywood. It was engineered by Stan Ross, famous for his considerable work with Phil Spector.

Van Dyke Parks Portrait In Current Issue Of Goldmine

The current issue of Goldmine magazine (a Beach Boys issue with the Beach Boys on cover) features an article about Van Dyke Parks written by James Thompson. Since I don't have my copy yet, I can't give any further details so far.

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

I have added Shigeki Ishikawa's review of Van Dyke Parks' performance in Tokyo (on 23th June 1999), which he translated into English for this website. I have also added recollections by singer/songwriter John R. Williamson about his performance with Van Dyke Parks in Santa Barbara on 22nd April 1999 to the miscellaneous writings section.

Brian Wilson's Pet Sounds Symphony Tour

Reviews and photos (including some with Van Dyke Parks at the Hampshire show) of Brian Wilson's Pet Sounds Symphony tour (featuring orchestral arrangements by Van Dyke Parks) can be accessed from his official website at http://www.brianwilson.com/tour.

I have added a page about the 'Jump!' children's book trilogy to the website.

I have revised the miscellaneous writings index page and added an essential article to the website - the 1985 Musician Magazine portrait by Timothy White has been added to the miscellaneous writings section.

The links page has been revised and updated.

Van Dyke Parks' Appearance At The Knitting Factory, L.A. Postponed

The live performance by Van Dyke Parks at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, CA, originally scheduled for the 14th July 2000 at 9 pm, has been postponed to fall this year.

VDP Announces Future Projects

Parks is now arranging for two groups' new CD projects: One song for "Six Pence None The Richer"; three selections for "Manhattan Transfer" (his second association with this fine group).

In late June, he's now orchestrating a 30-minute Suite of Brian Wilson's music, for Mr. Wilson's inclusion in his Summer Symphonic Tour. When/if time allows, Parks may conduct as well. As music supervizor he will oversee additional orchestrations of the "Pet Sounds" album as well, in this ambitious tour which ends at Hollywood Bowl on September 29th. Continuing the tour with Wilson are "The Wondermints", who have made quite a mark with their recent triumphs in personal appearances.

Parks is also making two new CDs, as artist/producer, for Warner/Japan. He is in discussions for including related recording sessions in a Dutch documentary (now being considered for Amsterdam, late June).

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

I have eclosed the sheet music to and the audio file of the Theme from 'The Two Jakes' (composed by Van Dyke Parks) to the Audio & Sheet Music section.

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

I have enclosed Bill Holdship's article Heroes And Villains (first published on 6th April 2000 in the LA New Times) as well as readers' letters to the L.A. New Times regarding that article. I also uploaded the sheet music to the song Orange Crate Art to the Audio & Sheet Music page

VDP Finishes Soundtrack Work For "Harlan County"

These days Van Dyke Parks finished work on the score to the movie Harlan County. Musician friends of VDP's who participated in the soundtrack are: Steve Young, Jennifer Warnes, Matt Cartsonis---vocals (Cartsonis also plays banjo and mandola); Richard Greene - violin; Ira Ingber - guitars.

Harlan County is the dramatization of a (Pulitzer Prize-winning) documentary about Kentucky miners' struggle to unionize, in the 1970s. This films features (Oscar winner) actress Holly Hunter and Canadian actor Wayne Robson. The film is directed by Tony Bill. He also achieved an Academy Award for The Sting.

Harlan County premieres on Showtime Television on June 6th, with Theatrical release to follow its showcase in Cannes .

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

I have added Van Dyke Parks' liner notes for Steve Young's new CD Primal Young (on Japan distributed label Dreamsville) to the writings section.

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

The Audio & Sheet Music section is online now. So far, it features one track taken from Van Dyke Parks' score to the Tony Bill directed drama Oliver Twist. The track has been uploaded in mp3-format to present it in the best possible sound quality.

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

I added two files, transcribed by Paul Sineath (thanks!), to the writings section and made some layout changes to the index page.

VDP Addresses Visitors Of This Site On Subject Of Demon/Edsel Releases

On 24th February 2000 I received the following e-mail from Van Dyke Parks with the request to publish it on my site. I can't comment on the subject of the CD reissues, since I don't have any further information. I only quote VDP's comment:

<<Dear Jan,

It's been brought to my attention that Demon/Edsel are selling CD reissues of Van Dyke Parks.

This is not legal for them to do so, nor is it profitable to me. (I've asked them to stop, to no avail).

Can you mention on the Site that I endorse only Warner Brothers and Rykodisk releases of my records? It would mean alot to us at home.

To make Rykodisk more attractive, I've added bonus tracks unavailable on other issues.

Thank you for considering this.

VD(P)>>

Calypso Musician Lord Kitchener Died

(transcript of a newspaper report of unknown source)

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) -- Lord Kitchener, who rose from a country boywith no musical training to become the "Grand Master" of calypso in Trinidad and Tobago, died Friday. He was 77.

Born Aldwyn Roberts, Lord Kitchener was different from the time he sang in his first calypso tent at the age of 15 for 12 cents.

In an era when calypsonians assumed powerful monikers like the Roaring Lion, the Mighty Killer and Mighty Sparrow, he called himself Lord Kitchener after the British army officer who successfully waged a military campaign to win back the Sudan in 1898.

With the theme of fighting and defending being central to the calypso idiom, the persona seemed to fit.

He dominated the calypso world in the 1960s and 1970s with tunes such as "Mama dis is Mas" and "Rainorama," a comic look at the hysteria created among his countrymen when Carnival was delayed in 1973 because of an outbreak of polio.

He composed the first calypso played by a steelband orchestra. "The Beat of the Steelband" in 1944 was closely associated with the steelband movement afterward.

Free Van Dyke Parks Concert In Conway, Arkansas

On Friday, 7th April 2000 Van Dyke Parks will perform with Leland Sklar and Grant Geissman at Staples Auditorium at Hendrix College, 1600 Washington Avenue, Conway, Arkansas. There is no admission charge, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required or will be issued. The concerts starts at 8 p.m., the doors open at 7.30 p.m. For more information call (501) 450-1314 or e-mail Grace@hendrix.edu.

VDP Contributes To Eliza Carthy's Upcoming Album

During his visit to London, Van Dyke Parks worked on a recording session for Eliza Carthy's upcoming album. Parks arranged woodwinds and strings for a session that took place on 20th December 1999 in George Martin's recording studios. The release of the album is scheduled for June this year on the Warner Bros. label.

Problems with Mail Delivery

If someone recently sent me any e-mails and didn't receive a response yet, please send the message again, a number of mails got lost in cyberspace during the last weeks for unknown reasons before I received them. I generally answer all enquiries and comments, so please try sending your message again, if you didn't receive any response. I hope the technical problem will be solved pretty soon. Thanks, Jan Jansen.

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

INTERVIEW WITH GRANT GEISSMAN

Guitarist Grant Geissman, well known by visitors of this site as a musician on VDP's live performances during the last years and as a featured musician on both Orange Crate Art and Moonlighting - Live At The Ash Grove has been so kind to give an interview for this site. The interview, which was conducted via e-mail, can be found here.

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

I scanned a flyer for VDP's concert at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London in December 1999 and uploaded it to the miscellaneous files section.

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

In a few days I will move my site to the address:

www.vandykeparks.com

On the new server I will be able to realize more of my plans for vandykeparks.com, since I will have 20 MB additional webspace.

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

I added information about the CD "The Fisherman And His Wife" by Jodie Foster and Van Dyke Parks to the discography.

latest additions to vandykeparks.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL READERS !!!

I added photos to the review of Van Dyke Parks' recent performance in London.