Zebra Ranch Part Two
Posted on 2/15/2010 by Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms

The Zebra Ranch is sequestered in a very relaxed atmosphere located off the beaten path to allow for musical creativity without worldly distractions. Only the lovely distractions of the ranch itself are required to produce some good music within its confines. It's incredibly quiet out here and at night you can see a million stars. There's no telephone, television or other unwanted distraction in the studio, just friends, instruments and time to make music. The Zebra Ranch is a magical place.




You can buy them at the band's website:
http//:RebaRussell.com/
Open gates reveal the fecundity of human creativity, the Zebra Ranch

Outdoor seating went from dry to wet to icy during the week. I love these old gliders. This one looks as if the two seats have become closer friends over time.




Time to head inside and make a joyful noise

After a couple of days the monsoon rains set in so we got cozy inside and cut songs for about 12 hours or so a day. We were fully prepared with adequate food and drink to survive unassisted for several days. toward the end of the week the rain started to freeze and so we had to halt operations for a couple of days. We don't have snow plows down south and most people down here can't drive worth a damn in the frozen stuff so we laid low at our respective cribs until it thawed.






Time to head inside and make a joyful noise


I saw a live one of these driving south on I-55 toward Natchez one day.



Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms (photo by Wayne Russell)







yet the author forges on fearlessly. I knew they were unarmed.


basking in the doppler effect of the whirling 122 Leslie








http://www.nmallstars.com/index.shtml

We have made records together for 20 years. She is my trusted friend and colleague.




I saw Jim Dickinson perform at a show with Furry at Southwestern at Memphis around 1976. It was a truly great show that I shall never forget, particularly his cursing of a guy from Nashville who preceded him using a phase shifter on his guitar. Jim had a clever play on words for the man's phase shifter. He never was politically correct but always made you laugh.











Snow melts outside the fence

We have to grow our own snow in the South.

Beautiful old gnarled limbs out at the ranch

As the last of the snow leaves the landscape we pack up our gear and head back for home. We are indebted to Jim Dickinson and his wonderful, kind family for allowing us to share in this incredibly fun atmosphere where giants walked and great recordings have been and shall be made. If you or your band would like to record while basking in the sublime groovitude that is the Zebra Ranch then you may contact Mary Dickinson at the website below:
http://www.zebraranch.com/
This is a great website full of information, pictures and history and I highly recommend that you all check it out by clicking above.
If you missed my first article on the Zebra Ranch from last week, well, that's just a damn shame, but rejoice, here's a link to the article:
http://www.ameriblues.com/2010/02/reba-russell-band-records-at-zebra.html
©Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms, 2010
RCT
Artists that are Friends of American Blues News
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American Blues News Staff
What makes American Blues News unique is our coverage across America. Here is our lineup:
Mon: Memphis Correspondent - Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms
Nighthawk is our resident globetrotter and man behind the scenes, as he tours with the Reba Russell Band.
Tues: New York Correspondent - J. Blake
Blake is the American Blues News review and interview guru. You may catch him out and about in NY playing the blues.
Wed: National Correspondent - Monica Yasher
Monica is our executive director and artist interview specialist. You can catch Monica singing the blues around Pittsburgh or working on some country music songs in Nashville.
Thurs: Washington, DC Correspondent - Virginiabluesman
Geraldo offers inteviews and reviews. You may have seen him at an Ana Popovic concert or conversed with him on her websites, as he offers administrative support with her music.
Fri: Northeast Photographer - Nelson Onofre
Nelson offers a Friday column of blues photography and pictorial support for the interviews covered by the team.
Jim Stick in Colorado
Jim will be focusing on the Blues Festivals in the beautiful state of Colorado, and the artists that live and visit there.
Maureen Elizabeth, our resident art correspondent, will be focusing on blues art as she explores the creation of CD covers, or speaking with artists who also have a love of creating pictorial art in addition to their music! She may also feature some of her good friends in the Pittsburgh area. In her love of art, you may find Maureen's photography accompanying writer's articles on our pages. Maureen is also our marketing director.
Pittsburgh correspondent and photographer, CR Bennett, will share the Pittsburgh scene with all of you. You may also see CR's pictures accompanying other writer's articles.
We head to the big state of Texas! Abby Owen, our Texas correspondent.
Another big area to cover, the West Coast with Casey Reagan, Casey will feature many artists and events on this ocean's shores.
Lastly, we have our roving blues entertainment writer,
Chef Jimi.
And of course, we will surprise you sometimes!
Mon: Memphis Correspondent - Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms
Nighthawk is our resident globetrotter and man behind the scenes, as he tours with the Reba Russell Band.
Tues: New York Correspondent - J. Blake
Blake is the American Blues News review and interview guru. You may catch him out and about in NY playing the blues.
Wed: National Correspondent - Monica Yasher
Monica is our executive director and artist interview specialist. You can catch Monica singing the blues around Pittsburgh or working on some country music songs in Nashville.
Thurs: Washington, DC Correspondent - Virginiabluesman
Geraldo offers inteviews and reviews. You may have seen him at an Ana Popovic concert or conversed with him on her websites, as he offers administrative support with her music.
Fri: Northeast Photographer - Nelson Onofre
Nelson offers a Friday column of blues photography and pictorial support for the interviews covered by the team.
Jim Stick in Colorado
Jim will be focusing on the Blues Festivals in the beautiful state of Colorado, and the artists that live and visit there.
Maureen Elizabeth, our resident art correspondent, will be focusing on blues art as she explores the creation of CD covers, or speaking with artists who also have a love of creating pictorial art in addition to their music! She may also feature some of her good friends in the Pittsburgh area. In her love of art, you may find Maureen's photography accompanying writer's articles on our pages. Maureen is also our marketing director.
Pittsburgh correspondent and photographer, CR Bennett, will share the Pittsburgh scene with all of you. You may also see CR's pictures accompanying other writer's articles.
We head to the big state of Texas! Abby Owen, our Texas correspondent.
Another big area to cover, the West Coast with Casey Reagan, Casey will feature many artists and events on this ocean's shores.
Lastly, we have our roving blues entertainment writer,
Chef Jimi.
And of course, we will surprise you sometimes!