Oteil Burbridge‘s long-awaited studio record, Water In The Desert, is here. The album was produced by David Ryan Harris (who spent much of 2017 on the road with John Mayer), and features some of Burbridge’s favorite players, including brother Kofi Burbridge on keys, Lil’ John Roberts and Sean O’Rourke on drums, Mark Rivers and Alfreda Gerald on vocals, Dave Yoke on guitar and Miguel Atwood Ferguson on strings.
“I started writing the songs on this record about ten years ago,” says Burbridge, two-time Grammy-winning bassist, in a statement. “They are all songs about love in some way; finding out how to love yourself, hoping that another loved one will love you just as you are, believing in someone when they find it hard to believe in themselves, love gone wrong, or finally finding the “perfect fit.” I feel like every problem we have on earth in some way comes back to the lack of love. That’s really what this record is about.”
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With elements of funk, soul, jazz, and beyond, the concept of love is beautifully executed on the 9-track record. Even better, Oteil is bringing the music on the road with him next month for a mini Oteil & Friends tour. During his time off from Dead & Company, the bassist will be joined by JGB keyboardist Melvin Seals, Lettuce/Soulive guitarist Eric Krasno, Furthur guitarist John Kadlecik, Primus/RatDog/Electric Beethoven drummer Jay Lane, former Nth Power and current Trombone Shorty percussionist Weedie Braimah, and vocalist Alfreda Gerald for a 9-date tour this November.
While Oteil & Friends were previously slated to perform a sold-out show at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC on November 9, the show was rescheduled for Dead & Company’s appearance at Band Together: Benefit Concert For North Bay Fire Relief.
You can purchase Oteil Burbridge’s fantastic new record, Water In The Desert, on iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon, and listen to it below on Spotify:
Oteil & Friends 2017 Tour
October 31 — The Ardmore Music Hall; PA
November 1 — Pour House; Charleston, SC
November 2 — Georgia Theatre; Athens, GA
November 3 — Salvage Station; Asheville, NC
November 4 — Neighborhood Theater; Charlotte, NC
November 5 — The Lincoln Theatre; Raleigh, NC
November 6 — Fillmore; Silver Spring, MD
November 7 — The Rex Theater; Pittsburgh, PA
November 8 — Soundstage; Baltimore, MD