Cristina Black
-
The Ditty Sessions
-
Cristina Black – These Days3:14
-
Cristina Black – Yellow Moon1:54
-
Cristina Black – All I Want2:43
-
Cristina Black – Purple Houses3:38
-
Cristina Black – Drunk Rich People2:40
-
-
-
-
-
Buy The Ditty Sessions on iTunes.
Buy The Ditty Sessions CD.
About The Ditty Sessions
Recorded in fall of 2009, The Ditty Sessions EP is the result of a magical collaboration between Cristina Black’s ukulele-driven confessional songwriting and an all-star backing band. Often compared to Nico and Joni Mitchell for her smoke-and-honey character voice, Black maintains a cabaret-like propriety while drawing on the curious looseness of her former home, New Orleans. Standout track “Purple Houses” describes the anxiety of watching Hurricane Katrina swirl towards the Gulf Coast. The set also addresses drug addiction on “These Days”, infidelity on “All I Want” and the plight of the wealthy on “Drunk Rich People,” which was recently featured on NBC’s prime time hit Parenthood.
A classically trained harpist and pianist from age 4, Black turned to pop songwriting more recently when she took up baritone ukulele. “I’m really only interested in magical instruments,” says Black. “But I wanted to play something small and simple for once.” Inspired and schooled by fellow Brooklyn singer-songwriter (and now band mate) Michael Leviton, she began writing her own music after learning to play current hits by quirky solo artists like Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Fiona Apple, Feist and Nellie McKay.
Bruised from the events of Katrina and their collateral damage, she began to channel the experience of loss into her own compositions. “The horror of that ordeal created a hole in my life so deep I had no choice but to sing my way out of it,” Black explains. She conceived her first song after falling in a puddle of mud on parade sidelines during Mardi Gras. “I remember thinking if I just had something to hold on to, a stick or something, maybe I could pull myself up out of that mess,” she recalls. That metaphor became the first line and theme for “All I Want,” its aching, minor-key melody pushing her through the emotional confusion of post-Katrina life.
Soon, Black found herself back in New Orleans recording at Number C Studios, the home base of venerable funk band Galactic. With saxophonist-producer Ben Ellman at the console, the sessions were scheduled around the recording of the Grammy-nominated Trombone Shorty album Backatown. Black asked old friends Alex McMurray (guitar), Brian Coogan (piano, Wurlitzer, B3) and Alex Chilton (bass) to back her. “Chilton was the last piece to fall into place,” she recalls. “I needed a bass player in New Orleans who really knew pop music and he was the obvious choice.” Chilton passed away suddenly last spring. The Ditty Sessions were the rock legend’s final studio recordings.
Black continues to perform in support of The Ditty Sessions with her New York based band (Michael Leviton, keys, guitar; Chris Van Voorst, upright bass). Hopping from ukulele to keys and back, she plays regularly at beloved Manhattan and Brooklyn clubs such as Rockwood Music Hall, the Mercury Lounge, The Rock Shop and Union Hall.
Praise for The Ditty Sessions:
Soft jams the likes of which we’re definitely not treated to everyday. Black is a talent in her own right. --The Fader
Black’s catchy songs and gorgeous voice are not overshadowed by her estimable backing band. --TwentyFourBit
CONTACT: cristina@cristinablack.com -
-
-
NEWS
I have a mobile app! News, dates, photos and the story behind "When I Think of Christmas" now streaming straight to your mobile device. Get the Black App!
I'm playing a special Christmas set at Ramblin Andy's Holiday Hootenanny on December 17 at Branded Saloon Saloon in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Bring your singing voice!
Holiday single, "When I Think of Christmas," out now on White Iris Records. Get it on iTunes!
NEW SHOWS! I'm playing Mercury Lounge on October 3 with Alexa Wilding. Get tickets now! I'm also playing CMJ on October 19 (upstairs at the Living Room). Come join!
NEW VIDEO! Watch a live solo performance of unreleased song "Summer's Over" here.
The Ditty Sessions are chronicled in a new book about New Orleans music, Groove Interrupted by Keith Spera. Read an excerpt from the chapter about Alex Chilton's life in New Orleans here.
MONTAUK SUMMER RESIDENCY! I'm playing every other Sunday afternoon at the The Gig Shack in Montauk. Come by 1-4pm August 7, 21 and September 4. Super mellow ukulele summer fun!
THE ROCK SHOP, FIRST ANNIVERSARY SHOW! I'm playing the Brooklyn venue's one-year mark with Henry Wolfe headlining, July 13, 8pm set. Tickets here.
I'M PLAYING BONNAROO! Check me out on Saturday, June 11 in Manchester, Tennessee. Go here for more info.
NEW SHOW! I'm playing with DAX RIGGS (formerly of Acid Bath and Deadboy and the Elephantmen) Saturday 5/7 at THE ROCK SHOP in Brooklyn.
NEW SHOW ADDED! Mercury Lounge 3/15—details here. See you there!
"Drunk Rich People" featured on NBC's hit show PARENTHOOD! Watch the episode HERE! -
-
- No upcoming events.
-
-
-
-
HOLIDAY SINGLE, "WHEN I THINK OF CHRISTMAS" OUT NOW ON WHITE IRIS RECORDS!!!
Get it on iTunes!
For a couple years, I've been sitting on this pretty holiday heartbreak song, and finally, I did the right thing. I flew out L.A. with sleigh bells and a wet suit stuffed in my suitcase. I sunned, I surfed, I sang. As recorded at Black Iris studio and produced by Lewis Pesacov (Fool's Gold, Best Coast), this is the warm sound of a Black Christmas.
xoxo Cristina -
Black Christmas
-
Cristina Black – When I Think of Christmas3:31
-
-
