Veteran pianist and singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby has officially announced his new album, Indigo Park, set to release on April 3 via Zappo Productions/Thirty Tigers. This highly anticipated 10-track collection boasts an impressive lineup of collaborators, including the late Bob Weir, Bonnie Raitt, Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, and Blake Mills.
The album's arrival marks a significant moment for Hornsby, especially as it coincides with the 40th anniversary of his Grammy-winning breakthrough album with The Range, The Way It Is. Fans can get an early taste of Indigo Park with its groovy, nostalgic title track, already available for sampling.
Produced by Hornsby himself alongside Tony Berg and Will Maclellan, Indigo Park features Hornsby's band, the Noisemakers, complemented by Mills on guitar, Pino Palladino on bass, and Chris Dave on drums. The album includes two co-writes with the revered late Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter: “Alabama” and the Weir- and Mills-assisted “Might As Well Be Me, Florinda.”
Reflecting on the album, which was recorded as he turned 70, Hornsby shared, "It's just an old bastard, looking back." He added a more introspective thought on his journey: "To be honest, I've found a way, a path to grow old gracefully, with help from some newborn friends of mine."
Hornsby and the Noisemakers will support Indigo Park with an extensive spring and summer tour. Dates are scheduled from April 9 in Cincinnati through July 25, culminating at the Great South Bay festival in Patchogue, N.Y. For ticket information, fans are encouraged to click here.
The Tracks of Indigo Park
The full tracklist for Indigo Park reveals a rich tapestry of collaborations and themes:
Indigo Park
Memory Palace (feat. Ezra Koenig)
Entropy Here (Rust In Peace)
Silhouette Shadows
Ecstatic (feat. Bonnie Raitt)
Alabama
North Dakota Slate Roof
Sliver of Time
Might As Well Be Me, Florinda (with Bob Weir & feat. Blake Mills)
Take a Light Strain
A Legacy Reimagined: Hornsby's Evolving Sound
The announcement of Indigo Park marks a fascinating inflection point in Bruce Hornsby's illustrious career. While always celebrated for his distinctive blend of rock, jazz, bluegrass, and folk, this new album underscores a continued willingness to explore and collaborate across generations and genres. The inclusion of figures like Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend) alongside blues icon Bonnie Raitt and the legendary Bob Weir speaks volumes about Hornsby's enduring appeal and his commitment to musical curiosity.
This approach isn't new for Hornsby; his career has been punctuated by diverse collaborations, from his early work with The Grateful Dead to his numerous genre-hopping projects. However, turning 70 during the album sessions, as he noted, brings a poignant reflective layer to Indigo Park. It suggests a seasoned artist not resting on past glories, but actively seeking new paths while acknowledging a profound legacy, especially with the Robert Hunter co-writes.
The album's release coinciding with the 40th anniversary of The Way It Is provides a powerful contrast. Where that album was a breakthrough statement, Indigo Park feels like a masterclass in graceful evolution, demonstrating how an artist can grow "old gracefully" while still producing vibrant, relevant work that resonates with both long-time fans and new listeners discovering his breadth through his collaborators.
