Leaving Eden

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Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

On Leaving Eden, the Carolina Chocolate Drops follow their Grammy-winning album Genuine Negro Jig with a record of original compositions, covers, and traditional songs produced by Buddy Miller (Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, Solomon Burke). They “may take their cues from 1920s string- and jug-band music," says USA Today, "but they're simply a great band.” The Observer calls them "the most electrifying acoustic act around." Rolling Stone gives the album four stars. The BBC says: "It's plain terrific."

Description

North Carolina–based Carolina Chocolate Drops follow up their critically lauded label debut—2010’s Grammy Award–winning Genuine Negro Jig, which reached #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart and #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers and Folk Charts—with Leaving Eden, due February 28 on Nonesuch Records, with vinyl to follow on March 20. The group returns with a record of original compositions, covers, and traditional songs produced by Buddy Miller (Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, Solomon Burke).

With Leaving Eden the Carolina Chocolate Drops’ founding members Dom Flemons and Rhiannon Giddens expand their lineup to include multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins; during their live sets the members share singing duties and swap instruments regularly. (Cellist Leyla McCalla also joins the band on the record.)

The Drops have toured year-round internationally since the band’s inception, playing festivals such as Bonnaroo, SXSW, and Telluride and selling out concert halls and clubs. The band regularly receives critical accolades from publications such as the Seattle Times, which said “What a treat to bask in this Grammy-winning group’s top-notch musicality, easy good humor and understated but sparkling showmanship with just the right dollop of historical background.” And the Capital Times (Madison, WI) said, “The string band performed a joyful, high-energy show that had the packed, sweaty theater moving and cheering for the entire time. The band’s sound is rooted in, and very reverent to, the traditional African-American string band sound of generations ago. But the attitude is anything but old-timey, as the band brought in hip-hop and soul elements, a no-holds-barred energy, and just a sense of playfulness to the songs.”

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Buddy Miller
Recorded by Mike Poole at Buddy Miller's Home, Nashville, TN
Assistant Engineer: Gordon Hammond
Mastered by Robert C. Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, ME

Track 1, 12 arranged by Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens, and Hubby Jenkins; track 2 arranged by Rhiannon Giddens and Dom Flemons; tracks 3, 8, 11, 14 arranged by Rhiannon Giddens, Hubby Jenkins, Dom Flemons, and Adam Matta

Design by Al Quattrocchi / Tornado Design
Photography by Bill Steber

Executive Producer: David Bither

Nonesuch Selection Number

529809

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
FormatRestrictions

This album is available from Nonesuch in the world outside of France.

Album Status
Artist Name
Carolina Chocolate Drops
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Dom Flemons, vocal (1, 4, 6, 11), snare drum (1), bass drum (1, 2, 12), bones (3, 14), 4-string banjo (4-6, 9-11, 13), jug (4), quills (6, 12), guitar (7), lead vocal (8)
Rhiannon Giddens, fiddle (1, 3, 5, 6, 10-12), 5-string gourd banjo (2, 14), 5-string banjo (3), 5-string cello banjo (4), background vocal (4, 6, 12), vocal (5, 7, 10, 13, 15), harmony vocal (8)
Hubby Jenkins, 5-string banjo (1, 12), mandolin (3-5, 7), guitar (6, 9, 13), background vocal (6), vocal (8, 12), bones (11, 14)
Adam Matta, beatbox (3, 5, 11), background vocal (4, 6), tambourine (6, 14), vocal (8), vocal bass (13)
Leyla McCalla, cello (5, 7), background vocal (7)

reissues?
new-release
Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
UPC
075597962710BUN
Label
MP3
Price
10.00
UPC
075597962703
Label
LP+MP3
Price
19.00
UPC
075597962536BUN
Label
FLAC
Price
11.00
UPC
075597949681
Label
96/24 HD FLAC
Price
12.00
UPC
075597922615
  • 529809

News & Reviews

  • The new series My Music with Rhiannon Giddens premiered on PBS stations across the US this week. In the inaugural episode, Rhiannon Giddens visits with three lifelong friends: Justin Robinson, one of her fellow Carolina Chocolate Drops co-founders; her sister, singer Lalenja Harrington; and singer-songwriter Laurelyn Dossett. You can watch it here.

  • Rhiannon Giddens and the Carolina Chocolate Drops will be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame this October. "I'm so honored to be part of the 2016 class of inductees into the NC Music Hall of Fame," says Giddens. "Being from North Carolina has been such a big part of what I do and will remain so for the rest of my life; being a mentee of Joe Thompson and starting the Carolina Chocolate Drops along with Dom Flemons and Justin Robinson are among the things of my life that I am most proud of. Happy to be in such good company as the Avett Brothers, David Holt, my fellow Chocolate Drops, and other fine musicians. Carolina forever!"

  • About This Album

    North Carolina–based Carolina Chocolate Drops follow up their critically lauded label debut—2010’s Grammy Award–winning Genuine Negro Jig, which reached #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart and #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers and Folk Charts—with Leaving Eden, due February 28 on Nonesuch Records, with vinyl to follow on March 20. The group returns with a record of original compositions, covers, and traditional songs produced by Buddy Miller (Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, Solomon Burke).

    With Leaving Eden the Carolina Chocolate Drops’ founding members Dom Flemons and Rhiannon Giddens expand their lineup to include multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins; during their live sets the members share singing duties and swap instruments regularly. (Cellist Leyla McCalla also joins the band on the record.)

    The Drops have toured year-round internationally since the band’s inception, playing festivals such as Bonnaroo, SXSW, and Telluride and selling out concert halls and clubs. The band regularly receives critical accolades from publications such as the Seattle Times, which said “What a treat to bask in this Grammy-winning group’s top-notch musicality, easy good humor and understated but sparkling showmanship with just the right dollop of historical background.” And the Capital Times (Madison, WI) said, “The string band performed a joyful, high-energy show that had the packed, sweaty theater moving and cheering for the entire time. The band’s sound is rooted in, and very reverent to, the traditional African-American string band sound of generations ago. But the attitude is anything but old-timey, as the band brought in hip-hop and soul elements, a no-holds-barred energy, and just a sense of playfulness to the songs.”

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Dom Flemons, vocal (1, 4, 6, 11), snare drum (1), bass drum (1, 2, 12), bones (3, 14), 4-string banjo (4-6, 9-11, 13), jug (4), quills (6, 12), guitar (7), lead vocal (8)
    Rhiannon Giddens, fiddle (1, 3, 5, 6, 10-12), 5-string gourd banjo (2, 14), 5-string banjo (3), 5-string cello banjo (4), background vocal (4, 6, 12), vocal (5, 7, 10, 13, 15), harmony vocal (8)
    Hubby Jenkins, 5-string banjo (1, 12), mandolin (3-5, 7), guitar (6, 9, 13), background vocal (6), vocal (8, 12), bones (11, 14)
    Adam Matta, beatbox (3, 5, 11), background vocal (4, 6), tambourine (6, 14), vocal (8), vocal bass (13)
    Leyla McCalla, cello (5, 7), background vocal (7)

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced by Buddy Miller
    Recorded by Mike Poole at Buddy Miller's Home, Nashville, TN
    Assistant Engineer: Gordon Hammond
    Mastered by Robert C. Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, ME

    Track 1, 12 arranged by Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens, and Hubby Jenkins; track 2 arranged by Rhiannon Giddens and Dom Flemons; tracks 3, 8, 11, 14 arranged by Rhiannon Giddens, Hubby Jenkins, Dom Flemons, and Adam Matta

    Design by Al Quattrocchi / Tornado Design
    Photography by Bill Steber

    Executive Producer: David Bither

  • Format Availability

    This album is available from Nonesuch in the world outside of France.