Booker T. in the Studio and Playboy

Booker is the subject of a feature profile in the June 2009 issue of Playboy magazine, on newsstands and behind convenience-store counters now. Written by Robert Gordon, the music historian and author of the book It Came From Memphis, the piece finds Booker reflecting on his life, career and new album, Potato Hole.

Of the new album, Gordon writes: "Potato Hole is as funky as most anything he has done, and as soulful, but the mass of rocking guitars is new territory and thrilling"

After recording the acclaimed album with the snarling guitars of Neil Young and Drive-By Truckers, Booker T. has assembled his own band of crack musicians for his upcoming tour dates through 2010. The guys assembled in a remote studio to rehearse, and Spookie Films was there with an HD camera or two. The video was synched to a multi-tracked recording of the rehearsal session, and you can check out the result below.

Stock Tip: Booker T. in WSJ

Wall Street Journal rock and pop music critic Jim Fusilli interviewed Booker at the Coachella Music Festival in April and combined the interview with his review of Booker's new album Potato Hole (ANTI-), which was released April 21, 2009 and is currently #135 on the SoundScan Top 200 albums.

Fusilli writes: "But on most [of Potato Hole's]tunes, out of the organized chaos comes Mr. Jones's Hammond B-3 organ, a rich, distinctive instrumental voice and a bedrock of American soul music."

You can read the full piece here.

CNN Coverage of Trombone Shorty

Trombone Shorty played Friday April 24, 2009 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and CNN's cameras were there to cover the show, which also streamed live on AT&T Music's site. Blasting away on the Gentilly Stage immediately prior the day's last act, Texas indie rockers Spoon, Jazzfest poster boy Troy Andrews and his band held the capacity crowd in thrall.

Check out CNN's conversation with Troy here, and watch the quick shots of Shorty playing Jazzfest CNN aired starting around the 2:20 mark of the video below.

'Native New Yorker' Premiering Now

The lead track from Booker T.'s forthcoming solo record is exclusively premiering now on The Huffington Post, along with Booker's commentary about air guitar and recording with Neil Young.

Potato Hole (ANTI-), Booker's first solo record in twenty years, drops April 21, 2009, days after he plays Coachella with the Drive By Truckers.

Mavis, Booker Sampler Tracks for Free

You can check out the track 'Warped Sister' from Potato Hole, Booker T's first solo album in 20 years, for free right now on ANTI's 2009 Label Sampler. Also included is a track from Mavis Staples' landmark live record, November 2008's Mavis Staples Live: Hope at the Hideout, as well as tracks by Neko Case, Jolie Holland and Bob Mould.

Meanwhile keep an eye out for new North American and European tour dates for Booker T. with his all-new, all-rock, two-guitar, four-piece backing band.