RICKIE LEE JONES IS “FALLING UP” AS SHE KICKS OFF NATIONWIDE HEADLINING TOUR

FROM:    MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN/SHAZILA MOHAMMED

RICKIE LEE JONES has launched her nationwide headlining tour amid vast critical acclaim for her new album THE SERMON ON EXPOSITION BOULEVARD, which debuted at #1 on eMusic, the world’s largest retailer of independent music and the world’s second-largest digital music retailer overall.  Marking the singer, songwriter and musician’s New West Records debut, the disc—described by Alan Light as “…the most rocked-up music of her almost-30-year career” in his New York Times feature (2/6/07) and “…her best work in three decades” by Uncut (March 07)—also entered the Billboard Top 200 at 158 (over 30 spots higher than her last studio release).

While in New York City, the two-time Grammy Award winner performed the album’s first single “Falling Up” on the “Late Show With David Letterman” Monday, February 12.  RICKIE will also perform the song—now playing on over 65 radio stations in America – during her upcoming hour-long in-concert special “SoundStage,” premiering nationally February 22 at 10:00 PM (PT/ET) on 297 PBS stations. The single shot into the Top 10 in under 3 weeks @ the Non Comm format, and debuted this week on the R&R AAA Indicator chart. Writing in the Washington Post, Geoffrey Himes noted that THE SERMON ON EXPOSITION BOULEVARD contains "…some of Jones's finest vocals. When she sings on the first single, ‘Falling Up,’ of the painful letting go of old routines and of the unexpected ascension into new planes, she could be describing her own artistic reinvention as much as a spiritual experience (2/9/07).”

RICKIE’s high visibility has also included performances on PBS’ Tavis Smiley show and the nationally syndicated Extra as well as an array of outstanding reviews by American and overseas press praising the album’s bold musical and lyrical direction.  MOJO  weighed in with a glowing four star review, noting how the album “…veers from punk rock minimalism to ethereal, whispery rock… Jones neither preaches nor proselytizes, but instead witnesses, through Jesus’ eyes, her ever-evolving faith (March 2007).”  

This is a different and exciting album from RICKIE, both sonically (it’s Velvet Underground-inspired) and lyrically. Its artful rock stylings are matched with songs that are all inspired by the real words and ideas of Jesus Christ. "People today can't even hear the name Jesus without tensing up because they don't want to be associated with the TV evangelists and that lot," says RICKIE. “I just wanted to level the playing field a bit.”

Here is RICKIE’s expanded and up-to-date concert itinerary.  Look for her to also speak at the SXSW convention Friday, March 16 in Austin, TX and catch up with her at www.rickieleejones.com.