Bruce Hornsby’s Modern Classical Moment : NPR
Bruce Hornsby cracked the music world three decades ago, making smooth, contemplative piano-pop with his band The Range. But if “The Way It Is” is how you remember him today, you’ve missed a lot. Since his hitmaking days in the 1980s, Hornsby has been a touring member of the Grateful Dead, gone bluegrass with Ricky Skaggs and played jazz with Wayne Shorter and Charlie Haden. On his new album, a double-disc live collection called Solo Concerts, Hornsby goes a step further by experimenting with 20th-century classical music.
Hornsby spoke with weekends on All Things Considered guest host Tess Vigeland about why these modern, often avant-garde compositions aren’t as out of place in a pop artist’s repertoire as they might seem. Hear the radio version at the audio link, and read more below.