Release Day Picks: December 13th New Album Highlights

Each week Release Day Picks profiles new LPs and EPs Team JamBase will be checking out on release day Friday. This week we highlight new albums including Warren Haynes‘ Christmas Jam, The Free Nationals debut album and a flim score by Mike Dillon. Read on for more insight into the records we have all queued up to spin.

Various Artists – Warren Haynes Presents The Benefit Concert Volume 16

The Scoop: Each year, with the exception of 2019, Warren Haynes curates a stellar lineup of musicians to perform at his Christmas Jam concert in the Gov’t Mule frontman’s hometown of Asheville to raise money for Habitat For Humanity. Highlights from the 2014 Christmas Jam are featured on Warren Haynes Presents The Benefit Concert Volume 16, a live album/concert film. The latest installment of the series includes songs from Billy & The Kids, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Hard Working Americans, Paul Riddle & Friends and Gov’t Mule featuring Jackie Greene. The audio version of the set contains 10 tunes, while the video version contains 16. Warren Haynes Presents The Benefit Concert Volume 16 is available on CD/DVD, vinyl and Blu-Ray as well as in digital formats. Billy & The Kids were making their live debut, while Riddle’s set saw him joined by Haynes, Jack Pearson, Oteil Burbridge and Danny Louis.

The Free Nationals – The Free Nationals

The Scoop: Best known as the backing band for Anderson .Paak, The Free Nationals are out today with their long-awaited self-titled debut album. The years-in-the-making record features 13 tracks, one of which is the instrumental “Lester Diamond.” A variety of guest vocalists appear on the rest of the album, including Paak, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Daniel Caesar and T.I., as well as the late Mac Miller. The Free Nats — drummer Callum Connor, bassist Kelsey Gonzales, keyboardist T.Nava and guitarist Jose Rios — posted a message explaining their debut’s delay, “Well … finally, we can give you a release date. We love all of you so much for sticking by us through everything ❤️ we just wanted to give you our absolute best. The real reason it delayed was because of our rigorous touring schedule. We didn’t want to release it from the road until all of the loose ends are tied up. But now it’s here and we can finally say … 12/13 … so please save the date and we hope you enjoy this record because we had so much fun making this. This is a time capsule for us … A moment where everything came together for us as friends. And now it’s all on wax.”

Mike Dillon – Kharma Bums

The Scoop: Acclaimed percussionist Mike Dillon was tapped by Karma Bums director Jeremiah Kent to record a score for the 69-minute documentary. The 16-track soundtrack is out now via Royal Potato Family. Dillon recorded the score/soundtrack with co-producer Rick Nelson at Marigny Studios in New Orleans. Nelson and James Singleton are among the other musicians who contributed to the score. “Working with one of my favorite musicians was a true pleasure,” noted Kent. “He was able to create a musical backdrop that captured the essence of India, but was also completely original and unique, just like our journey down the river.”

Compiled by Scott Bernstein and Andy Kahn.