October 17, 2013 / Modified feb 6, 2015 2:08 p.m.

Stairwell Session: Howe Gelb

Hear a new solo performance and an interview that reveals Gelb's conversation to be as unpredictable as his music

howe gelb interview Howe Gelb being interviewed by Mark McLemore for Arizona Spotlight
Jim Blackwood

howe gelb above portrait Howe Gelb
Jamison Waddell

Welcome to the Stairwell Sessions, a chance for local musicians to talk about their craft and play some of new songs, recorded under the stairs at Arizona Public Media.

Like a man slightly out of place in time, Howe Gelb cuts a distinctive figure, both in person and through sound. The depth and intimacy in his voice lend his words a haunting authority.

In his guitar playing, you can find the blues, country and folk, and flamenco, but Gelb's thirst to explore often takes those influences to places that are distinctly his.

Mark McLemore talks with Howe Gelb about choosing to look back on his career with a new box set and the importance of eating apple cores in this Stairwell Session + interview:

Listen to the complete music-only Howe Gelb Stairwell Session:

Howe Gelb Stairwell Session (recorded June 15, 2013) includes:

  1. Ride The Rail
  2. The Coincidentalist
  3. No Tellin'
  4. Every Now And Then
  5. Plane Of Existence
  6. Put Your House In Order
  7. Wind Blown Waltz
  8. Welcome To Paradise
  9. Ballad Of The Tucson 2
  10. Erosion
  11. Closing Theme Song


Howe Gelb's new album The Coincidentalist will be released November 5th, 2013 on New West Records. The Howe Gelb box set, called Little Sand Box, will be out December 9th, 2013 on Fire Records. Plucklings, a compilation of Howe's picks of 2 songs from each album in the box, is available now.


Music for this Stairwell Session was recorded and mixed by Jim Blackwood, with assistance from Jamison Waddell.

The Stairwell Session
To listen to more artists recorded live on The Stairwell Sessions, please click here.
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