Both Elvis Costello and The Roots are two acts that hold a special place in my heart. For one, they are obviously both masters at the musical craft, although creating vastly different genres; which makes a collaboration between them destined for a special brand of awesome. But also, they mark my personal milestone. They were the first pictures I had published in any major music publication back in 2008, 
and somewhat my “break” into publications. I had been a music photographer for many years and happened to shoot both acts at the one-time Whistler Music Festival, just for fun (and with my film camera…(!) Liking the way the pics turned out, I sent them to The Georgia Straight who (liked them too:) and made immediate publishing arrangements. So , yeah… that was the next chapter for me. When I heard that these guys had collaborated on an album together, things came full circle and I knew I needed to revisit my Roots and experience this debut first hand – in style, with my camera… (but this time digital).
And it was awesome. They were debuting their album, Wise Up Ghost, which Questlove has been quoted as calling “a moody, brooding affair, cathartic rhythms and dissonant lullabies”. Exactly. The show took on an impassioned yet mellow form. The vibe was dream-like, as we were set adrift in a murky sea of their collective imaginations; jazzy, funky and some island rhythms. There were guest vocal appearances including La Marisol (of La Santa Cecilia), which just added to the uniqueness of the occasion. My own biases aside, there was a sense that something special was occurring when two familiar acts meet outside their usual context. A yin yang affect by strong identities balancing each other toward something new. It’s all very indescribable. Fortunately, Wise Up Ghost was released on iTunes at midnight following the show; now available for you to make your own unbiased opinion.