User:Gd4DPl91TSae/Luke and the Cool Hands

Luke and the Cool Hands was a popular Country, Western, and Jazz band from Chicago; actively performing and recording from 1989 to 1998. It was formed by songwriter/composer/arranger Luke Nelson. The group’s personnel changed several times throughout its ten years, but its core members included Nelson and vocalists Alice Kirwan and Mary Launder.

History
In the fall of 1988, Connecticut native Luke Nelson moved to Chicago from New York City to pursue his music and theater career. Not longer after arriving he met several musicians who were to be significant in the birth and development of Luke and the Cool Hands. The first was vocalist Sandra Julian, who, along with Ollie O’Shea encouraged Luke to form a band that included Julian on vocals, along with Roxane Asaf and Jude Lush. Their first performance (originally calling themselves the Sagebrush Sisters) was on March 6, 1989 at the Déjà Vu lounge on Lincoln Avenue, during a break of O’Shea’s band The Rattlers. Soon Luke and the Cool Hands was playing a regular show at the Roxy, featuring three-part harmony versions of Western classics, along with Nelson’s original Western-themed songs. Jude left the group after their debut performance and was replaced by Mary Launder. Nelson’s guitar was supplemented by Gary Bristol on bass, Ollie O’Shea on fiddle, and other “guest” musicians, including Stuart Rosenberg, John Rice, Jon Spiegel, Marc Edelstein and Shawn Stengel. The Cool Hands also performed live on WBEZ Radio, with host Stuart Rosenberg.

During this time Luke Nelson met Alice Kirwan, who was also from Connecticut, and the two began plans for the next stage of the Cool Hands. As members became involved in other projects, Nelson and Kirwan re-formed the group around Kirwan’s current vocal group, The Pumps. At this time, the Cool Hands became a vocal group, with various instrumental accompaniments, including at times, only Nelson’s guitar. Luke’s vocals were few, focusing the songwriting and arranging on the three female vocalists. They continued to work with Gary Bristol, and others, including Glenn and Gary DeMichele. Performances included a concert with the Windy City Gay Chorus.

The next incarnation of Luke and the Cool Hands was the longest lasting. This band included Alice Kirwan and Mary Launder on vocals along with Luke Nelson, who played guitar and occasionally bass guitar. Gary Bristol played bass guitar and Mike Spadaro was added on drums - this was a major change that included the instruments in Luke’s arrangements and provided dance music to its audience. Don Stiernberg was the major solo instrumentalist of the band, playing five-string electric mandolin, electric guitar and fiddle. Luke and the Cool Hands performed regularly during this time at Bub City and other venues in and around Chicago. When Bristol left Chicago, Glenn DeMichele became the permanent bass player, also bringing his pedal steel guitar to the band’s sound. By this point, Luke Nelson had written nearly sixty songs for Luke and the Cool Hands, including Swing By My Place, Ghost Town, Dodge City, Get Along Old Heart, and Raindance.

For nearly two years, Luke and the Cool Hands performed on Monday nights at Schuba’s on Southport and Belmont. Jazz trumpeter Brad Goode and saxophonist Jeff Newell would also play with the band on several occasions (known as the “Little Big Horns”). This band recorded their first, self-titled CD in 1994. Not long after the CD release, Dave Ivaz replaced Don Stiernberg on guitar as the band continued to play at Schuba’s and several venues around Chicago. In 1994 Luke and the Cool Hands won Best Country Band in the City of Chicago’s Winter Break, securing them a spot in the Fourth Chicago Country Music Festival. Though not a Country music band, the Cool Hands’ music provided Western themes and a swinging dance groove that was more popular with Country music fans of the time. Their songs also featured jazz chords and harmonies, and eschewed standard song forms in favor of innovation. Their first CD was played on radio stations in and around Chicago.

The final version of Luke and the Cool Hands saw a return to the vocalist-only line-up, with Nelson, Kirwan and Launder performing with bassist Bill Harrison and various guests. They held a regular spot at the Beat Kitchen for over a year, continuing to perform only Nelsons songs. They also performed on WGN television’s morning show. At this time, Brad Goode was a regular guest, leading to the next recording project, That Cowboy Jazz. Nelson and Goode collaborated to bring this project to Goode’s current label, Sunlight Records. The album features Luke and the Cool Hands backed by Goode’s sextet. The recording offers the jazziest version yet, as Nelson’s songs and arrangements meet Good’s hard-driving group. As Nelson has always seen this project as a chance to push traditional Western Swing music forward, the final CD gives a good indication of that musical vision.

Shortly after the CD was released, Luke and the Cool Hands gave one of their last performances at Chicago’s Symphony Center. Soon after, Goode, Kirwan and finally Nelson left Chicago to pursue musical careers elsewhere. In 2009, Luke and the Cool Hands reunited at Schuba’s to perform their original blend of Western Jazz to a packed house. Nelson, Kirwan, Launder, Goode, DeMichele and Spadaro were all on hand for the memorable event. It was evident that Luke and the Cool Hands remain a favorite of good music lovers throughout Chicago and beyond.

Luke and the Cool Hands
LN101 - Released 1994

Personnel
 * Luke Nelson: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Vocals
 * Alice Kirwan: Vocals
 * Mary Launder: Vocals
 * Don Stiernberg: Acoustic and Electric Mandolin, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Fiddle
 * Brad Goode: Trumpet
 * Jeff Newell: Alto Sax
 * Glen DeMichele: National and Pedal Steel Guitars, Bass Guitar
 * Mike Spadaro: Drums

Songlist:


 * Ghost Town
 * Kickin’ Back
 * I Know How You Feel
 * Dodge City
 * Say When
 * Raindance
 * Meanwhile
 * Back In The Battle Again
 * Swing By My Place
 * Shoot Low
 * Jump Cow, Jump
 * Get Along Old Heart

All songs by Luke Nelson ©1994 – Jubilee Street Music, BMI

That Coyboy Jazz with Brad Goode
Sunlight Records SU5008 – Released 1998

Personnel:
 * Luke Nelson: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
 * Alice Kirwan: Vocals
 * Mary Launder: Vocals
 * Brad Goode: Trumpet
 * Pat Mallinger: Alto and Tenor Saxophones
 * Paul McKee: Trombone
 * Karl Montzka: Piano and Organ
 * Stewart Miller: Bass
 * Dana Hall: Drums

Songlist:
 * That Cowboy Jazz
 * Western Avenue
 * You’ll Never Get A Way From Me
 * Tall, Dark and Lonesome
 * Nothin’ To Lose
 * Who’s That Stranger
 * Lonesome Moon
 * The Long Ride
 * Moonlight Serenade
 * When The World Was Young
 * Taking The Stairs
 * Call Of The Mild
 * Something Else
 * Too Many Hours In The Day
 * Don’t Fence Me In

Personnel

 * Luke Nelson – Vocals, Guitars, Bass Guitar, songwriter, arranger, founder
 * Alice Kirwan – Vocals
 * Mary Launder – Vocals
 * Roxane Asaf – Vocals
 * Sandra Julian – Vocals
 * Jude Lush – Vocals
 * Gary Bristol – Bass
 * Marc Edelstein – Bass
 * Brad Goode – Trumpet
 * Dave Ivaz – Guitar
 * Dad Launder - Trumpet
 * Jeff Newell - Alto Sax
 * Ollie O’Shea – Fiddle
 * John Rice – Fiddle
 * Stuart Rosenberg – Mandolin
 * Jon Spiegel – Steel Guitar
 * Shawn Stengel - Trumpet
 * Don Stiernberg – Mandolins, Guitars, and Fiddle

Song List

 * A Girl Like You
 * Back In The Battle Again
 * Bunkhouse Bounce
 * Call Of The Mild
 * Clear Out Of The Blues
 * Dodge City
 * Don’t Swing That Cowboy
 * Don’t Tell Lies To These Four Eyes
 * Don’t Tell Me Why
 * Front Porch Swing
 * Get Along Old Heart
 * Ghost Town
 * High Steppin’
 * Hold Our Horses
 * Kickin’ Back
 * Kiss Your Sweet Heart Goodbye
 * I Know How You Feel
 * I Opened My Mouth and You Walked Out
 * I Shot The Bourbon
 * I Should Be Such A Fool
 * Jump Cow, Jump
 * Let’s Shuffle On
 * Lonesome Moon
 * Meanwhile
 * Midnight Pass
 * My Dreamboat Stopped With A Jerk
 * My Honey’s Worth
 * My Memory Of You
 * My Only Life
 * A Night Like This
 * Nothin’ To Lose
 * One Little Whisper
 * Raindance
 * Raised By Wolves
 * Ridin’ With A Rhythm
 * Rodeo Romeo
 * Say When
 * Shoot Low
 * Some Bottle
 * Something Else
 * Swing By My Place
 * Taking The Stairs
 * Tall, Dark and Lonesome
 * That Cowboy Jazz
 * The Legend Of My Youth
 * The Long Ride
 * The Wild West
 * This Old Man
 * Tie The Knot
 * Too Many Hours In The Day
 * Western Avenue
 * When The World Was Young
 * Who’s That Stranger
 * You’ll Never Get A Way From Me

All songs ©Luke Nelson – Jubilee Street Music, BMI