T Bone Burnett

T Bone Burnett creates the kind of music that lifts, moves and reminds you of what matters.

You enter T Bone Burnett’s website and you are instantly met with a quote that smacks you in the face in that way that makes you step back, hold your breath, and reflect.

“Let’s make a future where we all want to live
Let’s make a past we don’t have to forgive”

Stark white writing, pitch black background. No punctuation, no need. The font is simple yet soulful…

Poignant. Moving. Forever.

No frills. No bullshit. Powerfully direct yet extraordinarily sensitive, understanding.

Committed.

Like T Bone Burnett’s music.

Poetry dances through each sound that flows from this extraordinary, deeply complex musician.
And there’s a journey hidden in each note.

Yes, he’s scored and written seminal songs for films.

Sure, he brought Bluegrass back to those who ignored, poo-pooed and even turned their noses up at it with O, BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU through its quintessential heartache and celebration of Americana in the real-est, most honest and genuinely embraceable way.

And, okay, he’s the thrum under TRUE DETECTIVE and the cornerstone of Jeff Bridges’ Oscar turn in CRAZY HEART, but, for real?

T Bone is heart. He’s soul.

And he’s purpose.

Born in St. Louis, but raised in Ft. Worth, he discovered music thanks to his parents.

But not just any music.

He listened to the rich, soulful, resonant sounds of The Duke, The Count, Ella, Mahalia, Dinah, and Cole Porter. A product of the 60s, T Bone discovered a radio world of Beatles and Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, and smokey, lush Peggy Lee.

You see it, right?

Feel it in your bones.

Hear it in the songs. The guitar, the voice, the whole damn tune.

Close your eyes.

Let T Bone — no dash, please — move you.

The man has a plan. And that plan is freedom through music. All you have to do is listen to The Invisible Light, a mind-opening project with drummer/percussionist, Jay Bellerose, and T Bone’s frequent collaborator, keyboardist and musical dreamer, Keefus Ciancia, to hear what true abandon sounds like. Then you realize, this seminal, extraordinary album may very well be his swan song, his last studio recording. And with that in mind, you ache at what you may be losing, then remember the quote you are immediately faced with on his website:

“Let’s make a future where we all want to live
Let’s make a past we don’t have to forgive”

T Bone is just getting started and if The Invisible Light is his last “word as a recording artist” — as the Los Angeles Times reports — before the next phase of his immersive journey, then the past he is leaving us is one we can bow to gratefully as we prepare to embrace what comes next.

So, sit back, relax, and let it happen.