13-Episode Season of Talk/Performance Series Kicks off with Guest Sir Elton John
One-Hour Program Airs Wednesday Nights at 9:00PM ET/PT
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Sundance Channel will launch the debut season of the new talk/performance series “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." on Wednesday, December 3, 2008. “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." fuses the best elements of talk and music television, inviting viewers to enjoy an in-depth conversation between host Elvis Costello and his guests, punctuated by rare musical performances by Costello, his guests and a wide variety of musicians. Comprised of 13 one-hour episodes, “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." airs on Wednesday nights at 9:00 p.m. et/pt.
The featured guests of the series' debut season are Sir Elton John, Tony Bennett, Lou Reed, Julian Schnabel, Smokey Robinson, The Police (Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers), James Taylor, Herbie Hancock, Rufus Wainwright, Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Diana Krall, John Mellencamp, Jakob Dylan, She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), Norah Jones, Jenny Lewis, Renee Fleming and President Bill Clinton.
Elvis Costello is an internationally acclaimed figure with a captivating presence and vast knowledge of music and songwriting. Recognized by his peers, critics and fans alike as one of the world's great songwriters, Costello has written and recorded in musical genres as diverse as new wave, jazz, country, opera, classical and rock/pop. He is a noted musicologist, and has contributed articles on music (and musical legends) to Vanity Fair magazine.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." features everything from intimate one-on-one conversations with legendary performers and notable newcomers to thematic panel discussions. Guest artists not only talk but perform - demonstrating the development and creation of their music and playing new, stripped-down or solo versions of some of their best and most loved songs. Costello also performs, starting each episode with an original, never before seen (or heard) interpretation of a song by the featured guest, or a song connected to them. And on top of all that are extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime collaborations and pairings.
Additional musical special guests include Davey Faragher, Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve of The Imposters; guitarist James Burton, who played with Elvis Presley; legendary producer, pianist, writer, arranger and singer Allen Toussaint; three-time Grammy Award winning jazz bassist Charlie Haden; jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheny, who has collected 17 Grammy Awards; jazz pianist Bill Charlap; Larry Campbell and Tony Garnier of Bob Dylan's touring band, and violinist/vocalist Jenny Scheinman.
The schedule for Season 1 of “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." is as follows:
Wednesday, December 3 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Sir Elton John" - Elvis welcomes the British pop-rock superstar John.
Wednesday, December 10 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Lou Reed + Julian Schnabel" - Elvis welcomes rock icon and Velvet Underground founder Reed and artist-filmmaker Schnabel.
Wednesday, December 17 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Bill Clinton" - Elvis welcomes former President Clinton.
Wednesday, December 24 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with James Taylor" - Elvis welcomes the iconic American singer-songwriter.
Wednesday, December 31 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Tony Bennett" - Elvis welcomes the premier living interpreter of the Great American Songbook.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with The Police" - Elvis welcomes the recently reunited rock trio of Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland.
Wednesday, January 14 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Rufus Wainwright" - Elvis welcomes singer-songwriter Wainwright, one of the most acclaimed new artists of the past decade.
Wednesday, January 21 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Norah Jones, John Mellencamp" - Elvis welcomes actor/singer-songwriter Kristofferson; singer-songwriter Cash; international sensation Jones; and recent Rock & Roll Hall of fame inductee Mellencamp.
Wednesday, January 28 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Renee Fleming" - Elvis welcomes the great American soprano.
Wednesday, February 4 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Herbie Hancock" - Elvis welcomes the jazz legend, winner of this year's Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Wednesday, February 11 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with She & Him, Jenny Lewis, Jakob Dylan" - Elvis welcomes indie duo She & Him, comprised of actress Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, singer-songwriter Lewis; and singer-songwriter Dylan.
Wednesday, February 18 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Diana Krall" - Elvis welcomes his wife, international jazz sensation Krall; she is interviewed by the program's executive producer, Elton John.
Wednesday, February 25 at 9:00 p.m.
“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Smokey Robinson" - Elvis welcomes the legendary Motown singer and songwriter.
