NEWS

Early Al Jarreau Demo Release Project: 2021-2022

Rich Dworsky had the wonderful experience of playing and writing with the legendary Al Jarreau from 1970-1973. Now as a tribute to Al, who passed away in 2017, and as a gift to Al's adoring fans, Rich is releasing some demos that they recorded during that time but were never heard until now.

You can watch videos related to this project here.

More info at Twin Cities Music Highlights

Just William - BBC Radio4 adds five new episodes: 2020

Dworsky's piano piece “ Won’t You Be My Ginger?” has been used as the musical theme for the popular BBC radio series “ Just William” - Stories by Richmal Crompton read by legendary actor, Martin Jarvis (broadcast on BBC Radio4 and released as five CDs and as audiobooks on Audible.com ) . In May 2020, BBC Radio4 aired five new episodes of Martin Jarvis reading: “Just William - Pursuing Happiness” using Dworsky’s piano theme music.

NEWS ARCHIVES

News Updates – December, 2015 

Rich’s 2014-2015 memorable collaborations on A Prairie Home Companion include accompanying: 

The Milk Carton Kids; Keb Mo; Brad Paisley; Sara Barielles; Ann and Nancy Wilson (of Heart); Renee Fleming; Chris Thile and Jerry Douglas with the Earls of Leicester; Brandi Carlile; Punch Brothers; Collin Hey; Iris DeMent; Sam Bush and Stuart Duncan; Elvin Bishop; Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan; Joe Newberry; Kat Edmonson; Nick Lowe; Bryan Sutton; Suzy Boguss; Nellie McKay; Greg Brown; Peter Rowan; John Fulbright; Karan Casey; Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele; Heather Masse.

Rich conducted the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for a humorous musical segment on the show at University of Minnesota’s Northrop Auditorium, and was pianist/music director for the Prairie Home Companion 40th Anniversary Show and weekend of concerts; America the Beautiful Tour (30 cities); Three PHC Cruises (Barcelona to Venice, Baltic and Caribbean).

Dworsky’s song “Goin’ to the Dance With You” appears on “Kristin Chenoweth: Coming Home,”  a DVD of her PBS special. And Sybersound/Universal has released a home Karaoke version of the song.

Rich’s piano piece “Perpetual Notion” was used as underscore for the documentary film “From Paycheck to Paycheck” on HBO.

Dworsky’s music can be heard in the 2015 French documentary film “Al Jarreau – L’Enchanteur,” by film maker Thierry Guedj. The song “Full Measure“ (written by Dworsky and Jarreau) and  other demos recorded by the band Jarreau (with Dworsky on keyboards) are heard in the film.

News Updates – January 31, 2014

Rich’s 2012-2013 memorable collaborations on A Prairie Home Companion include accompanying :

Nick Lowe, Iris Dement, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Collin Hay, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell,  Nellie McKay, Aaron Neville, Elvin Bishop, Michael Tilson Thomas (singing his Yiddish Theater repertoire), Renee Fleming, Suzy Boguss, The Milk Carton Kids, Sara and Sean Watkins, Aoife O’Donovan and Heather Masse, Noam Pikelny, Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele.
The great young mandolin virtuoso, Chris Thile, sat in with the band and played Rich’s tune, “Ridin’ the River Home,” the title tune of his upcoming all originals CD.

The great Paul Shaffer appeared as a guest and he joined Rich, the band, and front line vocalists for a John Lennon tribute medley; and to close the show, Paul and Rich played piano 4 hands version of the rock and roll classic “Louie Louie“ which evolved into a wild jam with band and finishing with Paul singing while doing push-ups on the floor.

In October 2012, Rich made his 2nd appearance with Garrison Keillor and The New York Philharmonic Orchestra, this time under the baton of Maestro Rob Fisher with vocalist Christine DiGiallonardo. See NY Times review here.

Recent recordings: “A Night At the Fitz : Garrison Keillor and the St. Paul Chamber Orchstra with Richard Dworsky”  which includes Dworsky arrangements and compositions.  Prairie Home Companion comedic sketch compilations with Rich’s original underscores : “Sue Scott-Seriously Silly“ and “Tim Russell – Man of One Thousand Voices” and “Tom Keith-Sound Effects Man”; Garrsion Keillor’s audio book “Guy Noir and the Straight Skinny” performed by Keillor and actors with musical accompaniment by Dworsky ; A track on Billboard charting country band, Rocket Club’s CD.

Tours: Month long Summer Love Tour (2012) and Radio Romance Tour (2013) with Garrison Keillor and ensemble;  and two summer  A Prairie Home European Cruises(Amsterdam to Barcelona -2012 and Barcelona to Venice- 2013).

Rich’s piano piece “Perpetual Notion“ will appear as underscore in a new HBO documentary “Paycheck to Paycheck“ executive produced by Maria Shriver, dealing with the struggle of women overcoming the challenges of poverty in the USA.
Look for a new Dworsky CD this spring: Richard Dworsky and Friends- Ridin’ the River Home, an album of all originals in different styles, featuring many esteemed guest instrumentalists and vocalists.

News Updates – January 16, 2012

Rich’s recent memorable collaborations on A Prairie Home Companion include accompanying: Elvis Costello, Brad Paisley, Dave Rawlings Machine with Gillian Welch, Nick Lowe, Elvin Bishop, Leon Redbone, Steve Wariner. New CD Releases: Rich wrote and played the incidental music for Garrison Keillor’s monolog collection, “My Little Town” and audio book version of “Guy Noir – The Straight Skinny” (HighBridge Audio). Rich plays on two tracks of an upcoming Peter Ostroushko CD for Red House Records. Prairie Home’s “Christmas Companion Volume 2” with Sarah Jessica Parker singing “The Christmas Song” with Dworsky accompanying, is now on iTunes. New DVD release: “A Prairie Home Companion Live” features Rich and the Shoe Band accompanying Elvis Costello, Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele and others. PBS American Masters documentary by Peter Rosen called “Garrison Keillor – The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoe” is now out on DVD and still playing on PBS. Dworsky appears on camera as musician and composer. Live performances include 2010 and 2011 month-long Prairie Home Summer Love Tours: Carribean and Canadian PHC cruises; two appearances with the wonderful Nellie McKay at the Dakota in Minneapolis and three concerts with Garrison Keillor and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (recorded for upcoming CD release, including two Dworsky arrangements). Rich led the band for the 2nd Prairie Home Companion Live Cinecast (performance carried live in HD in 500 US and Canadian movie theaters) with guests including Sara and Sean Watkins and Old Crow Medicine Show.

A Prairie Home Companion - a film by the late Robert Altman, premiered in June of 2006 and is now available on DVD. It’s been shown on HBO and many European TV channels. Rich appears as himself (pianist and bandleader) and accompanies Meryl  Streep, Lily Tomlin, Lindsay Lohan, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Garrison Keillor and others. He served as the film’s music director, conductor, arranger, and contributed several songs to the soundtrack. Click here for the Movie Website

A Prairie Home Companion – The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack available in stores everywhere. In summer of 2006 it hit  #1 on the Billboard Magazine Bluegrass Charts and made it onto Billboard’s Soundtrack, Country and Top 200 charts as well. Available on New Line Records (click here for info)

Sally Dworsky, Start It All Over Again (vocals) with Richard Dworsky (piano). After years of requests, the brother and sister duo have recorded a CD of sweet songs by a wide mix of great songwriters.  Available at the Prairie Home Companion website  (click here). Click here to visit Sally Dworsky’s official website

Kristin Chenoweth ( star of  stage and screen ) sings Dworsky’s “Goin’ To the Dance With You” on her CD Let Yourself Go (Sony Classical) and has performed it on PBS’s Evening at Pops and around the country with various orchestras. (visit Kristin Chenoweth’s official website)