This week Ian Anderson reached the Number One position again on the Billboard Classical Album charts with his new collaboration with the Carducci String Quartert entitled Jethro Tull: The String Quartets. Previously, his album Divinities topped the Billboard Classical charts in 1995. Before that, 1973’s A Passion Play and 1972’s Thick As A Brick both hit Number One on the Billboard Album charts.
In addition to the classical charts, Jethro Tull: The String Quartets debuted at #16 on the Independent charts, and #80 on Billboard’s album chart. In the UK, Jethro Tull: The String Quartets entered at #2 on Classical, #56 on Album, and #6 for Independent. The String Quartets (track listing below) features 12 re-imagined Tull classics, allowing Tull fans and classical music connoisseurs to enjoy the band’s vast catalog in a new way.
Blogcritics calls the album, “an excellent example of what can be done when a fresh, and in this case collective, creative spirit gets ahold of timelessly great material.”
Rebeat Magazine writes, ”Classical music fans will appreciate this album for its ability to demonstrate the versatility and respectability of Anderson’s compositions outside of the rock world. Hardcore Tull fans will also enjoy the album as it celebrates the interesting blend of styles and eras that made Jethro Tull such an interesting band.”
Formed in 1968, Jethro Tull has released 30 studio and live albums, selling more than 60 million copies worldwide. With nearly 50 years’ history, the band has performed more than 3,000 concerts in 40 countries, playing 100+ concerts each year. Ian Anderson will return to the United States this May, June, August, and November to present multi-media JETHRO TULL, and will be accompanied by Tull members David Goodier (bass), John O’Hara (keyboards), Florian Opahle (guitar), and Scott Hammond (drums).
JETHRO TULL by Ian Anderson – U.S. Tour Dates
05/23: Red Butte Garden; Salt Lake City, UT ((General admission tickets on sale May 1))
05/26: Red Rocks Amphitheater; Morrison, CO (with the Colorado Symphony) Tickets
05/27: Route 66 Casino; Legends Theatre, Albuquerque, NM Tickets
05/28: Plaza Theatre PAC; El Paso, TX Tickets
05/30: Smart Financial Centre; Sugar Land (Houston), TX Tickets
05/31: ACL Live at the Moody Theater; Austin, TX Tickets
06/01: Choctaw Casino, Choctaw Grand Theater; Durant, OK Tickets
08/08: Bethlehem MusikFest; Bethlehem, PA Tickets
08/15: Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands PAC; Canandaigua, NY Tickets
08/18: Meijer Gardens Amphitheater; Grand Rapids, MI Info
08/19: Chicago Theatre; Chicago, IL Theater Tickets
08/22: First Niagara Presents Tuesday in the Parl; Lewiston, NY Tickets
11/01: Count Basie Theatre; Red Bank, NJ Tickets
11/04: Foxwoods Resort Casino – Grand Theatre; Mashantucket, CT Tickets
11/05: France-Derrick PAC-Hippodrome; Baltimore, MD Tickets
11/07: Daily’s Place; Jacksonville, FL Tickets
11/08: Walt Disney Theater; Orlando, FL Tickets
11/09: The Mahaffey Theater; St. Petersburg, FL Tickets
11/10: Mizner Park Amphitheater; Boca Raton, FL Tickets