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| 'Ricky Jay Plays Poker' Ricky Jay, the world-renowned sleight- of-hand expert, author, actor, historian and consultant, has personally compiled 21 of his all-time favorite card-playing songs -- "a mix of blues, folk, calypso, country, R&B, techno, rap, gospel" -- on "Ricky Jay Plays Poker, " in stores Tuesday, November 21, 2006. "Mercifully you will not hear me sing on any of these tracks, " writes Ricky Jay in his extensive liner notes (which include essays on poker and song-by-song annotations), "thus I am able to bet my entire stack that you will enjoy the tunes I've selected ...." Ricky's perfect hand includes 1. DARKTOWN POKER CLUB - Phil Harris and his Orchestra; 2. RAMBLIN' GAMBLIN' WILLIE - Bob Dylan; 3. TURN THE CARDS SLOWLY - Patsy Cline; 4. FIVE CARD STUD - Lorne Greene; 5. DON'T TURN THE CARD - Memphis Minnie; 6. POLITICS AND POKER - Howard Da Silva; 7. ACE IN THE HOLE - Anita O'Day; 8. LITTLE QUEEN OF SPADES - Robert Johnson; 9. ETIENNE GONNA DIE - Saint Etienne; 10. MR. MUDD AND MR. GOLD - Townes Van Zandt; 11. POKER PLAYING BABY - Harry Willis; 12. GAMBLER'S GUITAR - Merle Travis; 13. DARKTOWN POKER CLUB - Bert Williams; 14. DOLAN'S POKER PARTY - Frank Crumit; 15. POKER WOMAN BLUES - Blind Blake; 16. WILD CARD - Tex Williams; 17. ACE OF SPADES - O. V. Wright; 18. ROVING GAMBLER - The Country Gentlemen; 19. BED SPRING POKER - Mississippi Sheiks; 20. ACE IN THE HOLE - Dave Van Ronk; 21. POLITICS AND POKER (reprise) - Howard Da Silva The deluxe edition of "Ricky Jay Plays Poker" comes with an exclusiveDVD giving viewers a ringside seat at Ricky's poker table as the master demonstrates some tricks of the trade, showing why, in this golden age of poker resurgence, he refuses to participate in celebrity matches. "In my grandfather's words, " says Ricky. "'If I win they'll think I'm cheating and if I lose they'll think I'm a bad magician.'" Ricky Jay has written several essays on the historical, political, and aesthetic aspects of poker, as well as full explications of his song selection in the book included in the deluxe edition of "Ricky Jay Plays Poker." "Shuffling and manipulating cards to the sounds of R&B hits are among my few vivid memories of childhood, " he writes. "Even though I had some chops with the pasteboards at that early age, my first poker pleasure came from watching the great Phil Silvers as Sgt. Bilko delightfully fleecing the boys in the barracks at Fort Baxter. To this day I still love to listen to 'Good Beats' with a pack of cards in my hands." In addition to the CD, DVD, and annotated book, the deluxe version of"Ricky Jay Plays Poker" comes with a special edition deck of Ricky Jay playing cards. (A CD-only version of "Ricky Jay Plays Poker" will also be available on November 21.) write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |