Music on TV This Week: Ray Davies, Charlie Haden

By Drake Lelane

November 9, 2008 / 9:02 PM

Last week, rock legend Ray Davies dropped a bomb that rippled across the music world: A reunion of The Kinks was in the works. "We've started a little bit of this and that," Davies recently told BBC News, "but it is too early to judge the quality." He then hinted that if everything went right, they could have new material to tour with over the summer, depending on his brother Dave's health (he suffered a stroke in 2004). Dave, for his part, denies the rumors, posting this weekend on his website, "all this BS about working on stuff is fantasy land." The historically volatile relationship that exists between the Davies brothers makes Liam and Noel Gallagher (Oasis) look like the Osmonds, but if even The Police could patch things up for a tour, maybe Ray and Dave can work it out as well.

Ray Davies isn't standing still waiting for any reunion, though, as he has embarked on a solo tour here in the U.S., tapping the Brooklyn group Locksley to act as his backing band. When Davies plays The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson he's sure to be playing something from his latest album, Working Man's Cafe, but on tour he'll sprinkle in enough Kinks to tick his brother Dave off, who recently quipped that his brother has been performing "Karaoke Kinks shows since 1996." There's nothing like the love of one's family.

Speaking of family, legendary jazz bassist Charlie Haden brought in his for his latest album Charlie Haden Family and Friends - Rambling Boy, calling on his daughters Petra, Tanya and Rachel along with son Josh to help out. Besides his talented offspring, the album also features guest spots from Jack Black, Bruce Hornsby, Ricky Skaggs, Pat Metheny and 2008's sidekick of the year Elvis Costello. When Haden appears on Letterman Wednesday night, he'll be in a celebratory mood of sorts, having recently finished bringing back together his political Liberation Music Orchestra, which toured the country in support of both a recent album (Not in Our Name) and an Obama win. Playing at the Blue Note in New York on election night last week, Haden asked for updates on the electorate count between songs, and when it was confirmed that Obama had won the election, the band broke into "Amazing Grace." Beamed Haden from the stage, "Oh, I'm so happy! I don't have to wake up depressed any more!"