Biography
Mister Hazelwood and the New Transcendentalists are essentially Joseph Hazelwood and a revolving cast of guest musicians, mostly from Nashville’s progressive east side. The pseudonym is a nod to Transcendentalism; an artistic, philosophical, and spiritual movement in the mid Nineteenth Century with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau as its figureheads. Joseph claims a great deal of inspiration from the writings of these literary figures as well as the surreal works of Nathanial Hawthorne and Edgar Alan Poe. His musical influences include many pre-WW2 bluesmen including Mississippi John Hurt, Josh White, and Robert Johnson; folk artists such as Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Nick Drake; as well as psychedelic rock acts of the 60’s like Jimi Hendrix and the Moody Blues. Mister Hazelwood’s sound is a perfect blend of these influences which comes off as an enchanting, other-worldly spin on modern folk-pop.
In 2007, Joseph released an album entitled ‘Radio Noise’ as half of the avant-roots duo ‘Ode Hazelwood’. He was the primary songwriter for the act, composing twelve of the thirteen tracks on the album. He also co-produced ‘Radio Noise’ along with Joe McMahan, an acclaimed East Nashville guitarist, audio-engineer, and producer. The album is a dark, yet compelling blend of eclectic influence from pre-WW2 blues, Vaudeville, and Cabaret, to Romantic-era Classical; all with a modernistic slant. In review of Radio Noise, Bruce Warren of WXPN in Philadelphia had this to say: “Their debut album Radio Noise and it’s a classy, vintage – not revivalist – sound would fit nicely between your O Brother soundtrack and the White Stripes. Ode Hazelwood’s ancient sound is the future at your doorstep. Like O’Death and the Avett Brothers, Ode Hazelwood are new traditionalists indeed…” In the Fall of 2008, Ode Hazelwood disbanded and Joseph began to focus on a solo career.
After taking a year off, Joseph emerged in 2009 with a whole new repertoire and began to perform periodically at Nashville clubs such as The Basement and The Family Wash under the moniker ‘Mister Hazelwood’, and found his local following intact. Plans for his debut solo album are in the works, which should have him in the studio by the Spring of 2010.