
COVID-19 news is generally a bummer, but a crack group of socially distanced musicians — including Brad Paisley, Steve Wariner and Journey‘s Jonathan Cain — have turned the coronavirus into a source of inspiration.
“Quarantine,” a cross-genre instrumental piece, unites nearly two dozen musicians for a fundraising video under the banner The Quarantine All-Stars.
Written and produced by Luke Bryan keyboardist Scotty Wilbanks, the effort touches on rock, jazz, soul and country, incorporating players from the road bands of such acts as Thomas Rhett, Jon Pardi, Justin Timberlake and The Rolling Stones. Additionally, the seven-piece horn section boasts saxophonists Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band), Mark Douthit (Michael McDonald) and Greg Vail (Luis Miguel); trumpeters Dan Falcone (Lady Gaga), Lee Thornburg (Tower of Power) and Keith Smith (TobyMac); and trombonist Roy Agee (Lauren Daigle).
Wilbanks penned the song on March 29, roughly two weeks after the pandemic required most Americans to self-isolate, and it was assembled using audio and video recording tools in a ream of bedrooms, converted garages and studios.
The video was released July 24 with options for viewers to contribute to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, which was established to assist musicians struggling through the crisis.
See the video below:
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