If By Yes is the latest project from the multi-talented Petra Haden. The band’s debut, Salt On Sea Glass (Chimera), took almost a decade to make and features Haden collaborating with Yuka Honda (Cibo Matto) and Hirotaka “Shimmy” Shimizu and Yuko Araki (Cornelius), as well as guests such as David Byrne and Nels Cline (Wilco). Haden is the daughter of jazz legend Charlie Haden and the sibling of musicians Rachel, Tanya (the sisters are triplets) and Josh Haden. Though she has played with a who’s-who of alt-rock and jazz artists over the past 20 years, Haden is perhaps best known for her fantastic 2005 a cappella interpretation of The Who Sell Out. Haden will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Check out the mix tape she made us in 2008, and read our brand new Q&A with her.
Haden: I started watching Columbo about six years ago. It used to be on regular TV a lot. And now, unfortunately, it’s not! Instead, I see that Walker, Texas Ranger is dominating the channel it used to be on. I was sick in bed when I rediscovered Columbo, and it was very comforting to watch Peter Falk’s odd character. He’s an oddball and a genius. He looks tired, but he is full of spunk. That’s why I love him so much. I was thrilled to meet him a few years ago and gave him my solo record, Imaginaryland. He said, “You’ll be lucky if I listen to this in the next seven months.” He then gave me his book, Just One More Thing (which was a common phrase he used when he was just about to figure out a crime). And he signed it for me! I almost cried.
Video after the jump.
