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In a concert at the Beacon Theater on Wednesday, featuring the Speaking Clock Revue, producer and ringleader T Bone Burnett will surround Elton John, Leon Russell, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, Gregg Allman, Ralph Stanley and Jeff Bridges with his favorite studio musicians. The evening promises to be an all-star journey through American rock and roots music.
"I've worked with almost all of them," said Mr. Burnett of the singers. "They always say, 'We should do this live.' Well, here's our chance."
Mr. Burnett has been particularly busy recently with some members of the troupe. He produced the John-Russell collaboration "The Union" and Mr. Mellencamp's "No Better Than This," as well as Mr. Costello's "National Ransom," which will be out later this month. He also co-produced the soundtrack for "Crazy Heart," the film for which Mr. Bridges won an Oscar as best actor, and has just completed production on Mr. Allman's next solo album.
One of the joys of this revue, Mr. Burnett said, is the opportunity to introduce relative newcomers to audiences who'll turn out to hear superstars. The Secret Sisters and Karen Elson, who are also on the program, recently released debut albums. Mr. Burnett produced the former, and Ms. Elson's husband, Jack White, the latter.
Mr. Burnett is a fan of musical revues. "They weren't exactly my idea," he said with a laugh. "They've been around forever." A few years ago, he put together a traveling show featuring singers and players from the Burnett-produced soundtrack to the Coen Brothers film "O Brother, Where Art Thou"— Mr. Stanley was among them. And at the start of his career, Mr. Burnett was a member of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue: In 1975, Mr. Dylan assembled a group of musicians that included Joan Baez, the Byrds' Roger McGuinn, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and, of course, Mr. Dylan himself. Mr. Burnett played guitar. Director Jacques Levy was the stage manager.
"That was a master's class in show business in the extreme," Mr. Burnett said. "I learned a lot from Jacques. He loved to talk about theater, staging and narration. I loved the way he paced a show. You want to tell a story that takes the audience somewhere."
Last week, the members of Mr. Burnett's troupe were still in rehearsal in Los Angeles. He said the possibilities of collaboration hadn't been fully explored yet. But the backing musicians' adaptability is this revue's great strength: drummers Jim Keltner and Jay Bellerose, bassist Dennis Crouch, guitarists Marc Ribot, Russ Paul and Jackson Smith, mandolinist Mike Compton and keyboardist Keefus Ciancia move effortlessly among styles. They'll support Mr. Stanley's high, lonesome voice and the rockin' dual pianos of Messrs. John and Russell with equal aplomb.
"Keltner and I have worked together for 40 years. Ribot, 25 or so," Mr. Burnett, 62, said. "Everybody is an ace."
He said he intends the Speaking Clock Revue to translate to the stage some of the techniques he prefers in the studio. Mr. Burnett favors analog recording and live performances during which the musicians can interact. Digital recording and cutting musicians' parts separately and splicing them together leaves him cold, he said, as does the sound of MP3 files.
"We play at a very low volume on stage so it's very musical. Everybody can communicate in real time," he said.
Net proceeds from the show will benefit the Participant Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting arts and music education in public schools. Participant Media is a production company behind Davis Guggenheim's documentary "Waiting for 'Superman,'" which takes a hard look at the American public-education system. Mr. Burnett attended a screening at a friend's house.
"I was very moved," he said. "That film kicked the thing in gear. I asked, 'How can I contribute to the cause?' The arts in public schools has been a concern of mine. They have been cut the deepest for the last many years. You can't pin this on any one person."
After the show at the Beacon, the Speaking Clock Revue will reconvene Oct. 23-24 in Mountain View, Calif., to play Neil and Pegi Young's annual benefit for the Bridge School, which helps physically impaired children.
Mr. Burnett said he'd like to bring his revue together again in 2011 for a lengthy tour. Part of the tour, he added, would be dedicated to interacting with young students interested in the arts. They'll be invited to sound checks and, he said, he's exploring the idea of holding workshops for students.
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