Robbie Fulks, the gangly singer, songwriter and flat-pick guitarist who became well known to Island audiences during a series of rollicking shows he played here a few years ago, will return to Vashon this weekend with a new duet partner in tow.
Fulks, who has spent the past two years writing and recording more than 50 new songs, recently crossed musical paths with Jenny Scheinman, a well-known singer, composer and fiddle player.
The result, he said, is a partnership that has brought him particular musical pleasure.
“Her approach to music-making is radically open-minded and inquisitive,” Fulks said.
Scheinman has performed as a violinist and fiddler since she was a teenager.
She’s garnered high-profile arranging credits with artists such as Lucinda Williams, Bono, Lou Reed and Sean Lennon, and has toured and recorded with Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, Nels Cline, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Mark Ribot.
She also has several releases of original music to her credit, and in 2008, she released two albums — the eponymous “Jenny Scheinman,” which focuses on the folk, country and rock music of her childhood, and “Crossing the Field,” an all-instrumental extravaganza featuring Bill Frisell, Jason Moran and others, plus a string orchestra led by acclaimed Island composer and musician Eyvind Kang.
Fulks, for his part, also has a long list of widely released recordings and high-profile collaborations under his belt.
He’s released eight albums on labels including Bloodshot and Yep Roc, performed on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry several times and collaborated with renowned bluegrass, gospel and country artists on a wide range of recordings.
In recent years, he’s also undertaken such unusual projects as composing a score for a 1926 film, “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp,” with Danny Barnes, and recording his own soon-to-be-released Michael Jackson tribute album.
That album features work by musicians including the punk rock band Shellac, the legendary banjoist Tony Trischka, the late pedal steel guitar legend John Hughey and New Grass Revival players Sam Bush and John Cowan.
“It’s great to be able to work at music with your heroes and friends,” Fulks said. “It strips away your cynicism and sophistication and makes you feel about 5 years old.”
And according to The New Yorker magazine, Fulks’ latest collaboration with Scheinman has been especially fruitful.
“Together, they’re delightfully complementary, sharing each other’s compositions and mixing in some fiddle tunes. They’ve also been writing music based on Flannery O’Connor stories, presumably because their regular material just isn’t weird enough,” a music listing in the Nov. 23 issue of the magazine promised.
Robbie Fulks and Jenny Scheinman will play at the Red Bike at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. Tickets, $10, are available at the door, in advance at the Bike or by calling 463-5959. The show is for all ages until 11 p.m., when the Bike becomes a venue for ages 21 and older.
