Ben Folds Joins Rickie Lee, Keeps Busy Elsewhere

05/11/2000 12:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(5/11/00, 12 p.m. ET) - Ben Folds will appear on the next album from pop-folkie Rickie Lee Jones; while his band, Ben Folds Five, continues to remain in the spotlight one way or another even without being on the road or working a new album.

Folds will guest on Jones's yet-to-be-named effort for Artemis Records, singing backup vocals on cover versions of the pop standard "Up The Lazy River" and Traffic's "Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys," while also adding piano to the latter. That album is due in the fall.

Meanwhile, look for Ben Folds Five's sounds to appear in several places in the near future: a new song will be featured in the teen-comedy flick, 100 Girls, while the band's cover of Steely Dan's "Barrytown" will appear in the Jim Carrey film Me, Myself & Irene and its accompanying soundtrack. Television viewers can also catch a glimpse of Folds -- as well as Lisa Loeb, Veruca Salt's Louise Post, and two members of Fishbone -- backing William Shatner on his oddball commercials for Priceline.com. And Five bassist Robert Sledge can be found in the backing band of former Squirrel Nut Zippers Tom Maxwell, who will be touring in late May and early June.

Ben Folds Five only has two live dates scheduled at this time, both of which will be taking place in Japan in August as part of the Summersonic 2000 Festival.

-- Neal Weiss, Los Angeles

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