The aptly titled Cross’n Over presents the most mature, contemplative, and serious indie-folk songwriting of Ethan Azarian’s career. Originally from Vermont, where his Caldecott Award-winning mother, Mary Azarian, and folk legend father, Tom Banjo, still reside, Ethan moved to Austin in the late 1980s with his notoriously misbehaved band Hollywood Indians. Over the next twelve years, Ethan’s antics mellowed slightly as his next band, Orange Mothers, became a respected pillar of the local music scene. Following the release of their fourth album in 2002, the band parted ways, and in 2004 Ethan released his debut solo album, Captain of the Town, which included reworked versions of several Orange Mothers songs. In contrast, Cross’n Over consists entirely of new material that touches the heart and mind in places rarely approached by his previous work.

More profound songwriting, however, isn’t the only source of added richness on Cross’n Over. Gary Newcomb (pedal steel) and Conrad Choucroun (drums and singing) make their first recorded appearances with Ethan alongside Derek Morris (piano and organ), who played on Captain of the Town, and Jeff Johnston (singing, bass, and telephone), who has collaborated with Ethan since the days of the Hollywood Indians. The best surprise, however, is the gorgeous cello arrangements contributed by Ethan’s longtime partner, Melissa Knight, who also assisted him with the album artwork, a prize in itself considering that Ethan was voted Best Painter by readers of The Austin Chronicle in 2002.

Cross’n Over, the third release of Austin-based i eat records, hits stores in Austin on October 11th and will be released nationally in January 2006. A Cactus Cafe CD release show and Waterloo Records in-store performance are planned in Austin for mid-October. Ethan will also be touring extensively throughout 2006, performing solo on his “Greyhound Bus Tour,” in which he sells paintings during the day and plays shows at night, in addition to dates with his all-star backing band.