Legendary rock band R.E.M. has just wrapped up a very quiet three week stay in New Orleans while recording the first pieces to their upcoming 15th studio record. While the band was in town they embraced some well known New Orleans horn players including trombonists Mark Mullins, Craig Klein and Greg Hicks from “Bonerama”, plus Leroy Jones and Shamarr Allen on trumpets with Mullins providing the horn arrangements.

The site of the work was the lower garden district’s “Music Shed” recording studios with famed producer Jacknife Lee (U2, Weezer) at the helm. There is no word about a working title or release date.

Bonerama has crossed paths before with R.E.M.’s bassist Mike Mills in previous Future of Music Coalition “Bringing Musicians Home” concerts at Tipitina’s and most recently in Washington DC in conjunction with the FMC’s Policy summit focusing on issues related to the FCC’s policies for music in digital technologies and the Internet. Mike Mills was also present when Bonerama brought Tony Clifton to the stage at the very first, now infamous FMC show at Tipitina’s in 2006.

Videos of R.E.M.’s stay in New Orleans through the lens of Michael Stipe are already circulating around the internet including Stipe’s personal videos from the sessions with the Bonerama horns and friends.

Here are a couple photos of the horn players recording with R.E.M., and there are also a few videos taken by R.E.M.’s lead vocalist Michael Stipe in the studio that you can check out here: http://remhq.com/news_story.php?id=1092