Jack Johnson Composes for 'Curious George'

(andPOP) - Jack Johnson will release two live DVDs on Nov. 22, via his own Brushfire Records label.

?Live in Japan? was shot in August 2004, while ?A Weekend at the Greek Theatre? captures the singer-songwriter?s Aug. 19-20 stand this year at the Berkeley, Calif., venue.

Both DVDs were directed by Brendan and Emmett Malloy.

?Live in Japan? showcases Johnson playing as part of a trio, with bassist Merlo Podlewski and drummer Adam Topol. Along with guest shots from Donavon Frankenreiter and Money Mark, the DVD features songs from the albums "Brushfire Fairytales" and "On and On,? as well as an early version of ?Banana Pancakes,? which showed up on his 2005 album ?In Between Dreams.?

Johnson?s band is expanded to a quartet in ?A Weekend at the Greek Theatre? with the addition of pianist/accordionist Zach Gill of Animal Liberation Orchestra. They are joined again by Money Mark and fellow Brushfire artists G. Love, Animal Liberation Orchestra and Matt Costa.

Johnson will appear at Las Vegas' Vegoose Festival on Oct. 29 and play a Nov. 20 show in Kahului, Hawaii. He is in the process of lining up 2006 tour dates, starting Feb. 22 in Dublin.

Meanwhile, Johnson is also working on new music for the upcoming animated film ?Curious George,? based on the popular children?s book series by the late illustrator/writer duo H.A. Rey and his wife, Margret.

The movie, which follows the adventures of an impish little monkey and his friend and keeper, The Man in the Yellow Hat, is set to hit the big screen on Feb. 10.

It features the voices of Will Ferrell, David Cross, Drew Barrymore, Eugene Levy and Dick Van Dyke.

The soundtrack, to which Johnson and his band contribute seven songs, will also be released in February via Brushfire.

USA Today describes the songs as ranging from the comical to the wistful. Musical cues will reflect the characters ? a cavaquihno (a miniature Portuguese guitar) represents George, while a piano is played for the Man.