Rodolphe BarasJeff Buckley passed away twelve years ago, drowned in the Mississippi River at age 30, leaving behind just a single completed album – Grace. It wasn’t a perfect record, but still an excellent one and has gone on to achieve near mythical status due as much to the the immense potential that Buckley demonstrated with it as the music it actually contained.

Since Buckley’s death, a string of new releases and reissues have poured forth and while naysayers might say these recordings are unnecessary at best, that the tale is best told in its entirety by Grace alone, the intensity of devotion that much of Buckley’s fanbase still holds for his work even this long after his passing ensures that every new bit of work unearthed will be greeted wholeheartedly, helping to flesh out a story that never got the chance to tell itself. The latest of which is Grace Around The World, a combination CD and DVD package that collects audio and video footage from television performances filmed during the first world tour in support of Grace. The CD and DVD share performances and a deluxe version includes a second DVD with a documentary feature on Buckley.

And courtesy of Toolshed, Fun Palace Entertainment and Jeff Buckley Music, I’ve got some nice items to giveaway for three such devoted Buckley fans. First is a Grace Around The World prize pack consisting of a copy of the CD/DVD, a poster, some Jeff Buckley guitar picks, temporary tattoos and postcards. Second is a CD from Jeff’s personal CD music collection, stamped with an official Jeff Buckley Music archive sticker. Third is a limited edition t-shirt circa Mystery White Boy (front/back). To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want Grace Around The World” in the subject line and in the body, your mailing address and which prizes you’d like to be considered for in order of preference. Contest is open to anyone, anywhere, but note that the DVD is only available in region 1/NTSC format so if you live abroad and don’t have a fancy, “plays everything” DVD player you may want to pass on it, though the CD is of course universal. And if you want a t-shirt, please note your size. Contest will close in two weeks at midnight, June 21.

Also note that screenings of the DVD are being held in various locales around the world and for the Los Angeles, San Francisco and Austin events, Buckley’s mother and caretaker of his estate, Mary Guibert, will be in attendance:

June 9, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA @ Largo (tickets)
June 11, 2009 – San Francisco, CA @ Opera Plaza Cinema (tickets)
June 19, 2009 – Manchester, UK @ Ruby Lounge
June 21, 2009 – Paris, France @ La Scene Bastille
June 24, 2009 – Dublin, Ireland @ Andrews Lane Theater
June 28, 2009 – Austin, TX @ Mother Egan’s
August 2009 – New York, NY (date and venue TBD)

And note that you can subscribe to the Jeff Buckley mailing list to get more information on these events and other Buckley happenings.