I'm going back...back, back, back, back, back...backwards through the list, that is!
Jamerson, Pastorius, Wonder, and Tyner. Some of you are wondering if I've betrayed my home base, namely guitar-based music. Well, fret no more. I'm going to give you some peers today that are rocking the House of Guitar kasbah like there's no tomorrow...
These bands all feature guitarists that are around my neck of the woods. I have greatly enjoyed hanging with, learing from, and hopefully giving some goodness back to these fine folks you're about to meet. I also love celebrating the Great Unknown when it comes to artists I love, and hopefully, you will grow to love a few of, if not all of, these great bands and musicians. Without further ado, and in no order other than numerical...
1. James Biehn/Soapbox Prophets-Was the first, and perhaps only, true personal guitar mentor I ever took on. I fell in love with his playing during his tenure with a band call Hyde Park- more on them to come later, but it was a glorious musical experience to behold. They were truly the Jazz is Dead for my generation and locale.
Since the Park ended several years ago, Biehn has gone onto an outstanding, hard-swinging quartet called the Soapbox Prophets. and occaisionally leads a local conglomerate known as Southbound, a musical tribute to Duane-era Allman Brothers joy.
Besides being a great instructor, and now college teacher, I've had the pleasure of watching his peronal life bloom with marriage and fatherhood. All told, he is one musician who truly "deserves" to make it- as much as I hate that term, it's apropos to the man and his soulfulness and talent.
GEAR: Through an Ibanez S-series, to a Cort CL-1500, to a PRS RW-neck McCarty, to a Highway 1 Strat, to his current beauty, a '61 Gibson SG re-issue, he has maintained a beautiful tone through Traynor, Fender, and now, I believe, Marshall amps; regardless of gear, he has continually refined the beauty of his artistry.
2. Andy Anderson/SNAFU- Everytime I talk to frontman deluxe Andy Anderson, I find something about him that either mirrors my own feelings, or might as well have been my thought- we appear to be cosmic brothers of another mother!
SNAFU is a power trio that blends the hard swing of Zeppelin, with a tastefully sophisticated pop sense learned at the corner of Queen and Elton. A highly-talented vocalist, songwriter, gutiarist, keyboardist, arranger, producer... Anderson's got it all, and it's all good! Driven as an artist, but not obsessively, Andy is quite the inspiration to observe when you need that shot to the heart. He is fearless on stage, and I've witnessed many a moment that would have become trainwrecks in the hands of lesser men seem effortless to him and his band. He is, what my wife would call, an ambassador of joy in how he carries himself, and that electricity is only amplified when he hits the stage. A definite must see, and another man and musician who could truly make waves if given the opportunity. Like Biehn, there are many in the world who could truly use this special kind of magic.
GEAR: Think Clapton through Brian May's rig, and you are right about on the mark! Currently using a Clapton signature Strat, with a Brian May tribute sitting in the rack, through a modern Vox amp. His tone is always dialed right, bright, and a whole lotta fun to listen to. For keyboards, he typically rocks a Korg Triton.
3... ah, don't get greedy now! I'll return the end of this week to shed the light a few more (more than 2 means a few) wonderful contemporaries of mine from the homeland. Until then, click on those links, check out those killer bands, and maybe find something new to love!
Peace,
Deacon
March 19, 2009
Duane Allman, Berry Oakley, and Natasha Richardson
My wife was a big fan of the now deceased Ms. Richardson, and we both love her husband, so first of all, blessings to her family in this very hard time. But here's the thought I've been having.
Both Duane and Berry, if I remember correctly, turned down medical attention after their bike accidents. How different would their world, and now the Redgrave and Neeson families' worlds be, if people would just quit being so damn proud and get examined.
I liked this woman's movies, the couple I'd seen, and I obviously love Duane and Berry. Cautionary tales are of no good if we don't pay attention, brothers and sisters...
Both Duane and Berry, if I remember correctly, turned down medical attention after their bike accidents. How different would their world, and now the Redgrave and Neeson families' worlds be, if people would just quit being so damn proud and get examined.
I liked this woman's movies, the couple I'd seen, and I obviously love Duane and Berry. Cautionary tales are of no good if we don't pay attention, brothers and sisters...
March 11, 2009
Younger/Peer/Older/Gone--#2 of 4
Yes, this list going backwards...today's topic is the older yet still present musical inspiration!
So, last post we focused on 2 musicians whom I've loved for many years, but passed away at tragically young ages. Bassists Jamerson and Pastorius redefined the electric bass song by song, and left an indelible mark on the instrument and it's practicioners in their wake.
Today's choices reflect a couple recent additions to the home library. I highly recommend both, and have enjoyed them greatly!
1. Stevie Wonder on "Live at Last: A Wonder Summer Night"
Came out yesterday, and though I have one quibble, it is a high education, to say the least. My quibble? He leaves the heavy-hitters for the end, and then treats them as if on an oldies tour, truncating and hasting his way through them. Leaving the epic "As" for last, he cuts entire sections from the song, and limits that legendary improv to an entirely too-short, yet still killer, climatic burst. For a performer of his tenure to still have the goods as he so eloquently does, it's literally a crying shame to not have, simply put, more of him to enjoy. In a day and age where his generation has lost touch, soul, ability, focus, or even life, Stevie Wonder stands firmly as an Artist, vibrant, vivid, and as valuable as ever. To see his way with his audience, the complete respect he pays his band and vocaslists (including daughter Aisha Morris), and to realize that one man, still alive, wrote all these classics.... that is to know that Giants still walk among us.
2. McCoy Tyner on "Guitars"
When I auditioned for a college of jazz in 2004, I made the faculty suffer my horrendous performance on Santamaria's-via-Coltrane's "Afro-Blue". Trane's Live at Birdland, personally reccomended to me by Derek Trucks no less, became a constant companion from 2003-2005. And as much as Trane enlightened me, a lot of it was blowing right past me at the same time. But the spark that always kept me entranced turned out to be his young pianist, McCoy Tyner, who's visinoary and breath-taking livelihood on the piano always fiercely drew my attention, and changed me irreversibly.
Tyner, the last remaining member of Coltrane's legendary quartet, has endeavored to continue in the exploratory spirit of both Trane and his own catalog, and his newest record is no different. "Guitars" is a CD/DVD set that showcases Tyner's trio of Ron Carter on bass, and drummer Jack DeJohnette, augmeneted and inspired by a quartet of guitarists, and one very special banjo hero.
The aforementioned Trucks shines on his two selections, the standard "Greensleeves" and "Slapback Blues", and is perhaps the underdog hero here. He is young, not commonly associated with jazz as a genre by the mainstream press, and is definitely known as one of the world's best electric slide guitarist. He is respectful to near fault here, but the pairing is a wonderful taste of what could come, if pursued. John Scofield is a titan in the field, and shows why; Bill Frisell plays with subtlety and grace, and the acoustic banjo loveliness of Bela Fleck is, in my opinion, the most uniquely best fit. Marc Ribot, a player whom I respect, has me scratching my head and feeling dissapointed. His overly-effected, harsh tones do not fit well with the tonality of the otherwise acoustic trio, and, to point, I don't think he played up to his potential. It sometimes comes off as "Sun Ra and Ornette Coleman had a baby, and they called it electric avant-garde"
The DVD is well-worth the price of admission- seeing a legend of Tyner's pedigree working on arrangements, discussing tunes with musicians, and completely schooling everyone on how to improvise is priceless. As with Wonder, I just wish there was more....
~
And there you... 2 more more cool people and things to check out. Revenge of the Long Post indeed, but I do this because I can, as my friend Ernie Terrell is fond of saying. As always, I welcome your feedback, hope you enjoy, and keep rocking the free world!
Videos? We got yo' stinkin' videos!
McCoy Tyner - "Guitars" Trailer
Stevie Wonder - Surprise....
So, last post we focused on 2 musicians whom I've loved for many years, but passed away at tragically young ages. Bassists Jamerson and Pastorius redefined the electric bass song by song, and left an indelible mark on the instrument and it's practicioners in their wake.
Today's choices reflect a couple recent additions to the home library. I highly recommend both, and have enjoyed them greatly!
1. Stevie Wonder on "Live at Last: A Wonder Summer Night"
Came out yesterday, and though I have one quibble, it is a high education, to say the least. My quibble? He leaves the heavy-hitters for the end, and then treats them as if on an oldies tour, truncating and hasting his way through them. Leaving the epic "As" for last, he cuts entire sections from the song, and limits that legendary improv to an entirely too-short, yet still killer, climatic burst. For a performer of his tenure to still have the goods as he so eloquently does, it's literally a crying shame to not have, simply put, more of him to enjoy. In a day and age where his generation has lost touch, soul, ability, focus, or even life, Stevie Wonder stands firmly as an Artist, vibrant, vivid, and as valuable as ever. To see his way with his audience, the complete respect he pays his band and vocaslists (including daughter Aisha Morris), and to realize that one man, still alive, wrote all these classics.... that is to know that Giants still walk among us.
2. McCoy Tyner on "Guitars"
When I auditioned for a college of jazz in 2004, I made the faculty suffer my horrendous performance on Santamaria's-via-Coltrane's "Afro-Blue". Trane's Live at Birdland, personally reccomended to me by Derek Trucks no less, became a constant companion from 2003-2005. And as much as Trane enlightened me, a lot of it was blowing right past me at the same time. But the spark that always kept me entranced turned out to be his young pianist, McCoy Tyner, who's visinoary and breath-taking livelihood on the piano always fiercely drew my attention, and changed me irreversibly.
Tyner, the last remaining member of Coltrane's legendary quartet, has endeavored to continue in the exploratory spirit of both Trane and his own catalog, and his newest record is no different. "Guitars" is a CD/DVD set that showcases Tyner's trio of Ron Carter on bass, and drummer Jack DeJohnette, augmeneted and inspired by a quartet of guitarists, and one very special banjo hero.
The aforementioned Trucks shines on his two selections, the standard "Greensleeves" and "Slapback Blues", and is perhaps the underdog hero here. He is young, not commonly associated with jazz as a genre by the mainstream press, and is definitely known as one of the world's best electric slide guitarist. He is respectful to near fault here, but the pairing is a wonderful taste of what could come, if pursued. John Scofield is a titan in the field, and shows why; Bill Frisell plays with subtlety and grace, and the acoustic banjo loveliness of Bela Fleck is, in my opinion, the most uniquely best fit. Marc Ribot, a player whom I respect, has me scratching my head and feeling dissapointed. His overly-effected, harsh tones do not fit well with the tonality of the otherwise acoustic trio, and, to point, I don't think he played up to his potential. It sometimes comes off as "Sun Ra and Ornette Coleman had a baby, and they called it electric avant-garde"
The DVD is well-worth the price of admission- seeing a legend of Tyner's pedigree working on arrangements, discussing tunes with musicians, and completely schooling everyone on how to improvise is priceless. As with Wonder, I just wish there was more....
~
And there you... 2 more more cool people and things to check out. Revenge of the Long Post indeed, but I do this because I can, as my friend Ernie Terrell is fond of saying. As always, I welcome your feedback, hope you enjoy, and keep rocking the free world!
Videos? We got yo' stinkin' videos!
McCoy Tyner - "Guitars" Trailer
Stevie Wonder - Surprise....
March 03, 2009
Younger/Peer/Older/Gone--#1 of 4
This week I begin a little series of sharing inspirations from four different groups. We have been trying to broaden our horizons by routinely gleaning from the following: Younger--those up and comers who keep it fresh and exciting for us, Peer--from our own age group, Older--mature knowledge from those further on up the road, and Gone--classic wisdom from those whose artistry is still alive with us in spirit. To be too enmeshed in only one of these groups for an informational fountain is to be continually skewed in your perspective. Crossing generational lines (both ways--older and younger) is a valuable way to grow both musically and personally.
#1 of 4 -- GONE but certainly never forgotten
Jaco Pastorius
James Jamerson/Marvin Gaye
#1 of 4 -- GONE but certainly never forgotten
Jaco Pastorius
James Jamerson/Marvin Gaye
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