Eric Clapton reveals plans to quit touring after 50 years on the road because traveling is "unbearable"

Yours truly is a huge Eric Clapton fan who has been lucky enough to see him play live, twice.  Somehow I knew this was inevitable.  But, much like the Allman Brothers, who announced their retirement earlier in the year, these living legends of music, are human after all, and have to look at the reality of what they've chosen to devote their livelihood to.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2671849/Slowhand-slows-Guitar-legend-Eric-Clapton-reveals-plans-quit-touring-50-years-road-travelling-unbearable.html

Skip's Spotify Sunday 6-29-14

John McLaughlin "Extrapolation"

1. Extrapolation
2. It's Funny
3. Arjen's Bag
4. Pete The Poet
5. This Is For Us To Share
6. Spectrum
7. Binky's Beam
8. Really You Know
9. Two For Two
10. Peace Piece

John McLaughlin "Devotion"

1. Marbles
2. Siren
3. Don't Let The Dragon Eat Your Mother
4. Purpose Of When
5. Dragon Song
6. Devotion

John McLaughlin & Mahavishnu Orchestra "Inner Worlds"

1. All In The Family
2. Miles Out
3. In My Life
4. Gita
5. Morning Calls
6. The Way of The Pilgrim
7. River Of My Heart
8. Planetary Citizen
9. Lotus Feet
10. Inner Worlds Part I/Inner Worlds Part II

John McLaughlin "Electric Guitarist"

1. New York On My Mind
2. Friendship
3. Every Tear From Every Eye
4. Do You Hear The Voices You Left Behind?
5. Are You The One?  Are You The One?
6. Phenomenon: Compulsion
7. My Foolish Heart

John McLaughlin "Belo Horizonte"

1. Belo Horizonte
2. La Baleine
3. Very Early (Homage To Bill Evans)
4. One Melody
5. Stardust On Your Sleeve
6. Waltz For Katia
7. Zamfir
8. Manitas D'Oro (For Paco De Lucia)

John McLaughlin "Music Spoken Here"

1. Aspan
2. Blues For L.W.
3. The Translators
4. Honky-Tonk Haven
5. Viene Clareando
6. David
7. Negative Ions
8. Brise De Coeur
9. Loro

John McLaughlin "Concerto For Guitar & Orchestra 'The Mediterranean"

1. Concerto For Guitar And Orchestra "The Mediterranean" I. Rhythmic
2. Concerto For Guitar And Orchestra "The Mediterranean" II. Slow & Sad
3. Concerto For Guitar And Orchestra "The Mediterranean" III. Animato
4. Brise De Coeur
5. Montana
6. Two Sisters
7. Until Such Time
8. Zakir

Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin "Love Devotion Surrender"

1. A Love Supreme (John Coltrane cover)
2. Naima (John Coltrane cover)
3. The Life Divine
4. Let Us Go Into The House of The Lord
5. Meditation
6. A Love Supreme - Alternate - take 2 (John Coltrane cover)
7. Naima - Alternate - take 4 (John Coltrane cover)

John McLaughlin "Time Remembered"

1. Prologue
2. Very Early
3. Only Child
4. Waltz For Debby (Bill Evans cover)
5. Homage
6. My Bells
7. Time Remembered
8. Song For Helen
9. Turn Out The Stars
10. We Will Meet Again
11. Epilogue

John McLaughlin "Tokyo Live"

1. Nite Stand
2. Hijacked
3. When Love Is Far Away
4. Little Miss Valley
5. Juju At The Crossroads
6. Vukovar
7. No Blues
8. Mattinale

Louis Armstrong & The Hot Five "West End Blues"

One more blog entry for today.  On June 28, 1928, Louis Armstrong and The Hot Five, made a significant jazz recording, with their tune "West End Blues" composed by Armstrong's mentor Joe "King" Oliver, who he'd played with for a few years.  The two parted ways, but Armstrong still recorded Oliver's song.  Oliver recorded it.  But Armstrong's version is very well known, after being recorded in Chicago at Okeh Studios.  Jazz fans loved it, and, it introduced the world to scat singing, something that Armstrong sort of pioneered.

There was a later version recorded in 1955.  But, this is the original.  The genuine article.

In memoriam: Bobby Womack

Rest In Peace, legendary soul singer, Bobby Womack.

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/06/28/bobby-womack-randb-singer-songwriter-dies-at-70/20921578/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl2|sec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D494858

Here is one of his legendary songs called "It's All Over Now".

Oz Noy (feat. Warren Haynes) "Blue Ball Blues"

What a great band!  This is guitarist Oz Noy, with his new band on a new record he is putting together.  The tune is called "Blue Ball Blues".  It features Chris Layton on drums, Roscoe Beck on bass, Reese Wynans on Hammond organ, and special guest, Warren Haynes on guitar.  What a lineup!  Layton, and Wynans played with Stevie Ray Vaughan, as some may recall.  This is from Oz Noy's current release called "Twisted Blues Volume 2".  Crank it up!

Elmore James "Mean Mistreatin' Mama"

Check out this rarer Elmore James piece.  It is actually a B side to the song "My Bleeding Heart" that was covered by Jimi Hendrix.  The B Side tune, showcased here, is called "Mean Mistreatin' Mama". 

Stanley Clarke "Heaven Sent You"

     

Check out a tune from Stanley Clarke's 1984 recording "Time Exposure".  This is "Heaven Sent You", and it features Howard Hewett on vocals.  Interesting that Hewett sounds a little bit like Michael Jackson, at least to the ear of yours truly.  But, obviously, he's got his own, unique vocal style.  This is a neat track.  Dig it.  

Walter Trout, Poppa Chubby, & Jimmy Thackery "Who Knows"

Great cover of the Jimi Hendrix tune, "Who Knows" by Walter Trout, Poppa Chubby, & Jimmy Thackery.  Dig this!

Jeff Beck "Led Boots"

Here's Jeff Beck performing a version of his tune "Led Boots" from the 1976 "Wired" record, that comes from his 2009 DVD "Performing This Week: Live At Ronnie Scott's".  The band features Jeff Beck on guitar, Tal Wilkenfeld on bass, Jason Rebello on keys, and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums.  Happy Birthday, Jeff!

At Last - The Michael Bloomfield Box Set!

A new box set of all the material recorded by the late, great Mike Bloomfield, (a seminal electric blues guitarist, of course), will be released in a box set.  In addition to the box set, after years of waiting, fans of the great blues guitarist, Mike Bloomfield, will get to see a documentary about his life and career.  Here is the story, and a trailer for the movie.

http://addictedtonoise.com.au/michael-bloomfield-box-set/

Oz Noy, Oteil Burbridge, & Keith Carlock "You Dig"

Yowza!  Click it.  This is HOT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49xpR3hpb0g#t=435

Skip's Spotify Sunday 6-22-14

Michael Franks "One Bad Habit"

1. Baseball
2. Inside You
3. All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go
4. Lotus Blossom
5. On My Way Home To You
6. One Bad Habit
7. Loving You More And More
8. Still Life
9. He Tells Himself He's Happy

Michael Franks "Objects Of Desire"

1. Jealousy
2. Ladies' Nite
3. No-Deposit Love
4. Laughing Gas
5. Wonderland
6. Tahitian Moon
7. Flirtation
8. Love Duet
9. No One But You

Michael Franks "Passion Fruit"

1. Alone At Night
2. Never Satisfied
3. Amazon
4. Now That Your Joysticks Broke - LP Version
5. Sunday Morning Here With You
6. Never Say Die
7. Rainy Night In Tokyo
8. Tell Me All About It
9. When Sly Calls (Don't Touch That Phone)
10. How The Garden Grows

Michael Franks "Skin Dive"

1. Read My Lips
2. Let Me Count The Ways
3. Your Secret's Safe With Me
4. Don't Be Shy
5. When I Give My Love To You (duet with Brenda Russell)
6. Queen of The Underground
7. Now I Know Why - They Call It Falling
8. Please Don't Say Goodnight
9. When She Is Mine

Michael Franks "The Camera Never Lies"

1. Face To Face - For P.Y.
2. I Surrender
3. The Camera Never Lies
4. Lip Service
5. When I Think Of Us
6. Island Life
7. Now You're In My Dreams
8. Doctor Sax
9. Innuendo

Michael Franks "Blue Pacific"

1. The Art of Love
2. Woman In The Waves
3. All I Need
4. Long Slow Distance
5. Vincent's Ear
6. Speak To Me
7. On The Inside
8. Chez Nous
9. Blue Pacific
10. Crayon Sun [Safe At Home]

Michael Franks "Dragonfly Summer"

1. Coming To Life
2. Soul Mate
3. Dragonfly Summer
4. Monk's New Tune
5. Learning What Love Means
6. I Love Lucy
7. Practice Makes Perfect
8. String Of Pearls
9. Keeping My Eye On You
10. The Dream
11. You Were Meant For Me
12. How I Remember You

Michael Franks "Abandoned Garden"

1. This Must Be Paradise
2. Like Water, Like Wind
3. A Fool's Errand
4. Hourglass
5. Cinema
6. Eighteen Aprils
7. Somehow Our Love Survives
8. Without Your Love
9. In The Yellow House
10. Bird Of Paradise
11. Abandoned Garden

Michael Franks "Barefoot On The Beach"

1. Barefoot On The Beach
2. Heart Like An Open Book
3. Now Love Has No End (feat. Valerie Simpson: duet vocal)
4. The Fountain Of Youth
5. When You Smiled At Me
6. Double Talk
7. Every Time She Whispers
8. Why Spring Ain't Here
9. A Walk In The Rain
10. Mr. Smooth
11. Like Moon Behind A Cloud

Michael Franks "Watching The Snow"

1. The Way We Celebrate New Year's
2. Watching The Snow
3. Christmas In Kyoto
4. My Present
5. I Bought You A Plastic Star (For Your Aluminum Tree)
6. Said The Snowflake
7. The Kiss
8. When The Snowman Sings
9. Island Christmas
10. My Present (Reprise)

Michael Franks "Rendezvous In Rio"

1. Under The Sun
2. Rendezvous in Rio
3. The Cool School
4. Samba Do Soho
5. The Critics Are Never Kind
6. Scatsville
7. The Chemistry Of Love
8. Hearing "Take Five"
9. The Question Is Why
10. Songbirds

Michael Franks "Time Together"

1. Now That The Summer's Here
2. One Day In St. Tropez
3. Summer In New York
4. Mice
5. Charlie Chan In Egypt
6. I'd Rather Be Happy Than Right
7. Time Together
8. Samba Blue
9. My Heart Said Wow
10. If I Could Make September Stay
11. Feathers From An Angel's Wings

Steve Miller Blues Band "Mercury Blues"

Check out this tune.  This is "Mercury Blues" written by K.C. Douglas and Robert Geddins, in 1949, as performed by The Steve Miller Blues Band at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, on the same afternoon bill with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Electric Flag.  The audio of the performance exists.  Check this out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Blues

Here's the link to the video.  Click on it, and enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u536Y0bPu8A

Etta James "Security"

Check out a cool number by the late, great, Etta James, recorded by the session band at Fame/Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Horace Silver, Blue Mitchell, & Junior Cook "Senor Blues"

Rest In Peace, jazz piano great, Horace Silver.  This is "Senor Blues" featuring Silver, along with Blue Mitchell on trumpet, and Junior Cook, on drums.

concert review, & record collection revisited (two for one): Ginger Baker & Jazz Confusion @ The Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant 6-18-14

Mesmerizing is the word to describe legendary drummer, Ginger Baker.  Baker, at age 74, despite looking weary, frail, and road worn, still has the fire as a musician and a drummer.  He is long removed from the shadows of his years in Cream and Blind Faith, and has taken to his roots in jazz, and also in African rhythms, to craft a band, an album, and a live show, that is truly unique and special.  Baker is joined on stage for his improvisational journeys, by his Jazz Confusion band mates, Pee Wee Ellis on tenor saxophone, Alec Dankworth on electric and upright bass, and Abass Dodoo on percussion.  It is a simple quartet lineup, that works very effectively, and like any jazz, the music swings, and with ease.

The set list, though not in exact order as it is on the record, was just that.  Baker played his new record "Why" pretty much in it's entirety.  The track listing on the record runs as follows with these credits.

1. Ginger Spice                         composed by Ron Miles
2. Twelve And More Blues       composed by Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis
3. Cyril Davis                           composed by Ginger Baker
*It should be noted that this tune was written by Ginger for and about his buddy Cyril Davis who played blues harmonica, and along with Baker, was a member of the band Blues Incorporated.  You can read more about Blues Incorporated, here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_Incorporated
4. Footprints                         composed by Wayne Shorter
5. Ain Temouchant                composed by Ginger Baker
*This tune, Baker related, was written about a trip he took to the Atlas Mountains.
6. St. Thomas                       composed by Sonny Rollins
7. Aiko Biaye                       a traditional Nigerian tune, arranged by Ginger Baker
8. Why?                               composed by Ginger Baker

It was perhaps, the last tune on the record, that resonated most with the audience.  "Why?" is a question we ask as human beings all the time.  Baker said from his drum chair, "on this song, I want everyone in the audience to yell out the title when it comes time.  You'll be given a signal."  Bassist, Alec Dankworth, pointed to the audience on cue, and everyone cried out, "why?!"  That was a special part of the show to be sure.   Baker brought a really unique vibe to The Dakota, and played a memorable set.

The audience loved it, including yours truly. 

R.L. Burnside "Poor Black Mattie"

Another well known tune by R.L. Burnside.  This one is called "Poor Black Mattie".  Friends and admirers of his, (the North Mississippi Allstars), have covered this tune before.

R.L. Burnide "Jumper On The Line"

Cool blues tune, by the late, great R.L. Burnside called "Jumper On The Line".  R.L. Burnside was famous for Texas/Mississippi hill country blues, which was slightly different from the blues music that came from the Mississippi Delta.  Burnside passed away in 2005.  Rest In Peace, R.L. Burnside.  This is a good one.  Music historian Alan Lomax was one of three filmmakers who collaborated to shoot this piece.

Audio| Derek Trucks Bonnaroo Superjam

The jam of the century!

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/121948/Audio-Derek-Trucks-Bonnaroo-Superjam

This is from the annual, and popular, Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee that got started about a decade ago.

Four tracks are in the audio section.  Susan Tedeschi covers "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles.  Taj Mahal sings "I Can't Turn You Loose" by Otis Redding.  Chaka Khan covers Led Zeppelin's "What Is And What Should Never Be" and Nigel Hall sings the fool out of Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star".  The whole jam was nineteen songs, and the set list is printed just below the article in the JamBase link.

The Career of Tommy Flanagan

As promised, the story of Tommy Flanagan's career as a pianist, via St. Louis Public Radio.

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/career-tommy-flanagan

Miles Davis Quintet "In Your Own Sweet Way"

Check out Miles Davis' tune called "In Your Own Sweet Way", recorded at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey on March 16th, 1956.  The track features:

Miles Davis: trumpet
Sonny Rollins: tenor saxophone
Tommy Flanagan: piano
Paul Chambers: bass
Art Taylor: drums

There is another story about pianist Tommy Flanagan, in relation to this post.  Stay tuned for that.

Skip's Spotify Sunday 6-15-14

Seawind "Out of The Blue"

1. Sandy
2. Midnight Dreams
3. Out of the Blue
4. La La (Means I Love You)
5. Alone By The Sea
6. A1A
7. Sailing
8. Ridin' The Waves
9. Spanish River Beach
10. S.E.A. of Love

Seawind "Reunion"

1. Kept By Your Power
2. You're My Everything
3. Sunshadow
4. Hold On To Love (feat. Al Jarreau: vocals)
5. Follow Your Road
6. Free
7. Wayne
8. He Loves You (feat. Al Jarreau: vocal solo)
9. Devil Is A Liar
10. Pearl
11. Everything Needs Love
12. Liquid Spies

Michael Franks "Previously Unavailable"

1. Can't Seem To Shake This Rock 'N' Roll
2. Just Like Key Largo
3. When Blackbirds Fly
4. Lovesick Lizzie
5. Life's Little Highway
6. King of Oklahoma
7. Dobro Ladies
8. Three Today
9. Little Sparrow
10. Born With The Moon In Vergo

Michael Franks "The Art of Tea"

1. Nightmoves
2. Eggplant
3. Monkey See-Monkey Do
4. St. Elmo's Fire
5. I Don't Know Why I'm So Happy I'm Sad
6. Jive
7. Popsicle Toes
8. Sometimes I Just Forget To Smile
9. Mr. Blue

Michael Franks "Sleeping Gypsy"

1. The Lady Wants To Know
2. I Really Hope It's You
3. In The Eye of The Storm
4. B'wana-He No Home
5. Don't Be Blue
6. Antonio's Song (The Rainbow)
7. Chain Reaction
8. Down In Brazil

Michael Franks "Burchfield Nines"

1. When The Cookie Jar Is Empty
2. A Robinsong
3. Wrestle A Live Nude Girl
4. Burchfield Nines
5. Meet Me In The Deerpark
6. Dear Little Nightengale
7. In Search Of The Perfect Shampoo
8. Vivaldi's Song

Michael Franks "Tiger In The Rain"

1. Sanpaku
2. When It's Over
3. Living On The Inside
4. Hideaway
5. Jardin Botanico
6. Underneath The Apple Tree
7. Tiger In The Rain
8. Satisfaction Guaranteed
9. Lifeline

Gary Burton "Futures"

Here's another great track off of vibraphonist Gary Burton's collaborative album "Like Minds" on which he plays with Chick Corea on piano, Pat Metheny on guitar, Roy Haynes on drums, and Dave Holland on bass.  The track is called "Futures". 

Elvin Jones Quartet (feat. John Surman) "Homecoming"

Another piece featuring the great bassist, Dave Holland.  This is the Elvin Jones Quartet playing the tune "Homecoming" recorded in London in 1986 for the BBC's show "All That Jazz"  The band lineup is:

John Surman - Soprano Saxophone
Elvin Jones - Drums
Albert Mangelsdorff - Trombone
Dave Holland - Bass

The Charlie Daniels Band "Tangled Up In Blue"

Check out The Charlie Daniels Band's cover of "Tangled Up In Blue" from their latest release, the Bob Dylan tribute album called "Off The Grid, Doin' It Dylan". 

Memphis Minnie "Hoodoo Lady Blues"

Check out another cool old blues number.  This is Memphis Minnie playing "Hoodoo Lady Blues".

Aretha Franklin: "Pullin' "

Check out Aretha Franklin and her tune, "Pullin' ".

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue "St. James Infirmary"

Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, delivers a unique take on the blues standard "St. James Infirmary" to close his set at the Salmon Arm's Roots & Blues Festival in Salmon Arms, British Columbia, Canada.

Herbie Hancock "Thieves In The Temple"

Great, rock and roll jazz number by Herbie Hancock called "Thieves In The Temple".  This one had much airplay on "smooth jazz" radio, when it came out back in 1996.  The track is from Hancock's record "The New Standard" on the Verve label.  Musicians on the track include some jazz heavy hitters, not the least of which is Hancock himself.

Herbie Hancock: piano
Michael Brecker: tenor saxophone
John Scofield: guitar
Dave Holland: electric bass
Jack DeJohnette: drums

Skip's Spotify Sunday 6-8-14

Spyro Gyra "Three Wishes"

1. Pipo's Song
2. Introduction to Breathless
3. Breathless
4. Introduction to Real Time
5. Real Time
6. Jennifer's Lullaby
7. Whitewater
8. Inside Your Love
9. Nothing To Lose
10. Three Wishes
11. Gliding
12. Cabana Carioca
13. Rollercoaster
14. Three Wishes (reprise)

Spyro Gyra "Dreams Beyond Control"

1. Walk The Walk (feat. Tower of Power: horns)
2. Patterns In The Rain (feat. Alex Ligertwood: vocals)
3. Breakfast At Igor's
4. Waltz For Isabel
5. South Beach
6. Send Me One Line (feat. Alex Ligertwood: vocals)
7. Bahia
8. Kindred Spirit
9. Birks Law
10. Same Difference
11. The Delicate Prey

Spyro Gyra "Love & Other Obsessions"

1. Lost And Found
2. Ariana
3. Serengeti
4. Fine Time To Explain
5. Third Street
6. Group Therapy
7. Horizon's Edge
8. Let's Say Goodbye
9. On Liberty Road (For South Africa)
10. Rockin' A Heart Place
11. Baby Dreams

Spyro Gyra "Heart Of The Night"

1. Heart Of The Night
2. De La Luz
3. Westwood Moon
4. Midnight
5. Playtime
6. Surrender
7. Valentino's
8. Believe
9. As We Sleep
10. When Evening Falls
11. J Squared

Spyro Gyra "20/20"

1. The Unwritten Letter
2. Ruled By Venus
3. 20/20
4. Three Sisters
5. Sweet Baby James (James Taylor cover)
6. The Deep End
7. Together
8. Dark-Eyed Lady
9. South American Sojourn
10. Rockaway To Sunset

Spyro Gyra "Road Scholars" *live album

1. Heart of The Night
2. Breakfast At Igor's
3. Morning Dance
4. Shaker Song
5. Shanghai Gumbo
6. Innocent Soul
7. South American Sojourn
8. Ariana
9. De La Luz
10. Daddy's Got A New Girl Now
11. Best Friends

Spyro Gyra "Got The Magic"

1. Silk & Satin
2. Breezeway
3. Havana Moonlight
4. Springtime Laughter (feat. Basia: vocals)
5. If You Will
6. Got The Magic
7. Teardrops
8. Pure Mood
9. Sierra
10. Love Comes
11. R.S.V.P.

Spyro Gyra "In Modern Times"

1. After Hours
2. Feelin' Fine
3. Julio's Party
4. The River Between
5. Groovin' For Grover
6. Open Door
7. Florida Straits
8. Feelin' Fine Pt. 2
9. East River Blue
10. Your Touch
11. Lucky Bounce
12. Planet J
13. Three Gentlemen

Spyro Gyra "Original Cinema"

1. Bump It Up
2. Extrovertical
3. Dream Sequence
4. Party of Seven
5. Big Dance Number
6. Close-Up
7. Film Noir
8. Cape Town Love
9. Hand Held
10. Funky Tina
11. Getaway
12. Calle Ocho
13. Flashback

Spyro Gyra "The Deep End"

1. Summer Fling
2. Eastlake Shuffle
3. Monsoon
4. As You Wish
5. Joburg Jam
6. The Crossing
7. Wiggle Room
8. Wind Warriors
9. In Your Arms
10. Chippewa Street
11. Beyond The Rain

Spyro Gyra "Wrapped In A Dream"

1. Spyro Time
2. Midnight Thunder
3. The Voodooyoodoo
4. Tuesday
5. Impressions of Madrid
6. Impressions of Toledo
7. Wrapped In A Dream
8. After The Storm
9. Walkin' Home
10. The Lowdown
11. Lil' Mono
12. Woogitybop

Spyro Gyra "Good To Go-Go"

1. Simple Pleasures
2. Get Busy
3. Jam Up
4. The Left Bank
5. Funkyard Dog
6. Along For The Ride
7. Island Time
8. Wassup!
9. Easy Street
10. A Winter Tale
11. Good To Go-Go
12. Newroses

Spyro Gyra "A Foreign Affair"

1. Caribe
2. Khuda
3. Sweet Ole Thang
4. Falling Walls
5. Shinjuku
6. Chileno Boys
7. Samba For Two
8. Cancao de Ninar
9. Antigua
10. Last Call
11. Dancing On Table Mountain

Spyro Gyra "The Rhinebeck Sessions"

1. Serious Delivery
2. Wishful Thinking
3. Not Unlike That
4. Sorbet
5. I Know What You Mingus
6. Off The Cuff
7. Clubhouse Jam
8. Odds Get Even
9. Who Knew!

 






 

Tal Farlow & Red Norvo "All of Me"

Cool track.  This is the standard, "All of Me" played by a trio including Tal Farlow on guitar, Red Norvo on vibraphone, and Steve Novosel on upright bass.

Miles Davis "Penetration"

Miles Davis does a very, very groovy cover of Prince's "Penetration" in what turned out to be his last European performance, in Paris on July 10, 1991, before his death, months later, in September of that year.  The band is absolutely cooking on this one.

Maynard Ferguson "Hollywood"

More funky jazz from Maynard Ferguson and his big band.  This is the tune "Hollywood", performed live in 1982.

The COOLEST version of "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones... EVER!

OK everyone, why is yours truly jumping off the walls after finding this tune?  After all, it is another version of "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones.  A tune that undoubtedly, many people have heard.  Well, this version just so happens to have a guest on it.

That guest is, (drum roll please)... the one and only Eric Clapton, playing killer slide guitar licks on the tune.  Dig this one y'all.

Van Dyke Parks on How Songwriters Are Getting Screwed In The Digital Age

This is an issue right now, in the music industry, especially with all the digital means in which to obtain music.  Yours truly is not against the existence of programs like Spotify (hence the weekly listings on this blog).  However, Spotify, even though they do pay artists, the amount of money paid for each time you click to listen to a tune is ridiculously miniscule.  A pittance.  I have no qualms with digitizing music, though.  People have to understand, that when records are made, the money is split all the way around, between artists, record companies, music publishers, and PRO's (Performing Rights Organizations, such as:

ASCAP: The American Society of Composers, Authors, & Publishers)
BMI: Broadcast Music Inc.
SESAC: Society of European Stage Authors & Composers

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/04/van-dyke-parks-on-how-songwriters-are-getting-screwed-in-the-digital-age.html

The only trouble here, it seems, is that the writer of the article... Mr. Parks, exaggerates the numbers as to how low the payouts are.

Duane Allman & Sam Zamudio "Going Upstairs"

Cool, and rare, blues track.  This is Duane Allman and vocalist Sam Zamudio, playing a tune called "Going Upstairs"  Sam Zamudio was known as "Sam The Sham", and he also sang on top songs for Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs such as "Wooly Bully" and "Li'l Red Riding Hood".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_the_Sham

Check out Sam "The Sham".  Might post more by him in the future.

Curtis Mayfield "People Get Ready"

Preacher, guitarist, and singer.  The late, great Curtis Mayfield plays his seminal tune "People Get Ready".  Happy Birthday, Curtis Mayfield.  Rest In Peace.

John Coltrane "Selflessness"

Here is a cool track from John Coltrane's "Kulu Se Mama" record that was recorded through 1965 and released in early 1967.  The track is called "Selflessness".  It features this cast of musicians playing with Coltrane, including Pharoah Sanders on tenor saxophone, who, yours truly has seen in concert before.

John Coltrane: tenor saxophone
Pharoah Sanders: tenor saxophone & percussion
McCoy Tyner: piano
Jimmy Garrison: double bass
Donald Rafael Garrett: bass clarinet, double bass, & percussion
Frank Butler: drums
Elvin Jones: drums
Juno Lewis: vocals, percussion, conch shell, hand drums

Joe Sample "The Hunter"

A tune that yours truly has really been getting into because of the groove, especially with the bass, Rhodes piano, and synthesizers.  Joe Sample's "The Hunter", which is the title track to his 1983 album of the same name.  Check it out.

Skip's Spotify Sunday 6-1-14

Spyro Gyra "Spyro Gyra"

1. Shaker Song
2. Opus D'Opus
3. Mallet Ballet
4. Pygmy Funk
5. Cascade
6. Leticia
7. Mead
8. Paula/Paw Prints
9. Galadriel

Spyro Gyra "Morning Dance"

1. Morning Dance
2. Jubilee
3. Rasul
4. Song For Lorraine
5. Starburst
6. Heliopolis
7. It Doesn't Matter
8. Little Linda
9. End of Romanticism

Spyro Gyra "Catching The Sun"

1. Catching The Sun
2. Cockatoo
3. Autumn of Our Love
4. Laser Material
5. Percolator
6. Philly
7. Lovin' You (interlude)/Lovin' You
8. Here Again
9. Safari

Spyro Gyra "Carnaval"

1. Cafe Amore
2. Dizzy
3. Awakening
4. Cachaca
5. Fox Trot
6. Sweet 'n Savvy
7. Bittersweet
8. Carnival

Spyro Gyra "Freetime"

1. Freetime
2. Telluride
3. Summer Strut
4. Elegy for Trane
5. Pacific Sunrise
6. Amber Dream
7. String Soup

Spyro Gyra "Incognito"

1. Last Exit
2. Old San Juan
3. Harbor Nights
4. Stripes
5. Oasis
6. Incognito
7. Sueno
8. Soho Mojo

Spyro Gyra "City Kids"

1. City Kids
2. Serpent in Paradise
3. A Ballad
4. Nightlife
5. Islands in the Sky
6. Conversations
7. Silver Linings
8. Haverstraw Road

Spyro Gyra "Access All Areas"

1. Shaker Song
2. Serpent In Paradise
3. Heliopolis
4. Harbor Nights
5. Conversations
6. Schu's Blues
7. Morning Dance
8. Islands In The Sky
9. Sea Biscuit
10. Latin Streets

Spyro Gyra "Alternating Currents"

1. Shakedown
2. Alternating Currents
3. Taking The Plunge (For Jennifer)
4. Binky's Dream No. 6
5. PG
6. Heartbeat
7. Mardi Gras
8. I Believe In You
9. Sunflurry

Spyro Gyra "Breakout"

1. Bob Goes to the Store
2. Freefall
3. Doubletake
4. Breakout
5. Body Wave
6. Whirlwind
7. Swept Away
8. Guiltless

Spyro Gyra "Stories Without Words"

1. Cayo Hueso
2. Serpentine Shelly
3. Del Corazon
4. Early Light
5. Nu Sungo
6. Chrysalis
7. Joy Ride
8. Pyramid

Spyro Gyra "Rites of Summer"

1. Claire's Dream
2. Daddy's Got A New Girl Now
3. Limelight
4. Shanghai Gumbo
5. Innocent Soul
6. No Man's Land
7. Yosemite
8. The Archer
9. Captain Karma

Spyro Gyra "Point of View"

1. Slow Burn
2. Swing Street
3. Fairweather
4. The Unknown Soldier
5. Hannibal's Boogie
6. No Limits
7. Carolina
8. Riverwalk
9. Swamp Thing
10. Counterpoint
11. Gotcha

Spyro Gyra "Fast Forward"

1. Bright Lights (feat. Jeff Beckenstein)
2. Para Ti Latino
3. Alexandra
4. Ocean Parkway
5. Speakeasy
6. Futurephobia
7. 4md
8. Shadow Play
9. Escape Hatch
10. Tower of Babel