Thursday, December 31, 2015

Taj Mahal "Statesboro Blues"

Another definitive version of "Statesboro Blues" by Taj Mahal, with Jesse Ed Davis on slide guitar.  This was the inspiration for the Allman Brothers Band's version, and of course, yours truly, saw Taj play this one, with the Allman's at the Peach Music Festival in Scranton, Pennsylvania, two summers ago.


Wednesday, December 30, 2015

George Duke "Funny Funk"

Humorous, this may not be.  But, groovy, it is.  George Duke with his tune "Funny Funk" circa 1974, from the "Feel" record.  The band lineup also includes Frank Zappa, under a pseudonym, on guitar.

George Duke - keyboards, synthesizer bass
John Heard - acoustic / electric bass
Airto Moreira - percussion
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler - drums, percussion
Obdewl'l X (Frank Zappa) - guitar

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Curt Cress Clan - 1975


Check out the full recording from 1975, by jazz fusion, funk, and prog rock band, the Curt Cress Clan.  Cress, is the band's drummer.  This is his solo band.  But, he has worked, with other musicians.  Cress has been a professional musician, for the last 50 years, since age 13.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curt_Cress

The track listing for the record is:

1. Cyclone
2. From The Back
3. Fields
4. Shuffle On Out
5. Delphine
6. 451271
7. No Answer
8. Movin' Right Along
9. Funk Off


Monday, December 28, 2015

Dave Holland "Evolution"

From his 2013 record, "Prism", here is double bass master, Dave Holland, with the composition, "Prism", written by guitarist, Kevin Eubanks.  The band line up is:

Dave Holland: bass
Kevin Eubanks: guitar
Craig Taborn: Rhodes piano
Eric Harland: drums


...And here, is a live cut, from the 2012 Garana Jazz Festival, of the same tune.


Sunday, December 27, 2015

Butch Trucks Sings For The First Time In 45 Years, Covers Bob Dylan Classic

Bonus post for this Sunday.  Butch Trucks and his new band, Freight Train, jammed at The Funky Biscuit, in Boca Raton, Florida, and here are some highlights, from the show.  The band plays shows tonight, through New Years Eve, as well.

http://liveforlivemusic.com/show-reviews/butch-trucks-sings-for-the-first-time-in-45-years-covers-bob-dylan-classic/?utm_content=bufferac75c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer




Chet Baker, Jim Hall, & Hubert Laws "Malaguena"

Electric Latin jazz fusion.  This is cool.  It is an interpretation of "Malaguena" written by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona, in 1928.  The album is called "Studio Trieste", recorded on CTI Records in March and April, of 1982.  This version has quite the lineup of musicians on it.

Chet Baker - trumpet, flugelhorn
Hubert Laws - flute
Jim Hall, Jack Wilkins - guitar
Kenny Baron, Jorge Dalto - keyboards
George Mraz - bass
Gary King - electric bass
Steve Gadd - drums
Sammy Figueroa - percussion


Saturday, December 26, 2015

Buddy Miller & Marc Ribot "Cold, Cold Heart"

Americana singer/songwriters and guitarists, Buddy Miller and Marc Ribot, perform Hank Williams' great song, "Cold, Cold Heart".  This is from the Americanan Music Awards at the Ryman Auditorium, in Nashville, Tennessee.  Click the link, and check it out.

http://www.npr.org/event/music/460724279/buddy-miller-with-marc-ribot-cold-cold-heart

Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen "Jeg Gik Mig Ud En Sommerdag"

The late Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, an upright bassist, from Denmark, plays this tune, listed in the article title, from his 1979 recording "Dancing On The Tables".  The band line up is:

Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen - bass
John Scofield - guitar
Billy Hart - drums
David Liebman - tenor/soprano saxophone, flute

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niels-Henning_%C3%98rsted_Pedersen

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Ella Fitzgerald Wishes You A Swinging Christmas

One more Christmas recording, to post, for today, before yours truly, takes a break, for a couple of days over Christmas.  Will resume posting, on Saturday.  For now, enjoy, a playlist of Ella Fitzgerald and her record Ella Fitzgerald Wishes You A Swinging Christmas.  The track listing is:

1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
2. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Winter Wonderland
5. Jingle Bells
6. Sleigh Ride
7. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
8. The Secret of Christmas
9. White Christmas
10. Good Morning Blues
11. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve - Natale
12. The Christmas Song
13. We Three Kings (Ella Fitzgerald feat. Ralph Carmichael & Orchestra) (Capitol Records, 1967)
14. Frosty The Snowman

Go HERE, and enjoy the record.  Merry Christmas!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWI-EoTfu20&list=PLF460981C05E262C3

Roberto Gatto "Blue Christmas"

The annual tradition, of posting, a Christmas song.  This time, it is a bluesy jazz fusion version of "Blue Christmas" performed by drummer Roberto Gatto, and his band, featuring John Scofield on guitar.

Roberto Gatto - drums
John Scofield - electric guitar
Enzo Pietropaoli - electric bass
Danilo Rea - keyboards, synthesizer


Merry Christmas!



Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, & Billy Cobham: World of Rhythm, Live in Lugano, 1983


Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums, playing a concert as World of Rhythm, in Lugano, Switzerland, at the 1983 Lugano Jazz Festival. 

Monday, December 21, 2015

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, Stockholm, Sweden, August 21st, 1973

Bonus post for today on the Winter Solstice.  Happy Birthday, Frank Zappa!  Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, perform in Stockholm, Sweden, on August 21st, 1973.  The lineup includes:

Frank Zappa: guitar & vocals
Jean-Luc Ponty: violin
George Duke: Hammond organ, Clavinet
Tom Fowler: bass
Ralph Humphrey: drums
Ruth Underwood: marimba, vibraphone, percussion
Ian Underwood: rhythm guitar, keyboards, woodwinds, flute, clarinet, tenor & alto saxophones
Bruce Fowler: trombone

The concert, has three songs.

1. Montana
2. Dupree's Paradise
3. Father O'blivion

Dr. John "Big Chief"

Posted Professor Longhair's version of this song, a long time ago.  But, worth revisiting.  This is "Big Chief" done by The Meters, along with Dr. John, Professor Longhair, and Earl King.  'Fess, on piano, Dr. John, on electric piano, and Earl King, on guitar.  Dig it.


Sunday, December 20, 2015

Alan Pasqua & Allan Holdsworth "Fred"

It's the Alan and Allan show!  Check out jazz fusion keyboardist Alan Pasqua and guitarist extraordinaire Alan Holdsworth, playing the instrumental, "Fred" in a live concert.  The rhythm section is just as amazing.  Jimmy Haslip on bass, and Chad Wackerman on drums.


Saturday, December 19, 2015

Kurt Rosenwinkel "Stella By Starlight"

An interesting solo improvisation on Victor Young and Ned Washington's jazz standard, "Stella By Starlight", by guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, taken from the 2013 Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland.  Rosenwinkel is using his D'Angelico electric guitar, and an effects pedal, that is called a Harmonic Octave Generator, or H.O.G.  He uses the freeze function within the octave generator, to get some pretty wild, almost keyboard-like sounds, that simulate a Mellotron or an organ.

 

Friday, December 18, 2015

Allan Holdsworth & Frank Gambale "Rocks"

Check out jazz fusion guitar gods Frank Gambale and Allan Holdsworth, with their tune, "Rocks", from the "Truth In Shredding" record.  This is another record, produced, by Mark Varney.  The band lineup on this track is:

Frank Gambale – guitar, engineering, mixing, production
Allan Holdsworth – guitar, SynthAxe, overdub engineering
Freddy Ravel – keyboards
Tom Brechtlein – drums
Jimmy Earl – bass
Steve Tavaglione – saxophone, EWI


Thursday, December 17, 2015

Johnny Winter & Randy Jo Hobbs "Key To The Highway"

Johnny Winter, and his bassist at the time (circa 1970), Randy Jo Hobbs, jamming on a familiar tune.  This is Big Bill Broonzy's blues, "Key To The Highway".




Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Tedeschi Trucks Band stories

A couple stories about the Tedeschi Trucks Band.  The first single from their upcoming record to be released in 2016, ("Let Me Get By"), has been released.

First Listen: Tedeschi Trucks Band's New Single
http://gardenandgun.com/blog/first-listen-tedeschi-trucks-band-dont-know-what-means

...and

Tedeschi Trucks Thrill Austin City Limits

http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2015-12-15/tedeschi-trucks-thrill-austin-city-limits/


Bobby Whitlock "Bobby Whitlock" - 1972

Bobby Whitlock's first solo record, under his own name, released in 1972.  This is great!


01 - Where There's A Will, There's A Way ( 0:00 )
02 - Song For Paula ( 3:42 )
03 - A Game Called Life ( 7:58 )
04 - Country Life ( 12:07 )
05 - A Day Without Jesus ( 15:11 )
06 - Back In My Life Again ( 18:31 )
07 - Scenery Has Slowly Changed ( 21:55 )
08 - I'd Rather Live The Straight Life ( 25:41 )
09 - Ease Your Pain ( 28:07 )
10 - Back Home In England ( 31:08 )

All songs written by Bobby Whitlock, except where noted. "Where There's a Will" (Bobby Whitlock and Bonnie Bramlett) "Bobby Whitlock - keyboards, George Harrison - guitar, Eric Clapton - guitar, Klaus Voormann - bass, Jim Gordon - drums, Bobby Keys - saxophone, Jim Price - trumpet" "Song for Paula" "Bobby Whitlock - acoustic guitar, piano, organ Jim Gordon - drums, Klaus Voormann - bass, Delaney Bramlett - guitar" "A Game Called Life" "Bobby Whitlock - 12-string guitar, Jim Gordon - drums, tabla, Klaus Voormann - bass, Chris Wood - flute" "Country Life" "Bobby Whitlock - piano, acoustic guitar, Jim Keltner - drums, Carl Radle - bass, Jerry McGee - electric guitar, Delaney Bramlett - vocals, Bonnie Bramlett - vocals" "A Day Without Jesus" (Bobby Whitlock and Don Nix) "George Harrison - guitar, Eric Clapton - guitar, Jim Gordon - drums, Klaus Voormann - bass, Bobby Whitlock - organ, piano, Delaney Bramlett - vocals, Bonnie Bramlett - vocals" "Back in My Life Again" "Bobby Whitlock - organ, George Harrison - guitar, Eric Clapton - guitar, Jim Gordon - drums, Klaus Voormann - bass, Bobby Keys - saxophone, Jim Price - trombone" "The Scenery Has Slowly Changed" "Bobby Whitlock - 12-string guitar, Eric Clapton - guitar, Jim Gordon - drums, tabla, Klaus Voormann - bass" "I'd Rather Live the Straight Life" (Produced by Whitlock and Joe Zagarino) "Bobby Whitlock - acoustic guitar, Jerry McGee - electric guitar, Carl Radle - bass, Delaney Bramlett - vocals, Bonnie Bramlett - vocals" "The Dreams of a Hobo" "Bobby Whitlock - acoustic guitar, Jerry McGee - electric guitar, Jim Keltner - drums, Carl Radle - bass" "Back Home in England" "Bobby Whitlock - electric guitar, Jim Gordon - drums, The L.A. Symphony Orchestra

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Sonny Boy Williamson "Nine Below Zero"

When it gets to be frigid outside, watch out.  Guys, if your girlfriend is in a bad mood, or vice versa (gals, your man might be up to no good sometimes).  So, you may find yourself, out of luck with the relationship.  Well, at least according to the great Sonny Boy Williamson II.  The blues harmonica legend, tells it like it is, in his tune, "Nine Below Zero".  The last line of the song, is a good question.

What would you do?
Tell me, what would you do?
It's nine below zero
...And it looks like everybody, is through with you.

Ouch!  Dig this.




Monday, December 14, 2015

Jeff Beck Group "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You"



Two versions of a Bob Dylan song made famous by The Jeff Beck Group.  "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You".  The first version, is from the "Orange" album, from 1972.  Bob Tench, delivers a soulful vocal, on both the studio, and live cuts. 

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Miroslav Vitous "Freedom Jazz Dance"

Another version of "Freedom Jazz Dance", done by more legendary figures of jazz.  This group, is led by bassist Miroslav Vitous (who was the first bassist, for Weather Report, before Jaco Pastroius, arrived on the scene).  The band for this recording, is:

Miroslav Vitous: bass
John McLaughlin: guitar
Joe Henderson: tenor saxophone
Herbie Hancock: electric piano
Jack DeJohnette: drums


Saturday, December 12, 2015

Steve Gadd Band "Freedom Jazz Dance"

Legendary drummer, Steve Gadd, and his band, play their cover of Eddie Harris' "Freedom Jazz Dance".  The tune is covered on the album "70 Strong" in celebration of Gadd's 70th birthday.  The band line up is:

Steve Gadd - drums
Walt Fowler - trumpet, flugelhorn
Larry Goldings - keyboards, accordion
Jimmy Johnson - bass
Michael Landau - guitar

Friday, December 11, 2015

Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, & Victor Wooten, Live in Vienne, France

Revisiting three legendary bass players.  Have posted these guys playing together before.  Readers of this blog, will be familiar with all of them.  Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten.


Thursday, December 10, 2015

Jimmy Smith "The Sermon"

Check out Hammond organ legend, Jimmy Smith, and his trio, playing "The Sermon" circa 1964.  This stuff, is hip, daddy-o!  Jimmy Smith, was one of the coolest jazz players, ever to wail on a Hammond organ, and is a big influence on yours truly.  Smith, is featured, on the Hammond B3, in a trio, with Quentin Warren on guitar, and Billy Hart, on drums.


Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Stevie Ray Vaughan's INSANE Sound Check

Even during a sound check, the guitar playing of the late, great, Stevie Ray Vaughan, was something to behold.  Click on the link, and check this out.

http://societyofrock.com/stevie-ray-vaughans-insane-sound-check

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Watch 'Whipping Post' from Every Decade of The Allman Brothers, on Gregg's Birthday

One more time.  Happy Birthday, Gregg Allman!  Dig this.

http://liveforlivemusic.com/features/celebrate-gregg-allmans-birthday-with-some-whipping-post-through-the-years/

Happy Birthday, Gregg Allman! Celebrate His 68th Birthday with His Very First "Melissa" Demo

It's no secret, that Gregg Allman is perhaps, one of the main artists, who has influenced yours truly, the most, in terms of wanting to be a musician.  I have had the pleasure, of seeing Gregg, on five separate occasions, in concert.  Four times, with the Allman Brothers Band, and once, this past March, with his solo band.  Here is one of the first demos he and his late brother, Duane, recorded.  This demo of "Melissa" was cut, in 1967... a full two years, before the Allman Brothers Band, formed.

http://societyofrock.com/celebrate-gregg-allmans-68th-birthday-with-his-very-first-melissa-demo

Monday, December 7, 2015

Grateful Dead "Not Fade Away"

Here is the Grateful Dead, from their "Fare Thee Well" concerts, released on CD and DVD, with their version of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away".  Click the link, and check it out.

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

Jimi Hendrix & John McLaughlin "Driving South"

Another collaboration between Jimi Hendrix, and John McLaughlin.  This tune, is called "Driving South", and features the two guitar maestros, along with the rhythm section of Dave Holland on bass and Buddy Miles on drums.


Sunday, December 6, 2015

Jimi Hendrix & Miles Davis collaboration

Sadly, these two musical giants, never did work together.  But... someone, had the foresight, to digitally create an idea, of how Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis, would have sounded, playing together, using a Miles track, called "Right Off", as the basis for it.

Download this as an MP3 free at http://www.bennysutton.com/

This is the story of arguably the greatest collab that never happened.
Miles and Jimi were the 20th Century's #1 musicians in their fields; Rock and Jazz. They were also the two coolest Dudes on the planet! Both had a great line in patter and instantly recognizable voice. They dominated their respective art forms.

The two certainly met, became friends, jammed and talked about recording. Urban myth has is that there was a session organised but Mile's drummer, Tony Williams, demanded $50,000 to play on the session at the last minute and that killed it stone dead. If you are not a Miles fan you might ask Tony Who? Precisely, a short sighted decision if you ask me.

So, I decided to make it happen forty years later, with guitar technology that Miles and Jimi never had and on a home recording platform on par with their analog tape machines of the 70's .
So, how did I think they would approach it? Jimi was a lovely man but, out of the two of them, Miles was the bandleader - so I assumed they would do one of his tracks. I'm sure Miles could play on any of Jimi's material at the drop of a hat, his talent was timeless and limitless. He reinvented jazz every decade he was playing. I'd love to hear Miles play on Jimi's 'if six were nine'.

Mile's band leading strategy was to gather players around him who made him look good. He created the groove and let his guys run free. Mostly it worked but sometimes it didn't! Jack Johnson is the ultimate Miles groove, no so esoteric as Bitches Brew/Live Evil albums; Jimi would be right at home.
Jack Johnson is also my all time favourite Miles track, albeit not one of his best known. It was the soundtrack to the movie about the legendary black boxer Jack Johnson. I think that Miles horn was at its best here. No Harmon mute during most of it.

It's a long track, eleven minutes, and Miles does not come in until the 2 minute 40 mark. But how he comes in is classic, on the least obvious place - the 7th sixteenth on the 85th bar. Then it's none stop Miles blowing his heart out and the guitar in conversation with it.

Jimi Hendrix was a jazz musician. That statement may surprise you if your idea of jazz is an acoustic classical jazz trio. To me jazz is anything that constantly avoids the obvious progression and goes someplace new. Jimi's improvisations certainly did that, flying off at tangents into some other (possibly drug fuelled) universe.

I am not so misguided as to say this is exactly how Jimi would have played it, this is merely one of many possible outcomes. People forget just how good Jimi was. He was a force of nature and a virtuoso player so I don't claim my effort to be in his league. All I'm saying is, if I had a buck for every time I played Purple Haze in my youth, I'd be rich!

I've avoided the straightforward solo because well, I wouldn't know where to start. You couldn't just play Red House over it - plus there weren't any sections on the original that would fit. Mile's horn was sacrosanct, I wouldn't dare mess with that so I opted for the general remit of the Psychedelic approach! Jimi could make his guitar 'talk' by using feedback and his whammy bar (tremolo arm) on his Fender Stratocaster. That's what I ended up doing, by accident really. I just got in the zone and feverishly hit 'record' - I laid it down in pretty much in one take.

I'm a big fan of John McLaughlin who played guitar on the original session. I do what he did, weave an improvised rhythm track alongside Mile's horn. Sometimes not even notes just sounds. I put a bit of Jimi's narration because that's something he often did.

I hope you like it and receive it in the respectful spirit to which it was intended. I know some jazz purists might look down their noses at the very idea. To them I would say - look, jazz needs to evolve, not be left to die. If you still don't like it then I offer you Mile's favourite phrase - SO WHAT!
Benny Sutton

PS. I've also done other Miles tracks including In A Silent Way, Tutu, and So What. They are all honest stabs at paying homage to the top musician of the 20th Century.


Saturday, December 5, 2015

Brian Bromberg "Chameleon"

Jazz bassist extraordinaire, Brian Bromberg, covers Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" on his "Downright Upright" record.  This is cool.  Check it out.  Great band lineup, too.

Brian Bromberg - upright bass, piccolo bass
Rick Braun - trumpet, flugelhorn
Boney James, Gary Meek, Kirk Whalum - tenor saxophone
Lee Ritenour, Gannin Arnold - guitar
George Duke - piano
Jeff Lorber - piano, organ
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums


Friday, December 4, 2015

Alphonso Johnson "Balls To The Wall"

More proof, that 1976, was a breakout year for electric fusion jazz.  Check out another electric jazz bass master... Alphonso Johnson, and his composition, "Balls To The Wall".  The band lineup is:

Alphonso Johnson (electric bass)
Patrice Rushen (electric piano, clavinet)
Ian Underwood (synthesizers)
Ray Gomez (guitars)
Chester Thompson (drums)
Sheila Escovedo (congas)

Quite the band lineup.  All these players, are heavy hitters from the fusion scene.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Tony Williams' Lifetime, Live at Montreux Jazz Festival, June 13th, 1971

Check out this classic performance by another legendary jazz fusion band.  This is drummer Tony Williams, with his group, Lifetime, playing the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, on June 13th, 1971.  The band lineup:

Arthur Juini Booth - bass
Ted Dunbar - guitar
Warren Smith - percussion
Charles Don Alias - percussion
Larry Young (aka Khalid Yassin) - organ
Tony Williams - drums!

The set list:

1. Emergency
2. The Urchins Of Shermese
3. Some Hip Drum Shit
4. Circa 45
5. Big Nick

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Gabor Szabo "Song of Injured Love"

Gabor Szabo plays bowed upright bass as an accompaniment to classical guitar, on this lovely piece of music, called "Song of Injured Love".  Check it out.


Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Carlos Santana talks about Gabor Szabo

One famous guitarist (Carlos Santana), speaks of the importance, of another guitar great, from the world of jazz, who has been featured on this blog.  Gabor Szabo.  The film shows Szabo performing, as well.  Check it out.