The 50 Greatest Jazz Albums...Ever

More bonus?  Yes.  More bonus.  You win.  Check out the 50 Greatest Jazz Albums...Ever.  There are some familiar, and classic titles on it.

http://www.udiscovermusic.com/50-greatest-jazz-albums-ever

Bonus post: In Memoriam

Remembering two musicians, who have long since departed this world, but had an impact on the band's they played in.  We remember Led Zeppelin's great drummer, John Bonham, and, we remember, bassist Carl Radle, a core member of Derek & The Dominos, and Eric Clapton's solo bands in the 1970s, who passed away, 35 years ago.

John Bonham:
http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/pages/john_bonham

Carl Radle
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/carl-radle/

Skip's Spotify Sunday 5-31-15

B.B. King Studio Albums

B.B. King "The Blues"

1. Why Do Things Happen To Me
2. Ruby Lee
3. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer
4. Past Day
5. Boogie Woogie Woman
6. Early Every Morning
7. I Wanted To Get Married
8. That Ain't The Way To Do It
9. Troubles, Troubles, Troubles
10. Don't You Want A Man Like Me
11. You Know I Go For You
12. What Can I Do

B.B. King "Singin' The Blues"

1. Please Love Me
2. You Upset Me, Baby
3. Everyday I Have The Blues
4. Bad Luck
5. Three O'clock Blues
6. Blind Love
7. Woke Up This Morning (My Baby She Was Gone)
8. You Know I Love You
9. Sweet Little Angel
10. Ten Long Years
11. Did You Ever Love A Woman
12. Crying Won't Help You

B.B. King "Confessin' The Blues"

1. See See Rider
2. Do You Call That A Buddy
3. Wee Baby Blues
4. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water
5. In The Dark
6. Confessin' The Blues
7. Goin' To Chicago Blues
8. I'm Gonna Sit In 'Til You Give In
9. World Of Trouble
10. How Long, How Long Blues
11. Cherry Red
12. Please Send Me Someone To Love

B.B. King "Lucille"

1. Lucille
2. You Move Me So
3. Country Girl
4. No Money, No Luck Blues
5. I Need Your Love
6. Rainin' All The Time
7. I'm With You
8. Stop Putting The Hurt On Me
9. Watch Yourself

B.B. King "Blues On Top of Blues"

1. Heartbreaker
2. Losing Faith In You
3. Dance With Me
4. That's Wrong Little Mama
5. Having My Say
6. I'm Not Wanted Anymore
7. Worried Dream
8. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss
9. Until I Found You
10. I'm Gonna Do What They Do To Me
11. Raining In My Heart
12. Now That You've Lost Me

B.B. King "Completely Well"

1. So Excited
2. No Good
3. You're Losin' Me
4. What Happened
5. Confessin' The Blues
6. Key To My Kingdom
7. Cryin' Won't Help You Now
8. You're Mean
9. The Thrill Is Gone

B.B. King "Indianola Mississippi Seeds"

1. Nobody Loves Me But My Mother
2. You're Still My Woman
3. Ask Me No Questions - single version (feat. Leon Russell:
4. Until I'm Dead And Cold
5. King's Special - single version
6. Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore
7. Chains And Things - single version
8. Go Underground
9. Hummingbird

B.B. King "Guess Who"

1. Summer In The City (Lovin' Spoonful cover)
2. Just Can't Please You
3. Any Other Way
4. You Don't Know Nothin' About Love
5. Found What I Need
6. Neighborhood Affair
7. It Takes A Young Girl
8. Better Lovin' Man
9. Shouldn't Have Left Me
10. Five Long Years (Eddie Boyd cover)

B.B. King "To Know You Is To Love You"

1. I Like To Live The Love
2. Respect Yourself
3. Who Are You
4. Love
5. I Can't Leave
6. To Know You Is To Love You
7. Oh To Me
8. Thank You For Loving The Blues

B.B. King "Friends"

1. Friends
2. I Got Them Blues
3. Baby I'm Yours
4. Up At 5 AM
5. Philadelphia
6. When Everything Else Is Gone
7. My Song

B.B. King "King Size"

1. Don't You Lie To Me
2. I Wonder Why
3. Medley: I Just Want To Make Love To You/Your Lovin' Turns Me On
4. Slow & Easy
5. Got My Mojo Working (Willie Dixon cover)
6. Walkin' In The Sun
7. Mother Fuyer
8. The Same Love That Made Me
9. It's Just A Matter of Time

B.B. King "Midnight Believer"

1. When It All Comes Down (I'll Still Be Around)
2. Midnight Believer
3. I Just Can't Leave Your Love Alone
4. Hold On (I Feel Our Love Is Changing) (feat. The Crusaders)
5. Never Make A Move Too Soon
6. A World Full of Strangers (feat. The Crusaders)
7. Let Me Make You Cry A Little Longer

B.B. King "Take It Home"

1. Better Not Look Down - Single Version
2. Same Old Story (Same Old Song)
3. Happy Birthday Blues - single version
4. I've Always Been Lonely
5. Second Hand Woman
6. Tonight I'm Gonna Make You A Star
7. The Beginning of The End
8. A Story Everybody Knows
9. Take It Home

B.B. King "Love Me Tender"

1. One Of Those Nights
2. Love Me Tender
3. Don't Change On Me
4. (I'd Be) A Legend In My Time
5. You've Always Got The Blues
6. Nightlife/Please Send Me Someone To Love (Willie Nelson cover)/(Percy Mayfield cover)
7. You And Me, Me And You
8. Since I Met You Baby
9. Time Is A Thief
10. A World I Never Made

B.B. King "Blues 'N' Jazz"

1. Inflation Blues
2. Broken Heart
3. Sell My Monkey
4. Heed My Warning
5. Teardrops From My Eyes
6. Rainbow Riot
7. Darlin' You Know I Love You
8. Make Love To Me
9. I Can't Let You Go

B.B. King "Do The Boogie! B.B. King's Early '50s Classics"

1. Boogie Woogie Woman
2. Past Day
3. I Gotta Find My Baby
4. Bye Bye Baby
5. Woke Up This Morning (My Baby She Was Gone)
6. Please Love Me
7. Blind Love
8. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer
9. Whole Lotta Love
10. That Ain't The Way To Do It
11. Everyday (I Have The Blues)
12. Let's Do The Boogie
13. Dark Is The Night - Part 1
14. Dark Is The Night - Part 2
15. Why I Sing The Blues
16. Everything I Do Is Wrong
17. The Woman I Love
18. Jump With You Baby
19. Troubles, Troubles, Troubles
20. Crying Won't Help You

B.B. King "King of The Blues: 1989"

1. (You've Become A) Habit To Me
2. Drowning In The Sea of Love
3. Can't Get Enough (feat. Mick Fleetwood: guitar, & vocals, & Stevie Nicks: vocals)
4. Standing On The Edge
5. Go On
6. Let's Straighten It Out
7. Change In Your Lovin'
8. Undercover Man
9. Lay Another Log On The Fire
10. Business With My Baby Tonight
11. Take Off Your Shoes

B.B. King "Spotlight On Lucille"

1. Slidin' And Glidin'
2. Blues With B.B.
3. King of Guitar
4. Jump With B.B.
5. 38th Street Blues
6. Feedin' The Rock
7. Just Like A Woman
8. Step It Up
9. Calypso Jazz
10. Easy Listening Blues
11. Shoutin' The Blues
12. Powerhouse

B.B. King "The Best of B.B. King"

1. You Upset Me Baby
2. Everyday (I Have The Blues)
3. Five Long Years
4. Sweet Little Angel
5. Beautician Blues
6. Dust My Broom
7. Three O'Clock Blues
8. Ain't That Just Like A Woman
9. I'm King
10. Sweet Sixteen (Part I)
11. Sweet Sixteen (Part II)
12. A Whole Lotta Lovin'
13. Mean Old Frisco
14. Please Accept My Love
15. Going Down Slow
16. Blues For Me
17. You Don't Know
18. Early Every Morning
19. Blues At Sunrise
20. Please Love Me

B.B. King "There's Always One More Time"

1. I'm Moving On
2. Back In L.A.
3. The Blues Come Over Me
4. Fool Me Once
5. The Lowdown
6. Mean And Evil
7. Something Up My Sleeve
8. Roll, Roll, Roll
9. There's Always One More Time

B.B. King "Blues Summit"

1. Playin' With My Friends (feat. Robert Cray: guitar & vocals)
2. Since I Met You Baby (feat. Katie Webster: vocals)
3. I Pity The Fool (feat. Buddy Guy: guitar & vocals)
4. You Shook Me (feat. John Lee Hooker: guitar & vocals)
5. Something You Got (feat. Koko Taylor: vocals)
6. There's Something On Your Mind (feat. Etta James: vocals)
7. Little By Little (feat. Lowell Fulson: guitar & vocals)
8. Call It Stormy Monday (feat. Albert Collins: guitar & vocals)
9. Your The Boss (feat. Ruth Brown: vocals)
10. We're Gonna Make It (feat. Irma Thomas: vocals)
11. I Gotta Move Out of This Neighborhood/Nobody Loves Me But My Mother
12. Everybody's Had The Blues (feat. Joe Louis Walker: vocals)

Diane Schuur & B.B. King "Heart To Heart"

1. No One Ever Tells You
2. I Can't Stop Loving You
3. You Don't Know Me
4. It Had To Be You
5. I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket
6. Glory Of Love
7. Try A Little Tenderness
8. Spirit In The Dark
9. Freedom
10. At Last

B.B. King "Deuces Wild"

1. If You Love Me (feat. Van Morrison: vocals)
2. The Thrill Is Gone (feat. Tracy Chapman: vocals)
3. Rock Me Baby (feat. Eric Clapton: guitar & vocals)
4. Please Send Me Someone To Love (feat. Mick Hucknall: vocals)
5. Baby I Love You (feat. Bonnie Raitt: slide guitar & vocals)
6. Ain't Nobody Home (feat. D'Angelo: vocals)
7. Pauly's Birthday Boogie (feat. Jools Holland: piano & vocals)
8. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere (feat. Dr. John: piano & vocals)
9. Confessin' The Blues (feat. Marty Stuart: guitar & vocals)
10. Hummingbird (feat. Dionne Warwick: vocals)
11. Bring It On Home To Me (feat. Paul Carrack: vocals)
12. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss (feat. The Rolling Stones)
13. Let The Good Times Roll (feat. Zucchero: vocals)
14. Dangerous Mood (feat. Joe Cocker: vocals)
15. Keep It Coming (feat. Heavy D: rapping)
16. Cryin' Won't Help You Now (feat. Paul Carrack: keyboards & vocals, & David Gilmour: guitar)
17. Night Life (feat. Willie Nelson: guitar & vocals)

B.B. King "Blues On The Bayou"

1. Blues Boys Tune
2. Bad Case Of Love
3. I'll Survive
4. Mean Ole' World
5. Blues Man
6. Broken Promise
7. Darlin' What Happened
8. Shake It Up And Go
9. Blues We Like
10. Good Man Gone Bad
11. If I Lost You
12. Tell Me Baby
13. I Got Some Outside Help I Don't Need
14. Blues In G
15. If That Ain't It I Quit

B.B. King "Let The Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan"

1. Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
2. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (My Baby)
3. Beware, Brother, Beware
4. Somebody Done Changed The Lock On My Door
5. Ain't That Just Like A Woman
6. Choo Choo Ch'Boogie
7. Buzz Me
8. Early In The Mornin'
9. 1'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts of Town - 1999 Album Version
10. Jack, You're Dead!
11. Knock Me A Kiss
12. Let The Good Times Roll
13. Caldonia
14. It's A Great, Great Pleasure
15. Rusty Dusty Blues (Mama Mama Blues)
16. Sure Had A Wonderful Time Last Night
17. Saturday Night Fish Fry
18. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out

B.B. King "Makin' Love Is Good For You"

1. I Got To Leave This Woman
2. Since I Fell For You
3. I Know
4. Peace of Mind
5. Monday Woman
6. Ain't Nobody Like My Baby
7. Makin' Love Is Good For You
8. Don't Go No Farther
9. Actions Speak Louder Than Words
10. What You Bet
11. You're On Top
12. Too Good To You Baby
13. I'm In The Wrong Business
14. She's My Baby

Eric Clapton & B.B. King "Riding With The King"

1. Riding With The King
2. Ten Long Years
3. Key To The Highway
4. Marry You
5. Three O'Clock Blues
6. Help The Poor
7. I Wanna Be
8. Worried Life Blues
9. Days Of Old
10. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer
11. Hold On I'm Coming
12. Come Rain or Come Shine

B.B. King "Reflections"

1. Exactly Like You
2. On My Word of Honor - Album Version/re-record
3. I Want A Little Girl
4. I'll String Along With You
5. I Need You So
6. A Mother's Love - Album Version/re-record
7. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
8. Neighborhood Affair - 2003 Album Version
9. Tomorrow Night - Album Version/re-record
10. There I've Said It Again
11. Always On My Mind
12. Cross My Heart
13. What A Wonderful World

B.B. King & Friends "80"

1. Early In The Morning (feat. Van Morrison: vocals & harmonica)
2. Tired of Your Jive (feat. Billy Gibbons: guitar & vocals)
3. The Thrill Is Gone (feat. Eric Clapton: guitar & vocals)
4. Need Your Love So Bad (feat. Sheryl Crow: vocals)
5. Ain't Nobody Home (feat. Daryl Hall: vocals)
6. Hummingbird (feat. John Mayer: guitar)
7. All Over Again (feat. Mark Knopfler: guitar)
8. Drivin' Wheel (feat. Gleen Frey: vocals)
9. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere (feat. Gloria Estefan: vocals)
10. Never Make Your Move Too Soon (feat. Roger Daltrey: vocals)
11. Funny How Time Slips Away (feat. Bobby "Blue" Bland: vocals)
12. Rock This House (feat. Elton John: vocals)

B.B. King "One Kind Favor"

1. See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
2. I Get So Weary
3. Get These Blues Off Me
4. How Many More Years
5. Waiting For Your Call
6. My Love Is Down
7. The World Is Gone Wrong
8. Blues Before Sunrise
9. Midnight Blues
10. Backwater Blues
11. Sitting On Top Of The World
12. Tomorrow Night
13. My Baby Is Now (track not available on Spotify)
14. Just To Be With You (track not available on Spotify)
15. Haunted House (track not available on Spotify)


 

Stanley Clarke "Christmas In Rio"

From his 1993 record, "East River Drive", here is Stanley Clarke with the tune, "Christmas In Rio".  The band line up features:

Hubert Laws: flute
Jean Luc Ponty: violin
Stanley Clarke: tenor bass
Abraham Laboriel Sr.: bass
George Duke: keyboards
Michael Thompson: guitar
Carlos Vega: drums
Ramon Banda: percussion

How Atlanta's Fox Theatre Is Celebrating 40 Years Since Gregg Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Other Southern Rockers Saved It

Great story in Billboard magazine, about the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, is being saved, and preserved.

https://www.billboard.com/articles/magazine/6575661/how-atlantas-fox-theatre-is-celebrating-40-years-since-gregg-allman-lynyrd

Inside Booker T. and the MGs' stirring '90s-era comeback: 'it went by like a rocket'

When Booker T. & The MG's were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, in 1992, it didn't just cement their legacy, but it also put them back on the map, musically.

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2015/05/09/booker-t-and-the-mgs-steve-cropper-1990s-comeback/

The American Music Shop T.V. Show directed by Mark O'Connor

Folks.  Check out this playlist on YouTube, from legendary fiddle player, Mark O'Connor.  24 videos of 24 performances, from the TV show.  Read the description of each performance, on the right hand side of the screen, as they scroll through, and play automatically.  Have fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLfBSlaNrS1v3aILP0kVwOcclb4RMWKw5M&t=11&v=WnAknJMunao

Chazoids, lassos, and the blues: an interview with Col. Bruce Hampton

Col. Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit, are a band that has been featured on this blog before.  The guy is part madman, part musical genius, part mentor, (to some of the great players on today's jam band scene), and all around original artist. 

http://rockatnight.com/2015/05/chazoids-lassos-and-the-blues-an-interview-with-col-bruce-hampton/

In memoriam: Johnny Gimble

Rest In Peace, great American fiddler, Johnny Gimble.  To honor his memory, here's a song he did, simply titled, "Fiddlin' Around".  Watch the video, via YouTube.

Black Market Brass

Personal plug, from yours truly.  My brother, Charlie, plays bass, with this group.  Black Market Brass... a Twin Cities based Afro Beat band, combining elements of African music, jazz, and funk.  Dig it!

https://vimeo.com/128339647

Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, & Wayne Shorter - Live Miles Davis tribute "Jean Pierre"

Another tribute to Miles Davis, featuring Herbie Hancock on keyboards, Marcus Miller on bass, Wayne Shorter on soprano saxophone, Sean Jones on trumpet, and Sean Rieckman on drums.  The song is "Jean Pierre", written by Marcus Miller, and recorded on the 1981 double album, "We Want Miles".

Chris Potter, Christian McBride, & Lewis Nash "Solar"

Another tune to celebrate Miles Davis, the day after his 89th birthday.  This is "Solar" performed by the trio of Chris Potter on alto saxophone, Christian McBride on bass, and Lewis Nash, on drums.

Miles Davis "Tutu"/"That's What Happened"

A live jam by Miles Davis of "Tutu" and "That's What Happened" in 1987.

Miles Davis "So What"

Happy Birthday to the one and the only, Miles Davis, who would celebrate his 89th birthday, today.  In tribute to Miles, here's his composition, "So What", from the "Kind of Blue" record from 1959.  It features Davis on trumpet, John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Bill Evans, and Wynton Kelly, on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. 

2 B.B. King daughters allege 2 closest aides poisoned him

If the allegations are true, then, this is VERY scary.

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/05/25/2-b-b-king-daughters-allege-2-closest-aides-poisoned-him/21186953/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl3|sec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D295949181

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit "Dress Blues"

Happy Memorial Day, as we honor those who have served and sacrificed their lives, for our country.  To do so, here's Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit with "Dress Blues".

Gregg Allman "One Way Out" & new CD/DVD

This is a stellar version of "One Way Out" by the Gregg Allman Band, featuring Gregg's son Devon on lead guitar, and is a preview, for the band's new DVD/CD "Back To Macon, Georgia", set for release, in August.

concert review: Jeff Beck @ State Theater 5-23-15

Jeff Beck, is one of the most unique guitarists of his generation, deeply rooted in blues, rockabilly, and jazz, and can play all three styles equally well.  Saturday night at the State Theater in Minneapolis, Beck, and his band, which also includes Nicolas Meier on guitar, Rhonda Smith, on bass, Jonathan Joseph on drums, and Jimmy Hall, on vocals and harmonica, were firing on all cylinders.  The set list, melded more well known Jeff Beck songs (including many covers), with blues standards.  Beck is able to seamlessly bridge a gap, between jazz, and blues, very well.  No matter what style, his playing has raw intensity and fire, as well as dynamic brilliance.

He can use the whammy bar, the volume knob, and the tone knob of his Fender Stratocaster to paint landscapes of sound and pattern those sounds in large, even brushstrokes, or, small dots, dashes, and splatters, just as a painter does on a canvas.  With Jeff Beck, it is more, than just playing a long solo at any given time.  He also gave his band mates places to shine, particularly the aforementioned Rhonda Smith on bass, and Jimmy Hall (of '70s boogie rock fame with Wet Willie), a chance to show his harmonica chops and spirited, soul drenched vocals.

Hall, played with Jeff Beck, in the early 1970s... around 1973.  So, he's no stranger to this lineup, even if some of the other members of the band, are slightly newer, but still, veteran players.  Some of the memorable songs from the evening included, mainly, instrumentals such as "You Know, You Know" by Mahavishnu Orchestra, "Hammerhead", and "Big Block".

Then came Beck's own readings of covers ranging from "Superstition" and "'Cause We've Ended As Lovers" by Stevie Wonder, brilliantly done, to an instrumental, as Jeff Beck put it, "about a girl, called Nadia".  "Nadia", is one of Beck's most recognizable tunes, even though Nitin Sawhney, is the songwriter.  Sawhney is a British Indian musician, who combines Indian, World, and electronic music into his style.

Other renditions of tunes the band pulled off, delved deeply, into the blues and into soul music.  Jeff Beck added his own unique twists to songs like "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come", and "A Day In The Life" by The Beatles, before he, and Jimmy Hall, led the band into an awesome blues driven section of the set, before the finale.  The band did their takes on songs like "Rollin' & Tumblin' ", a blues written by Hambone Willie Newbern, and  Freddie King's "Going Down", written by songwriter Don Nix.

For the encore, Beck played the great ballad "Danny Boy" instrumental, and closed, in tribute to the late, B.B. King, with "The Thrill Is Gone", with Jimmy Hall delivering a stirring vocal.  The nostalgic blues, and instrumentals, all fit together, perfectly.  After the show, yours truly, and, my brother, Charlie, had a chance, to meet, and chat briefly, with a couple members of the band.  Drummer, Jonathan Joseph, and, Jimmy Hall.  That was the cherry on the sundae for what turned out to be, a fantastic show.

Robin Trower "The Thrill Is Gone"

Robin Trower, does a haunting cover of the late B.B. King's best known tune, "The Thrill Is Gone".  It appears on his 2012 record, "Roots & Branches".

B.B. King & Friends "Everyday I Have The Blues"

Check out this performance by B.B. King of "Everyday I Have The Blues" featuring a whole bunch of his musical pals, from a concert on August 28th, 1993, at Cynthia Mitchell Pavilion in Woodlands, Texas.  B.B. is joined by quite the cast.  Junior Wells on harmonica, Gregg Allman on Hammond B3, Buddy Guy, Lonnie Brooks, and Eric Johnson on guitars, and Koko Taylor on vocals.

Buddy Guy (feat. B.B. King) "Stay Around A Little Longer"

A great, bluesy gospel tune by Buddy Guy and B.B. King, called "Stay Around A Little Longer".  This one is a fitting memorial, to B.B.  Rest In Peace, "The King of The Blues".

B.B. King & Van Morrison "Early In The Morning"

B.B. King tributes, continue to roll in.  Read in a magazine article, a fitting quote.  "B.B. King doesn't just play the blues.  He IS the blues!"  Too true!  Dig this cut of the blues standard "Early In The Morning", with B.B., and Van Morrison.

B.B. King, Little Milton, Roscoe Gordon, & Ike Turner "Three O'Clock Blues"

More memories of B.B. King.  Here he is, performing "Three O'Clock Blues", and adding excerpts from "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother", and "Let The Good Times Roll" with Little Milton, Roscoe Gordon, and Ike Turner.

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers "Keep On Smilin' "

For their encore/finale at Blast Furnace Blues, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers do a great cover of Wet Willie's "Keep On Smilin' ".  Check it out.

Derek Trucks on B.B. King 'We're All His Kids'

Great interview with Derek Trucks about B.B. King and who he was not just as a guitarist, but also, as a person, in Rolling Stone magazine.  Attached to the article, is the same video posted here, yesterday, of B.B. playing a gig in Africa, circa 1974.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/derek-trucks-on-b-b-king-were-all-his-kids-20150515

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers "Serves You Right To Suffer"

A few more songs coming up from Tommy Castro & The Painkiller's gig at Blast Furnace Blues in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, before moving on to other subjects of musical note, on the blog.  Here's his version of John Lee Hooker's "Serves You Right To Suffer".

Spotify listings

I know you are used to seeing Spotify Sunday listings every week, folks.  Well, lots has been happening lately, and there has not been time to work on the listings.  So, for the time being, Spotify Sunday, will be taking a short break.  However, it will be back into the rotation, soon.  Yours truly has some ideas.  So, it will be worth the wait.

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers "When My Left Eye Jumps"

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers at Blast Furnace Blues, playing, Buddy Guy's "When My Left Eye Jumps"... a song that Guy originally recorded in 1962.

B.B. King "Why I Sing The Blues" live in Africa, 1974

Check out B.B. King performing a spirited version of his song "Why I Sing The Blues" along with some wicked rhythm guitar from Larry Carlton, in a live concert in Africa, circa 1974.

B.B. King, Eric Clapton, & George Benson "Rock Me Baby"

More memories of B.B. King.  Here he is performing, "Rock Me Baby", with Eric Clapton and George Benson.

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers "Leaving Trunk"

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, once again, from Blast Furnace Blues, playing the blues standard, made famous by Taj Mahal... "Leaving Trunk".

B.B. King "Live at The Regal" - 1965

50 years ago, B.B. King released one of, if not his greatest album.  "Live At The Regal" was recorded and released, in 1965.

The track listing:

1. Everyday I Have The Blues
2. Sweet Little Angel
3. It's My Own Fault
4. How Blue Can You Get
5. You Upset Me, Baby
6. Worry, Worry
7. Woke Up This Mornin'
8. You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now
9. Help The Poor

B.B. King, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi "You Are My Sunshine"

More memories of B.B. King.  Here he is, in 2010, performing with Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, playing, "You Are My Sunshine" live at Royal Albert Hall.

In memoriam: B.B. King

Rest In Peace, "The King of The Blues", B.B. King.  He died at age 89, from complications due to diabetes, which he'd battled for two decades.  Rest In Peace, B.B. King.

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/05/15/king-of-the-blues-blues-legend-b-b-king-dead-at-89/21183697/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl2|sec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D1471483389

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers "The Devil You Know"

Another song from Tommy Castro & The Painkillers at Blast Furnace Blues in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  This is "The Devil You Know".

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers "Make It Back To Memphis"

More from Tommy Castro & The Painkillers at Blast Furnace Blues.  Here's the song "Make It Back To Memphis".

concert review: Rush R40 @ Xcel Energy Center May 12, 2015

One factor of a band's legacy, is their longevity.  Longevity, stems from a solid fan base.  One of the last surviving power trio rock bands, Rush, has a legacy, longevity, a definite, hardcore fan base, and musical talent in spades.  All three original members (guitarist, Alex Lifeson, bassist/vocalist/synthesizer player, Geddy Lee, and drummer, Neal Peart), have actually been performing together, since the late 1960s.  They are one of rock & roll's last true power trio's.  They released their first album in 1974, and 40+ years later, have decided, this, is their last hurrah.

Yours truly, saw the band, in 2010, at the Minnesota State Fair.  Back then, it was the more well known records like 1975's "Fly By Night" or, "2112", released in 1976, and especially, 1981's "Moving Pictures", which has to be their best known recording.  This time however, it was their records from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, that took center stage.  While the music was the show's centerpiece, the band also showed these kooky video montages for opening and closing the sets, that introduced new fans, and also, treated the diehard veterans, to Rush's collective, genial sense of humor, that meshes well, with their thought provoking lyrics, and musical virtuosity.

The band opened with the tune "The Anarchist", from their most recent record... "Clockwork Angels", released in 2012.  "Headlong Flight" (also from this recording), was another early set feature, as were, "Far Cry", and "The Main Monkey Business", released on 2007's "Snakes & Arrows" album, followed by "One Little Victory" from 2002's "Vapor Trails".  Then, after the newer tunes took their turn, it was time to throw the time machine, into high gear.  Ironically, that was the name of the last tour that yours truly saw Rush on... the Time Machine tour, back in 2010.

The next layer of the show, delved into material from the band's 1980s and 1990s work, which was a first, for yours truly, in some respects.  1991's "Roll The Bones" and "Distant Early Warning", which meant a shift into the band's slightly more recognizable 1980s material, from the 1984 "Grace Under Pressure" recording.  Set two opened with the instrumental "YYZ" and "Tom Sawyer", which did come from "Moving Pictures".  So that album, was partially represented in the show, to the delight of perhaps, more casual fans.  However, with a band like Rush, the term "casual fan" need not apply.

"The Spirit of Radio", "Cyagnus", and two songs from 1976's "2112", seemed to usher in the true fan favorites of the Rush catalog.  The cherry on the sundae, seemed to be the tune "Xanadu", the first cut off of 1977's "A Farewell To Kings".  Yours truly learned a lot about the catalog of the band from last night's show and is putting the puzzle together, in this review.  For "Xanadu", the most exciting aspect, was the use of double neck guitars.  A Gibson EDS 1275 for Alex Lifeson, and Geddy Lee, playing a Rickenbacker double neck bass.  Lots of sounds, can be created by a guitarist, when you have two necks, with different numbers of strings on each.

"Jacob's Ladder" and "Cygnus X-1" in it's various parts and phases, also wowed fans.  Let us not forget one of the biggest hits in Rush's catalog, from "2112"... "Closer To The Heart"... a semi acoustic number.  The encore brought together songs from the earliest of Rush's works.  It included "Lakeside Park" from 1975's "Caress of Steel" record, "Anthem" (revisiting the aforementioned "Fly By Night" album), and the encore... was a real treat for the Rush faithful.  Two songs, from their very first recording.  1974's "Rush", including "What You're Doing", and a staple of their live shows, the ever crowd pleasing, "Working Man".

Rush, has proved for the last 40 years, that a power trio, can really be as much as a band might need to be on stage.  Guitar, bass, and drums... still works.  Oh, and Geddy Lee, also, has mastered the art of a Moog synthesizer, to boot, and that too, came to the fore, on some of the tracks.  With Rush hanging up their hats and retiring, at the end of this year, will power trio bands, still be a part of the musical landscape?  Only time will tell.  But, these three, (Alex, Geddy, and Neal), have shown how effective, and awesome, a power trio can be, for the better part, of four decades.


Rush set list - Xcel Energy Center - 5/12/15

Set 1:

1. The Anarchist
2. Clockwork Angels
3. Headlong Flight (with Drumbastica mini drum solo)
4. Far Cry
5. The Main Monkey Business
6. One Little Victory
7. Animate
8. Roll The Bones (with celebrity rappers video)
9. Distant Early Warning
10. Subdivisions

Set 2:

11. Tom Sawyer
12. YYZ
13. The Spirit of Radio
14. Natural Science
15. Jacob's Ladder
16. Cygnus X-1 Book 2: Hemispheres - Prelude
17. Cygnus X-1 Book 1: The Voyage - Part 1
18. Drum Solo
19. Cygnus X-1 Book 1: The Voyage - Part 3
20. Closer To The Heart
21. Xanadu (with double neck guitars)
22. 2112/Overture/The Temples of Syrinx/Presentation/Grand Finale

Encore:

23. Lakeside Park
24. Anthem
25. What You're Doing
26. Working Man (with Garden Road riff, at the end)

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers "Nasty Habits"

As promised, more from Tommy Castro & The Painkillers from their gig at Blast Furnace Blues.  This one is called "Nasty Habits".  There's more to come from these guys.  Stay tuned.

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers "Calling San Francisco"

Great song by blues band, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers.  This is "Calling San Francisco", performed recently at Blast Furnace Blues at the ArtQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The band features:

Tommy Castro: guitar & vocals
Randy McDonald: bass
James Pace: keyboards
Bowen Brown: drums

At 70, Keith Jarrett Is Learning How To Bottle Inspiration

An interview, with Keith Jarrett, who celebrated his 70th birthday, last Friday.

http://www.npr.org/2015/05/10/404975326/at-70-keith-jarrett-is-learning-how-to-bottle-inspiration

John Coltrane Quartet - "Impressions" - France, 1966

For jazz lovers, and pure musicians, this is the stuff you need to check out.  John Coltrane Quartet, in France, circa 1966.  Saxophonist Dave Liebman, put a description on his Facebook fan page.  Here is that description.

***

Incredibly there is still some Coltrane that even I have not seen, like this amazingly, most intense version that I know of the group playing "Impressions" from Antibes, France, July 1965. We already are familiar with the few minutes of filmed "Love Supreme" the group performed there and of course the full performance on CD, but this clip is from the night before. A few things for musicians to note: This is the beginning of the last stage of Trane's evolution which will a few months later result in a change of personnel and repertoire. But for now the Classic Quartet is alive and well playing at an even more intense level than previously. Note first of all in Jimmy Garrison's long intro solo around 9 minutes when he starts to play a walking bass line, the way he accents and emphasizes the beat…how swinging even just that standing alone is!! Also both McCoy and especially Trane towards the end of his solo play quite a bit of what I term "over the time" meaning that the rhythmic content is "seemingly" unrelated to the ongoing and basically stationary pulse played by the group. This is a short form of what at times I saw live in New York could be over an hour in length, but it has everything…..McCoy "strolling"….Trane and Elvin going head to head, etc.

But most of all FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES JAZZ, this is the SHIT!!--This is why I and surely others went into this music. The commitment, the non-show biz atmosphere, the honesty, intensity and sophisticated musical ideas are top of the line. It doesn't get better!

***

I agree with Liebman.  This is epic!  Dig it!

Skip's Spotify Sunday 5-10-15

Larry Gray "Solo + Quartet"

1. Blame It On My Youth
2. Baby Cynthia's Waltz
3. Change Partners
4. Who Is The Drummer?
5. Introspection/Sorrow
6. Bird Leaves
7. Song For Bobby Hutcherson

Larry Gray "1, 2, 3..."

1. No Doubt
2. Family
3. Song of the Innocents
4. Monk And Duke
5. More Than A Few
6. Reflect
7. Who Is The Drummer?
8. One Look
9. Soffia's Dream
10. Meditation In D
11. Far And Away
12. Portals
13. E-e-e-lectricity

Foghat live in 1974

Here is the original lineup of Foghat, on the Don Kirschner's Rock Concert TV show, at their absolute best, circa 1974, with Lonesome Dave Peverett on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Rod Price on lead and slide guitar, Tony Stevens on bass, and Roger Earl on drums.  There were other bands on the bill for this gig.  The set list is:

1. Hate To See You Go
2. Eight Days On The Road
3. Chateau Lafitte '59 Boogie
4. Dreamer
5. Maybelline (Chuck Berry cover)

The Legacy of Robert Johnson

Bonus post.  Today would mark the 104th birthday of the great Robert Johnson.  The blues legend was born on this date, in 1911, in Hazelhurst, Mississippi.

http://www.udiscovermusic.com/the-legacy-of-robert-johnson

B.B. King "The Thrill Is Gone"

Sending prayers and well wishes for the great Mr. B.B. King.  Yours truly saw him in concert with the late, great Etta James, and Al Green, in 2007.  Here is his classic tune "The Thrill Is Gone", performed at the 1993 Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland.

Keith Jarrett - solo concert, Tokyo, Japan, 1984

Happy Birthday, to the great jazz pianist, Keith Jarrett.  Here is his solo concert, from Tokyo, Japan, in 1984.

Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall II., & Derek Trucks "Let It Rain"

From Eric Clapton's 70th birthday concert that was held recently, here is a smoking version of "Let It Rain", from EC's self titled debut solo album circa 1970, with his fellow guitar slingers (and 2006-2007 world tour band mates), Doyle Bramhall II. and Derek Trucks.

Cream reunion concerts at Royal Albert Hall

A bonus post.  Ten years ago in early May, Cream, reunited, for four concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  A DVD of the performance was released.  Here is that show, in it's entirety, including songs, taken, from all four performances.

Dick Dale & The Del Tones "Misirlou"

Something a little different.  Here's surf guitar king, Dick Dale, (who celebrated a birthday, on Monday), with his best known surf instrumental... "Misirlou".  This performance, is taken from a movie called "The Swingin' Affair", which was released, in 1963.

Muddy Waters, Live in Dortmund, Germany, 1976

A concert by Muddy Waters, in Dortmund, Germany, recorded on October 29th, 1976.

The band lineup:

Muddy Waters: guitar & vocals
Bob Margolin: guitar
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith: drums
Jerry Portnoy: harmonica
Luther "Guitar" Johnson: guitar
Pinetop Perkins: piano

The set list:

1. Intro & After Hours
2. Soon Forgotten
3. Howlin' Wolf Blues
4. Hoochie Coochie Man
5. Blow Wind Blow
6. Can't Get No Grindin'
7. Long Distance Call
8. Got My Mojo Workin'
9. Got My Mojo Workin' (First Encore)
10. Theme
11.  Got My Mojo Workin' (Second Encore)

Ron Carter "Yellow & Green"

Monday bonus post!  Happy Birthday to the great jazz bassist, Ron Carter.  Here he is, playing the title track, "Yellow & Green" from his 1976 album of the same name.  The band includes:

Ron Carter: bass
Don Grolnick: Rhodes piano
Hugh McCracken: harmonica
Billy Cobham: drums

Eric Clapton Isolated Guitar: While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Dig this.  The solo, by Eric Clapton, isolated, from "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles.  This was found on the blog of author/writer, Tom Caswell.  You can check out the story, and listen to the audio of Clapton's isolated solo, HERE:

https://tomcaswell.wordpress.com/2015/04/09/eric-clapton-isolated-guitar-while-my-guitar-gently-weeps/

The Allman Brothers Band "The Sky Is Crying"

Another great performance, from the Allman Brothers Band.  Here's the Derek & Warren lineup, playing Elmore James' classic, "The Sky Is Crying" at their 2011 performance at the Orpheum Theater in Boston, Massachusetts.  Show date is December 3rd, 2011.

Skip's Spotify Sunday 5-3-15

Muhal Richard Abrams "Afrisong"

1. Afrisong
2. The Infinitive Flow
3. Peace On You
4. Hymn To The East
5. Roots
6. Blues For M.
7. The New People

Muhal Richard Abrams & Malachi Favors "Sightsong"

(Malachi Favors: bass)

1. W.w. [Dedicated to Wilbur Ware]
2. J.G. [Dedicated to Johnny Griffin]
3. Sightsong/Two Over One
4. Way Way Way Down Yonder
5. Panorama
6. Unitry [Dedicated to the AACM]

Muhal Richard Abrams "1- Oqa + 19"

(feat. Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton, Leonard Jones, & Steve McCall)

1. Charlie In The Parker
2. Balladi
3. Arhythm Songy
4. Oqa
5. Ritob

Muhal Richard Abrams "Spihumonesty"

(feat. Amina Claudine Myers, Youseff Yancy, Jay Clayton, George Lewis, Leonard Jones, & Roscoe Mitchell)

1. Triverse
2. Inneroutersight
3. Unichange
4. Spihumonesty

Muhal Richard Abrams "Duet" (feat. Amina Claudine Myers: vocals)

1. Transparency of Lobo Lubu
2. Miss Amina
3. Swang Rag Swang
4. Down The Street from The Gene Ammons Public School
5. Journey Home As Seen Through The Fairness of Life
6. Dance From The East
7. One For Peggy

Muhal Richard Abrams "Blues Forever"

(feat. Baikida Carroll, Howard Johnson, Vincent Chancey, Eugene Ghee, Jean-Paul Bourelly, Michael Logan, Andrew Cyrille, Jimmy Vass, Craig Harris, & Wallace McMillan)

1. Ancient And Future Reflections
2. King (Dedicated to Duke Ellington)
3. Chambea
4. Duet For One World
5. Blues Forever
6. Cluster For Many Worlds
7. Quartet To Quartet

Muhal Richard Abrams "Colors In Thirty-third"

(feat. Dave Holland, Andrew Cyrille, John Purcell, John Blake, & Fred Hopkins)

1. Drumman Cyrille
2. Miss Richards
3. Munktmunk
4. Soprano Song
5. Piano-Cello Song
6. Colors In Thirty-Third
7. Introspection

Muhal Richard Abrams "Blu Blu Blu"

(feat. Patience Higgins, Eugene Ghee, Robert De Bellis, Jack Walrath, Joel Brandon, Brad Jones, Warren Smith, David Fiuczynski, Alfred Patterson, Joseph Daley, Mark Taylor, John Purcell, Brent Bagwell, & Lindsey Horner)

1. Plus Equal Minus Balance
2. Cycles Five
3. Bloodline
4. Septone
5. Blu Blu Blu
6. Petsrof
7. One For The Whistler
8. Stretch Time

Muhal Richard Abrams "Familytalk"

(feat. Patience Higgins, Brad Jones, Jack Walrath, Warren Smith, & Reggie Nicholson)

1. Meditation 1
2. Drumbutu
3. Dizbirdmunkbudmax (A Tribute)
4. Familytalk
5. Illuso
6. Present And Future/Sound Image of The Past

Muhal Richard Abrams "One Line, Two Views"

(feat. Mark Feldman, Tony Cedras, Marty Ehrlich, Patience Higgins, Anne LeBaron, & Eddie Allen)
 
1. Textures 95
2. The Prism 3
3. Hydepth
4. Tribute To Julius Hemphill & Don Pullen
5. One Line, Two Views
6. 11 Over 4
7. Ensemble Song

Muhal Richard Abrams "Focus One Think All"

(feat. David Gilmore, Eugene Ghee, Eddie Allen, Brad Jones, Alfred Patterson, & Reggie Nicholson)

1. Before And After
2. Harmonic Veil
3. Crossbeams
4. Junction
5. Scaledance
6. Encore
7. Focus One Think All

Muhal Richard Abrams & Marty Ehrlich "Open Air Meeting"

1. Marching With Honor
2. Dark Sestina
3. Crossbeams
4. The Price of The Ticket
5. Bright Canto
6. Blues To You

Muhal Richard Abrams "Song For All"

(feat. Aaron Stewart, Eddie Allen, Brad Jones, Craig Harris, & Reggie Nicholson)

1. Song For All
2. Dabadubada
3. Marching With Honor
4. Gmbr
5. Over The Same Over
6. Linetime
7. Steamin' Up The Road
8. Imagine

Muhal Richard Abrams "The Visibility of Thought"

1. Duet for Contrabass and Piano
2. Duet for Violin and Piano
3. Baritone Voice And String Quartet
4. Piano Duet #1
5. The Visibility of Thought
6. Piano Improvisation

Roscoe Mitchell Quartet "Live at A Space: 1975"

(Roscoe Mitchell, George Lewis, Muhal Richard Abrams, & Spencer Barefield)

1. Prelude to Naima
2. Naima
3. Tnoona
4. Music for Trombone & B Flat Soprano
5. Cards
6. Olobo
7. Dastura
8. Nonaah
 

In Memoriam: Ben E. King

Rest In Peace, soul singer, Ben E. King.  This is "Stand By Me", his best known song.

Chris Potter Quartet "7, 5"

Check out jazz saxophonist Chris Potter (featured numerous times on this blog already), with his quartet band, playing the composition "7, 5" in 2004 for a TV Slovenia broadcast.  The band is:

Chris Potter - Tenor Saxophone
Kevin Hays - Piano
Scott Colley - Bass
Bill Stewart - Drums

B.B. King in home hospice care, his website says

The great blues legend, BB King, is not doing well, and is in home hospice care at this time.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-bb-king-hospice-20150501-story.html

Gregg Allman Band "Midnight Rider"

Here is another song from The Gregg Allman Band's New Year's Eve gig at The Georgia Theater.  This is the solo version of "Midnight Rider", which Gregg plays on guitar, and it sounds very different from the Allman Brothers version.  Gregg originally recorded this version, as the very first track on his first solo record... 1973's "Laid Back".  Allman and the band, played it at their March show at the Pantages Theater, and it was a definite hit with the fans, including yours truly.