Thursday, March 31, 2016

Zappa Plays Zappa (feat. Allan Holdsworth) "Treacherous Cretins"

Interpret this song title as you will.  But, this is some massive guitar jamming here, with Dweezil Zappa and Allan Holdsworth, playing the tune by Dweezil's dad, Frank, called "Treacherous Cretins".  Zappa holds the rhythm, and lets Holdsworth fly on this thing!  A monster track.  From a fan video of a Zappa Plays Zappa performance at the Canyon Club in Agora Hills, California, on February 20th, 2012.


Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Happy Birthday, Eric Clapton!

March 30th, marks Eric Clapton's 71st birthday.  Not sure how much longer Clapton plans on touring regularly.  But, here, to celebrate, is an alternate take of "Layla" by Derek & The Dominoes from the sessions for their seminal studio release, "Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs", circa 1970.


John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, & Paco de Lucia: A Meeting of The Spirits, 1979

A 1979 concert, featuring jazz guitar virtuosos John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, and Paco de Lucia, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, in London, England, on Valentine's Day.


Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Gino Vannelli "Brother To Brother" (1978)


Gino Vannelli's 1978 track "Brother To Brother", featuring a great rhythm section including Carlos Rios on guitar, Jimmy Haslip (from The Yellowjackets), on bass, and the late, great, Mark Craney, on drums. 

Monday, March 28, 2016

Duane Allman & Johnny Jenkins "I Walk On Gilded Splinters"

Duane Allman and Johnny Jenkins' cover of Dr. John's "I Walk On Gilded Splinters".  It was recorded on Jenkins' "Ton Ton Macoute" album, and also released on Volume 2 of the Duane Allman Anthology.  Check this out.


Sunday, March 27, 2016

Miles Davis & Lester Young: November 2, 1956 at the Salle Pleyel, Paris, France "Lady Be Good"

Miles Davis on trumpet, and Lester Young on tenor saxophone, play the Salle Pleyel, in Paris, France, on November 2nd, 1956.  The rhythm section, features Rene Urtreger on piano, Pierre Michelot, on bass, and on drums, Christian Garros.  The tune, is George Gershwin's "Lady Be Good".


Saturday, March 26, 2016

The Allman Brothers Band "One Way Out", Germany, 1991


Today, would mark, the 47th anniversary, of the Allman Brothers Band's founding, in Jacksonville, Florida.  March 26th, 1969, to be exact.  Let us venture, to Germany, and the Ohne Filter Music Pub, circa 1991.  From one of the few (and probably the last), European tour that the Allman Brothers ever did, here is a sizzling version of "One Way Out", with what also sounds, like a tease, of Freddie King's (by way of songwriter, Don Nix), "Going Down", in the middle of it.  Dickey Betts is absolutely on fire, with his gold top Les Paul, plugged into his Soldano SLO 100 amp, running through a  JBL D120F loaded Marshall 4x12 cabinet, for you guitar geeks out there.  This jam, is massive!  Dig it, baby!

Friday, March 25, 2016

Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather Band, The Paris Concert, 2005

The title of this one, says it all.  Two guitar masters.  Mind blowing playing from both.  Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather Band, The Paris Concert, 2005.  Dig it!


Thursday, March 24, 2016

Loretta Lynn & Willie Nelson "Lay Me Down"

For the first time, in 31 years, country music legends Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn, sing a duet.  The tune is called "Lay Me Down", written by Lynn's son-in-law, Mark Marchetti.


Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Barbara Dennerlein "Take Off"

Sweet track by jazz Hammond B3 master, Barbara Dennerlein.  This is the title track to her 1995 record "Take Off".  The band lineup is:

Dennis Chambers - drums
Mitch Watkins - electric guitar
Barbara Dennerlein - Hammond B3
Don Alias - percussion
Lonnie Plaxico - bass
Mike Sim - soprano / tenor saxophone
Roy Hargrove - trumpet
Joe Locke - vibraphone 


Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Adam Holzman & Brave New World "Tuesday"

From their 2010 record, "Spork", here's jazz fusion outfit Adam Holzman & Brave New World, playing the track, "Tuesday", from their "Spork" record.  The band lineup is:

Adam Holzman - keyboards
Mitch Stein - guitar
Freddy Cash Jr. - bass
Abe Fogle - drums
Aaron Heick - saxophone

Monday, March 21, 2016

Zappa Plays Zappa Star Wars Theme/"Inca Roads"

From a concert in Amsterdam, Holland, here is Dweezil Zappa, and Zappa Plays Zappa, playing "Inca Roads", with the theme from Star Wars starting the tune.  Check it out.


Sunday, March 20, 2016

George Duke, Alphonso Johnson, & Chester Thompson "Old Slippers" Live at The Village Vanguard, New York City June 23rd, 1975

Check out this live track from the trio of George Duke on keys, Alphonso Johnson on bass, and Chester Thompson, on drums.  This is "Old Slippers", taken from the trio's live performance at the Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village, in New York City, on June 23rd, 1975.


Saturday, March 19, 2016

Bill Bruford "The Abingdon Chasp"

From jazz fusion drummer Bill Bruford's 1979 record "One of A Kind", here is a tune called "The Abingdon Chasp".  Check it out.


Friday, March 18, 2016

Jaco Pastorius Big Band, & Weather Report "Elegant People"



Revisiting a song yours truly posted a cover version of, some time ago.  This is Jaco Pastorius' "Elegant People".  Two versions of the tune, are presented, here.  One, by the Jaco Pastorius Big Band, and the other, a recording, by Weather Report, taken from a live concert in Offenbach, Germany, on September 29th, 1978.


Thursday, March 17, 2016

Time Will Come: An Interview with Tabah

Check this out.  Another feature on Tabah, the band, that my brother Charlie plays bass with.  This is quite the read.

http://www.mugatunes.com/news/rhx0yprfobnf2y94brj6lvegkcvqbc16

Grateful Dead "Scarlet Begonias"/"Fire On The Mountain"

Another Grateful Dead medley from "Fare Thee Well".  From July 3rd, 2015 in Chicago, here's "Scarlet Begonias" and "Fire On The Mountain".


Grateful Dead "Lost Sailor"/"Saint of Circumstance"

More from the "Fare Thee Well" shows.  This tune, by The Grateful Dead, is actually, a medley of two songs, from their July 4th, 2015 show, in Chicago.  The penultimate night, of "Fare Thee Well" on Independence Day.  The tunes are "Lost Sailor" and "Saint of Circumstance".


Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck "Moon River"

From their "Together & Apart" concert, in London in 2010, on the opening night of that run of shows, here are Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton, playing "Moon River".


Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Terje Rypdal Trio, 1973

Check out, in a video from a French TV broadcast, a psychedelic jazz trio from Norway, led by guitarist Terje Rypdal.  This is reminiscent, of a cross, between Jimi Hendrix, and "Bitches Brew" era Miles Davis, with John McLaughlin.  The band features Rypdal, along with Sveinung Hovensgo on bass, and drummer, Jon Christens.


Monday, March 14, 2016

Everybody Is a Star: How the Rock Club First Avenue Made Minneapolis the Center of Music in the '80s

Pitchfork magazine, looks at the history and popularity of First Avenue, in Minneapolis, and how the venue did much, to make the city a musical hub during the 1980s.

http://pitchfork.com/features/article/9832-everybody-is-a-star-how-the-rock-club-first-avenue-made-minneapolis-the-center-of-music-in-the-80s/


Don Henley Confirms the Eagles Will Not Continue After Glenn Frey's death

Glad I saw them when I did, back in 2008.  Don Henley, has indeed confirmed, that after Glenn Frey's death, The Eagles, will not continue.

http://www.jambands.com/news/2016/03/13/don-henley-confirms-the-eagles-will-not-continue-after-glenn-frey-s-death

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Allman Brothers Band's Legendary 1971 Fillmore East Run: An Oral History

The title of the interview with Rolling Stone magazine, says it all.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/allman-brothers-bands-legendary-1971-fillmore-east-run-an-oral-history-20160311


The Allman Brothers Band Recorded Live at Fillmore East, 45 Years Ago

Bonus post alert!  Perhaps, the best ever live record, by any band, ever.  The Allman Brothers Band, recorded "Live At Fillmore East", 45 years ago, today.

http://liveforlivemusic.com/news/the-allman-brothers-band-recorded-live-at-fillmore-east-45-years-ago/




Brecker Brothers "Some Skunk Funk"

Blogged about an album this tune was on, and may or may not have blogged the original Billy Cobham version yet.  But here are the Brecker Brothers, (Randy on trumpet, and the late, great, Michael, on tenor saxophone), along with Mike Stern on guitar, George Whitty on keys, James Genus on bass, and Dennis Chambers, on drums, playing a live version of "Some Skunk Funk", circa 1992.


Saturday, March 12, 2016

Gregg Allman Band Is Recording A New Album In Muscle Shoals Right Now

FYI, fans.  Yours truly, saw Gregg Allman, for a fifth time, with his solo band, almost a year ago, when they were on tour, here at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis.  Well, now, the band is deep into recording a brand new record, with Gregg, and here are all the details, in an article published on Live For Live Music, last Monday.

http://liveforlivemusic.com/news/gregg-allman-band-is-recording-a-new-album-in-muscle-shoals-right-now/


Al di Meola, Jaco Pastorius, & Alphonse Mouzon "Golden Dawn Suite"

A rare, funky fusion jam, featuring legendary players, Al di Meola on guitar, Jaco Pastorius on bass, and Alphonse Mouzon, on drums, and keyboards (Rhodes piano and Moog synthesizer).  This track is nuts!


Friday, March 11, 2016

In Memoriam: Keith Emerson

Rest In Peace, legendary keyboardist for prog rock revolutionaries Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, Keith Emerson.  To pay tribute, in the article, there are two songs.  "Hoedown" and "Lucky Man".

http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/03/11/470119610/remembering-keith-emerson-a-prog-rock-legend?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nprmusic&utm_term=music&utm_content=20160311

...And, another article, teamrock.com.

http://prog.teamrock.com/news/2016-03-11/keith-emerson-dead-at-71

Allman Brothers Band (feat. Jimmy Herring) "Les Brers In A Minor"

From the fourth, of their five original great albums, in a couple of the early incarnations of the band, here are the Allman Brothers Band, with their 2001-2014 lineup, of Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Oteil Burbridge, Butch Trucks, Jaimoe, and Marc Quinones, along with guitar maestro Jimmy Herring of Widespread Panic, jamming on the second track of that fourth record.  The record is "Eat A Peach", and the tune is "Les Brers In A Minor".


Thursday, March 10, 2016

In Memoriam: George Martin

Rest In Peace, producer and arranger for, The Beatles, George Martin.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/obit-george-martin-dead-at-90-727807

Willie Nelson Live at the Paradiso Theater, Amsterdam, Holland

The concert, that made yours truly, into a country music fan.  Willie Nelson & Family.  Saw Willie, perform, at Northrop Auditorium on the campus of the University of Minnesota, in 2002, and credit Willie, for making me into a country music fan, and also, being a big influence as a guitar player.  Here he is, playing the Paradiso Theater, in Amsterdam, Holland, in the year 2000, playing so many of the great songs, from several of his best known records, be they originals, or covers, usually by legends from the jazz or country genre.  The band lineup:

Willie Nelson: guitar & vocals
Jody Payne: guitar & vocals
Jackie King: guitar
Bobbi Nelson: piano
Dan "Bee" Spears: bass
Mickey Raphael: harmonica (diatonic & chromatic)
Paul English: drums
Billy English: percussion

The set list & song notes

1. Whiskey River (Johnny Bush cover)
2. Stay A Little Longer (Bob Wills cover)
3. Goodhearted Woman
4. Funny How Time Slips Away+
5. Crazy^
6. Night Life* (these three tunes, were written, by Willie, in the span, of a week)
7. Help Me Make It Through The Night (Kris Kristofferson cover)
8. Georgia On A Fast Train (Billy Joe Shaver cover)
9. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (Fred Rose cover)
10. Blue Skies (Irving Berlin cover)
11. Georgia On My Mind (Hoagy Carmichael & Stuart Gorrell cover, made famous also, by Ray Charles)
12. All of Me (jazz standard, written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons in 1931)
13. Stardust (Hoagy Carmichael & Mitchell Parrish cover: the melody written in 1927, with lyrics, added two years later, in 1929)
14. Me & Paul (autobiographical tune, written by Willie, about the travels of himself, and drummer Paul English, on the road for so many years)
15. The Gypsy (jazz song, written by Nelson, & Jackie King)
16. If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time (Lefty Frizzell cover)
17. My Bucket's Got A Hole In It (Hank Williams cover)
18. Jambalaya (On The Bayou) (Hank Williams cover)
19. I'm Walkin' The Floor Over You (Ernest Tubb cover)
20. Nuages (a cover of the instrumental, made famous by Belgian gypsy jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt).
21. Seven Spanish Angels
22. City of New Orleans (Steve Goodman cover, on Goodman's self-titled 1971 album, produced in part, by Kris Kristofferson).
23. To All The Girls I've Loved Before
24. Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics of Love) (Bobby Emmons & Chips Moman cover... a tune covered by both Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, at the height of country music's "outlaw" movement).
25. Whiskey River (reprise)
26. Still Is Still Moving To Me
27. Milk Cow Blues (Sleepy John Estes cover)
28. Pancho & Lefty (Townes van Zant cover)
29. Till I Gain Control Again (Rodney Crowell cover)
30. Mamas Don't Let Your Baby's Grow Up To Be Cowboys (recorded by Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings, during the "Outlaw" movement, and written by Ed and Patsy Bruce).
31. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground
32. On The Road Again
33. Always On My Mind (a standard of country music also recorded by Elvis Presley, John Wesley Ryles, and others)
34. I Never Cared For You
35. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
36. Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms






Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Tedeschi Trucks Band "Anyhow"

The new video, for Tedeschi Trucks Band's first single from their brand new record, "Let Me Get By".  The song, and the record, are masterpieces.  The tune is called, "Anyhow".  Check out the video, and get a copy of the record.  Trust me.  Great music.






Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Stanley Clarke & Friends "Stratus"

Another superb version of Billy Cobham's great instrumental, "Stratus", live at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, California.  This one, is done by Stanley Clarke & Friends, for a live recording.  The band line up is:

Stanley Clarke - bass
Larry Carlton - guitar
Billy Cobham - drums
Deron Johnson - keyboards
Najee - saxophone

Monday, March 7, 2016

Tedeschi Trucks Band "I've Got A Feeling"


Check out Tedeschi Trucks Band playing their tune "I've Got A Feeling" on Infinity Hall Live.  This is a good one!


Les Dudek "Zorro Rides Again"

Guitarist, Les Dudek, who is better known playing acoustic guitar on some of the tracks from the Allman Brothers Band "Brothers & Sisters" record, like "Ramblin' Man", and "Jessica", takes a shot at jazz fusion, with a darn good backing band, on the track "Zorro Rides Again", released on his 1977 album, "Say No More".  The band lineup is a good one.

Les Dudek – Guitar
Tony Williams – Drums
Jeff Porcaro – Drums
David Sancious – Organ
Robert Popwell - Bass

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Return To Forever "Light As A Feather"

Happy Birthday, jazz vocalist, Flora Purim!  In this Sunday bonus post, Purim performs "Light As A Feather" with Return To Forever.  The band line up is:

Chick Corea: Rhodes piano
Flora Purim: vocals
Joe Farrell: flute
Stanley Clarke: bass
Airto Moreira: drums


Chick Corea "Diddle Diddle"

Another track, from Chick Corea, recorded in 1982.  This is "Diddle Diddle" from the record "Again and Again", featuring:

Chick Corea – Fender Rhodes, Minimoog, Hohner duo, OB-Xa, Yamaha GS-1, prime time digital delay cowbell

Steve Kujala – flutes, soprano / tenor saxophone

Carles Benavent – electric bass

Don Alias – percussion

Tom Brechtlein – drums

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Tabah "Time Will Come"

Another tune, from the band Tabah, that my brother Charlie, plays bass for.  This is called "Time Will Come", and it was an entry for the NPR All Songs Considered, Tiny Desk concert contest.








SoulBop Special Edition "Sponge" Live at Java Jazz Festival 2010


Randy Brecker / Bill Evans Soulbop Special Edition with Steve Lukather, Robben Ford, Darryl Jones, Rodney Holmes, and Steve Weingart "...for those who like their jazz with a heavy dose of funk and fusion energy, Soulbop Band Live is just what the doctor ordered." -- Allaboutjazz.com

In 2003, trumpet virtuoso Randy Brecker and saxophone extraordinaire Bill Evans formed Soulbop, a unique musical experience combining elements of funk, jazz, soul, and blues. The result was a band of superstar musicians who could play these styles and virtually any kind of music at the highest level.

On one hand, there is four-time Grammy award-winner Randy Brecker, celebrated trumpeter who has been shaping the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for more than four decades and whose trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and Parliament-Funkadelic to Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, David Sanborn, and Frank Zappa, as well as the classic Brecker Brothers band.

On the other, there is top saxophonist Bill Evans who has made his mark on the fields of jazz, funk, Brazilian music, reggae and hip- hop over 20 years, performing with the likes of Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour, Mick Jagger, and many others.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Frank Zappa "Zoot Allures"


Check out the title track from Frank Zappa's 1976 "Zoot Allures" record, featuring this quintet lineup.

Frank Zappa - guitar
Terry Bozzio - drums
Dave Parlato - bass
Lu Ann Neil - harp
Ruth Underwood - marimba

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Happy Birthday, Doc Watson!

Usually. I frown on double posting, for this blog, because so many ideas, just need to be digested, for a day or so, by my readers.  But... today, I will do a double post, and say Happy Birthday, to the late, great bluegrass guitar legend, Doc Watson.  Here he is, playing with another late, great bluegrass picker... mandolin master, Bill Monroe.  They are playing the tune, "Sally Goodin" at a concert, filmed in 1990.  Check this out.

Tower of Power "Soul With A Capital S"

There's nothing like good old fashioned soul music.  Tower of Power, testifies, with "Soul With A Capital S", live from the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland.  Dig it.  This version of Tower of Power includes the following musicians.  Some old, and some new.

Emilio Castillo- Tenor Sax
Doc Kupka- Baritone Sax
Tom Politzer- Tenor Sax
Mike Bogart- Trumpet
Adolfo Acosta- Trumpet
David Garibaldi- Drums
Rocco Prestia- Bass
Roger Smith- Keyboards
Bruce Conte- Guitar
Larry Braggs- Vocals


Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Taj Mahal "Leavin' Trunk"

Another version, of one of my favorite Taj Mahal songs.  This is "Leavin' Trunk", performed by Taj and his band, with Jesse Ed Davis on guitar, from Rock & Roll circus, in 1968.


Tuesday, March 1, 2016

World's Most Dangerous Band on Late Night with David Letterman: December 6, 1983

How cool is this!  David Letterman's house band, jamming on Sly Stone's "Dance To The Music" on the December 6th, 1983 episode of The Late Show.  The band is:

Hiram Bullock: guitar
Paul Shaffer: keyboards (Hammond organ, Moog synthesizer, & piano)
Will Lee: bass
Steve Jordan: drums