Monday, February 29, 2016

Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin "A Love Supreme"

From their recording, "Love, Devotion, Surrender", here are Carlos Santana, and John McLaughlin, tackling John Coltrane's masterpiece, "A Love Supreme".


Sunday, February 28, 2016

Gabor Szabo "24 Carat"

Great groove, from jazz guitar legend Gabor Szabo, and his 1978 fusion track, "24 Carat".  The band lineup is:

Gábor Szabó - guitar
Janne Schaffer - guitar
Wlodek Gulgowski - piano, electric piano synthesizer
Pekka Pohjola - bass
Malando Gassama - conga, percussion
Peter Sundell - drums 


Saturday, February 27, 2016

Vertu (feat. Richie Kotzen & Stanley Clarke) "V Wave"

Cool, bluesy jazz fusion jam, and guitar pyrotechnics galore, from the band, Vertu, featuring a major line up of heavy hitting players.  Richie Kotzen on guitar, Stanley Clarke on bass, Lenny White on drums, Rachel Z. on violin, and Karen Briggs, on keyboards.  This performance, dates back to 1999.


...And, HERE is the studio cut of the same tune.


Friday, February 26, 2016

CAB "Purple Mars"

A wild track, by an all-star fusion band, called CAB.  This is called "Purple Mars" from the band's "Theatre De Marionettes" album.  The band lineup is:

Tony Macalpine – guitar, keyboards
Chick Corea – electric piano
Brian Auger – Hammond organ
Virgil Donati – drums
Jeff Elliott – trumpet
Doug Webb – saxophone
Bunny Brunel – bass


Thursday, February 25, 2016

The Allman Joys "Spoonful"

Check out a pre-Allman Brothers Band, band, with Duane and Gregg.  This is The Allman Joys, circa 1966, covering Willie Dixon's "Spoonful", made famous by Chester "The Howlin' Wolf" Burnett.  Duane's guitar playing, is notable, at this time, for heavy use, of a fuzz pedal.


Allman Brothers Band "Try It One More Time"

A rarely performed Allman Brothers tune, called "Try It One More Time", written by Dickey Betts and one-time bassist, David "Rook" Goldflies, from their 1979 "Enlightened Rogues" record. 





Dixie Dregs "Ice Cakes"


From their 1978 album "What If", on Capricorn Records (the same label, out of Macon, Georgia, that brought The Allman Brothers Band, and the Marshall Tucker Band to prominence), here are The Dixie Dregs, with the funky instrumental cut, "Ice Cakes". 

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Tommy Bolin "Stratus"


Jeff Beck, was not the only guitar great to cover Billy Cobham's jazz fusion classic, "Stratus".  Tommy Bolin, also gave it a shot, and this, is the result.  Good stuff!

Jeff Healey "Angel Eyes"

The late, great, blind blues guitarist, Jeff Healey, (who had a unique playing technique of laying a regular guitar, in his lap, to play)... performs his great ballad, "Angel Eyes", as an encore to a performance at House of Blues in Los Angeles, California, in 1995.


Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Nina Simone "Be My Husband"


Bonus post, for this Tuesday.  Happy Birthday, Nina Simone.  Here she is, performing the tune "Be My Husband" for a recording, from the 1965 Antibes Jazz Festival, in France. 

Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash "Girl From The North Country"


Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, play a favorite Dylan song of yours truly.  This is "Girl From The North Country".  Dig it.


Monday, February 22, 2016

Larry Coryell "Spaces"


Featuring Larry Coryell and John McLaughlin on guitars, Miroslav Vitous on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums, here's "Spaces", the legendary title track, to Coryell's recording, of the same name. 

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Blues Saxophone Royalty

From another music blog I follow, called In A Blue Mood, here is a great primer on blues/jump blues/boogie woogie (name it what you will), tenor saxophone, featuring three giants, who preferred to play their tenor saxes, blue.  Dig Grady Gaines & The Texas Upsetters with "There's Something On Your Mind", J.T. Brown with "Sax-Ony Boogie", and A.C. Reed, playing with guitar legend, Stevie Ray Vaughan, on "These Blues Is Killing Me".

http://inabluemood.blogspot.com/2016/02/blues-saxophone-royalty.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FtQLoa+%28In+a+Blue+Mood%29

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Mike Stern & The Bob Berg Band: Live at The China Club, 1991

Another concert, featuring Mike Stern on guitar, with Bob Berg on saxophones, and the talented rhythm section of bassist Lincoln Goines, and drummer, Dennis Chambers.  This concert, was filmed at the China Club, in 1991.  The performance includes three numbers.

1. Chromazone
2. Common Ground
3. Snakes


Friday, February 19, 2016

Luther Dickinson: "Hurry Up Sunrise" Video Premiere

Check out guitar slinging blues man, Luther Dickinson, who, was at one time, a member of The Black Crowes, and leads his own band, with his brother, drummer, Cody Dickinson.  This is a song, from a forthcoming album of his, called "Hurry Up Sunrise", paying tribute, to his good friend, and Texas Hill Country blues musician, Otha Turner.

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23833-luther-dickinson-hurry-up-sunrise-video-premiere?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PGN%20021616&utm_term=PG%20Weekly

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Notable Grammy Award winners

My annual, somewhat scattered, report, on the Grammy Awards, and the nominees/winners in the roots music categories.

Mavis Staples wins Best American Roots Performance for "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" from her "Your Good Fortune" record.  Notable runners-up included Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn's "And Am I Born To Die", from their self titled record, the title track from Buddy Guy's new record "Born To Play Guitar", "City of Our Lady" by The Milk Carton Kids, from their record "Monterey". also on Anti Records, and "Julep" by The Punch Brothers, from their Nonesuch Records release, "Phosphorescent Blues".

http://www.grammy.com/nominees?genre=59

Jason Isbell wins Best American Roots Song for "24 Frames".  The runners-up go to some more heavy hitters including The Mavericks' "All Night Long", written by Raul Malo, off their "Mono" release.  Don Henley & Merle Haggard's performance of "The Cost of Living", written by Don Henley and Stan Lynch, from the "Cass County" record, and the aforementioned, "Julep", by The Punch Brothers.

Another honorable mention, goes to Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell for their tune "The Traveling Kind" co-written with Cory Chisel, the title cut from their new record on the Nonesuch label.

Jason Isbell wins Best Americana Album, for"Something More Than Free" on Southeastern Records, followed by Brandi Carlile's "The Firewatcher's Daughter" on ATO Records, the aforementioned Rodney Crowell & Emmylou Harris "The Traveling Kind", as well as "Mono" by The Mavericks, and "Phosphorescent Blues", by The Punch Brothers.

The Steeldrivers, win Best Bluegrass Album, for their recording "Muscle Shoals" on Rounder Records.  Rounding out the Bluegrass category were Dale Ann Bradley's "Pocket Full of Keys" on Pinecastle Records, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley's "Before The Sun Goes Down" on Compass Records Group, "In Session" by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver" on Mountain Home Music Company, and Ralph Stanley & Friends "Man of Constant Sorrow", on Red River Entertainment.

Buddy Guy's "Born To Play Guitar" is Best Blues album, and it is out on RCA Records.  Runners-up include the Cedric Burnside Project "Descendants of Hill Country", Shemekia Copeland "Outskirts of Love", Bettye LaVette's "Worthy", and John Primer & Various Artists, "Muddy Waters 100", a 100th birthday tribute, to the late, great bluesman, Muddy Waters.

Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, win Best Folk Album, for their self-titled release.  Also in the folk category are Norman Blake's "Wood, Wire, & Words" on Plectrafone Records, Tomorrow Is My Turn by Rhiannon Giddens on Nonesuch, "Servant of Love" by Patti Griffin on PGM, and Glenn Hansard's "Didn't He Ramble" on the Anti label.

Jon Cleary wins Best Regional Roots Music album, with "Go Go Juice".

Alabama Shakes is runner-up for Album of The Year for their "Sound And Color" record on ATO Records, and so was the new sensation, bringing country music back to it's roots, Chris Stapleton, for his "Traveller" album, on Mercury Nashville. Tony Bennett wins Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, for his tribute to standards songwriter Jerome Kern, "The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern" on RPM Records/Columbia Records.  Bob Dylan, was a runner-up in the category, for his "Shadows In The Night" recording, released by his longtime record company, Columbia.

A couple of mentions in the Best Contemporary Instrumental album category.  Snarky Puppy, wins the Grammy in this category, for their Impulse! release, with the Metropole Orkest, "Sylva", and runners-up include "Guitar In The Space Age" by Bill Frisell on the well known Okeh label (a label, that has been around, since the days of 78 RPM records), and jazz bass legend Marcus Miller's "Afrodeezia", on another famous label, Blue Note.

Kirk Whalum's "The Gospel According To Jazz" Chapter IV, on Mack Avenue Records, also gets an honorable mention here, as the contemporary jazz tenor saxophonist, delves once again, into gospel music.

Alabama Shakes also wins Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song, for "Don't Wanna Fight", and their album "Sound & Color" gets the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.  Roots music, is here to stay, folks!  Wilco's "Star Wars" is also on the list for Best Alternative Music Album.  Charlie Wilson, was nominated for Best Traditional R&B (Rhythm & Blues) performance, for "My Favorite Part of You" from his "Forever Charlie" record on RCA.

Chris Stapleton's "Traveller" wins the Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance, and also, Best Country Album.  Kacey Musgraves "Pageant Material" was also nominated.

Best Improvised Jazz Solo, has many worthy candidates, and of course, one winner.  Here they are in order of nomination.

"Cherokee" Christian McBride (soloist) Christian McBride Trio "Live at The Village Vanguard" Mack Avenue Records

"Giant Steps" (the John Coltrane tune) Joey Alexander (soloist), from the record "My Favorite Things" on Motema Music.

"Arbiters of Evolution" with jazz saxophonist Donny McCaslin playing the solo, on The Maria Schneider Orchestra's "The Thompson Fields", on ArtistShare.

"Friend or Foe" with saxophonist Joshua Redman, soloing, on "The Bad Plus Joshua Redman" on Nonesuch Records.

"Past Present" by John Scofield, the title track from his "Past Present" album, on the Impulse! label.

The aforementioned "Past Present" wins the Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.  Runners-up are Joey Alexander's "My Favorite Things" on Motema Music, trumpeter Terence Blanchard (feat. The E-Collective), "Breathless" on Blue Note, Robert Glasper & The Robert Glasper Trio "Covered: Recorded Live at Capitol Studios", also on Blue Note, and saxophonist Jimmy Greene's "Beautiful Life" on Mack Avenue Records.

Keyboard and Hammond B3 master, Jon Cleary, takes The Grammy for Best Regional Roots Music Album, with his "Go Go Juice" record on FHQ Records.

A tribute record, to the great Glen Campbell, where he recorded with various artists, on Big Machine Records... a compilation, produced by Julian Raymond, won the Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.

The Best Instrumental Composition Grammy, goes to Arturto O'Farrill, and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, for the "Afro Latin Jazz Suite".  Runner-up, was jazz saxophonist/composer, Bob Mintzer, with his composition, "Civil War" from his "Get Up!" album, on MCG Jazz.

The late David Bowie, is recognized, as is the arranger for his song "Sue (Or In A Season of Crime)", posted here, after news broke of his passing, as the album with the Best Arrangement for Instruments and Vocals,  This is a track from Bowie's "Nothing Has Changed" record, and the credited arranger who earns the award is Maria Schneider.

Some roots music packages, won Grammy's for Best Recording Package, and Best Boxed or Limited Edition Package.

Best Recording Package, goes to an album celebrating "The King of Texas Swing"... Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, by Asleep At The Wheel, on Bismeaux Records.

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package (put together in part, by Jack White), is "The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records Volume 2, 1928-1932".

Alabama Shakes, and their new record "Sound & Color", also wins the Grammy for Best Engineered Album.

Producers Dave Cobb (for Jason Isbell's new record), and Blake Mills (for Alabama Shakes), earn honorable mentions here, as nominees for Producer of the Year.

In the Best Musical Film category, honorable mentions (but no awards), are for films about James Brown ("Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown) on Inaudible Films, Roger Waters ("The Wall"), on Back Lot Music, and, Nina Simone ("What Happened, Ms. Simone?" on Netflix.



  




   



Wednesday, February 17, 2016

John Mayall Among 2016 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees

Bonus post.  Congratulations, not only, to John Mayall, but also, to Elvin Bishop, on their inductions into the Blues Hall of Fame!

http://www.udiscovermusic.com/john-mayall-among-2016-blues-hall-of-fame-inductees

Watch Chris Stapleton, Gary Clark Jr., & Bonnie Raitt Pay Tribute To B.B. King at This Year's Grammys

More to co come about notable Grammy Award winners, in another post.  But, for now, check out this moving tribute to B.B. King done on the show by Chris Stapleton, Gary Clark Jr., and Bonnie Raitt.

http://uproxx.com/music/bb-king-tribute-2016-grammys-chris-stapleton-bonnie-raitt-gary-clark-jr/

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Gary Willis "Alien Head Explodes"

From his "Larger Than Life" record, here is jazz fusion bassist, Gary Willis, with a wild, electronic/synthesizer tune, called "Alien Head Explodes", and though this track does not feature ever musician on the recording, below, is a list of the players who were indeed on it.  

Gary Willis: bass
Gergo Borlai: drums
Scott Kinsey: keyboards
Steve Tavaglione: saxophones & EWI
Claudia Bardagi: vocals
Llibert Fortuny: tenor saxophone & vocals




Monday, February 15, 2016

Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites, & Taj Mahal "One More Mile To Go"

From a live performance in 1969, live at the Fillmore in San Francisco, California, here are Taj Mahal on vocals, acoustic guitar, and harmonica, Mike Bloomfield on lead guitar, Jesse Ed Davis on co-lead guitar, and Nick Gravenites on rhythm guitar, playing "One More Mile To Go".


Sunday, February 14, 2016

Robert Cray, Robben Ford, David Sanborn, & Marcus Miller "All Your Love"


Happy Valentine's Day!  A funky rendition of the Otis Rush blues classic "All Your Love" played on British television, by Robert Cray, and Robben Ford on lead and rhythm guitar (with Cray, on vocals), alongside David Sanborn on alto saxophone, and Marcus Miller, on bass.  Dig this.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Jeff Beck "You Know You Know"

A guitar master, covers, a composition, by another guitar master.  Jeff Beck, plays John McLaughlin's composition "You Know, You Know", in a 2013 concert at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, California.  The band line up is Jeff Beck on guitar, Lizzie Ball on violin, Rhonda Smith on bass, and Jonathan Joseph, on drums.  John McLaughlin, originally recorded this tune, on Mahavishnu Orchestra's 1971 jazz fusion masterpiece recording, "The Inner Mounting Flame". 


Friday, February 12, 2016

Bonus Post: Today Is The 44th Anniversary of The Allman Brothers 'Eat A Peach'

This record, was the one, I saw the Allman Brothers perform live, a few years ago, in 2014, the same year they retired, and it's one of their best ever.  "Eat A Peach".

http://liveforlivemusic.com/news/today-is-the-44th-anniversary-of-the-allman-brothers-eat-a-peach/

Johnny & Edgar Winter "Frankenstein", "Be Careful With A Fool", & blues rave up

Dig this.  A 20 minute jam, by Johnny and Edgar Winter, on Edgar's classic instrumental, "Frankenstein", on the blues, "Be Careful With A Fool", that has been posted here, before, and to close the jam out, another blues rave up with Johnny on guitar, and Edgar, on alto saxophone.    Rest In Peace, Johnny Winter.


Thursday, February 11, 2016

Johnnie Taylor "Last Two Dollars"

Remembering the late, great bluesman Johnnie Taylor, who passed away in the year 2000.  This tune is "Last Two Dollars" from his 1996 record, "Good Love".




Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Darryl Steurmer - Symphony Concert "Just A Job To Do"

One-time Genesis guitarist, and also, someone who played with Jean Luc Ponty during the 1970s, Darryl Steurmer, with the tune, "Just A Job To Do".


Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Joe Beck (feat. David Sanborn) "Cactus"

Jazz fusion guitar maestro, Joe Beck, and David Sanborn, on alto sax, with the tune "Cactus", from Joe Beck's recording, "Beck", recorded in 1975.  The full band lineup on this one is:

Joe Beck: guitar
Steve Khan: guitar
David Sanborn: alto saxophone
Will Lee: bass
Don Grolnick: Electric Piano, Organ
Ray Mantilla: drums, percussion




Monday, February 8, 2016

In Memoriam: Dan Hicks, performing "By Hook or By Crook" & "Shorty Falls In Love"

We remember, the late, great, Dan Hicks, and his Hot Licks band, who combined cowboy/country and western music, with humor, similar to how Roy Clark, and the late, great, Buck Owens, did it, on the "Hee Haw" TV show.  Here, the band plays two songs.  "By Hook or By Crook", and "Shorty Falls In Love".  The band lineup is:

Dan Hicks: guitar
Sid Page: fiddle
John Girton: guitar
Jaime Leopold: bass

The Lickettes:

Maryann Price: backing vocals
Naomi Eisenberg: backing vocals



Sunday, February 7, 2016

Bruce, Holdsworth, Cobham, Lockwood, Sancious "Drifting Into The Attack"

From the 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival, HERE is an ULTIMATE quintet!

Jack Bruce - bass
Billy Cobham - drums
Allan Holdsworth - guitar
David Sancious - keyboards
Didier Lockwood - violin

The tune is called "Drifting Into The Attack".




Saturday, February 6, 2016

Jean Luc Ponty "The Struggle of The Turtle To The Sea"

The master, of the violin, Jean Luc Ponty, with his tune "The Struggle of The Turtle To The Sea", featuring:

Jean-Luc Ponty: violin
Damien Schmitt: drums
Guy Nsangué Akwa: bass
William Lecomte: keyboards
Moustapha Cisse: percussion


Friday, February 5, 2016

Stan Getz Quartet (feat. Kenny Barron), 1989

The master, Stan Getz, and his quartet, featuring pianist, Kenny Barron, in 1989.  'Nuff said.


Thursday, February 4, 2016

John Moreland "Break My Heart Sweetly"

Singer/songwriter John Moreland, performing his heartrending song, "Break My Heart Sweetly". on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.  Wow!


Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Alain Caron Live at Java Jazz Festival 2015

Check out jazz bassist Alain Caron and his band, playing this year (2015), at the Java Jazz Festival in Indonesia.  The festival, took place, back in March.  The band is a quartet.  It features Alain Caron on bass, Pierre Cote on guitar, John Roney on piano, and Damien Schmitt on drums.  Here's the set list.

1. Enhanced
2. Sfing
3. The Lost Foot
4. Jazz Pool
5. Right After 4
6. Slice Shift
7. This Or That
8. D-Code



Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Snarky Puppy Live at Java Jazz Festival 2014


Grammy winning instrumental jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy, performs at the 2014 Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia.  The set list is:

1. Strawman
2. Klezma
3. Lingus
4. Kite
5. Celebrity
6. Flood
7. Young Stuff


Monday, February 1, 2016

David Rawlings Machine "The Weekend"

American roots/country singer/songwriter and guitarist, David Rawlings with his band, David Rawlings & The Machine, released a new tune called "The Weekend".  Check it out.