The String Cheese Incident "Just One Story"

The String Cheese Incident performing their song "Just One Story" live at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado, on July 21st, 2019 as part of their 25th anniversary tour.  Yours truly has seen SCI and they performed this particular tune, when I had a chance to see them in concert in 2017 at the Palace Theater in St. Paul.  Watch the video, on YouTube. 

Allan Holdsworth, Anders Johansson, & Jens Johansson "Heavy Machinery"

It's that time.  You guessed it.  Another installment, of Full Album Friday, and this time, we examine, for your consideration, Allan Holdsworth, Anders Johansson, and Jens Johansson's 1997 jazz fusion record "Heavy Machinery".

1. Joint Ventures
2. Beef Cherokee
3. On The Frozen Lake
4. Mission: Possible
5. Good Morning Mr. Coffee
6. Siouxp of the Day
7. On The Fritz
8. Tea For One and a Half
9. Never Mind Our Weather
10. Macrowaves

The String Cheese Incident (feat. Billy Strings) "Black Clouds"

The String Cheese Incident, with special guest, Billy Strings sitting in during their performance at the 2019 DelFest in Columbia, Maryland, on the tune "Black Clouds". 

In Memoriam: Neal Casal

We remember, the late, great guitarist and singer/songwriter, Neal Casal, who has died at age 50.  Casal played with many great musicians during his career, among them, Willie Nelson, Shooter Jennings, Ryan Adams, Chris Robinson, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, and many more.  Rest In Peace, Neal Casal.

Watch Late Guitarist Neal Casal Rip Blazing Solo, Perform With Bob Weir at Final Gigs
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neal-casal-final-performance-877192/

Neal Casal, Influential Guitarist Who Worked With Willie Nelson, Shooter Jennings, Dead at 50

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neal-casal-guitarist-obit-dead-877036/

Neal Casal, Singer-Songwriter and Veteran Folk Guitarist Dead at 50

https://pitchfork.com/news/neal-casal-singer-songwriter-and-veteran-folk-guitarist-dead-at-50/

Dr. John Knew The End Was Near. He Recorded One Final Album

An article in Rolling Stone magazine, published June 11th, 2019, about Dr. John's final record he made before his death.

***

New originals, country-tinged covers and reworked classics highlight deceased Hall of Famer's final, as-yet unreleased album featuring Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, and Rickie Lee Jones.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dr-john-last-album-846783/?fbclid=IwAR1OdB7VQftHnWqNmWeX_CTmpLiKMdcQGKlL-kYitoBA358dzGgL5lOBp8U

Trey Anastasio Band (feat. Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi) "A Life Beyond The Dream"

"A Life Beyond the Dream" from Trey Anastasio Band's 8/23/2019 show at LockN' Festival. Featuring special guests Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks.

Trey Anastasio Band (feat. Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi) Lockn' Festival, Arrington, Virginia, August 23rd, 2019

The full live concert from Lockn' Festival featuring the Trey Anastasio Band and Derek Trucks.  Derek plays with TAB throughout the entire second set.  Here is the setlist, from setlist.fm.

Set 1:

1. Cayman Review
2. Mozambique
3. Alive Again
4. Valentine
5. Night Speaks to a Woman
6. Simple Twist Up Dave
7. Tuesday

Set one features all Trey Anastasio Band originals.

Set 2 (feat. Derek Trucks as well as Susan Tedeschi for a couple of songs, blending Phish covers and TAB originals)

8. Set Your Soul Free
9. Everything's Right
10. Camel Walk (Phish cover)
11. Ghost (Phish cover)
12. Blaze On (Phish cover)
13. Dark And Down
14. Sand (Phish cover)
15. A Life Beyond The Dream (feat. Susan Tedeschi: vocals)
16. Rise Up/Come Together (feat. Susan Tedeschi: vocals)
17. Push On 'Til The Day

Encore:

18. Brief Time (Trey & Derek, acoustic)
19. More (Trey & Derek, acoustic, Phish cover)
20. 46 Days (Phish cover)
21. First Tube (Phish cover)

Remembering Kofi Burbridge

Another memorial to a musician we lost earlier this year, who was memorialized on this blog, Kofi Burbridge, longtime flutist and keyboardist for the Derek Trucks Band which evolved into the Tedeschi Trucks Band, who passed away on February 15th, 2019, at age 57.

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/remembering-kofi-burbridge-1961-2019-kofi-burbridge-by-alan-bryson.php?fbclid=IwAR1utkfuBX746ACo78-QC44H_CcHqyI4M-lGtQyYm6bHD0HOjdNIFj17QeA&width=1366

Taj Mahal "Taj Mahal" (1968)

Another Full Album Friday, and this week, we feature Taj Mahal's self-titled 1968 solo record.

Some great songs recorded on Taj Mahal's self-titled debut record.  They are all classic blues numbers, a good chunk of them, covers, by such luminaries of the blues as "Blind" Willie McTell, Robert Johnson, and Sleepy John Estes.  The track listing:

1. Leaving Trunk
2. Statesboro Blues
3. Checkin' Up On My Baby
4. Everybody's Got To Change Sometime
5. E Z Rider
6. Dust My Broom
7. Diving Duck Blues
8. The Celebrated Walkin' Blues

Taj Mahal arranged the music, and here are the credits for the musicians.

Taj Mahal: guitar, slide guitar, harmonica
Jesse Ed Davis: lead guitar
Ry Cooder: rhythm guitar, mandolin
Bill Boatman: rhythm guitar
James Thomas: bass
Gary Gilmore: bass
Sanford Konikoff: bass
Chuck "Brother" Blackwell: drums

The Spiral Starecase "More Today Than Yesterday"

As promised, here is the pop vocal version of "More Today Than Yesterday" with horns, recorded by the band The Spiral Starecase, 50 years ago, in 1969.  Check it out.  "More Today Than Yesterday" is the best known tune by The Spiral Starecase.  Much like other horn driven bands of the era, the Spiral Starecase is known for their horn section, and lead vocalist, Pat Upton's singing.  The band recorded on Columbia Records and was active for a span of 18 years between 1964 and 1982.  The nucleus of the band included the following members:

Pat Upton: vocals
Mike Caschera: vocals
Dick Lopes: saxophones
Harvey Kaye: organ
Bobby Raymond: bass
Gene Austin: electric upright bass
Vinny Parello: drums
Mark Barrett: drums
Tim McRoberts: drums

Any more information about The Spiral Starecase, feel free to leave something in the comments.

Joe Zawinul & The WDR Big Band "D Flat Waltz"

From the 2002 Leverkeusner JazzTage.  Featuring the rhythm section from Weather Report, with Joe Zawinul on keys, Paul Shigihara on guitar, Victor Bailey on bass, Peter Erskine on drums, and Alex Acuna on percussion, with the WDR Big Band, conducted by Vince Mendoza.  

Blue Mitchell "Fungii Mama"

The working title is "Funky Mama", spelled a different way, I think.  Trumpeter Blue Mitchell plays "Fungii Mama" as recorded in 1964 as the opening track on his "The Thing To Do" record for Blue Note Records, recorded July 30th, 1964.  The full quintet band on the record includes:

Blue Mitchell: trumpet
Junior Cook: tenor saxophone
Chick Corea: piano
Gene Taylor: bass
Al Foster: drums

Eddie Harris "Listen Here"

From 1968, and his record "The Electrifying Eddie Harris" on Atlantic Records, here is the man himself, on tenor saxophone, playing his tune "Listen Here", which boils and simmers on a very funky, B flat groove.  Harris and his saxophone are backed mostly by drums, percussion, and piano.  The musicians on this particular track are:

Eddie Harris: tenor saxophone
Jodie Christian: piano
Melvin Jackson: bass
Richard Smith: drums
Ray Barretto: percussion
Joe Wohletz: percussion

Allman Brothers Band w/special guests "The Weight"

Dedicated to Levon Helm! Many guests sitting in... Bruce Katz, Danny Louis, Susan Tedeschi, Bob Weir, Mike Mattison, Mark Rivers, Kebbi Williams and other TTB horn players. Wanee Music Festival in Live Oak Florida 4/20/12.

Gunsmoke blues - Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, George "Harmonica" Smith

During a production hiatus of the popular TV Show "Gunsmoke", the film crew decided to take off and film a barnstorming blues revue making it’s way across the country and they ended up in Eugene, OR with cameras rolling to film Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner and George "Harmonica" Smith as they performed in a music hall. Date: October 20, 1971.

Setlist:

1. Big Mama Thornton - Early One Morning
2. Big Mama Thornton - Ball And Chain
3. George "Harmonica" Smith - Juke
4. George "Harmonica" Smith - Leaving Chicago
5. Big Joe Turner - Hide And Seek
6. Big Joe Turner - Shake, Rattle And Roll
7. Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy
8. Muddy Waters - Long Distance Call
9. Muddy Waters - (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
10. Muddy Waters - Got My Mojo Working
11. Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, George "Harmonica" Smith - So Long
12. Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog
13. Big Mama Thornton - Rock Me Baby
14. Muddy Waters - She's Nineteen Years Old
15. Muddy Waters - Walking Thru The Park

Muddy Waters Band:

Muddy Waters: guitar, vocals
George "Harmonica" Smith: Harmonica
"Pinetop" Perkins: Piano
Sammy Lawhorn: guitar
Pee Wee Madison: guitar
Calvin "Fuzz" Jones: bass
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith: drums

Joao Gilberto & Stan Getz (1963) Full Album

For Full Album Friday this week, and one yours truly should have done a while ago, considering Joao Gilberto's recent passing, here is the masterful work of both Joao Gilberto and Stan Getz on their 1963 collaboration that won a Grammy that year.  It was recorded at A&R Recording Studios in New York, New York on March 18th and 19th, 1963.  There was a 1997 reissue with two bonus tracks.  The track listing is:

1. The Girl From Ipanema
2. Doralice
3. Para Machucar Meu Coracao
4. Desafinado
5. Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)
6. So Danco Samba
7. O Grande Amor
8. Vivo Sonhando

The musicians on the record are credited as follows.

Stan Getz: tenor saxophone
Joao Gilberto: guitar, vocals
Antonio Carlos Jobim: piano
Sebastiao Neto: double bass
Milton Banana: drums, pandeiro
Astrud Gilberto: vocals on the two tracks from the 1997 reissue which came from the 45 RPM record version of the album, "The Girl From Ipanema" and "Corcovado".

Erik Satie - Gnossienne No.3

Alfred Eric Leslie Satie (Honfleur, 17 May 1866 -- Paris, 1 July 1925) was a French composer and pianist. Starting with his first composition in 1884, he signed his name as Erik Satie.

Satie was introduced as a "gymnopedist" in 1887, shortly before writing his most famous compositions, the Gymnopédies. Later, he also referred to himself as a "phonometrograph" or "phonometrician" (meaning "someone who measures (and writes down) sounds") preferring this designation to that of "musician," after having been called "a clumsy but subtle technician" in a book on contemporary French composers published in 1911.

In addition to his body of music, Satie also left a remarkable set of writings, having contributed work for a range of publications, from the dadaist 391 to the American Vanity Fair. Although in later life he prided himself on always publishing his work under his own name, in the late nineteenth century he appears to have used pseudonyms such as Virginie Lebeau and François de Paule in some of his published writings.

Satie was a colourful figure in the early 20th century Parisian avant-garde. He was a precursor to later artistic movements such as minimalism, repetitive music and the Theatre of the Absurd.

"Gnossienne" is the name given to several piano pieces by French composer Erik Satie in the late 19th century.

Satie's coining of the word "gnossienne" was one of the rare occasions when a composer used a new term to indicate a new "type" of composition. Satie had and would use many novel names for his compositions; for example, "ogive" had been the name of an architectural element until Satie used it as the name for a composition, the Ogives Similarly with "vexations", "croquis et agaceries" and so on—but "gnossienne" was a word that did not exist before Satie used it to indicate a composition. "Gnossienne" appears to be derived from the word gnosis; Satie was involved in gnostic sects and movements at the time that he began to compose the Gnossiennes. However, some published versions claim that the word derives from Cretan "knossos" or "gnossus" and link the Gnossiennes to Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur myth.

The Gnossiennes were composed by Satie in the decade following the composition of the Trois Sarabandes (1887) and the Trois Gymnopédies (1888). Like these Sarabandes and Gymnopédies, the Gnossiennes are often considered dances. It is not certain that this qualification comes from Satie himself—the sarabande and the Gymnopaedia were at least historically known as dances.

The musical vocabulary of the Gnossiennes is a continuation of that of the Gymnopédies (a development that had started with the 1886 Ogives → Sarabandes → Gymnopédies → Gnossiennes) later leading to more harmonic experimentation in compositions like the Danses Gothiques. These series of compositions are all at the core of Satie's characteristic 19th century style, and in this sense differ from his early salon compositions (like the 1885 "Waltz" compositions published in 1887), his turn-of-the-century cabaret compositions (like the Je te Veux Waltz), and his post-Schola Cantorum piano solo compositions, starting with the Préludes flasques in 1912.

[from Wikipedia]

Performed by:Reinbert de Leeuw Artwork:Remedios Varo

Gov't Mule (feat. Paul Nelson) "She's 19 Years Old"

Gov't Mule playing with Paul Nelson, co-lead guitarist with Johnny Winter for many years, doing Muddy Waters' "She's 19 Years Old" on the band's Island Exodus cruise. 

The Strat Pack - Fender Stratocaster 50th Anniversary Concert 2004

The Strat Pack: Live in Concert is a film of a September 24, 2004, concert featuring Joe Walsh, Gary Moore, Brian May (playing the Sunburst Stratocaster, in the opening set, rather than his signature guitar Red Special ), Hank Marvin, David Gilmour, Mike Rutherford and many more, marking the 50th Anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster guitar. The film was released in 2005.

1. "Peggy Sue" (Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly, Norman Petty) 2. "Maybe Baby" (Holly, Petty) 3. "I Fought the Law" (Sonny Curtis) 4. "Oh Boy" (Petty, Bill Tilghman, Sonny West) 5. "That'll Be the Day" (Allison, Holly) Tracks 1-5 performed by The Crickets, Albert Lee and Brian May.

6. "The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt" (Brian Bennett, Hank Marvin, John Rostill, Bruce Welch) 7. "Sleep Walk" (Ann Farina, Johnny Farina, Santo Farina, Don Wolf) 8. "Apache" (Jerry Lordan) Tracks 6-8 performed by Hank Marvin and Ben Marvin.

9. "I'm on My Way" (Theresa Andersson) Performed by Theresa Andersson.

10."Country Boy" (Tony Colton, Albert Lee, Ray Smith) Performed by Albert Lee and Theresa Andersson. 

11. "How Long" (Paul Carrack) 12. "All Along the Watchtower" (Bob Dylan) with Andy Fairweather-Low 13. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (George Harrison) with Andy Fairweather-Low 14. "I Can't Dance" (Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford) Tracks 11-14 performed by Mike Rutherford and Paul Carrack.  

15. "Red House" (Jimi Hendrix) Performed by Gary Moore.

16. "Angel" (Hendrix) Performed by Jamie Cullum

17. "Take the Box" (Luke Smith, Amy Winehouse) 18. "In My Bed" (Salaam Remi, Winehouse) 19. "Stronger than Me" (Remi, Winehouse) Tracks 17-19 performed by Amy Winehouse.  

20. "Muddy Water Blues" (Paul Rodgers) Performed by Paul Rodgers.

21. "Drinking" (Bôa) Performed by Paul Rodgers, Steve Rodgers and Jasmine Rodgers.  

22. "All Right Now" (Andy Fraser, Rodgers) Performed by Paul Rodgers and Brian May.

23. "Can't Get Enough" (Mick Ralphs) Performed by Paul Rodgers and Joe Walsh.  

24. "Funk 49" (Jim Fox, Dale Peters, Joe Walsh) 25. "Life's Been Good" (Walsh) 26. "Life In The Fast Lane" (Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Walsh) 27. "Rocky Mountain Way" (Rocke Grace, Kenny Passarelli, Joe Vitale, Walsh) Tracks 23-27 performed by Joe Walsh.

28. "6PM" (Phil Manzanera) Performed by Phil Manzanera. 

29. "Marooned" (David Gilmour, Richard Wright) 30. "Coming Back to Life" (Gilmour) 31. "Sorrow" (Gilmour) Tracks 29-31 performed by David Gilmour and Phil Manzanera.

32. "Ooh La La" (Ronnie Lane, Ronnie Wood) Performed by Ronnie Wood.  

33. Stay with Me (Rod Stewart, Wood) Performed by all the Cast except Hank and Ben Marvin.

Widespread Panic (feat. Jimmy Cliff & Chuck Leavell) "I Can See Clearly Now"

Widespread Panic performs Johnny Nash's tune "I Can See Clearly Now" with Jimmy Cliff, the vocalist who made the tune a hit.  Keyboard legend Chuck Leavell also sits in on this one, on piano, alongside Widespread Panic's main man on the keys, Jojo Herman, playing Hammond organ, here. This performance is from the 2015 Lockn' Music Festival that took place in Arrington, Virginia. 

Tedeschi Trucks Band "Don't Do It"

Tedeschi Trucks Band performs The Band's "Don't Do It" with special guests Blackberry Smoke, as their show opener, live at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado.

Dickey Betts Hopes to Get Back On The Road Soon

This one is a little late, having been published back on July 25th.  But, Dickey Betts, hopes to be touring again very soon, now that he is feeling better.

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/dickey-betts-recovery/?fbclid=IwAR1KZEPGcYhxjnNmE_iYTcdc1414cOnqMfIBwhcH97nx_SBeQ1wDUH-VAhQ

Ramsey Lewis "Sun Goddess" (1974)

Another one for Full Album Friday.  This is Ramsey Lewis' 1974 record "Sun Goddess", the title track, featuring Earth, Wind, & Fire.

Columbia Recorded: 1973-1974

Tracklist:

A1 Sun Goddess (Jon Lind, Maurice White)
A2 Living for the City (Stevie Wonder) 8:22
A3 Love Song 13:40
B1 Jungle Strut (Obirin Aiye MirelleKoso) 19:29
B2 Hot Dawgit (Charles Stepney, Maurice White) 24:09
B3 Tambura 27:10
B4 Gemini Rising 30:02

Ramsey Lewis (syn, g, p, e-p, string machine, arr) Cleveland Eaton (b) A2-B1, B3-B4 Maurice Jennings (dr, perc) A2-B1, B3-B4 Richard Evans (Horn & String arr) A2-B1, B3-B4 Byron Gregory (g) A3-B1, B3 Maurice White (voc, dr, perc) Track A1, B2 Verdine White (b, voc) A1, B2 Johnny Graham (g) A1, B2 Philip Bailey (perc, voc) A1, B2 Don Myrick (ts) A1 Charles Stepney (g, key) B2 Derf Rehlee Raheem (perc, voc) B1

Steve Gadd Band "Sly Boots"

A performance from this year's (2019) North Sea Jazz Festival, by the Steve Gadd Band, of their tune, "Sly Boots".  Dr. Steve Gadd is one of, if not the greatest drummer in modern music.  Yours truly has had a chance to see him play, with Chick Corea, and also, to meet him.  He's a master, a monster, and a total force behind the drum kit.  His band has a few different lineups between the current tours he is on in Europe and also in the U.S.  In fact, he just completed the European leg of the tour, not too long ago.  So, this is the European band lineup as well, including:

Steve Gadd: drums
Walt Fowler: trumpet
Kevin Hays: keyboards
David Spinozza: guitar
Jimmy Johnson: electric bass

The doctor, is indeed, in the house, to heal the soul, with his unmistakable groove.  For more information, here is his official website.

https://www.drstevegadd.com/

Little Walter "Moonshine Blues"

A track by Little Walter that yours truly has heard for the first time.  Walter does not play harmonica on this one, surprisingly.  He does a good vocal on it, though.  This is, "Moonshine Blues". 

Bruford Levin Upper Extremities ► 3 Minutes of Pure Entertainment [HQ Audio] BLUE Nights

Recorded live at the House of Blues, Cambridge MA, December 6, 1998.

Bill Bruford — drums
Tony Levin — bass guitar, Stick
David Torn — guitars, loops
Chris Botti — trumpet 

Recapping the 2019 Peach Music Festival

All the coverage of the 2019 Peach Music Festival at Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania, that took place last weekend between July 25th and 28th, in one place.  It's the annual Peach Festival recap.  The tradition continues.

https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/peach-music-festival-2019-recap-photos-videos/

Jeff Beck & Stanley Clarke "Rock & Roll Jelly"

Two versions of Stanley Clarke & Jeff Beck's "Rock & Roll Jelly" released on Stanley Clarke's 1978 "Modern Man" record. 

Mahavishnu Orchestra "The Dance of Maia"

The Dance Of Maya - The Mahavishnu Orchestra

Recorded live in Syracuse, New York on April 29, 1972.

John McLaughlin - guitar
Jan Hammer - keyboards
Jerry Goodman - violin
Rick Laird - bass
Billy Cobham - drums

Bruford "Feels Good To Me"

Another one for Full Album Friday.  This is Bill Bruford's 1977 recording "Feels Good To Me". 

The personnel:

Bill Bruford - drums, percussion
Allan Holdsworth - electric guitar
Dave Stewart - keyboards
Jeff Berlin - bass

The track listing:

1. Beelzebub
2. Back To The Beginning
3. Seems Like A Lifetime Ago (Part 1)
4. Seems Like A Lifetime Ago (Part 2)
5. Sample and Hold
6. Feels Good To Me
7. Either End of August
8. If You Can’t Stand The Heat
9. Springtime in Siberia
10. Adios a La Pasada (Goodbye To The Past)

McCoy Tyner - I Want To Tell You 'Bout That (Electric Bass Version)

From a 2000 record, with the trio of McCoy Tyner on piano, Stanley Clarke on bass, and Al Foster, on drums.