In Memoriam: Billy Joe Shaver

Remembering outlaw country singer/songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, who passed away recently, at the age of 81, who's songs were recorded by such well known artists as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Elvis Presley.  

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/billy-joe-shaver-songwriter-dead-obituary-1082610/

Videos in the obituary include those of songs by Shaver such as "I'm Just An Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday)", "Live Forever", and "Get Thee Behind Me, Satan" (feat. John Anderson).  Here are those videos in the blog as well.

Rest In Peace, Billy Joe Shaver.

 

Cedar Walton "Mobius"

 

Another one for Full Album Friday.  Cedar Walton, jazz pianist, and his 1975 record "Mobius", released on RCA Records.  Walton wrote three of the compositions.  Tracks one and three are "Blue Trane" written by John Coltrane, and "Off Minor" written by Thelonius Monk.  

1. Blue Trane (John Coltrane cover)

2. Soho

3. Off Minor (Thelonius Monk cover)

4. The Maestro

5. Rhode Island Red

 

The band lineup is:

 

Cedar Walton: keyboards, arranger

Roy Burrowes: trumpet

Wayne Andre: trombone

Charles Davis & Frank Foster: saxophones

Ryo Kawasaki: electric guitar

Gordon Edwards: bass

Steve Gadd: drums

Omar Clay & Ray Mantilla: percussion

Adrienne Albert & Lani Groves: vocals

 

 

Younger Brothers: The Allman Joys, Hourglass, Duane & Gregg

A review, to celebrate the legacy of Duane Allman, who the world lost, in a tragic motorcycle crash, on this day, in 1971.  This review in All About Jazz, published in March, 2020, highlights the early bands Duane and his brother Gregg Allman, (may they both Rest In Peace), were involved in, long before the Allman Brothers Band was even an idea.

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/younger-brothers-the-allman-joys-hourglass-duane-and-gregg?fbclid=IwAR2Iy0f1j8qWBdwbFh1lRX2xyC4pq67j1RtYeazUkmJPNu78riZRQAb-z-g&width=1366

The Charlie Daniels Band "Redneck Fiddlin' Man"

 

Happy 84th birthday, to the one and the only, Charlie Daniels, who we sadly lost, earlier this year.  Musician, author, patriot, and so much more.  Celebrating his life and legacy, on his birthday, with a more recent tune he wrote, certainly describing himself, in a way.  This is "Redneck Fiddlin' Man". It was the opening number, from a concert the CDB played, where snippets have been shared on the blog before, from the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 15th, 2011.  

Katsumi Horii Project "Flashback"

Track two, from the 1993 Katsumi Horii record "Lovers", that was featured last month for a Full Album Friday, this is "Flashback".

Katsumi Horii Project "In The Blue Heaven"

 

From the 1991 "Sky Cruisin' " record that was posted here for Full Album Friday a few weeks ago, this is one of the best tracks from that Katsumi Horii Project recording, called "In The Blue Heaven".  Check it out.

Larry Carlton "Nite Crawler"

 

From one of his best recordings, "Room 335", here's Larry Carlton, with another great song off that record that also happened to be recorded by The Crusaders, who he played guitar with.  This is "Nite Crawler". 

Lynyrd Skynyrd "Poison Whiskey"

 

Studio and live versions of a Lynyrd Skynyrd song, with a message.  This is "Poison Whiskey". from the debut Lynyrd Skynyrd self-titled record, released in 1973.  

 

Spyro Gyra "Carnaval"

 

For Full Album Friday this week, jazz/jazz fusion group Spyro Gyra is featured, and so is their 1980 record, "Carnaval".  The band lineup is:

Bass – Jim Kurzdorfer (tracks: A3), Will Lee IV* (tracks: A1, A2, A4 to B4) Cello – David Darling (tracks: A2 3) Drums – Eli Konikoff (tracks: A1 to A3, B1 to B3), Steve Jordan (tracks: A4, B4) Flute, Saxophone [Tenor] – Michael Brecker Guitar – Chet Catallo (tracks: A1 to B3), Hiram Bullock (tracks: A2, B4), John Tropea (tracks: A3 to B3) Keyboards – Jeremy Wall (tracks: A3, B4), Tom Schuman (tracks: A1, A2, A4 to B3) Marimba, Vibraphone – David Samuels* (tracks: A2, B1 to B4) Percussion – Gerardo Velez (tracks: A2 to B2, B4), Richard Calandra (tracks: A3), Steve Kroon (tracks: A4, B4) Percussion, Congas – Crusher Bennett* (tracks: A1, A4, B2 to B4) Producer – Jay Beckenstein, Richard Calandra Saxophone [Alto], Piano – Jay Beckenstein Strings – Guy Lumia, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, Jesse Levy, Johnathon Abramowitz*, Lamar Alsop, Matthew Raimondi, Peter DiMitriades, Richard Sortomme, W. Sandford Allen* Synthesizer – Rob Mounsey (tracks: A1 to B3) Trombone – Tom Malone Trumpet – Randy Brecker

The track listing is:

1. Cafe Amore 

2. Dizzy

3. Awakening

4. Cachaca

5. Fox Trot

6. Sweet 'N' Savvy

7. Bittersweet

8. Carnaval

Ry Cooder "Cherry Ball Blues"

 

The original version of "Cherry Ball Blues", as performed by Ry Cooder. 

Sonny Landreth "All About You"

 

Another Sonny Landreth performance from the 2019 Dallas International Guitar Festival on May 4th, 2019.  This song is called "All About You". 

Lynyrd Skynyrd "Tuesday's Gone"

Paying tribute, on the anniversary, 43 years ago, of the fatal plane crash that killed several members of Lynyrd Skynyrd.  On that day, we lost their famed and charismatic lead singer, Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister and backup singer, Cassie Gaines, and the band's road manager, Dean Kilpatrick.  Since then, other well known members have crossed the bridge to the other side, guitarist Allen Collins, keyboardist Billy Powell, bassist's Leon Wikeson and Ean Evans.  We fondly remember all of them.  Here's an appropriate tune, for today, being Tuesday, and an all-time favorite Skynyrd tune of yours truly.  "Tuesday's Gone".  Rest In Peace, and fly on, the free birds of the Lynyrd Skynyrd band.

To pay tribute, the studio version, and two live versions of this tune, with the original band, and one of the newly reformed lineups, performing live in 2003 or so.  

Sonny Landreth "Cherry Ball Blues"

Another performance by Sonny Landreth and his trio at the 2019 Dallas International Guitar Festival on May 4th, 2019.  This is "Cherry Ball Blues" featuring Sonny Landreth on slide guitar and vocals, Aram Doroff on bass, and Mike Gage, on drums.  Incidentally, this is a Ry Cooder song.  So, will find his version and post it, sometime soon. 

Sonny Landreth "Firebird Blues"

Another performance by Sonny Landreth from the 2019 Dallas International Guitar Festival on May 4th, 2019.  This is "Firebird Blues", a tribute to the late, great Texas blues man, Johnny Winter.  

Sonny Landreth "Native Stepson"

Re-posting a favorite song by one of my favorite guitar players.  This is Cajun slide guitar maestro Sonny Landreth, with the instrumental tune, "Native Stepson".  This particular version of the song is from a live performance at the Dallas International Guitar Festival on May 4th, 2019.  The band includes Sonny Landreth on slide guitar, Aram Doroff on bass, and Mike Gage on drums.

Katsumi Horii Project "Blue Waters" (1998)

 

Another Katsumi Horii record for Full Album Friday.  This is his 1998 release "Blue Waters".  Some familiar names appear on this record.  The track listing is:

1. Checkmate!

2. Greater Love

3. Danceholic

4. Blue Waters

5. Street Scene

6. Heavy Metal Blues

7. Echoes In My Heart

8. Avenue '98

9. Alone at Last... In Manhattan

10. People In The Lightwinds

 

The band lineup & credits.

 

Katsumi Horii: Composition & Arranging

Omar Hakim: drums

Mark Egan: bass

Hiram Bullock: electric guitar

Philippe Saisse: keyboards

Chris Hunter: alto saxophone

Darryl Tookes: scat singing

Diva Gray & James "D Train" Williams: vocals

 

 

 

String Cheese Incident (feat. Bill Payne, Vince Herman, & Sunshine Garcia) "Spanish Moon"

From the 2014 Phases of The Moon Festival at Kennekuk County Park in Danville, Illinois, here's The String Cheese Incident covering Little Feat's "Spanish Moon" with special guests, Little Feat's Bill Payne on piano, and vocalists Vince Herman (in the astronaut space helmet), and Sunshine Garcia.  Check it out.

 

String Cheese Incident (feat. Trey Anastasio) "Outside & Inside"

A newly published archive video of The String Cheese Incident playing their song "Outside & Inside" with guest Trey Anastasio, bandleader and guitarist from Phish, at the Fourmile Canyon Revival on October 9th, 2010.  Hard to believe this show was a decade ago.  I have seen both Phish and String Cheese Incident, albeit, in separate shows, in 2016 and 2017.  Phish played at the Xcel Energy Center, and String Cheese Incident at the Palace Theater, both in my hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota.  Here's more details on the particular show this performance came from.  This particular event, was heaven for the jam band faithful.  SCI, Phish, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters came together to help raise more than $300,000 for the Boulder Fire Mountain Relief Fund! An unforgettable event!

Joe Henderson "The Bead Game"

From Joe Henderson's 1968 record "Tetragon", here is his composition, "The Bead Game".  The band includes Joe Henderson on tenor sax, Don Friedman on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums.

 

In Memoriam: Eddie Van Halen

We remember, the legend, Eddie Van Halen, who, along with his brother Alex Van Halen, and others, founded and was a part of one of the greatest bands in music history.  A man, who also inspired more people to pick up a guitar than possibly anyone in history as well.  Rest In Peace, Eddie Van Halen.

Dweezil Zappa: "Edward Van Halen Himself Was Lightning in a Bottle"

 

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/30909-Dweezil-Zappa-on-Edward-Van-Halen-obituary 

 

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra "Diminuendo & Crescendo In Blue"

In lieu of Spotify Sunday, since yours truly, is still trying to find more ideas of artists to listen to, here's something really cool.  Check out Duke Ellington and His Orchestra with “Diminuendo & Crescendo In Blue”.  

In Memoriam: Johnny Nash

We fondly remember, singer, Johnny Nash, who has died at age 80.  His biggest hit song was "I Can See Clearly Now".  He started out, singing pop music covers, at age 17, and would move on to singing a lot of reggae music, having been influenced by moving to Jamaica.  Rest In Peace, Johnny Nash.  You will be missed.  Some of his songs, included in this obituary from Consequence of Sound include "I Can See Clearly Now", "Hold Me Tight", and "A Very Special Love".

https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/10/rip-johnny-nash-dead-obituary/?utm_expid=.I2OkZS06Riahk3U0vrA5rQ.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Katsumi Horii “I Believe” (1995)

 

Katsumi Horii's 1995 record, "I Believe" is actually a movie soundtrack.  This album is featured this week for Full Album Friday.  The track listing is:

1. Free As The Wind

2. Our Town

3. Alone At Last, In Your Eyes

4. I Believe

5. Catty Talk

6. I Believe

7. I Say Hello

8. You'll Never Know

9. Free As The Wind

10. Let It Ride

11. I Believe

12. Free As The Wind

13. Let It Ride

14. Coming Home

15. Every Reason

16. Coming Home

17. Frames of Mind

 

I don’t know if there is an official band lineup listed for this particular album.  I didn’t see any credits on the original YouTube post.

Max Roach “Mr. Hi Hat” (1994)

What instrument do you play?  I play the hi hat cymbal, Sir.  Here’s Max Roach, legendary jazz drummer, in a 1994 performance showing why he is indeed “Mr. Hi Hat”.  

Elvin Jones "Namuh"

Another selection from Elvin Jones' record "Elvin Jones Is On The Mountain" from 1975. Haven’t posted a track from this record in a good while.  "Namuh" is a more acoustic track, with Jones on drums, Gene Perla on upright bass, and Jan Hammer on grand piano. 

Van Morrison "Cyprus Avenue"

Studio, and live versions of Van Morrison's song about being love struck on the avenue.  This is "Cyprus Avenue" from his "Astral Weeks", released in 1968.  

Eddie Boyd "Third Degree"

Studio and live versions of blues pianist, singer, and songwriter, Eddie Boyd, performing his song "Third Degree".  This, and "Five Long Years" are his two best known songs.

Skip's Spotify Sunday 10-4-20

Michael Mantler "No Answers/Silence"

Based on texts written by Samuel Beckett 

(feat. Jack Bruce: voices, bass; Carla Bley: piano, organs, Clavinet, & voices; Don Cherry: trumpet, Robert Wyatt: voice, percussion, Kevin Coyne: voice, Chris Spedding: guitar, & Clare Maher: cello)

Disc 1

1. Part One (Number Six)

2. Part Two (Number Six)

3. Part Three (Number Six)

4. Part Four (Number Six)

5. Part One (Number Twelve)

6. Part Two (Number Twelve)

7. Part Three (Number Twelve)

8. Part Four (Number Twelve)

Disc 2

1. I Walk With My Girl

2. I Watch The Clouds

3. It Is Curiously Hot

4. When I Run

5. Sometimes I See People

6. Around Me Sits The Night

7. She Was Looking Down

8. For Instance

9. A Long Way

10. After My Work Each Day

11. On Good Evenings

Jack Bruce "Jet Set Jewel"

1. The Boy

2. Head In The Sun

3. Neighbour, Neighbour (Alton Valier & Huey P. Meaux cover)

4. Childsong

5. Jet Set Jewel

6. Please

7. Maybe The Dawn

8. Mickey The Fiddler

9. She's Moving On

10. The Best Is Still To Come

Jack Bruce "Live At Manchester Free Trade Hall 1975"

Disc 1

 

1. Can You Follow?

2. Morning Story

3. Keep It Down

4. Pieces Of Mind

5. Tickets To Waterfalls/Weird of Hermiston/Post War

6. Spirit

 

Disc 2

 

1. One/You Burned The Tables On Me

2. Smiles And Grins

3. Sunshine of Your Love

 

John Cage, Haydee Schvartz, & Jack Bruce "Cage: The Works for Piano, Vol. 5"

 

1. Soliloquy

2. 3 Easy Pieces: No. 1, Round

3. 3 Easy Pieces: No. 2, Duo

4. 3 Easy Pieces: No. 3 Infinite Canon

5. 4 Walls, Act I: Scene 1

6. 4 Walls, Act I: Scene 2

7. 4 Walls, Act I: Scene 3 - Dance

8. 4 Walls, Act I: Scene 4 - Dance

9. 4 Walls, Act I: Scene 5

10. 4 Walls, Act I: Scene 6

11. 4 Walls, Act I: Scene 7

12. 4 Walls, Act I: Scene 8

13. 4 Walls, Act II: Scene 9

14. 4 Walls, Act II: Scene 10

15. 4 Walls, Act II: Scene 11

16. 4 Walls, Act II: Scene 12

17. 4 Walls, Act II: Scene 13

 

Jack Bruce "Jack Bruce & His Big Blues Band - Live 2012"

 

1. Can You Follow?

2. Morning Story

3. You Burned The Tables On Me

4. Neighbour Neighbour

5. Child Song

6. Weird of Hermiston

7. Folk Song

8. Spoonful

9. Theme From An Imaginary Western

10. Tickets To Waterfalls

11. Never Tell Your Mother She's Out of Tune

12. Bad Sign

13. We're Going Wrong

14. Deserted Cities

15. White Room

16. Sunshine

 

Jack Bruce "The Lost Tracks (The 50th Birthday Concerts at Rockpalast)" - Recorded November 2nd & 3rd, 1993

 

Band lineup

 

Francois Garny: bass

Jessica Stolzenberg & Sebastian Hoffman: cello

Jack Bruce: bass, cello, piano, acoustic guitar, & vocals

Ginger Baker: drums

Simon Phillips: drums

Gary Husband: keyboards

Bernie Worrell: Hammond B3 organ

Jonas Bruce: piano

Malcolm Bruce: synthesizer

Art Themen & Dick Heckstall-Smith: saxophones

Henry Lowther: trumpet

John Mumford: trombone

1. White Room

2. Drum Solo

3. NSU

4. Sitting On Top of The World (Bob Wills & Howlin' Wolf cover)

5. Politician

6. Blues You Can't Lose

7. Willpower

8. Boston Ball Game 1967

9. Rope Ladder To The Moon

10. FM

11. Childsong

12. As You Said

13. Improvisation on Minuet No. 1

Jack Bruce "Silver Rails"

1. Candlelight

2. Reach For The Night

3. Fields of Forever

4. Hidden Cities

5. Don't Look Now

6. Rusty Lady

7. Industrial Child

8. Drone

9. Keep It Down

10. No Surrender

Jack Bruce (feat. hr Big Band) "More Jack Than Blues" Live at 37th Deutsches Jazzfestival, Frankfurt, 2006

1. Never Tell Your Mother She's Out of Tune

2. Rope Ladder To The Moon

3. Spoonful (Willie Dixon cover)

4. Smiles And Grins

5. Born Under A Bad Sign (Booker T. Jones & William Bell cover)

6. Theme From An Imaginary Western

7. Milonga

8. The Consul at Sunset

9. We're Going Wrong

10. Deserted Cities of The Heart

11. Sunshine of Your Love

Jack Bruce & Robin Trower "Songs From The Road"

1. Seven Moons

2. Lives of Clay

3. Distant Places of The Heart

4. Sunshine of Your Love

5. Carmen

6. So Far To Yesterday

7. Just Another Day

8. Perfect Place

9. Bad Case of Celebrity

10. The Last Door

11. Come To Me

12. White Room

13. Politician

Cornell Dupree "Freedom Jazz Dance"

From his 1994 recording "Bop'N'Blues" here is guitarist Cornell Dupree with his rendition of tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris' composition "Freedom Jazz Dance".  The album was recorded on Kokopelli Records.  The band lineup is:

* Cornell Dupree - Guitar 

* Terell Stafford - Trumpet 

* Bobby Watson - Alto Sax 

* Ronnie Cuber - Baritone Sax 

* Leon Pendarvis - Organ, Piano 

* Chuck Rainey - Bass 

* Sammy Figueroa - Percussion 

* Ricky Sebastian - Drums

 

 

Katsumi Horii “Sunday Brunch” (1994)

More music from Katsumi Horii for Full Album Friday this week.  This is his 1994 recording, entitled “Sunday Brunch”.  An appropriate title, as this music would be appropriate background music, for a casual get together, such as a Sunday brunch meal.  The track listing:

1. Water Garden 

2. Way To Morning

3. Uncle K

4. Movin' On

5. Sunday Brunch

6. This Masquerade

7. Partly Rain

8. Good News

9. Nice Jackies

10. I Wish You Were Here - Alone at Last

Credits: Art Direction, Design – Yotsugi Yasunori Inc. Coordinator – Yuko Sasaki Coordinator [Creative Coordinate] – Miami Hanai Directed By – Hirotomi Yamaguchi Engineer [Second] – Keiji Kondo, Kenji Matsunaga, Seiki Ochiai Executive-Producer – Yuichi Sato Illustration – Eijin Suzuki Mastered By, Engineer – Mitsuharu Harada Mixed By, Engineer – Takahiro Nochimura Photography By – Kazuyoshi Nakamura Producer – Katsumi Horii Recorded By, Engineer – Takahiro Nochimura, Toshio Misu Synthesizer, Programmed By – Yasushi Morimoto

 

In Memoriam: Rocco Prestia

We remember fondly, a man who was one part of the Tower of Power rhythm section, and who made it as potent as it was and still is.  ToP bassist, Rocco Prestia, has passed away at age 69.  He was one of the architects of their inimitable groove on songs such as “Don’t Change Horses In The Middle of A Stream”, “You’re Still A Young Man”, and “What Is Hip”.  Rest In Peace, Rocco.  You will be missed.

https://www.guitarworld.com/news/legendary-tower-of-power-bassist-rocco-prestia-dies-aged-69