Stevie Ray Vaughan "Texas Flood" (revisited)

 

Revisiting a favorite slow blues by the one and the only Stevie Ray Vaughan.  From a video recording which has been released on DVD, here is SRV and Double Trouble playing "Texas Flood" live at the El Mocambo.  

We Need More Bright Moments like the music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk

 

Another Sunday Special this week.  From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.  

Please visit the Jazz Video Guy's new home: http://syncopatedjustice.com

Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1935–1977) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute, and many other instruments. He was renowned for his remarkable ability to play multiple instruments simultaneously and for his broad range of musical techniques. His importance in the jazz world and music more broadly can be attributed to several key factors: 1. **Musical Innovation and Versatility**: Kirk was known for his extraordinary ability to play more than one instrument at a time, often harmonizing with himself. He could play the tenor saxophone, two obscure saxophones called the manzello and the stritch, a variety of flutes, and many other instruments. His approach to playing was not just a gimmick but a deeply musical and expressive technique. 2. **Blindness Overcoming Adversity**: Despite being blind from a very young age, Kirk's accomplishments as a musician were extraordinary. His ability to overcome this challenge and excel in a field that often relies heavily on sight is a testament to his determination and skill. 3. **Eclectic Style**: Kirk's music was a blend of jazz, hard bop, elements of classical, and pop, which he integrated into a cohesive and unique style. He was not afraid to experiment with sounds and genres, making his music distinctive and ahead of its time. 4. **Political and Social Commentary**: Kirk was outspoken on issues of race, politics, and the state of jazz music. He often used his music as a platform for social commentary, infusing his performances with messages about civil rights and the African American experience. 5. **Influence on Future Generations**: His innovative techniques and unique style influenced many musicians across various genres. Kirk's approach to improvisation and his ability to blend different musical styles have been inspirational to jazz and other musicians. 6. **Live Performances**: Kirk was known for his dynamic and energetic live performances. His ability to connect with the audience and his unpredictable nature made his concerts memorable experiences. 7. **Educational Impact**: Beyond his performances, Kirk was passionate about educating younger generations about jazz and its roots. He was known for his efforts to preserve and promote the history of jazz, especially in times when its cultural significance was underappreciated. In summary, Rahsaan Roland Kirk's importance lies in his innovative approach to music, his ability to overcome personal challenges, his contribution to the evolution of jazz, and his influence on both his contemporaries and future generations of musicians.

Frank Gambale - Robo Roo Live

 

From the Pit Inn in Tokyo, Japan, here is Frank Gambale and his band with the instrumental tune "Robo Roo".  

John Scofield - Leverkusener Jazztage - 1988

 

Full Concert Friday this week.

John Scofield
Leverkusener Jazztage
October 22 1988
Leverkusen Germany

John Scofield: Guitar
Jim Beard: Keyboards
Dennis Chambers: Drums
Gary Grainger: Bass 

1. Protocol
2. Blue Matter

Joe Bonamassa "King Bee Shakedown"

 

From Joe Bonamassa's 2018 record "Redemption", here is the second tune on the record, "King Bee Shakedown".  The band lineup includes Joe Bonamassa on guitar and vocals, Reese Wynans on Hammond organ and piano, the late, great Michael Rhodes on bass, Anton Fig on drums, Kenny Greenberg and Doug Lancio on guitars, Gary Pinto on harmony vocals, and backing vocalists Mahalia Barnes, Jade MacRae, Juanita Tippins, and Jamey Johnson.  

Take Five - Dave Brubeck

 

From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.

Take 5 (Desmond) The Dave Brubeck Quartet, from the 1982 Aurex Jazz Festival in Tokyo. Dave Brubeck, piano; Chris Brubeck on bass; Randy Jones on drums, and Michael Pedicin on tenor saxophone. Please visit http://syncopatedjustice.com for Michael Pedicin’s thoughts on his friend, Michael Brecker.

Dave Brubeck - Mister Broadway - 14/07/1979 • World of Jazz

 

This number is called 'Mister Broadway". This recording is from July 14, 1979, at the PWA Zaal, North Sea Jazz Festival. Dave Brubeck, born on December 6, 1920, in California, was an influential American jazz pianist and composer known for his innovative approach to time signatures and his role in popularizing modern jazz. In 1951, he formed the Dave Brubeck Quartet, a groundbreaking ensemble. The quartet, featuring Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums, gained widespread acclaim for their distinctive sound and complex, polyrhythmic compositions.

One of the quartet's most iconic albums, "Time Out" (1959), showcased Brubeck's fascination with unusual time signatures. The album's signature track, "Take Five," composed by Paul Desmond in 5/4 time, became a jazz standard and a crossover hit, reaching a broad audience and introducing many listeners to the world of modern jazz. Brubeck received numerous accolades, including a Kennedy Center Honor, Grammy Awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Dave Brubeck's legacy includes a vast discography of over a hundred albums, collaborations with jazz luminaries, and a profound influence on the evolution of jazz. He passed away on December 5, 2012. Dave Brubeck dedicated the song Take Five to Paul Desmond who died in '77.

The Wit and Wisdom of James Edward Heath Accordingly to Sonny Rollins

 

From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.  From October 2011, from my series, Day be Day, all about the remarkable Jimmy Heath.  With help from his dear friend, Sonny Rollins.

Joe Bonamassa - "No Good Place For The Lonely" - Live At The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra

 

This week's Sunday Special.  From his live record "Live at The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra" here is Joe Bonamassa with his song "No Good Place For The Lonely".  

The Moody Blues "The Voice"

 

From a 2007 concert at U.S. Cellular Pavillion in Gilford, New Hampshire, The Moody Blues perform "The Voice" from their 1981 "The Long Distance Voyager" record.  Again, this song and concert are taken from the 2007 tour done by The Moody Blues which also made an appearance at the theater at Target Center in Minneapolis, where yours truly had the honor and privilege of seeing the band in person.  

John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Al Foster, Dave Holland - 1999

 

Full Concert Friday this week.

John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Al Foster, Dave Holland
North Sea Jazz Festival
July 10, 1999
Den Haag, Holland

The Moody Blues "The Story In Your Eyes"

 

From a 2007 concert in Gilford, New Hampshire, here are The Moody Blues with their hit song "The Story In Your Eyes" originally released in 1971 on their "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" record. Yours truly also saw The Moody Blues on their 2007 summer tour, at the Target Center, on their concert theatre stage, on the same tour this performance is taken from, with original band members Justin Hayward on guitar and vocals, John Lodge on bass and vocals, and Graeme Edge on drums.   

Phish - 9/1/2024 - Set Your Soul Free → Tweezer (4K HDR) Commerce City, CO

 

"Set Your Soul Free" → "Tweezer" from Phish's 9/1/2024 show at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO. 

Phish - 8/31/2024 - Kill Devil Falls → What's Going Through Your Mind (4K HDR) Commerce City, CO

 

"Kill Devil Falls" → "What's Going Through Your Mind" from Phish's 8/31/2024 show at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO. 

THE BEST LIVE JAZZ RECORDING?

 

From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.

Sunday at the Vanguard with Bill Evans. From the series, Orrin Keepnews, Producer, the late Orrin Keepnews tells the story of this jazz classic.

Allman Brothers Band "Statesboro Blues"

 

This week's Sunday Special.  From a performance in 2007 at U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford, New Hampshire, here are The Allman Brothers with their cover of Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues" based off the version performed by Taj Mahal and his guitarist, Jesse Ed Davis.  One of the four times I had the distinct honor and privilege of seeing the Allman Brothers Band live, was on this same tour in 2007 at the Minnesota State Fair.  

Luther Johnson "Woman Don't Lie" & "Loan Me A Dime" (1973)

 

TV gig in France - two numbers - the second is a great cover of a Fenton Robinson number. With Sonny Thompson on piano - a solid Chicago blues player that you don't hear much about.

Zappa Plays Zappa

 

Full Concert Friday this week features Zappa Plays Zappa.  Dweezil Zappa and his band playing his father Frank Zappa's revolutionary music in a live concert.  I had a chance to see the band open for Return to Forever on their 2011 world tour and the show was incredible!  That opened me to the world of Frank Zappa's music, the arcane art of the absurd yet with plenty of reality.  The set list for this show is:

DVD Disc 1

1. Andy

2. Call Any Vegetable

3. Tell Me You Love Me

4. Florentine Pogen

5. Cosmic Debris

6. I'm The Slime

7. Pound For a Brown

8. Don't Eat the Yellow Snow

9. St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast

10. Father O'Blivion

11. Inca Roads

12. Eat That Question

13. I'm So Cute

14. Tryin' to Grow a Chin

15. Punky Whips

DVD Disc 2 

1. Black Page #1

2. Black Page #2

3. Regyptian Strut

4. Peaches En Regalia

5. Montana

6. Village of the Sun 

7. Echidna's Art (Of You)

8. Zomby Woof

9. Black Napkins

10. The Torture Never Stops

11. Oh No

12. Son of Orange County

13. Trouble Every Day

14. Sofa

The band lineup is:

Dweezil Zappa: lead guitar

Scheila Gonzalez: keyboards, alto saxophone, flute

Jamie Kime: rhythm guitar

Aaron Arntz: keyboards, trumpet, & vocals

Pete Griffin: bass

Billy Hulting: percussion, marimba, mallets, manic ranting monologues

With Special guest band members:

Steve Vai: lead guitar

Napoleon Murphy Brock: vocals, tenor saxophone, & flute

Terry Bozzio: drums & vocals

Count Basie on the Milton Berle Show, 1959, Bleep Blop Blues

 

From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.  Count Basie and his Orchestra on the Kraft Music Hall hosted by Milton Berle, March 1959.

Phish - 8/30/2024 - Ruby Waves → What's The Use? (4K HDR) Commerce City, CO

 

"Ruby Waves" → "What's The Use?" from Phish's 8/30/2024 show at Dicks Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO. 

Phish "Sand" (revisited)

 

"Sand" from Phish's 8/30/2024 show at Dicks Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO.

Phish "Pillow Jets" (revisited)

 

Another live performance version of the song "Pillow Jets" by Phish.  This one is from their August 29th, 2024, concert at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.  

Stan Kenton & his Orchestra - Opus In Pastels - 01/04/1972 • World of Jazz

 

This week's Sunday Special featuring Stan Kenton & His Orchestra.

Big band leader and pianist Stanley Newcomb “Stan” Kenton (1911-1979), a progressive and back in the '50’s also a controversial musician, is nowadays looked upon as one of the biggest bandleaders of all time. Already in the 40’s he toured around the world, and he gave his famous Concert in Progressive Jazz in Carnegie Hall. In the early fifties he founded a 43-member orchestra, Innovations in Modern Music.  After two tours it seemed financially not possible to continue this project.  

He also recorded lots of albums, and in 1970 he started to co-operate with the “creative world” label. This led to several concerts around the world, including the performance in Rotterdam. In this material we also recognize:

Bass:  John Worster
Drums:  John von Ohlen
Trumpet:  Dick Shearer
Percussion: Ramon Lopez

Kenton is also known for his talent scouting and his “nose” for talent, he worked with big shots like Maynard Ferguson and Stan Getz.  The song here performed is “Take the A-train” a jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn, that became the signature tune of Duke Ellington. A-train refers to a subway service in New York.