Blow by Blow signaled a new creative peak for Beck, and it proved to be a difficult act to follow. It is a testament to the power of effective collaboration and, given the circumstances, Beck clearly rose to the occasion. In addition to being a … Continue reading Featured Album – Blow by Blow – Jeff Beck
Wherein I put together three songs, much like a DJ. I usually put a rock jam together. But why not some jazz? No reason. (Pictured above, saxophonist John Klemmer.)ย The Jazz Crusaders started out in the 1960’s, their sound rooted in “hard bop, with an … Continue reading Tres Songs – (Miniset)
I’m aware that horn-driven rock isn’t for everyone. And further that Chicago have sometimes tarnished their own reputation by playing some treacly, watered-down shit. But in the early days they were a smokin’ hot band.ย I recently watched a documentary on TV about the great … Continue reading A Song I Love – Movin’ In – Chicago
Larry Coryell, one of the pioneers of jazz fusion, died on February 19, 2017. The obituaries on him in the press were pretty accurate. But on looking through WordPress feeds, I could find not one word about him. Perhaps his heyday was long enough ago … Continue reading Larry Coryell – Jazz Guitarist Extraordinaire
If you read about Weather Report in Wikipedia, there is a section called “The Jaco Pastorius years (1976-1981).” This is because, quite simply, not only did he change the sound of the band but he also changed the way the electric bass is played. From … Continue reading Weather Report – Jaco, Birdland and on (final of 2)
From the late ’60’s throughout the ’70’s, jazz-rock or fusion was a vital force in music. I would argue that while both jazz and fusion are still very much with us today, that may well have been the height of jazz’ popularity. And one of … Continue reading Weather Report (1) – I Sing the Body Electric
Donald Fagen likes to make fun of the aging hippies who attend Steely Dan concerts. โTonight the crowd looked so geriatric I was tempted to start calling out bingo numbers. By the end of the set, they were all on their feet, albeit shakily, rocking. … Continue reading Steely Dan (final of 4) – Aja and on
“You should never believe anything it ever says on a Steely Dan record, Itโs mostly a bunch of lies and bullshit that we write just to confuse the listener.โ —-Donald Fagen in a reference to liner notes (if not the actual songs.) One of the … Continue reading Steely Dan (3) from Yokohama
I have never met Napoleon But I plan to find the time I have never met Napoleon But I plan to find the time ‘Cause he looks so fine Upon that hill They tell me he was lonely He’s lonely still Those days are gone … Continue reading Steely Dan (2) – They Got the Steely Dan T-shirt
“When William Burroughs decided to name a succession of dildos Steely Dan I, II and III in his controversial 1959 novel The Naked Lunch, he could never have imagined how such an apparently insignificant name would still be reverberating around the music business well over … Continue reading Steely Dan (1) Any Major Dude
Music Enthusiast - At the junction of rock, blues, R&B, jazz, pop,and soul 