I have also recently hooked up with the reissued 4 CD set from the Last Waltz. The new mastering is fantasatic but what it is more exciting is all the unreleased goodies. I am not going to get to those right now but I do want to include this awesome track from Emmylou Harris and the Band.
I used to go see the Cherry Poppin' Daddies in the early nineties up and down the Northwest coast. These guys are a phenomenal band. It is way too bad that they got labeled a swing band because that was really just part of their shtick. When we used to see them in the small clubs, they were basically a punk band with the sickest horn arrangements. I swear I have never had as sweaty a dance night at a club as I did when these guys were full speed ahead. And with Steve Perry at the wheel, they never had an off night. They could mix punk, ska, rock, funk, swing, anything into a set or even into one song. MC Large Drink was a kamikaze Cab Calloway. Dana on trumpet was just amazing and Dang on bass was ...
This is an often overlooked album in Ricki Lee Jones discography. There are no real hits on it; it is more of an acoustic jazz album. And it is this fact, the reason why I enjoy it. Plus, she has , in my opinion, a great cover of Jimi Hendrix's Up From The Skies. This track has Robben Ford on acoustic Steel String guitar (rhythm), John Leftwich on Bass, and Michael O'Neill on acoustic Nylon String guitar (lead). Check out the guitar runs towards the end of the song. For me, this is a classic.
This is a British folk album from one of the queens of British folk voice released in the mid nineties. Not much to say here but I thought I would share this cool medley of gypsy numbers she recorded with an Andy Cutting on Diatonic accordion. Keeps you on your toes.
It pretty much doesn't get any better than this for a progressive bluegrass lineup. The tunes are great too. Of course, Bela Fleck (banjo) got it all together. He's got Jerry Douglas (dobro), Sam Bush (mandolin), Mark Schatz (bass), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), and Tony Rice (guitar). There are a special guests on all tracks, like John Hartford and Vassar Clemens. This 1999 release has a great recording of solid progressive bluegrass picking.
This is a pretty cool album that I have just recently picked up. I had heard that she plays mandolin as well as her primary instrument fiddle. There is no mandolin on this album but there is a really talented band including: Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, Viktor Krauss, Kenny Wollesen, and Chip Taylor. The other thing I was bummed about was that none of the tunes were written by her. She co-wrote a few songs and did one cover. This album is kind of like ambient americana, country with atmosphere. It is a very good listen and is hard to single out one song. The title track is strong but I just can't get myself to post just the first track to turn someone on to an album. That said, here is the cover, written by Dirk Powell.
This is a super fun album. It goes from big horn arrangements down to the whisper of a vocalist. The band is impeccable. Victor Krauss on bass, Andrea Zonn on fiddle, Francine Reed on duet vocals. There's horns, string, and backing vocals. I was checking this out last night on my way home and some thing just caught me on this track. Tweaking the arrangement would make it a cool bluegrass tune even. Also check out how low the baritone backup voice can get. So low, it more a bass voice.
I have actually heard of and respect three of the five artists nominated for Best Country Instrumental for the 2008 Grammy. I do not own the other two albums (Andy Statman, Russ Barenburg) but I own this one:
Ended up spending the day yesterday with my sick four year old. It was kind of like playing hooky except for the vomiting. Not a whole lot I am going to say 'bout this track except... I really do not enjoy when Dave opens his mouth to talk; he should stick with singin' and playin'. I thought this was some good singin' though.
Kinda went crazy the last few posts. Tone it down a little. This little ditty is an excellent cover of the great Richard Thompson. It is performed by X with help from David Hidalgo of Los Lobos. I am a big fan of John Doe but don't entirely care for Exene. This is rough cut and raunchy; kind of what this song deserves. For you headphone fanatics out there, Hidalgo is in the right ear and Tony Gilkyson is in the left. This appeared on the Beat the Retreat CD from 1994. Dig.
This is a wonderful acoustic band from the Boston area that just has a fantastic sound. They are a quartet with a cello and bass on the low end and a banjo and vocals on the high end. The way they sonically mix the two and the way they arrange traditional Old- Time music is really exceptional. To top it all off, the main soloist is the cello player and he is phenomenal. Keep your eyes out for this group coming to your town.
This was a funky, dance, jammy, bar band out of Boulder during the nineties. They are really hard to classify; which I consider a compliment. I never saw them live when they were a quintet as they are here on this album. This album is really fun and hard to pin down and always fun to revisit now and again. I was friends with Liza , who is the lead singer and lead guitarist. She is a wonderful talent. A remarkable singer; I think of her as a sultry Bonnie Raitt. I remember when we lived in T-town together and she would play some Raitt covers just her and her acoustic guitar. She does 95% of the guitar work here I believe; at least, she does all the electric duties. She has a great funk rhythm style. As it is hard to pin this group down, I am throwing a few songs up to enjoy.
This album is amazing. Two world class musicians playing in a duo format. An immaculate recording. Just some incredible playing. Timing, tone, spirit, this disc has it all. Mike Marshall is one of the best mandolin players right now and Thile is no slouch either. Their fingers just fly. For you headphone fans out there, Thile is in your left ear and Marshall is in your right. The album opens with
I need to get everyone on board with one of my favorite guitarists of all time. Though this is not the album I started with, this is Pat's first. This album has had an incredible affect on jazz guitarists to this day. Recorded in Germany in a trio format, it has none other than Jaco Pastorius on bass and Bob Moses on drums. So really, we are going to check out two incredibly talented guitarists early in their careers.
I saw Pat live just last month in a trio and he still performs the title track; so I will give you that. I then I'll throw in an extra gem.
I was listening to three of the four classic Miles Davis Quintet albums last night while I was doing the dishes, stoking the fire, etc. There were four amazing MDQ records recorded in mid to late 1956. All with the same band: John Coltrane on tenor, Philly Joe Jones on the kit, Red Garland on piano and Paul Chambers on bass. This was just an amazing group that effortlessly worked together. Talk about tight. I have all four albums and they are fantastic. But back to last night, I had Steamin', Cookin' and Workin' on rotation last night. I was sitting there and this first tune from Workin' just blew me away again. Coltrane isn't even heard from but the rhythm section impeccably strolls along as Red sets the scene.
I do not have much of a bio for Boris McCutcheon but I do have his first album Mother Ditch. It is an excellent folk/roots/americana deal. I believe he grew up in Massachusetts and moved to New Mexico where he currently resides. His first album is great and has a few Boston area players on it. What I truly like is his off beat songwriting and the fact that the album has touches of Old Time instrumentation. The whole album is solid but I will throw up my favorite. This track has Aaron Goff on mandolin and Mark Lever on tuba. Just the whole mood of the track is exceptional. And I always love the old school tuba replacing a bass. Throw that mandolin in there and I am hooked.
This is a pretty ironic title considering all the threads this album is going open on this here blog. Kind of exciting, in fact, at least for me. So to get right to it: this is a fantastic album that came out a few years ago. It is Victor Krauss' first solo album and he is Alison Krauss's brother. Victor has been a supporting a number of musicians before this project; too many for me to mention here besides a note that he is Lyle Lovett's bassist for a while (maybe still is).
This album, I should say EP, came out last year but the beauty of being a new blog is that I have a ton of things to revisit. The Rosewood Thieves have just issued their second EP and thus the post. I wouldn't characterize this as Americana so much but it is very reminiscent of 60 folk -rock . I see Bob Dylan ( though he is kind a in everything), Beatles, ... i don't know , a few others; i guess it has all been said before. Every track on the EP is good. So here is a taste.
I read elsewhere that The Word have a couple of shows coming up and I had to dig out that CD. This is a really cool band or spin off, whatever you want to call it. John Medeski of MMW, the North Mississippi All-Stars, and Robert Randolph all cooked up together delivering a gospel album. There are some super cool jams on here. Medeski keeps the mood going and I am surprised he doesn't get more solos. The real fireworks are the dueling slide guitars of Robert Randolph and Luther Dickinson. This is great stuff.
The show is Sunday and the rate I am going this will be the last post till then. I frickin' love the Gourds. They have a great laid back vibe. There lyrics are very creative and enjoyable. They can rock it out and slow it down. You think they are just a rowdy sloppy bar band from Texas and then you really listen and they are totally in control and professional. They have two strong personalities as song writers. All these mixes come together in a ying yang; sweet and sour thing and it is just fantastic.
I need to get a couple of these up that have been simmering (while I have the time). I go hot and cold on Rhonda Vincent. Sometimes I really like her (and her band) and sometimes I like her band. Her voice is something special and she is a competent mandolin player. I am going to throw out there two tracks. The first is a great mandolin and fiddle duet (something I would love to hear more of) with Hunter Berry on fiddle and Josh Williams on mandolin. This is great stuff but again really her band and not Rhonda.
Getting entries up for this blog is harder than I thought. I guess not harder but more time consuming and time is one thing I do not have a lot of. I am still new to the whole Uncle Tupelo thing which includes all the off shoots, etc. I guess I had my head in Blues Traveler and Spin Doctors at the time. But going back to their catalog has been rewarding. I haven't touched Son Volt and Wilco yet, but with NPR in fund raising this Uncle Tupelo CD has been playing in my car. This is a good song (that even my band should cover).
This is a classic tune penned by Peter Rowan. He has a new version out performed by a quartet with Tony Rice on guitar, Sharon Gilchrist on mandolin , and Bryn Davies on bass. This is a fantastic recording and some incredibly tasteful solos. Tony Trishka wrote the liner notes and I'll let him take it away: "Peter weaves a lovely, chord based guitar break, egged on by Tony. Sharon's mellifluous turn is a study in tonal beauty. Then Tony burns the studio down with a musical statement that will be the talk of acoustic circles for years to come. If I counted correctly, he takes nineteen passes through the progression, spinning off one ear-popping fusillade after another." 'nough said; check it.
The continued excitement is palpable. I have decided to add a Gourds track everyday this week till the show. This way the uninitiated can be baptized and the old hat can be recharged. This track is hands down, my favorite from the Stadium Blitzer album. The jam is great, classic Gourds. Catchy lyrics and a super cool groove at about the 3:30 mark. Enjoy
Dem Boys are coming to Vermont for the first time as far as I know and I am starting to get really excited. This is going to be a fantastic show. It is a little interesting that the Dropkick Murphys are playing the same night in the same building but that just means there will be a lot of drunk people having a lot of good times.I am psyched that this tune still holds up after all these 20 some years. This song rocked out back when I was in high school and (maybe it’s just me) it still kicks ass. The band is sweet; REMs rhythm section (before they got famous) and David Lindley just smoking through some lap steel guitar. This is great stuff. REM rocks out; there is no pop around. Classic lyrics from a great song writer: “Now I’m doing my own laundry and I’m getting those clothes clean.”
OK, enough; check it.
