Two Men With The Blues

So I have another cool album from the Petit Library today. Many of you may know (and actually many of you may not) that I love Willie Nelson. He's got an awesome voice, is a fine songwriter and just seems like a super cool dude. Plus one time he was on an episode of Monk!

Wynton Marsalis I am a little less thrilled by, but I certainly can't let that affect my views on this album.

Two Men With The Blues is a collaboration between Willie and Wynton and it has a great feel. It's got some great classics on it like Caldonia and Georgia On My Mind (seriously this song has been covered so many times). And, it's got vocals by Willie with a really awesome Jazz vibe provided by Marsalis and his band.

Here is a song from the album (Caldonia):



Also, here are songs from each of the artists solo careers, as I think it is a nice way to compare their separate sounds and their joint sound. Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson



And April In Paris by Wynton Marsalis



So listen enjoy and check out this album!

Two Men With The Blues

Keb' Mo'

So a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to take Claire to a great concert in Buffalo. It was by bluesman Keb' Mo', and is just happened to be the day before his 60th birthday! Which was actually pretty hard to believe seeing the way he danced and jumped around on stage!

Either way, I figured--what better to post about than our experience at the concert? Keb' Mo' has been making music for almost his entire life. He actually started by playing steel drums in a calypso band. For those of you not familiar with steel drums please watch this video that will show you what they're all about:



Now that we've got that taken care of... While Mo' is certainly a student of classic blues greats, and a respected keeper of the blues tradition, I really feel like his music provides a fresh take on a lot of what blues is.

His music is upbeat, positive, and tends to have much more band interaction than traditional Delta blues, or really even Chicago blues. His songs often had deep messages about our responsibility and what it takes to be a family man. It was wonderful to have such happy, light music combined with such amazing guitar and vocal talent!

I think one of the nicest parts of his show was how eager he was to interact with the audience. He played for us what he referred to as "the only song I know that mentions Buffalo," and frequently made jokes and entertained us with stories from his life.

Since this blog has never been particularly wordy, and I have no intention of it becoming so, let's get to some music. Here is "Tell Everybody I Know" from Keb's self-titled album:



The whole album is great, and he even has a very good version of "Come on In My Kitchen" a great blues standard.


And here it is! (Keb' Mo')

Blue and Sentimental

So recently I found an incredible album. I was perusing some Jazz reviews, and I stumbled on an article about great Texas Jazz Sax players. After a few listens I was lucky enough to encounter "Cobb's Blues" by Arnett Cobb.

Cobb lived in the early to mid 20th century, and was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He played with a number of smaller bands, but eventually found himself in Lionel Hampton's band (where he replaced Illinois Jacquet, another Texas Tenor!)

His sound is astounding. He has a throaty full sound, but often comes across sweetly and smoothly so that few should be put off by his style. The album I'm featuring today has a number of Jazz standards, inluding "Georgia on my Mind," and "Willow Weep For Me." The latter is a favorite of mine, whether it is Art Tatum, Clifford Brown, or Cobb, I love the feel and classic swing of "Willow Weep For Me."



This is off the album Blue and Sentimental by Arnett Cobb and the Red Garland Trio, but Cobb's playing is certainly the shining star.

Cobb with Lionel Hampton(left)

Here is the Album (Blue and Sentimental)

Saxophone Colossus

So there are a lot of wonderful Jazz saxophonists out there. And, if you asked someone for a list you would probably see some familiar names: Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, etc. I feel like one artist who tends to be overlooked by those who are just starting to look into jazz is Sonny Rollins.

Rollins has been making great tunes since before 1950, and today I feature his sixth album as a leader. The album was cut with several great musicians, including Max Roach, an astounding drummer who I recommend everyone check out.

Rollins' contributions to the genre are immeasurable. He pioneered the "pianoless trio" along with simply giving generations of great players something to strive for.

One of the most awesome things about Sonny Rollins was an homage to him written into a Simpsons episode. If any of you remember Bleedin' Gums Murphy, at one point he appears playing his Sax late at night alone on a bridge. This is an homage to Rollins who, for 3 years, took a break from jazz and disappeared from public, until a fan discovered him playing alone in the middle of the night on the Williamsburg Bridge in NYC.

Anywho, here is "Moritat", of Saxophone Colossus. For those of you familiar with Louis Armstrong, you may recognize the tune as "Mack The Knife"

If you don't think this dude is the coolest, get off my site!

And here is the album! (Saxophone Colossus - 1956)

Oh by the way.

Oh I forgot to mention...

I haven't posted recently because I've been busy taking prelims and then starting school. Just wanted to let everyone know I passed both my preliminary exams! Granted they may not have been slam dunks, but I chalk that up to way too much goofing off in the office and not a lack of understanding on my part!

Hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day weekends!

Sir I need your John Hancock here. DUH!? It's Herbie Hancock!

If you recognize that line congrats, if not it's from Tommy Boy--a movie I definitely suggest you check out! Today I have one of the hippest dudes ever. Herbie Hancock has been making great jazz for the better part of 70 years. He was part of Miles Davis' "second great quintet" as during his tenure there, helped to redefine the role of a rhythm section.

I love Hancock for a few reasons: first, his album "Maiden Voyage" is great smooth piano jazz; second, he has continued to make great jazz although often pushing the style and merging it with other genres (Funk, hip-hop, etc.); third, he's a Buddhist.

Today I am uploading "Maiden Voyage," Hancock's fifth studio album. I would like to post more about Herbie, but I think to truly appreciate him you need to move through his work and see the changes in his style. Here is the title track:



But, to give you a little idea of what he has gone on to produce, here is a version of perhaps his most famous song: "Watermelon Man" initially from the album Takin' Off, but this is a version from Head Hunters that is drastically redone.



Check both out and see the incredible changes in his style. We're sure to see more from him!

Dude doesn't look bad for 70!

And here is the album - Maiden Voyage (1965)

1 Part B.B., 12 Parts Amazing Blues Musicians.

So I love B.B. King. He is incredible. He plays the guitar like a god, he wears the coolest outfits, and he loves performing with others. My favorite thing though, is his ability to pair with other artists. Today I am featuring a whole album of duets featuring King and some of the biggest names in the Blues world. For proof of my first assertions, though, check out this clip of King, Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Jim Vaughn (Brother of Stevie Ray).



He just makes everything cool. He is an amazing bluesman, and really embodies the spirit of a modern blues giant. I love his shout-out to Muddy Waters and just how awesome his dancing is. He is playing with Guy and Clapton (two of the greatest blues guitarists to have ever lived) and he just makes rocking look so effortless.

It just doesn't get cooler than that.

The album I am sharing is actually pretty incredible itself, and even has a version of Rock Me Baby with Clapton and King. It is a bunch of great blues numbers with King and other greats. His signature tune, "The Thrill is Gone," features Tracy Chapman who brings a touch of class and soul to the song. All the other artists on the album do King's incredible talent justice, and they all shine just as much as he does. For a sample here is "If You Love Me," featuring Van Morrison.



I love Van Morrison too, and this collaboration is just remarkable. Take it in, listen to the whole album, it is worth it, and enjoy.

Deuces Wild (1997)