Michael Jackson, Ray Charles & Bob Dylan ?!?

This may have been the most impressive group to ever assemble in a recording studio. It happened  in January 1985.  After the American Music Awards a group of  musicians gathered at the A&M Studios in Hollywood, California to record a song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, “We Are the World.”  The single was a worldwide success that raised over $63 million for famine relief in Africa (wikipedia.)  The nature of the cause, Michael Jackson’s enormous 80’s star power, and Quincy Jones’ power of persuasion, were no doubt the reasons that so many musicians took part.  It was amazing to watch the interaction of people like Diana Ross and Bob Dylan, or Stevie Wonder helping Bob Dylan work out his solo, so seeing Ray Charles improvising on the theme during a break.  In the 80’s it was easy to like Michael Jackson, he was on top of the world, and regardless of what happened later, his charity saved coutless lives, his dancing set a new standard, and along with Quincy Jones he created some very memorable music.  So for a few minutes, forget Neverland, Thriller and Bad and enjoy this special event.

Allman Brothers Band – What Now?

So what do Randy Brecker, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White have in common with Kid Rock, Eric Clapton and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top?

All were part of the Allman Brothers Band’s three-week musical extravaganza at New York City’s Beacon Theater celebrating the band’s 40th anniversary. This year’s list of surprise guests also included Johnny Winter, Taj Mahal, Sheryl Crow, John Hammond, Boz Scaggs, Chuck Leavell, Levon Helm, Bruce Hornsby, Southside Johnny, The Juke Horns, Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Bramlett, Jimmy Herring, Robert Randolph, Sonny Landreth, Bob Margolin, John Popper, Trey Anastasio, and members of Los Lobos, Cowboy, Wet Willie and The Grateful Dead.

Please check out my recent piece on All About Jazz

The Allman Brothers Band – 40 Year Out

A Million YouTube Views

Jazzamatazz fav Barbara Dennerlein recently passed the one million views mark on YouTube.  That’s pretty impressive for a European jazz artist residing in Europe, but not as impressive as her playing.  Check out these two new clips uploaded for the occasion.

After you hit play the HQ button will appear,

click that to see the clips in higher definition.

The clip below, “Purple” was inspired by her father’s artwork and named after his favorite color.

In December 2008, just before Christmas, I did a  year in review podcast interview with Barbara you can listen to here

Or download for your MP3 player here

For a really in depth interview check out my interview with Barbara on All About Jazz.

Jimmy Herring & Derek Trucks in a Quartett

You don’t have to imagine it, you can hear Jimmy and Derek accompanied by drums and bass.

It happened at the Cotton Club

Carlos Santana Video Interview

Carlos did a very nice interview last Thursday with Tavis Smiley of PBS.  The 22 minute video is online, but so far I can’t get it to play past seven and a half minutes.  But at least the audio is available in full.

Here’s a sample from the interview:

Tavis: At 60 years of age now, Carlos, do you feel anything — physically, that is — do you feel at 60, since you play so much, do you feel anything different in your hands at 60 than you did at —

Allman Brothers 40th – Ongoing Beacon Updates

UPDATE

Check out my All About Jazz Article

The Allman Brothers: 40 Years Out

Final Night

Fantastic Ending to a Great Run

Well, my guess about Phil Lesh was correct and I’m so happy that Chuck Leavell did indeed make it back from the timber conference in Idaho to close out the Beacon run – what a terrific surprise!  Chuck totally smoked the place, he was awesome.

The best $125 I've ever spent! Thanks to everyone @ Moogis!

On the final night the Moogis folks took us backstage for a tour.

Dan Seals – 1948 – 2009

from the Dan Seals website

Dan Seals will be missed, a country western artist who spoke out for unity, understanding and the elimination of prejudice.  His family asks that flowers not be sent, rather:  “If you want to honor Dan, you should oppose bigotry, intolerance and prejudice.”

My Interview with Derek Trucks

Check out my interview with Derek Trucks, we talk about Clapton, Santana, Duane Allman, Tal Wilkenfeld, Johnny Winter and much more…

See the Allman Brothers at the Beacon for under $10

Okay, if you’ve checked this blog out you know I’m an Allman Brothers fan.  The title of this post is somewhat misleading, but only somewhat.  This year marks the 40th anniversary of the band and their annual run at the Beacon in New York City, dedicated to Duane Allman,  promises to be something special.

Women in Jazz – a sampling

Rolling Stones’ List of the Greatest Singers of All Time

According to Rolling Stone:

The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time

1 | Aretha Franklin

2 | Ray Charles

3 | Elvis Presley

Mitch Mitchell R.I.P. Last of the Hendrix Trio

From the  BBC:

Mitch Mitchell, the British drummer in the seminal 1960s band the Jimi Hendrix Experience, has been found dead in his US hotel room, authorities say.

The 61-year-old was discovered in the Benson Hotel in Portland, Oregon, in the early hours of Wednesday.

My Interview with the Legendary Chuck Leavell

Chuck Leavell is one of the world’s premier blues rock pianists–a veteran musician who has recorded and toured with many of the best-known names in the business. He is perhaps best known for his work with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Black Crowes, and most of all, his legendary years with the Allman Brothers Band in the ’70s.

My extensive and wide-ranging interview with Chuck has just been published in All About Jazz.

You can read it

here.

Remembering the Music of 1964 with Videos & Background

THE YEAR OF THE BEATLES

This was the absolute year of the Beatles in the USA.  I don’t think anyone who experienced that year as a teenager will ever forget the unique magic of the Beatles conquering America.  Imagine, for 3 months they held the 1 & 2 spot in the singles charts:

From February 22, 1964 until April 25, 1964 the Beatles held the top two positions, with various singles. On some weeks their domination extended past the top two. On April 4, 1964, the Beatles occupied the entire top five.

1.”Can’t Buy Me Love”
2. “Twist and Shout”
3. “She Loves You”
4. “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
5. “Please Please Me”

Remembering the Magical Music of 1969 with Videos & Background

TOP SINGLE in 1969

Get Back, The Beatles

“Get Back” is a song primarly written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon/McCartney. The song was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969 and credited to “The Beatles with Billy Preston.”[1] It would later become the closing track of The Beatles’ last album to be released before they split, Let It Be (1970). However, it was not placed there in retrospect; Let It Be was recorded before Abbey Road, “Get Back” therefore being recorded in the Let It Be sessions. The single reached number one in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, France, West Germany, and Mexico, and was The Beatles’ only single that credited another artist (Preston), although Tony Sheridan had shared a billing credit with The Beatles on his own single “My Bonnie” when issued in the UK in 1962 (and again in 1964).

“Get Back” was The Beatles’ first single release in true stereo in the U.S. — in the UK they remained monaural records until the following single release — “The Ballad of John and Yoko.” Wikipedia

The Beatles also released Abbey Road in 1969: Abbey Road became one of the most successful Beatles albums ever. In the UK the album debuted straight at #1. Abbey Road spent its first 11 weeks in the UK charts at #1, and then was knocked off just for 1 week to #2 by the Rolling Stones debuting at the top with Let It Bleed. However, the following week – which was the Christmas week – Abbey Road returned to the top for another 6 weeks, completing 17 weeks at the top. In all it spent 92 weeks inside the UK Top 75, making a big re-entry after over 16 years in October 31, 1987, when it was released for the first time on CD and reached #30. In the UK Abbey Road was the best-selling album of 1969 and the fourth best-selling of the entire 1960s, and the eighth best-selling album of 1970.

Reaction in the U.S. was similar. The album debuted at #178, then moved to #4 and in its third week to #1, spending 11 non-consecutive weeks at the top, but was not the best-selling album during the Christmas week. Abbey Road spent a total of 129 weeks in the Billboard 200, re-entering the charts at #69 on November 14, 1987 when it was released for the first time on CD. It was the 4th best-selling album of 1970 in the US and is now certified 12x platinum by the RIAA. Wikipedia

2nd TOP SINGLE Rolling Stones – Honky Tonk Woman (Live in Hyde Park 1969 with white shoes:-)

Recorded in London in early February 1969 without Brian Jones, the band initially recorded a track called “Country Honk”. Prior to the arrival of new band member Mick Taylor, the song

Remembering the Music of 1968 with Video & Background

One of the best LP covers of 1968

Jimi Hendrix – All along the watchtower

The Jimi Hendrix Experience began to record their cover version of Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” on January 21, 1968, at Olympic Studios in London. [7] According to engineer Andy Johns, Jimi Hendrix had been given a tape of Dylan’s recording by publicist Michael Goldstein, who worked for Dylan’s manager Albert Grossman. “(Hendrix) came in with these Dylan tapes and we all heard them for the first time in the studio,” recalled Johns.[8] According to Hendrix’s regular engineer Eddie Kramer, the guitarist cut a large number of takes on the first day,

Remembering the Musical Magic of 1966 with Video & Background

Magical Musical Moments of 1966

The year 1966 was a big one for the Beatles, the Stones, the Sinatra family, the Beach Boy, the Supremes,  Lovin’ Spoonful, and Donovan

Frank Sinatra, Strangers in the Night (no 1966 clip was available, this was about 15 years later.)  The star of the 40’s had the year’s biggest hit, and hit gold again with “That’s Life.”  His daughter Nancy had the 2nd biggest hit with “These Boots are Made for Walkin’”

Beach Boys, Good Vibrations was in 4th place after the Beatles “Yellow Submarine.”

The Beatles, Paperback Writer was 5th for the year.

Sound Of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel

“The Sounds of Silence is the song that propelled the 1960s folk music duo Simon and Garfunkel to popularity. It was written on February 19, 1964 by Paul Simon in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Simon conceived of the song as a way of capturing the emotional trauma felt by many Americans.

Remembering the Magical Music of 1965 with video and background

The Music Magic of 1965

The sixties were a magical time for music, so with the advent of YouTube, I thought, why not put something together to make it easier to remember 1965.  Motown in Detroit and Stax in Memphis were hotbeds of soul and R&B, think of the Supremes, Wilson Pickett, Martha and the Vandellas, the Four Tops, Little Anthony, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and James Brown.  The British invasion was still in full force – creativity where ever you looked, the Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds, Kinks, Animals, Moody Blues, and Donovan.  The Beach Boys and the 4 Seasons had survived the invasion and new American groups were emerging: The Byrds, The Righteous Brothers, Sir Douglas Quintet, Beau Brummels, and the Mama & Papas.  Finally, Bob Dylan went electric with the monster LP Highway 61 Revisited.

Beatles, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away.  Interestingly, just as Dylan went electric, perhaps inspired by the Beatles, John Lennon wrote this song inspired by Dylan and done with acoustic guitars.

Remembering 1967 – Video & Background of the Summer of Love

The Beatles on making Sgt Pepper

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the British rock band The Beatles. Recorded over a 129-day period beginning on 6 December 1966, the album was released on 1 June 1967 in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States. Sgt. Pepper’s is often described as The Beatles’ magnum opus, and one of the most influential albums of all time by prominent critics and publications. It was ranked the greatest album of all time by Rolling Stone in 2003. Wikipedia

The Beatles try to buy an island

Seals & Crofts – Think Again, Much More than Soft Rock

UPDATE MARCH 2009: Unfortunately, nearly all the videos in this post have been pulled from YouTube.  If you want to still see some video of them go here.

_____________________________________________

Okay, most of us know Seals & Crofts from their 1972 smash hit Summer Breeze (see clip below for a trip down memory lane.)  But they had a long journey prior to this, and both are fine singers, song writers, and multi instrumentalists.

In the clip below, Tequila, Jim Seals plays sax and Dash Crofts is on drums, and in the clip under that you can actually see them playing in that formation.