Blues from 2004 – Dave Specter and Steve Freund – Is What It Is!

Steve Freund and Dave SpecterSo I first became aware of blues guitarist Dave Specter a few years ago, when I listened to his album Live in Chicago. It’s been on the iPod and when songs come up on random shuffle, I’m always thinking about how much I like his work! Anyway, his guitar can be heard on a couple of albums that I’ve been listening to lately, one is a new one from harmonica player Al Miller ..In Between Time and the other Knockin’ Around These Blues with John Primer and Bob Corritore, both good albums. Well, somewhere in the last week or so, I came across another Chicago Bluesman Steve Freund and his latest release Come On In this House and I’ve been listening to it since then. When I was looking for Freund’s album on MOG, I also saw that Specter and Freund had released an album together back in 2004, titled Is What it Is. So I gave that a listen , too. What do they say, that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In this case it’s two guitars are better than one, as friends Steve Freund and his former pupil Dave Specter, join together for a really fabulous album (IMHO). From the Delmark press release for the album: Read More

Farewell, Dorothy Parker, Hello old me? (Book 22 of 2013)

Farewell Dorothy Parker

Once upon a time I knew a young man who was semi-literate. He read books by Alexander Solzhenisten, John Fowles, Norman Mailer and James Baldwin among others. He loved the Marx Brothers and read about George S Kauffman, Alexander Woolcott and the rest of the members of the Algonquin Wits, including Dorothy Parker. But through the years as that young man aged, he found escape from the drudgery of work not in great literature, but in mysteries and thrillers, not that they aren’t good reads, but hey, saving the world from serial killers and nuclear annihilation isn’t the same as questioning the meaning of life! Read More

A Hectic Morning from Overthinking?? – Relaxation provided by Paul Adams’ Flute!

Sleep the dreaming fluteSo this morning was hectic,  my wife needed a $300.00 gift card for a life-long friend who is retiring this years after 35 years of teaching! She told me to check with our bank but that she would call me later. When it got to be after 10 o’clock and she hadn’t called yet, I called she asked, “Why I hadn’t gone yet and that I needed to be back to pick her up at school at 10:45 fearing that I didn’t have enough time to look around I went on-line and typed in Visa gift card location and up popped Bank of America, hum, what better place to get a Visa gift card than Bank of America. So I hopped in the car and frantically drove to BOA, only to be told that they don’t do gift cards!! Well then who does I asked…. “You can try Shop-Rite”  But I said “I want one $300.00 card do any banks do that??” She said that “TD Bank may do it” Read More

This Day in Music – 1937 – Happy Birthday Waylon Jennings

Waylon JenninsSo on this date 1937 in Littlefield, Texas an Americana music legend was born. Waylon Arnold Jennings.(June 15, 1937–February 13, 2002) Waylon along with Willie Nelson is responsible for the kind of music that I love. Waylon had recorded music for many years, when in the mid 1970s he said no to Nashville’s sound. You know the one with too many strings and a pop inflect. Waylon wanted it too sound his way…. so he became an “Outlaw” and along with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash created a ragged, maverick image and a music that was independent from Nashville. The movement went on to become a significant force in music during ’70s, and laid the foundation for Americana music, a genre that adheres to its hardcore honky-tonk roots! Read More

Life’s Soundtrack – Good Knees, Slow Run with Americana and ProgRock!

So for the last several weeks possibly a month I have been without my glucosamine and chondroitin pills and my knees have felt the effects, particularly when I go up and down the stairs. I think this is one of the reasons that I haven’t run as much over this time, maybe not consciously but on some level it’s made me feel less like running! Last Saturday I finally bought new pills and boy, what a difference after a few days my knees felt great going up and down the stairs and yesterday I actually felt like running! I still suck but a least my knees feel good today!! While I didn’t feel bad throughout the run I did though have to keep slowing down to keep my heart rate down! I finished a 3.8 mile run just a little faster than last time with an average pace just under 10:30 per mile! Just building miles!! Read More

Today in Music – 1977 – Kenny Wayne Sheppard’s Birthday!

Kenny Wayne Sheppard2

Ok this is the third time, I have tried to write this post today!!

Today is the 36th birthday of blues guitar great Kenny Wayne Sheppard. I first heard Kenny Wayne’s name way back, well maybe not way back, but back in 1995, when as an 18 year-old he released his first album Ledbetter Heights. Like many in the blues and rock worlds, I was blown away by the album and Sheppard’s playing!! When his second album Trouble Is… came out, I went out and quickly picked it up! I didn’t like that album as much as the first one, particularly the vocals…. Here’s what Allmusic says about the album…. Read More

Climbing the “Cosmic Distance Ladder” with Sound of Contact!

DimensionautSo the other day, I wrote that Andrew told me that, along with The Winery Dogs, I should listen to Sound of Contact, and not to read about the band until after I listen. So I did as instructed and about mid-way through the album, the band started to remind me of Genesis. After listening , and enjoying the album I went to read about the band and I found out the reason that they sounded a like Genesis was their drummer…. his name is Simon Collins, yup he’s Phil’s son!!Sound of ContactCollins has released three solo albums but he always wanted to form a band. Through the years, as he was recording and performing his own music, he was also keeping contact  with a group  of musicians with whom he had a strong connection and chemistry. So finally this year, the band became a reality when  “Sound of Contact” was formed. In addition to Simon, the band includes co-producer/co-writer/keyboardist Dave Kerzner (Sonic Reality, Kevin Gilbert) and co-writer/guitarist/bassist Matt Dorsey.  Also helping out are some great co-writers and musicians including guitarist/bassist Kelly Nordstrom and guest vocalist Hannah Stobart (Rocket Moth, Wishing Tree). Read More

Beware of the Winery Dogs…. Good rockin’ headed your way!

The Winery DogsSo two of my all-time favorite power trios, (guitar, bass and drums) are Cream (Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton) and The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Hendrix, Noel Redding(bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums)). Saturday, Andrew told me to be on the look out for a new power trio, The Winery Dogs, composed of the ubiquitous drummer from Dream Theater, Mike Portnoy, guitarist Richie Kotzen, and bass player Billy Sheehan from Mr. Big. He says the advance press from the youtube videos that are on-line is pretty good! Read More

A Busy Weekend and thoughts on the Generation Gap!

The reason that I haven’t posted much this weekend, is that it has been a busy one.  First, I worked at Target on Friday night, then we had a picnic to celebrate my son Peter and daughter Elizabeth’s graduations. So Saturday we were running around in the morning and early afternoon getting ready for the party and then had the picnic in the late afternoon through the night. Sunday morning was recovery and shopping and then work from 3 to 10:30 at Target and now I’m back to work at my regular job this morning!! So I sat down this morning and looked at the birthdays and there are none from 1946 to 1961, that does not bode well for a boomer who usually writes about the people who were born during those years!!! Read More