Art Work by John Mayall
This week has been a topsy-turvy week, Monday it was in the 80s and then was cloudy all day yesterday (Tuesday) it looked like it was going to rain and the temperatures were in the 60s! Today (Thursday) it was supposed to be back into the 80s. so last night (Wednesday) I decide that I better run then or face another hot day running! So of course today turned out a lot like yesterday, but I’m still glad that I ran last night!! I decided to run on of my oldest routes, a slightly up and down run going up and down the highest point in Riverside on Pancoast Avenue. On my last run I ran with on of the younger blues musicians, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who by the way is celebrating his birthday today. Happy Birthday Kenny Wayne, so last night I decided to run with someone older than me, by almost two decades!! That would be “the godfather of the British Blues” John Mayall, who turned 80 last November, and his latest release
A Special Life. Anyway the run was a good one, while I didn’t set any land speed records I did feel fairly strong throughout the run, well except when I was going up the steepest parts of Pancoast!! The only good thing is that I do get to go down hill for a good part of the last mile!! The splits weren’t too bad. First mile 10:20 – Second 10:28, Third 11:04 – the uphill battle, 4 – 10:42 Total Time – 42:34 and when compared to Monday’s 44:54 it even looks better!!
Now back to the music
A Special Life is like Mayall’s gazillionth release since he formed the Bluesbeakers in 1965. I started to listen to Mayall during my freshman year in college with the first album that I bought being
The Turning Point and it has through the years been on of my favorites.This time period in Mayall’s music is my favorite.
The Turning Point along with
Jazz Blues Fusion and
Movin’ On are three of my favorite albums. I loved Johnny Almond’s sax and flute work and every body on the later two albums,
Jazz Blues Fusion introduced me to the trumpet of Blue Mitchell. For most of the world John may be best know for the musicians who have been a part of the Bluesbreakers…..from Wikipedia here are of some ex-members of John’s band…..
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