Monday in Exile

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=12362#.UET8SkbCSs0

With Exile on Blues Street, Randy Labbe and Telarc Blues did not merely hit a home run, but a grand slam to win the World Series by one in the bottom of the ninth. Where The Blues White Album was a troublesome fit and The Blues on Blonde on Blonde was a near fit, Exile fits like a glove.

It begs the question: were the Rolling Stones the purveyors of New Blues, or is the music so enduring that it never lost its core regardless of how it was treated? Or was the vision of the Rolling Stones so perfect on Exile on Main Street – as a reinterpretation of the rural and urban vernacular – that the current generation of bluesmen could step right in and pick up where the Stones left off? The answer: who cares? This is a fun romp through the hallowed basement of a French Castle circa 1972, where the greatest rock and roll band in the world would while away their time in exile.

Labbe ensures consistency and continuity by employing the same rhythm section throughout the session, namely Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble: bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Add to the band guitarist Brian Stoltz, veteran of previous of Telarc's blues adventures, and the foundation is complete. So, how do the songs come off? Highlights below...

"Ventilator Blues" - Lucky Peterson delivers a molten version, supplying sticky slide guitar and soupy, full-bodied organ. This is one of the strongest covers on the recording.

"All Down The Line" - Christine Ohlman belts out the '70s Stones concert staple with the tasty tenor compliments of Ryan Zoidis. Stoltz's guitar is virile and potent.

"Sweet Virginia" - This is the piece de resistance of the recording. Jeff Lang's acoustic slide guitar expresses so many ideas in such a short amount of time that the song requires several listens to appreciate fully his sheer artisanship. His voice is desperate and dense. He doubles electric and acoustic slide work, just like the Stones on Mississippi Fred McDowall's "You Got To Move."

"Tumblin' Dice" - Andrea Re sings with conviction and Colin James provides the requisite slide guitar to this, the greatest Stones song. Great cover, but do not throw away Linda Rhonstadt's version of the same.

"Shake Your Hips" - Tab Benoit teases out all that is John Lee Hooker from this one- chord workout. He has just the voice also.

"Shine A Light" - Joe Louis Walker picks the songs perfect for him in these series. He sings with more soul and his guitar is a blues beacon. He transforms this gospel-tinged piece into a electric exorcism.

What? No "Turd on the Run"? We are blessed sometimes... and this is one of those times. Even the low points are high points.

For more information, see Telarc Blues.

Personnel: Brian Stoltz-Guitars; Tommy Shannon-Bass; Chris Layton-Drums; Andrea Re, Rob Roy-Background Vocals; Ryan Zoidis-Saxophones; David Noyes-Trombone.

01. Ventilator Blues - Lucky Peterson

02. All Down The Line - Christine Ohlman

03. Rip This Joint - Tommy Castro

04. Sweet Black Angel - Otis Taylor

05. Sweet Virginia - Jeff Lang

06. Tumbling Dice - Colin James

07. Shake Your Hips - Tab Benoit

08. Shine A Light - Joe Louis Walker

09. Happy - Deborah Coleman

10. Rocks Off - Jimmy Thackery

Portraits of Bob Dylan

STEVE HOWE ''PORTRAITS OF BOB DYLAN''

1 - Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands (Featuring Jon Anderson of Yes)/11:56

2 - Mama You've Been On My Mind/2:32

3 - It's All Over Now Baby Blue (Featuring Annie Haslam of Renaissance)/4:31

4 - Going, Going, Gone (Featuring Max Bacon of GTR)/3:51

5 - Just Like A Woman (Featuring Geoff Downes of Asia)/4:33

6 - Well, Well, Well (Featuring P.P. Arnold)/4:02

7 - The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll/6:05

8 - Lay, Lady, Lay (Featuring Keith West of Tomorrow)/3:40

9 - One Too Many Mornings (Featuring Phoebe Snow)/3:28

10 - I Don't Believe You/4:14

11 - Don't Think TwiceIt's All Right (Featuring Allan Clarke of The Hollies)/3:59

12 - Buckets Of Rain/3:48

Jon Anderson /Guest Artist, Vocals

P.P. Arnold /Guest Artist, Vocals

Max Bacon /Guest Artist, Vocals

Allan Clarke /Guest Artist, Vocals

Geoffrey Downes /Guest Artist

Dean Dyson /Vocals

Annie Haslam /Guest Artist, Vocals

Steve Howe /Arranger, Bass (Electric), Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboards, Pedal Steel, Producer, Vocals

Anna Palm /Violin

David Richards /Drum Programming, Engineer

Phoebe Snow /Guest Artist, Vocals

Keith West /Guest Artist, Vocals

Wiki:
Portraits of Bob Dylan is the title of Yes guitarist Steve Howe's ninth solo album, released in 1999. The album features his son Dylan Howe on drums and several other guest artists, including (former) Yes band members Jon Anderson and Geoff Downes, performing cover versions of Bob Dylan songs. Keith West, lead singer of the 1960s band Tomorrow (in which Howe was the guitarist), sings lead on "Lay Lady Lay."

Only the Heart May Know

Silent sea, tell this to me
Where are the children that we used to be?

(Silent sea)

At picture shows
where nobody goes
and only the heart can see

Starry skies, soft lullabies
Where do they go
when their melody dies?

(Starry skies)

To a day,
far, far away,
that only the heart may know

Friends we knew follow us through
all of the days of our lives
Love we shared waits for us there
where our wishes forever reside

Falling tears, memories' mirrors
Where are the summers, oh,
where are the years?

(Falling tears)

Carried far
to a wandering star
that only the heart may know

Friends we knew follow us through
all of the days of our lives
Love we shared waits for us there
where our wishes forever reside

Starry skies, soft lullabies
Where do they go when their melody dies?
To a day, far, far away,
that only the heart may know

That only the heart may know

Dan Fogelberg - Emmylou Harris

Friday with Scott & Thelma

http://www.scotthenderson.net/

Born in 1954, Scott Henderson grew up in an era where blues-rock was at it's peak. His formative musical years took place in South Florida where he played the clubs with various bands, playing everything from Led Zeppelin to James Brown. As he was learning his instrument, Henderson was influenced by Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore, and his favorite blues guitarist Albert King.
Even though Henderson claims to be more of a blues-rock player, it was the influence of jazz that led him to the style of playing and composing that he is now famous for.
Scott finished school at Florida Atlantic University, then moved to Los Angeles where he played and recorded with Chick Corea's Elektric Band, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, bassist Jeff Berlin and "Players", and a four year stint with Weather Report's Joe Zawinul.
Henderson formed the band Tribal Tech in 1984 with bassist Gary Willis, and after ten critically acclaimed albums, with the newest "Tribal Tech X" released on the Tone Center label in March 2012, Henderson has proven himself as a world class player and composer.
In 1991, he was named by Guitar World as the #1 Jazz Guitarist, and in January 1992, he was named #1 Jazz Guitarist in Guitar Player's Annual Reader's Poll. His first solo blues album "Dog Party", a welcome retreat to his musical roots, won best blues album of 1994 in Guitar Player Magazine.
His second blues album for Mesa/Bluemoon Records, "Tore Down House" was released in April 1997 and pairs Henderson with legendary vocalist Thelma Houston. The album received four star reviews in Jazz Times, Guitar Player, Guitar, Guitar Shop, and L.A Jazz Scene Magazines. Well to the Bone", Henderson's third and most accomplished work as a leader, is a trio record currently being played live by his band featuring Travis Carlton on bass and Alan Hertz on drums. The trio has toured extensively in the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia, playing music from the blues albums as well as some of Henderson's music recorded by Tribal Tech.
Scott has also released two albums with "Vital Tech Tones", a trio collaboration with bassist Victor Wooten and ex - Journey / Vital Information leader Steve Smith on drums. He's recently been touring with the HBC Trio, featuring bassist Jeff Berlin and legendary drummer Dennis Chambers. They completed a world tour in November 2011 and have finished their first album to be released in October 2012.
As is often the case with a musician of Scott's caliber, the demand is great that he share his knowledge with the current generation of guitarists. He is on the faculty at Musician's Institute in Hollywood, and has written columns for Guitar Player, Guitar World and Guitar School Magazines.
Alfred Publishing has released Henderson's instructional DVD entitled "Scott Henderson - Jazz Rock Mastery", which is a compilation of his two videos "Jazz Fusion Improvisation" and "Melodic Phrasing". Alfred has also released his first transcription book "The Scott Henderson Guitar Book".
His other two transcription books, "The Best Of Scott Henderson" and "Scott Henderson - Blues Guitar Collection" are available through Hal Leonard Publishing, as well as his instructional book "Jazz Guitar Chord System", a revolutionary way for students to study the pluralities of jazz harmony.

Arms of a Woman

I am at ease in the arms of a woman
although now most of my days are spent alone
a thousand miles from the place I was born
But when she wakes me she takes me back home

Now most days I spend like a child
who's afraid of ghosts in the night
I know there ain't nothing out there
I'm still afraid to turn on the light

I am at ease in the arms of a woman
although now most of my days are spent alone
a thousand miles from the place I was born
but when she wakes me she takes me back home

A thousand miles from the place I was born
But when she wakes me she takes me back home

I am at ease in the arms of a woman
although now most of my days are spent alone
a thousand miles from the place I was born
when she wakes me she takes me
Yeah, when she wakes me she takes me
Yeah, when she wakes me she takes me back home

When she wakes me she takes me back home

- Amos Lee - 

Orange Sky

Well I had a dream

I stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
With my brother standing by
With my brother standing by
I said brother, you know you know
It's a long road we've been walking on
Brother you know it is, you know it is
Such a long road we've been walking on

And I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
With my sister standing by
With my sister standing by
I said sister, here is what I know now
Here is what I know now
Goes like this
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, in your love, in your love

But sister you know I'm so weary
And you know sister
My hearts been broken
Sometimes, sometimes
My mind is too strong to carry on
Too strong to carry on

When I am alone
When I've thrown off the weight of this crazy stone
When I've lost all care for the things I own
That's when I miss you, that's when I miss you, that's when I miss you
You who are my home
You who are my home
And here is what I know now
Here is what I know now
Goes like this
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, in your love, in your love

Well I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
With my brother and my sister standing by
With my brother and my sister standing by
With my brother and my sister standing by

 

- Alexi Murdoch -

Talking Old Soldiers

Why hello, say can I buy you another glass of beer

Well thanks a lot that's kind of you, it's nice to know you care

These days there's so much going on

No one seems to want to know

I may be just an old soldier to some

But I know how it feels to grow old

Yeah that's right, you can see me here most nights 

You'll always see me staring at the walls and at the lights

Funny I remember oh it's years ago I'd say

I'd stand at that bar with my friends who've passed away

And drink three times the beer that I can drink today

Yes I know how it feels to grow old

I know what they're saying son

There goes old man Joe again

Well I may be mad at that I've seen enough

To make a man go out his brains

Well do they know what it's like

To have a graveyard as a friend

`Cause that's where they are boy, all of them

Don't seem likely I'll get friends like that again

Well it's time I moved off

But it's been great just listening to you

And I might even see you next time I'm passing through

You're right there's so much going on

No one seems to want to know

So keep well, keep well old friend

And have another drink on me

Just ignore all the others you got your memories

You got your memories