Since discovering Trombone Shorty, I have keyed on trombone players. I recently discovered Bob Brookmeyer and was saddened to find that he passed away on December 16 at the age of 81. He was a pure jazz trombonist who has recorded since 1954. There are 24 albums released with him as leader and he has played on multiple other albums as a sideman. I have come to appreciate the versatility of the instrument as well as the difficulty in becoming this proficient at it. The attached, in tribute, is a live recording from 1981 of a song called “Bernie’s Tune”. Along with Bob, the featured musicians are Gerry Mulligan, Ray Brown and Art Brakey.
As people may have noticed, I am an unabashed supporter of Canada and Canada’s music scene. I have begun this series to highlight Canadian music history and will do this 5 songs at a time. I hope you enjoy the music and find some new favourites and rediscover some old ones. I encourage you to click on the links and learn about the bands, and listen to more of their material.
Interesting collection this week, from country to alternative to a scintillating live rock performance.
The Monkees are a major footnote in 60’s music and TV history. Originally revered as America’s answer to the Beatles, with their own TV show that mirrored the Beatles movies, Help and A Hard Days Night, they, then, in classic pop culture fashion, became as reviled as, lets see. Milli Vanilli, as scandal erupted that they were a throw together group of actors who really didn’t play or write the music. While partially true, they really could play, they were trapped in this image of being nothing more than a made for TV act.
Following the demise of the show and the end of their relationship with produce Don Kirshner, the band went into studio to put out some music that would prove they were truly a band. This resulted in their album “Headquarters”. The album went straight to number 1, yet faded quickly as it had the unfortunate timing as to be out at the same time as Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band was released. The band, while playing their own instruments, used real back up artists in session. The list of artists is amazing. Appearing on the album were Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Lowell George, Buddy Miles, Glen Campbell and Louie Shelton.
The video attached is from a TV special that aired in April of 1969. Peter Tork left the band at the end of the taping of this special, which expedited the eventual end of the group. The song is pretty much the only song by the group that I ever became attached to. They had their hits, but this song, to me anyways, was their best effort at proving they were truly a band. Michael Nesmith is a very talented singer songwriter and his skill shows in this song. By the way, stop watching after about 4 minutes cause it gets all 60’s after that, you know, all that psychedelic stuff that we thought was really cool back then.
One of the world’s finest guitar players, Hubert Sumlin, passed away on December 4 at the age of 80. He was best known for his time as Howlin’ Wolf’s guitar player. He was respected enough to placed at number 43 on the Rolling Stone list of the “100 Greatest Guitar Players Of All Time”.
Howlin' Wolf
He began playing guitar at the age of 6. He started playing with Howling Wolf in 1954. He played on “Howlin’ Wolf” which was named as the number 3 guitar album of all time by Mojo magazine. In his career, he was nominated for 4 Grammys, never winning.  A great player, who will of course, live on through his many recordings. Please enjoy these videos of a superb musician. Turn it up and LOVE THE BLUES.
The creator of the classic hit “Drift Away” died today, December 6. He was 71.  His career began way back in the 60’s, releasing his first hit in 1965, “The ‘In’ Crowd“, which reached 13 on the US Billboard chart. His next chart success was “Drift Away” a classic staple of today’s radio, in 1973. It reached number 5 on Billboard. Uncle Kracker, in a duet with Dobie, released a version in 2003 which charted as the number 19 hit for the year. His career spanned pop, soul and country. he reincarnated himself as a country artist in the mid 80’s, having moderate success.
Drift Away is a terrific tune, and one that should stand the time test. I have inserted 2 versions of it below. The first is Dobie Gray, live at the BBC in 1974. The second is the version with Uncle Kracker. RIP Dobie Gray.
New Orleans is poorer in its music scene this week. Coco Robicheaux, (real name Curtis Arceneaux) mainstay of the local music scene passed away at the age of 64. He apparently suffered a heart attack at one of his favourite spots, The Apple Barrel on Frenchman Street in the quarter. He played there on a regular basis. A self taught blues guitar player, Coco began his career on Bourbon Street at the age of 17. As the story goes, he found his first guitar in pieces on the street. He repaired it and began learning to play. It worked well, as he became a top tier player in New Orleans. In his career, he recorded 6 albums and appeared on several TV shows and movies. He recently appeared as himself on an April 2010 episode of “Treme“.  Speaking of “Treme”, this is a must watch show, seen on HBO and HBO Canada. Attached track is a song called “Cottonmouth” and features Coco on guitar and Hubie Vigreux on percussion.  It was recorded live at a blues bar in Hawaii.
For those of you that follow my ramblings, you may have noticed that I post a lot of entries about music. You may find it odd that a travel blog does this on such a regular basis. The truth is, I find it hard to accumulate my thoughts and generate regular travel posts and I choose to fill these creative lapses with other people’s creativity.
I have had a life long obsession with music and have become slightly philosophical about it. For example, the following videos. What do they have in common. Figure that out, and I believe you will understand my tastes in music.
Now it is time to connect the dots. Lady Antebellum, John Mayer Trio, Hudson-Ford and Frank Sinatra. I do not like country, but I really like Lady Antebellum’s song, John Mayer, notorious pop artist, Hudson-Ford, obscure 70’s group, and Frank Sinatra, classic crooner, as far from rock as one can get these days. The common thread is simply that each and every one of these is GOOD. Good is, well, good.  Nothing, even genre, can transcend great songs. All of these are, in my mind, well written and well performed. Great players make great music. Even if you don’t like the type of music, certain songs can pull you in, solely by just how well done they are. I have learned over the years not to dismiss or be prejudicial towards any form of music and to listen closely for what may be, or not be, something that could be the next big tune on my iPod.  I would hate to miss that song.
I have nothing. Other than a raft of Christmas albums, which I refuse to review, there were no releases of Canadian albums at all in the past week. In the place of new music, I bring some people I have been listening to lately.
First is Edmonton singer/guitarist/songwriter Michael Rault. His album Ma-Me-O has been receiving extensive play on my iPod of late. I have attached a live video of him and his band playing “I Want To Love You ” at The Artery in Edmonton. Kind of an early Beatles/rockabilly sound. Very good when he cuts loose, which is in the second video titled “Don’t Need No Help Gettin Down”. Enjoy
I Want To Love You
I Don’t Need No Help Gettin Down
Another artist I am enjoying right now is Matthew Barber. He hails from Port Credit, Ontario, and is becoming a very popular singer/songwriter in the Amos Lee style of folk and indie. I am beginning to really like him. The attached song “Keep It Alive” has been growing one me in recent weeks. Matthew plays a live version of the song, recorded at CBC 3 studios.
Keep It Alive
Here’s hoping we have some new stuff to share next week.
I read that Laura Kennedy , bass player for post punk band the Bush Tetras had passed away from complications from Hepatitis. The group was popular in the NYC scene of the 80’s, and she was a founding member of the band. I remembered one song in particular that I always kind of liked. It is titled “Too Many Creeps” and contained some very good bass lines by Laura. The song had a very funky feel to it. The band never achieved much mainstream attention, but has a big cult following. There have been a couple of reincarnations of the group and the current lineup is touring at this time. Laura Kennedy could definitely play.
Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) is the best thing to come out of New Orleans in a while. I just purchased his latest album on iTunes and have been completely blown away. This post is completely educational of course. I have to assume most of the world has not heard of him, or heard him for that matter. This has to change. In the music world, he is already well respected. The new album, “For True” features such talents as Jeff Beck, Lenny Kravitz (Shorty was in his horn section at one time) and Kid Rock. The style is a fusing of New Orleans jazz and funk and is excellent. I have included 2 videos, the first is recorded live at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and showcases him with Jeff Beck. Love to have been there for this, and the second is “Do To Me” off the album.
