Ok, the cats out of the bag….yes, I’m a huge Snarky Puppy fan. That said (if I’m honest) the last few releases were cool, but a little lackluster, imo. It’s hard to call anything Snarky Puppy does “lackluster” and perhaps that isn’t a fair critique; however, in comparison to previous works I felt that some of their newer releases (Immigrance, Empire Central) were a bit subdued. Maybe I just haven’t had enough time to digest them.

And then recently I heard Somni and WOW. I love the addition of an orchestra (where it makes sense) and Michael League is just such an incredible composer that he is able to utilize the Metropole Orkest to Snarky’s full advantage. As I mentioned in the last blog, I feel that this material is a little more “Snarky” and less “orchestral”–which I like. I think it has advantages for the listener, whether an avid Snarky fan or perhaps the more casual variety. It feels a little more accessible. Anyhoo…if you haven’t yet taken a peek at this incredible work, set an hour aside this week and watch Somni. And as always, ENJOY!

Once again, hat tip to Pandora for sourcing and playing the latest, greatest music from around the globe. I’m not even sure which station I was listening to but a familiar sound graced the airwaves and it only took about 3 seconds for me to glean that Snarky had released another album with the Metropole Orkest. Of course, l immediately bought the album…

One of the great esoteric thrills of music is connection. Whether you are connecting with the audience, the band, other musicians, one’s instrument or the music in general, connection is one of the hidden joys that music brings with it. As such, musicians generally feel the need to share music, passing on their “connections” for others to explore and enjoy. It’s such a great thing because it’s how we all learn about new music. And who better to share music with besides musicians?

Today, the hidden gem of Masayoshi Takanaka is my gift to you. I kept hearing a track “Tokyo Reggie” (Seychelles, 1976) on the Air Tight Experiment channel on Pandora. At first I thought it was a newer band with a retro feel but after some digging I discovered a whole new world of funky guitar jazz–from Japan! And apparently, there is this whole other thing called “J-Fusion” that goes with it. I’ll let the reader swim in those seas at their own pace. However, I did find some nice live footage of Masayoshi Takanaka, circa 1980 that I wanted to share with you all. Enjoy! (And pass it on!)

After Jerry passed there was much a do about what would happen with The Dead. I mean, how do you replace a guy like Jerry and how do you carry on doing shows when such a legendary member of your group is no longer with you? Well, Bob and the gang figured it out and they did it well. I think Jerry would have been proud of the many iterations of “The Dead” (et al) that carried that torch long and strong after Jerry’s passing.

Sadly, Bob Weir has left us over the weekend moving on to the greener pastures in the heavens. It’s really unbelievable that he made it all the way to age 78, playing and touring non-stop since he was a scrawny young chap living on Haight St. Often the comparisons between Bob and Jerry were just silly but there was no mistaking Bob’s contributions to The Grateful Dead. He will long be remembered as a driving force–both as a writer and vocalist–behind their music. And of course, his signature twangy, avant-garde guitar riffs will always linger behind the backdrop of Jerry and the rest of the band.

There really is too much to say. Where I wasn’t necessarily a “Bob” fan (I was more in the Jerry camp) I fully appreciated his approach and his creativity. The Grateful Dead just wouldn’t have been the same without his input. Of all my show memories, I think I will always hold dear that Sunday afternoon in Phoenix where the band came out playing “El Paso” (one of Bob’s favorites) and the crowd erupted into a full marshmellow war, so frenetic that it looked like it was snowing for a brief moment in time. Thank you Bob for all your hard work making those shows memorable. You will be missed, brother. RIP!

With a little Tribal Tech…Enjoy!! (And best wishes for next year!)

Many a guitarist missed the boat on Mike Stern. For those in the know, he really brought the Telecaster out of the obscure world of “chicken pickin'” into modern jazz–and in a big way. A shredder from the early days, he gained notoriety playing in Miles Davis’s band in the eighties. From there, the the rest is history as they say. Although, sad to note that the “55 Bar” in NYC (where he was a regular staple) has ceased to exist. Can you imagine going down to the club on a week night and being able to hear Mike Stern?? Ha, not in this neck of the woods!

Anyhow…one of my favorite live shows of Mike Stern features quite the all star quartet: Bob Berg (RIP) on saxophone, Dennis Chambers on drums & Lincoln Goines on bass–just shredding along with Mike as they go. The smile on their faces is contagious. Watching them perform the opener, “Chromazone” was enough to make we want to struggle through the chart. Hope to perform it soon! So without further ado, I bring to you Mike Stern and Bob Berg at the infamous China Club in NYC, circa 1991. Enjoy!

It’s simple really: Show people RESPECT.

Don’t be self absorbed. Don’t be disconnected. Don’t succumb to brain fog. Pay attention. Be conscious. Care about other people and their lives. Try to be a good person, always. Is this really too much too ask, even from musicians?

Read More »