Monday, June 27, 2016

Some Monday Wes

For some reason I started thinking about the late Wes Montgomery.  He was, and still remains, one of my favorite jazz guitar players.  Everything about him was great, but I think the thing that set him apart was that he never used a pick -- it was always just his thumb.  This of course gave him the most mellow guitar sound imaginable.  Yet, when the tune called for a hard edge or a cookin' riff he could lay it down with the best of guys who use a pick.  If you've got some Wes laying around in your CD collection, pull one out and take a listen -- a great way to start your week.  In the meantime, you might want to check out this wonderful live version of "Twisted Blues." Wes with some superb fellow musicians: Arthur Harper on bass, Harold Mabern on piano, and Jimmy Lovelace on drums.  Bass and piano solos are right up there with Wes' lead.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Elizabeth Warren tell it like it is

I've been enjoying Elizabeth Warren's carpet bombing of Trump.  She really gets under his skin.  Her latest salvo deals with his taxes and his claim that he is super-rich (or is he?).    You don't want to miss this one.  Check it out right here.  Love that Lizzy!

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Missy Higgins

I just realized it has been a long time since I posted anything.  So, for lack of anything better, I guess I'll share one of my recent discoveries.  While listening to Pandora a few days ago on a jog with the dog, a song came on that I had never heard before by a vocalist I immediately connected to.  I really liked the sound of her voice as well as the arrangement of the tune, and her phrasing and dynamics.  I had to stop and haul out my music player to see who the singer was.  Her name is Missy Higgins, another of many fine Australian musicians.  You can read about her here.  The particular song I first heard is called "Where I Stood."  Check out the "official video" here. Although the video is a bit hokey, the music is very much to my liking.  Enjoy.