Man, George had such an amazing life and career in general. Miles, Cannonball, Rufus, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, EWF, and a solid solo career. And that’s just without Frank.
Page 202 now! The Everly Brothers, Beat & Soul (Jim Gordon) [1965] Mel Tormé, Right Now! (Gordon) [1966] Gene Clark, Gene Clark with Gosdin Brothers (Gordon) [1967] Van Dyke, Song Cycle (Gordon) [1967] The Stone Poneys, Evergreen, Volume 2 (Billy Mundi, Gordon) [1967] Canned Heat, Canned Heat (Henry Vestine) [1967] Tim Buckley, Goodbye And Hello (Jim Fielder, Gordon) [1967] Fred Neil, Fred Neil (Mundi) [1967] Wolfgang Dauner, Free Action (Ponty) [1967] Judy Collins, Who Knows Where The Time Is (Gordon) [1968] Harry Nilsson, Aerial Ballet (Gordon) [1968] Harry Nilsson, Skidoo Soundtrack (Gordon) [1968] Randy Newman, Randy Newman (Gordon) [1968] Canned Heat, Boogie With Canned Heat (Vestine) [1968] Canned Heat, Living The Blues (Vestine) [1968] Earth Opera, Earth Opera (Mundi) [1968] The One O’Clock Lab Band, Lab:68 (Bruce Fowler, Sal Marquez) [1968] Canned Heat, Hallelujah (Vestine, Elliot Ingber) [1969] The Hamilton Face Band, Hamilton Face Band (Ruth Komanoff-Underwood) [1969] Bread, Bread (Gordon) [1969] Hoyt Axton, My Griffin Is Gone (Gordon) [1969] Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Eternal Equinox (George Duke, Ponty) [1969] Dave Mason, Alone Together (Gordon) [1970] Randy Newman, 12 Songs (Gordon) [1970] Canned Heat, Vintage (Vestine) [1970] Hamilton Face Band, Ain’t Got No Time (Ruth) [1970] John Mayall, USA Union (Sugarcane) [1970] Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Sugarcane (Sugarcane) [1970] Joe Cocker, Mad Dogs And Gentlemen (Gordon) [1970] Geoff & Maria Muldaur, Pottery Pie (Mundi) [1970] Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Keep on Driving (Sugarcane) [1971] Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Fiddler On The Rock (Sugarcane) [1971] Nolan Porter, No Apologies (Lowell George, Roy Estrada, Jimmy Carl Black) [1971] Bob Smith, The Visit (Don Preston) [1971] T. Rex, Electric Warrior (Mark Volman, Howard Kaylan) [1971] Canned Heat and John Lee Hooker, Hooker n Heat (Vestine) [1971] Canned Heat, Live At Topanga Corral (Vestine) [1971] Canned Heat, Historical Figures And Ancient Heads (Vestine) [1971] B.B. King, B.B. King in London (Gordon) [1971] Leon Russell, Leon Russell And The Shelter People (Gordon) [1971] Traffic, The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys (Gordon) [1971] Tom Rapp/Pearls Before Swine, Beautiful Lies You Could Live In (Mundi) [1971] Maxayn, Maxayn (Andre Lewis) [1972] Nolan Porter, Nolan (George, Estrada, Black) [1972] Domenic Troiano, Domenic Troiano (Bunk Gardner, Buzz Gardner) [1972] Nicholas Greenwood, Cold Cuts (Bunk) [1972] John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Sometime In New York City (Live Jam/tracks 3-6 featuring Frank, Mark and Howard, Ian, Don Preston, Bob Harris #1, Jim Pons, Dunbar) [1972] T. Rex, The Slider (Mark And Howard) [1972] Pure Food & Drug Act, Choice Cuts (Sugarcane) [1972] New Violin Summit (Sugarcane, Ponty) [1972] Albert Hammond, It Never Rains in Southern California (Gordon) [1972] Bobby Whitlock, Bobby Whitlock (Gordon) [1972] Bobby Whitlock, Raw Velvet (Gordon) [1972] Skip Battin, Skip (Mundi) [1972] Tom Fogerty, Tom Fogerty (Mundi) [1972] Razmataz, For The First Time (Mundi) [1972] Eric Von Schmidt, 2nd Right, 3rd Row (Mundi) [1972] Geoff and Maria Muldaur, Sweet Potatoes (Mundi) [1972] Peter Yarrow, Peter (Mundi) [1972] The Nat Adderley Sextet and Rick Holmes, Soul Zodiac (Duke) [1972] The Nat Adderley Sextet and Rick Holmes, Soul Of The Bible (Duke) [1972] Roxy Music, Stranded (Jobson) [1973] Buddy Miles, Chapter VII (Lewis) [1973] Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Listen (Lewis) [1973] Maxayn, Mindful (Lewis) [1973] Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Sugar Cane’s Got the Blues (Sugarcane) [1973] Canned Heat, The New Age (Vestine) [1973] Canned Heat, One More River to Cross (Vestine) [1973] Art Garfunkel, Angel Clare (Gordon) [1973] Donovan, Essence to Essence (Gordon) [1973] The Incredible Bongo Band, Bongo Rock (Gordon) [1973] Albert Hammond, The Free Electric Band (Gordon) [1973] David Gates, First (Gordon) [1973] The Hues Corporation, Freedom for the Stallion (Gordon) [1973] John Cale, Paris 1919 (Lowell) [1973] Happy Ends, Happy Ends (Lowell) [1973] Borderline, Sweet Dreams and Quiet Desires (Mundi) [1973] John Compton, To Luna (Mundi) [1973] Flora Purim, Butterfly Dreams (Duke) [1973] Joe Williams, Joe Williams Live (Duke) [1973] Gordon Lightfoot, Stallion (Gordon) [1974] Tom Waits, The Heart Of Saturday Night (Gordon) [1974] John Sebastian, Tarzana Kid (Lowell, Gordon) [1974] Robert Palmer, Sneakin Sally Through the Alley (Lowell) [1974] Mick Ronson, Slaughter on 10th Avenue (Dunbar) [1974] Roxy Music, Country Life (Jobson) [1974] Howdy Moon, self titled album (Lowell George, Roy Estrada) [1974] Luis Gasca, Born to Love You (Duke, Bozzio) [1974] Billy Cobham, Crosswinds (Duke) [1974] Maxayn, Bail Out For Fun! (Lewis) [1974] Roger McGuinn, Peace on You (Mark And Howard) [1974] Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Sal Marquez) [1974] Herbie Mann, London Underground (Dunbar) [1974] Freddie Hubbard, High Energy (Ian Underwood) [1974] Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Cup Full Of Dreams (Sugarcane) [1974] Don “Sugarcane” Harris, I’m On Your Case (Sugarcane) [1974] Junior Hanson, Magic Dragon (Lewis) [1974] Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band (Gordon) [1974] John Stewart, The Phoenix Concerts (Gordon) [1974] Claude DuBois, Claude DuBois (Mundi) [1974] Mahavishnu Orchestra, Apocalypse (Ponty) [1974] Cannonball Adderley, Love, Sex, And The Zodiac (Duke) [1974] Cannonball Adderley, Pyramid (Duke) [1974] Flora Purim, Stories To Tell (Duke) [1974] Gene Ammons, Brasswind (Duke) [1974] Herb Ellis & Ray Brown, Herb Ellis & Ray Brown’s Soft Shoe (Duke) [1974] David Axlerod, Heavy Axe (Duke) [1974] Roxy Music, Siren (Jobson) [1975] Freddie Hubbard, Liquid Love (Ian) [1975] Billy Cobham, A Funky Thide Of Sings (Walt Fowler) [1975] Down And Dirty Duck Soundtrack (Preston, Mark Volman, Howard Kaylan, Pons, Dunbar) [1975] Mick Ronson, Play, Don’t Worry (Dunbar) [1975] Nils Lofgren, self titled (Dunbar) [1975] Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Keyzop (Sugarcane) [1975] Mallard, Mallard (Art Tripp) [1975] The Carpenters, Horizon (Gordon) [1975] Minnie Riperton, Adventures in Paradise (Gordon) [1975] Art Garfunkel, Breakaway (Gordon, Max Bennett, John Guerin) [1975] Joan Baez, Diamonds And Rust (Gordon) [1975] Darryl Hall and John Oates, Darryl Hall And John Oates (Gordon) [1975] Richard “Groove” Holmes, Six Millionare Dollar Man (Gordon) [1975] Thelma Houston, I’ve Got the Music In Me (Gordon) [1975] Gordon Lightfoot, Cold on the Shoulder (Gordon) [1975] Robert Palmer, Pressure Drop (Lowell) [1975] Mahavishnu Orchestra, Visions Of The Emerald Beyond (Ponty) [1975] Cannonball Adderley, Phenix (Duke) [1975] Nat Adderley, Double Exposure (Duke) [1975] Eddie Henderson, Sunburst (Duke) [1975] Joe Henderson, Canyon Lady (Duke) [1975] Stanley Clarke, Journey to Love (Duke) [1975] Joan Baez, From Every Stage (Gordon) [1976] The Brothers Johnson, Look Out For #1 (Ian) [1976] The Carpenters, A Kind Of Hush (Gordon) [1976] Neil Diamond, Beautiful Noise (Gordon) [1976] Journey, Look Into The Future (Dunbar) [1976] Jean-Luc Ponty, Aurora (Ponty, T. Fowler) [1976] Roxy Music, Viva! [1976] Spirit, Farther Along (Ian) [1976] Jean-Luc Ponty, Imaginary Voyage (Ponty, T.Fowler, Allan Zavod) [1976] Grand Funk, Good Singin, Good Playin (Produced by Zappa) [1976] Air Pocket, Fly On (T. Fowler, Bruce Fowler, W. Fowler, Thompson) [1976] Stephen Stills, Illegal Stills (Mark And Howard) [1976] Ian Hunter, All American Space Boy (Dunbar) [1976] Flo and Eddie, Moving Targets (Mark, Howard, Ian) [1976] T. Rex, Futuristic Dragon (Mark and Howard) [1976] Nils Lofgren, Cry Tough (Dunbar) [1976] Carmen MacRae, Can’t Hide Love (Ian) [1976] Sammy Hagar, Nine On A Ten Scale (Dunbar) [1976] Alphonso Johnson, Moonshadow (Ian) [1976] Marathon Man Soundtrack (Ian) [1976] George Duke, Liberated Fantasies (Duke, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Ruth) [1976] Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Flashin’ Time (Sugarcane) [1976] Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band, Bat Chain Puller (Beefheart, Denny Walley) [1976] Seals & Croft, Sudan Village (Ralph Humphrey) [1976] Joan Baez, Gulf Winds (Gordon) [1976] Harvey Mason, Earthmover (B. Fowler, Ian) [1976] Stallion, Stallion (B. Fowler, W. Fowler, Albert Wing) [1976] Cannonball Adderley, Lovers (Duke) [1976] Flora Purim, Open Your Eyes You Can Fly (Duke) [1976] The Billy Cobham/George Duke Band, “Live” On Tour In Europe (Duke) [1976] Nancy Wilson, This Mother’s Daughter (Duke) [1976] Phil Keaggy, Love Broke Thru (Gordon) [1977] The Brothers Johnson, Right on Time (Ian) [1977] Dolly Parton, Here You Come Again (Ian) [1977] Chunk, Ernie, & Novi, Chunk, Ernie, & Novi (Ian) [1977] George Duke, From Me to You (Duke, Glenn Ferris) [1977] Demon Seeds Soundtrack (Ian) [1977] Journey, Next (Dunbar) [1977] Jean-Luc Ponty, Enigmatic Ocean (Ponty, Zavod) [1977] Little Feat, Time Loves A Hero (Lowell) [1977] Genesis, Seconds Out (Thompson) [1977] Quincy, Jones, Roots (Ian) [1977] Mandré, Mandré (Lewis) [1977] Alphonso Johnson, Spellbound (Thompson) [1977] Bob Meighan Band, (Me’hun) (B. Fowler) [1977] Flora Purim, Encounter (Duke) [1977] Journey, Infinity (Dunbar) [1978] U.K., self titled (Eddie Jobson) [1978] Lynda Carter*, Portrait (Humphrey) (*yes, the same one who played Wonder Woman) [1978] George Duke, Reach For It (Duke) [1978] George Duke, Don't Let Go (Duke) [1978] The Brecker Brothers, Heavy Metal Be-Bop (Bozzio) [1978] Jean-Luc Ponty, Cosmic Messenger (Ponty, Zavod) [1978] Steve Hackett, Please Don’t Touch (T.Fowler, Chester Thompson) [1978] David Bowie, Stage (Adrian Belew) [1978] Alice Cooper, From the Inside (Mark And Howard) [1978] Ambrosia, Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled (Ian, Ruth) [1978] Herb Alpert and Hugh Masekela, Herb Alpert/Hugh Masekela (Ian) [1978] Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band, Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (Beefheart, B.Fowler, Tripp) [1978] Lao Schifrin, Gypsy (Ian) [1978] Barbara Streisand, Songbird (Ian) [1978] Little Feat, Waiting For Columbus (Lowell) [1978] Mandré, Mandré Two (Lewis) [1978] Karen Alexander, Voyager (Humphrey) [1978] The Grateful Dead, Shakedown Street (Lowell) [1978] Al Stewart, Time Passages (Tripp) [1978] Eric Von Schmidt and The Cruel Family, S/T (Mundi) [1978] Andre Heller, Basta (Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, Ed Mann, Patrick O’Hearn, Peter Wolf) [1978] Michael White, The X Factor (Duke, B. Fowler, W. Fowler, Wing, Napoleon) [1978] SofTouch, SofTouch (B. Fowler) [1978] Flora Purim, That’s What She Said (Duke) [1978] Sonny Rollins, Easy Living (Duke) [1978] U.K., Danger Money (Jobson, Terry Bozzio) [1979] Jean-Luc Ponty, Live (Ponty, Zavod) [1979] David Bowie, Lodger (Belew) [1979] Big Sonny and the Lo Boys, In Heat (Black) [1979] Apocalypse Now Soundtrack (Preston) [1979] The Residents, Eskimo (Preston) [1979] Jefferson Starship, Freedom at Point Zero (Dunbar) [1979] Lowell George, Thanks, I’ll Eat It Here (Lowell) [1979] Peggy Lee, Close Enough For Love (Ian) [1979] Little Feat, Down On The Farm (Lowell) [1979] George Duke, Follow the Rainbow (Duke, Nappy) [1979] George Duke, Master Of The Game (Duke, Nappy) [1979] Tony Banks, A Curious Feeling (Thompson) [1979] Jean-Luc Ponty, A Taste for Passion (Ponty, Zavod) [1979] Freddie Hubbard, The Love Connection (Thompson) [1979] Lalo Schifrin, No One Home (Ian) [1979] The Warriors Soundtrack (Ian) [1979] Mandré, M3000 (Lewis) [1979] Ray Pizzi, The Love Letter (Humphrey) [1979] Leroy Hutson, Unforgettable (Thompson) [1979] David Pritchard, City Dreams (Thompson) [1979] Mary McCaslin & Jim Ringer, The Bramble & The Rose (Mundi) [1979] Randy Vanwarmer, Warmer (Mundi) [1979] Robert Lee, Escapade (Mundi) [1979] Joe Dassin, Blue Country (B. Fowler, W. Fowler) [1979] Flora Purim, Carey On (Duke) [1979] Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bad For Me (Duke, Brock) [1979] The Muppet Movie Soundtrack (Gordon) [1979] [/QUOTE]
The Nat Adderley Sextet and Rick Holmes, Soul Zodiac: Soul Zodiac is the first collaborative album by The Nat Adderley Sextet and Rick Holmes, released in 1972 on Capitol. Produced by David Axlerod and Cannonball Adderley, Holmes is backed on here by Nat Adderley on cornet, our very own George Duke on electric piano, Mike Deasy on electric guitar, Ernie Watts on tenor sax/flute/tambourine, Walter Booker on upright bass and guitar, and Roy McCurdy on drums. In addition, Cannonball makes guest contributions on alto and soprano saxophones on Side A. While I'm fairly familiar with Cannonball, I'm not as well versed in Nat's work. Based on this, perhaps I should rectify that. While Holmes' spoken word is an acquired taste, the music is transcendent. Of course, George is great as you'd expect, everybody delivers some stellar, creative playing on their respective instruments. As befitting the subject matter, the music has a rather spacey, surreal tone and atmosphere that I think will appeal to many Zappa fans. Think of the Wazoo era with some Funkadelic, Bitches Brew-era Miles, and a sprinkle of Mothers stream-of-consciousness. As mentioned before, Holmes' spoken word can be an acquired taste. It gets a little pretentious and silly at times, but it ultimately works with the Sextet's instrumentation. And it certainly helps in tying the album together thematically. It's been some time since I've done a proper review for this thread, and I'm pleased to say I can recommend this, a very strong offering for those into soul and funk-infused jazz.
The Nat Adderley Sextet and Rick Holmes, Soul Of The Bible: Soul Of The Bible is the second collaborative album between the Nat Adderley Sextet and Rick Holmes, released in 1972 on Capitol. Produced once again by David Axlerod and Cannonball Adderley, Holmes is backed here by Nat Adderley on cornet, our very own George Duke as well as Nat Adderley Jr. on electric piano and pianos, Walter Booker on acoustic bass, Francisco Centeno on electric bass, Roy McCurdy on drums, Cannonball on alto and soprano saxophones, and percussionists Octavio Bailly Jr, Mayuto Correa, "King" Errisson Pallman Johnson, and Airto Moreira. In addition, guest vocal contributions come from Fleming Williams on track 4, Arthur Charma on track 8, Olga James on track 13, and Stephanie Spruill on track 14. Similar to Soul Zodiac, the album features Holmes narrating philosophical/spiritual concepts while backed by the Sextet. Musically, it doesn’t quite reach Soul Zodiac’s heights, though it does prove a worthwhile listen for jazz fans. While Ernie Watts’ absence is unfortunate after his stellar contributions to Soul Zodiac, Cannonball more than makes up for it as his role increases here. I’d say Soul Zodiac is the better record overall, but this is a strong follow up worth looking into afterwards.
Totally forgot he was on Wazoo. Damn fine player overall, and even though I don’t necessarily seek him, I always like when he pops up somewhere.
A little narration goes a long way with me, but there are definitely inspired moments on Zodiac. It and the Bible one are the product of a period that produced Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell and the whole Age of Aquarius thing, sound hopelessly dated now. But George has some exciting moments and is more prominent than Cannonball for the most part.
I saw him with John Mayall's Jazz Fusion band in the 70's and with Charlie Haden's quartet in 1996. An underrated player. He used to pop up in the Tonight Show band too.
Fast n bulbous! Today is seventy two years since the arrival of none other than The Mascara Snake himself, Mr. Victor Hayden, into our dimension. My journey with Captain Beefheart has been a long, strange, winding one, filled with artistic madness, genius, surrealist humor, and even a certain sweetness when one digs deep enough. And few embodied that spirit as the Captain’s cousin did. Though Victor has left this plane of existence, his spirit remains as alive as ever.
Happy birthday to Mr. Elliot Ingber, who turned 79 yesterday. Elliot was the lead guitarist in The Mothers Of Invention when they signed to Verve Records and recorded their debut Freak Out! before leaving shortly after the album’s release. Afterwards, he’d play with Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band as well as leading Fraternity Of Man, which contributed “Don’t Bogart Me” to Easy Rider. While he never stayed very long with any band, his vibrato and unique touch for the blues left a tremendous impression wherever he went. In turn, he would help shape the counterculture and all freaks, geeks, and bums for many years, even decades to come. He is the baddest of the bad, a righteous and wicked dude, he is Winged Eel Fingerling and we’re not. May he continue being the baddest of the bad for years to come.
Here’s a happy 68th Birthday to Peter Wolf (Not That One!), keyboardist for Zappa as featured on Sheik Yerbouti, Joe’s Garage, Tinseltown Rebellion, and the Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar stuff. In addition, he appears in Baby Snakes as part of the Sheik Yerbouti lineup featuring some guy named Adrian Belew who apparently did stuff afterwards. He often gets overlooked (his involvement in “We Built This City”, one of the most popular songs to make fun of, probably doesn’t help), but Peter was a notable part of the group when he was there. In fact, much of the keyboard work on Joe’s Garage is Peter as Frank felt he was better suited to that style (as great as Tommy is). Thank you Peter Wolf, you were a valuable part of the Zappa band when you were there, and I hope you have the most kickass birthday possible.
Borderline, Sweet Dreams and Quiet Desires: Sweet Dreams and Quiet Desires is the debut album by country rock trio Borderline, released in 1973 on Avalanche. Produced by Borderline’s lead guitarist/vocalist Jon Gershen amd guitarist/vocalist Jim Rooney, the band consisted of Gershen, brother David, and Rooney. Backing them is our very own Billy Mundi on drums and percussion, The Band members Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson on piano/clavinet and organ under the names Dick Handle and Campo Malaqua, The Band’s producer John Simon also playing piano on select tracks, Nick Jameson on guitar, Ben Keith on pedal steel guitar, Vassar Clements and Ken Kosek splitting fiddle duties, Jim Colegrove on bass and backing vocals, and David Sanborn playing saxophone on two tracks. First off, I want to apologize for the delay, my family and I have been switching houses (and trying to achieve some other personal goals), so my attention has been elsewhere. Now onto the album. The album is split between Band-esque roots rock (makes sense giving Richard, Garth, and John Simon’s involvement) and country-flavored material featuring some stellar steel work on Ben Keith’s part. Giving the style of music, Billy doesn’t stretch out like he did in the Mothers, but he lays down a solid support system. Borderline show themselves to be respectable songwriters, making this a very listenable album for those that are into this kind of music. Overall, not a bad record.
And now the sketch I made of Dweezil for his birthday. Least I could do, given all he’s done in carrying his father’s legacy and in allowing younger fans such as myself to have a chance to hear Frank’s music that way it’s meant to be heard-on stage. Thanks Dweezil.
Now to wish a stellar 66th birthday to the amazing Patrick O’Hearn, bassist for Frank Zappa. How do I begin with talking about my favorite Zappa bassist? He’s the man that helped take Frank’s music into a post-Jaco world, one where the rules of bass playing have been almost completely from when Frank had been starting out. O’Hearn had such a beautiful touch on the fretless, his tone so smooth and buttery without sacrificing the grit you’d want in a rock bassist. His lines were so lyrical, so fluid, and they propelled Frank’s already killer guitar leads into another dimension, even moreso when you had both him and Bozzio, the best rhythm section Frank ever had. I’m not even the biggest New Age guy, yet I still find his solo stuff really enjoyable. Happy birthday to one of the baddest cats, may he continue making magic with that four string.
John Compton, To Luna: To Luna is a studio album by folk rock musician John Compton, released in 1973 on Muskrat Records. Produced by Compton and Peter Edminston, The lineup consists of Compton on vocals/guitar/autoharp, our very own Billy Mundi on drums, Roland Dufault on electric and acoustic guitars/harmonica, David Mowry on acoustic guitar, Bill Elliot on keyboards, Harvey Brooks on bass, and some guy called Stu on contrabass. The album is another stab at folk and roots rock, and while listenable, it’s not a particularly remarkable album. It’s not terrible, but this is one you can take or leave.
Flora Purim, Butterfly Dreams: Butterfly Dreams is the second studio album by Brazillian jazz singer Flora Purim, released in 1973 on Milestone. Produced by Orrin Keepnews, Purim is backed here by our very own George Duke on electric piano/ARP synthesizer/clavinet/piano, Purim’s then-Return To Forever bandmate Stanley Clarke on electric and acoustic basses, Joe Henderson on saxophone and flute, Airto Moreira on drums and percussion, and Ernie Hood playing the zither on select tracks. Despite enjoying Return To Forever, it took me a fair bit to look into Flora’s solo work. That said, glad I did as it proved to have some very rewarding music. There’s a natural Latin bent to the fusion here, with Stanley and George adding some nice funk to the mix as well. As a result, it proves to be a very enthralling listen, particularly in combination with Purim’s vocal talent. I can give this a very solid recommendation, particularly to fans of any of the artists involved and fusion in general.
It is September 10th, and that means a Happy Birthday to none other than Arthur Dyer Tripp III, The Man With The Green Mustache, Ed Marimba, Ted Cactus. One of the few to work with both Zappa and Beefheart and the only one who worked in depth with both. Be it behind the skins or behind a set of marimbas, albums like Uncle Meat, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, Lick My Decals Off Baby, The Spotlight Kid, and Clear Spot simply wouldn’t be as colorful or as off the beaten path without his contributions. Happy birthday to Ed Marimba, may the clouds continue to be full of wine (not whiskey or rye).
Joe Williams, Joe Williams Live: Joe Williams Live is a live record by jazz singer Joe Williams, released in 1973 on Fantasy. Produced by David Axelrod and Nat Adderley, the album was recorded in front of a live audience at Fantasy Studio’s “A” Studio. Backing Williams on here is the Cannonball Adderley Septet, consisting of our very own George Duke on piano and electric piano, Cannonball on alto saxophone, Nat on cornet, Walter Booker on upright bass and guitar, Carole Kaye on electric bass, Roy McCurdy on drums, and King Errisson on congas. This is an album I don’t really know, this is purely first impression. I will say what we have here is a pretty solid slice of vocal jazz. Needless to say, the band delivers quite nicely on here, and Williams in particular shows some great vocal chops as always. I wish I could go more in depth, but I will say, once again, how glad I am that I did this thread and went the extra step of exploring what Frank’s players have done elsewhere, because I’ve found some cool stuff throughout. I can definitely recommend this album, it’s a good one.
Here’s to the great Alex St. Clair, guitarist and co-founder of Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band who would have turned 79 today. Though sometimes overshadowed by the likes of Drumbo, Bill Harkleroad/Zoot Horn Rollo, Jeff Cotton/Antannae Jimmy Semens, and Ry Cooder, none of this would have been possible without Alex, who was a very important part of the early days and was in fact the original Captain Beefheart before Don assumed the alias and thrown. Happy birthday to Alex, may he Rest In Peace.
Really dig this album. Sounds great even through laptop speakers. BTW I don't think I've ever heard the lyrics to "Green Dolphin St." before, for all the different instrumental versions I've heard over the years. Outstanding!
Claude DuBois, Claude DuBois: Claude DuBois is a self-titled album by French-Canadian singer-songwriter Claude DuBois, released in 1974 on Barclay. Produced by Jean-Yves Labat, DuBois is backed here by our very own Billy Mundi on drums, Labat on synthesizer, John A. Halbrook on guitar, former Janis Joplin keyboardist and The Band associate Richard Bell on electric piano and piano, Keith Johnson on organ and trumpet, Roly Salley on bass, and Gerardo Velez on congas. Also, someone named Priscilla sings on this album. Once again in the dark, not only with the album but the artist. This marks my second non-English record for this thread, the first being the Happy Ends record. I didn’t like that one, but this one is actually pretty good. The language is not a barrier whatsoever here and actually adds to the album’s appeal for me at least. Musically, the album shows a lot of hallmarks of the soft rock of that era, so how much this album appeals to one will depend on how much seventies soft rock will appeal to them. Needless to say, the crossover between that crowd and the one bothering to read up on this thread isn’t particularly wide. I don’t mind it, but I wouldn’t necessarily revisit it. And that’s Claude DuBois’s 1974 album for you.
