Something Blue Chat

at 02:33:06

Now listening. Blues Where You Least Expect It. Jim “The Generator Man” Drennen.

at 02:36:50

OK, I’m actually here today! YAY!

at 02:42:32

I couldn’t do last week but I’m here tonight.

Next week I’ll be playing around a campfire at the King Biscuit Blues Festival.

at 02:43:31

The play button is in the upper left.

at 02:46:46

This is going to hurt.

The Generator Man is playing B B King - How Blue Can You Get

at 02:48:43

I gave you seven children and now you wanna give them back.

at 03:00:25

Just started!

at 03:01:59

And Something Blue starts with Misty by Erroll Garner played by Joe Lee and Friends.

I was recording engineer and co producer on this one.

at 03:02:25

This is a Joe Lee arrangement.

at 03:03:11

Joy Sanford playing piano.

at 03:03:57

We’re going with light and breezy today are we?

at 03:05:05

Warren Bernhardt plays I Mean You, a Thelonius Monk song.

at 03:06:24

Joe Lee used to tour on his arrangements in the sixties.

He also produced some rock and roll hits

at 03:07:56

Although I’ve never met him I have a special love for Warren Bernhardt since he played piano with The Paul Winter Sextet in the sixties.

at 03:09:35

Overall I’m not a fan of piano. Especially as a solo instrument. But when backed by other instruments to round out the sound it’s INCREDIBLY expressive.

at 03:09:59

Where I like piano best? Blues and jazz.

at 03:10:07

Warren Bernhardt, Brigas Nunca Mais

This one is light and breezy.

at 03:10:43

Obviously, I’m obsessed with jazz piano.

at 03:12:00

I like the jazz trio and other small groups with piano.

I prefer playing with a quintet because I love horn harmonies.

at 03:13:47

I’m talking.

at 03:14:21

Exactly this: a piano in a trio/quartet is peak piano. Even in classical movie.

at 03:14:33

Joe Lee And Friends, Out Of Nowhere

at 03:15:00

Drew Davison on bari sax.

at 03:15:18

And yes, I managed to get things perfectly synched this time. My clock and my playback indicator are within one second of each other. :D

at 03:18:40

That’s great.

I’m trying to recruit some more chatters from Mastodon. After October I will try to draw in KASU broadcast listeners too.

at 03:19:58

Braxton Cook, Pariah

at 03:23:31

This has been a mellow and relaxing session today so far. When do you pull out the Shuffle Demons or whatever? 😂

at 03:24:29

I think it’s all like this.

Steve Kuhn Trio, Pure Imagination

at 03:28:49

Break time!

at 03:29:03

Break is coming up soon, right?

at 03:30:00

How long is the break?

at 03:30:19

Correct.

Break’s over!

at 03:30:51

Ooh! That’s a SECOND time I caught the time right!

I’m on fire tonight!

at 03:31:31

Call out to the drummer in this piece. It’s rare for cymbals to be subtle.

at 03:33:22

Steve Kuhn Trio, Into the New World

at 03:34:39

Click link for album art.

at 03:37:01

Yay! Saxophone!

Interesting tone. Is he playing around with one of those trumpet things or just good embouchure work?

at 03:37:24

Braxton Cook, Hymn (For Trayvon)
Braxton Cook, The Gospel

at 03:38:23

I think he’s making that tone. So emboucher.

at 03:40:00

It’s interesting how he’s flattened that attack. I need to figure out how he’s doing it.

at 03:40:32

Ah! He just gave the technique away with that breathier version.

at 03:41:03

I need to try that with one of my reed instruments.

at 03:42:09

Braxton Cook has the most contemporary sound on the show tonight but it’s still almost light and breezy. Definitely nice to listen too.

at 03:44:45

Man’s no slouch on fingering as well as embouchure. I could learn a lot listening and trying to replicate this.

And … I adore the guitar’s tone here! Mellow yet distorted, with some really interesting things happening in the overtones.

at 03:45:41

This set started off mellow, gentle, almost ambient, and is now setting the speakers on fire. Cool!

at 03:46:32

What a finish! Going from gentle to fire to an almost somnambulist ending. Seamlessly.

at 03:46:39

Still mellow but deeper.

at 03:49:47

Again I call out the drummer. And this one has something dark lying under the meandering melody. I’ll be listening again with headphones on to catch it. Very intriguing.

at 03:50:07

Steve Kuhn’s discography runs from 1960 to this album released in 2017 with Steve Swallow (electric bass), and Joey Baron (drums).

at 03:50:29

It’s the contrabass. Doing some very neat stuff in there.

at 03:52:22

This guy’s doing something with the contrabass that reminds me of Tony Levin, the prog bassist. The surface is breezy and mild, but that bass is laying down an underlay that alters the very perception of the piece.

at 03:52:27

Warren Bernhardt just finishing now. Steve Kuhn up next.

at 03:54:36

Click link to see album art.

at 03:55:32

Steve Swallow bass solo.

I love the Steve Swallow work with Carla Bley.

at 03:57:04

Extended bass solo.

at 03:57:33

Steve Kuhn solo. Brilliant.

at 04:00:04

That’s all folks.

More Something Blue next week.

I may be able to chat from The Biscuit. 10:00 to 11:00 pm is break time for me.