Coupla Things

I had a response from the customer service folks at Eagle Records advising me that the DVD release of Jeff Beck's latest has been delayed from Dec 08 or Jan 09 until April. Me not happy.... but I thanked them for the info anyway. Maybe they should just update their website???

On the sleep front - newsflash!!! Today I slept like a king and didn't get up until after Lynda had arrived home from work... and that NEVER happens. Ah, bliss. Praise the Lord, I was due.

Weather front - a high pressure system has pushed it's way into the area bringing clear skies and much colder temps. We're back down near -20 once again tonight. Unfortunately I was so late getting up I didn't get any photos taken of the snow. Maybe later today.

Beard update - I know everyone is breathlessly awaiting word on the latest developments here. Geez! For the last month I've let it grow on my cheeks to raise the line of it from running along the jaw line. Made it through the itchy stage last week without scratching myself up too badly. I think if I give it an overall trim today it should all be the same length and then I can start subtracting with the razor and figure out where I want it.

Once I was up for the day Lynda and I tuned in to CNN and caught the inauguration parade. Since getting to work I've viewed the actual swearing in ceremony and excerpts from Obama's speech. The satellite shot of the crowds before the White House was incredible - I haven't as yet heard any estimates of crowd size but it must be in excess of 2 million. I'm happy and relieved that everything went off according to plan and without incident. Blessings on Barack Obama and through you, to all your citizens.

Excuse me but I have to go view some WordPress tutorials now and consume a rather large bar of chocolate and almonds.

I Bow Down To....

... guitar god..... I am not worthy, etc, etc.....

I don't check Jeff Beck's site very often because frankly, it doesn't get updated very frequently so I was gladdened last night when I checked in at the 'WorldWideGlen' blog and found there is new JB product out NOW!! Woo-Hoo!!! CD on the shelves now and a DVD to follow in December or January. I'll hold out for the DVD I think. It is titled 'Performing This Week.... Live at Ronnie Scott's'

A quickie recap of info gleaned from Glen, Jeff's site and Eagle Records - 16 live tracks; best performances chosen by Jeff from a multi night stand at Ronnie Scott's club in London England. Standing room only shows; rave reviews; a guitar clinic put on by a master musician, a journeyman.

"the usually sedate London Times gushed, "…perhaps the greatest living guitar virtuoso…combining astonishing technique with a blissful nuance he exercised an almost supernatural control of his fretboard."

Here's a link to a performance at the Crossroads Festival in Chicago from last year which features the same band line up. Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Jason Rebello on keyboards and the amazing young Aussie lady Tal Wilkenfeld on bass. Jeff gets his guitar talking, singing and soaring on this one. (This features an impressive bass solo by Tal as well.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIFFRHBCPzA

Enjoy. I did.

Just Because I Can '2'.....

.....so there.

Some things you just don't tire of especially tried and true songs like this one, done a little differently. This one always engenders an emotional response in me.

I watched the various versions that came up in my search and while the video quality here is not good, the playing certainly is - he manages to nail pretty much every note.

At the end he shakes off his hand; it either cramped or he cut himself getting to a couple of those high notes.

Enjoy.

Just Because I Can.....

.... and I haven't for a long time now..... mentioned Jeff Beck that is.

A little night music.

Aahhh; a little better now.

Music Fix

In response to a recent review of John Mellencamp's most recent CD by Glen at 'The Worldwide Glen', I'd told him that would be my next purchase. Oooopps! Turns out I lied.

For the last while I've been trying to build a DVD music library of acts I enjoy and I tend to treat myself to something new when I'm down or feel in need of some small reward. I couldn't afford myself when I was drinking and subsequently have saved literally thousands of dollars in sobriety so.....a little music now and then doesn't hurt. (Rationalization? Whatever works.)

Browsing through the store I found a 2000 release by Jeff Beck on CD that I thought I already had; 'You Had it Coming'. It turns out I hadn't. I've heard half the songs in one form or another elsewhere but there are some other gems here, too. Doing a search of his website brought me the news that there's a web only release of another 'official bootleg' from his tour last fall of the western U.S. - I'll be ordering that baby a little later tonight; I can't seem to get enough of his playing. He was also supposed to be recording some new material during that tour but I can't track down any news regarding that.

The DVD I picked up at the same time is Neil Young's 2006 release 'Heart Of Gold'. The first disc is the concert he and the band performed at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and features all the songs from his 'Prairie Wind' CD followed by a selection of his greatest hits which coincide with the theme. I was enthralled for the full 100 minutes. Besides the core band, he had on different songs, a brass section, strings, a guitar orchestra, choir and a number of back-up singers including his wife Pegi and the breath-taking Emmylou Harris. (I've had a schoolboy crush on her since she came on the scene back around 1970; her heart shaped face makes my heart go pitter-pat) I haven't viewed the second disc as yet but it includes rehearsal footage, interviews and 2 bonus tracks.

He mentions in pre-song intro's that he'd lived in Winnipeg when he was young but he also spent a few years about 15 miles west of here in Pickering and a couple more in the village of Omemee, 60 miles east. His late father, Scott, was a famous newspaper columnist for the Toronto Telegram.

Music is soooo gooood for the soul!!!

On Another Note Entirely

Ah, music!! Glorious music!! From a very early age I've loved it; loved the way in which it can transport me. An ongoing frustration in life is that I've never been able to cotton on to playing an instrument. I relate it to people having a facility for learning languages other than their native tongue - I just don't get it and will remain unilingual. (heaving sigh) That certainly doesn't stop me from appreciating it though. When I hear what I conceive to be greatness I have a physiological reaction to it - all the hair on my forearms stands up. Whether it's pumping out of my Bose surround system at home or in a live concert setting, it's the same.

Lynda and I try to get to at least 1 major concert a year - 3 years ago it was Jeff Beck at Massey Hall; 2 years ago Alison Krauss & Union Station at Convocation Hall at the U of T; and earlier this year April 9 at Massey Hall, David Gilmour's show in support of his 'On An Island' release.

When 'OAI' was released I liked it but it didn't bowl me over; I'd waited so long for it. It wasn't until we saw & heard it performed that I came to love it and really 'get' it. A half dozen times thru the show I nudged Lynda and held up my arm to show her; she beamed me her loveliest of smiles, laughed her musical laugh and nodded like a champ. It's an incredibly finely crafted piece of work - well written by David and his wife Polly Samson, ably produced by David and Phil Manzanera(sp?) of Roxy Music fame, and the musicianship is outstanding. Journeymen at their finest. David is exceptional on lead guitar, lap steel, hawaiian and incredibly making his debut on sax. I hope there are plans in the works for a DVD. For a sample there are a number of studio performances at aolmusic.sessions archives that were done in New York on April 7. Brilliant!!

Periodically I go on binges for a particular artist - lately it's been Jeff Beck. I've loved his playing since he released 'Truth' back in about '68 and have followed his career thru the years. He played a stellar show here in 2002 and I was hugely disappointed that he has no Canadian dates on his current tour. The good news is that he is working on a new release as he tours. I managed to track down his latest release - an 'official' bootleg (oxymoron) - at sonymusic.com. It's available by web order only, was recorded at B. B. King's Blues club and has 18 tracks. When I saw him he had Jennifer Batten playing 2nd guitar and they put on a great show. I've spent way too much time on YouTube watching videos of him. Highly recommended - 'Declan' and 'Cuz We've Ended as Lovers'.

Alison Krauss & Union Station - probably the finest bluegrass band around. Alison's lead vocals and virtuoso fiddle playing knock me out. Jerry Douglas on guitar/dobro - outstanding. Way too many fine songs to name but 'I'm the Lucky One' comes immediately to mind. There's a DVD of one of those tour dates, from the Ryman Auditorium I think - I must pick it up.

The latest CDs that I have are Bob Dylan's 'Modern Times' and Tom Petty's 'Highway Companion'. For a great review of Modern Times see Glen's post - I know he'll be impressed when I say 'I concur'. lol. I need a few more listens to Highway Companion but the lead off track is great - 'Saving Grace'.