Tags
Billy Cobham, Grass Roots, Jasper, Jerry Garcia, Jerryfest, Mosier Brothers, Old and in the Way, Peter Rowan, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Robert Cray, Tommy Bolin
A year ago I wrote my first blog ever, until today. It was published on the Jasper site and related to Jerryfest XI, an annual event in Columbia, SC. It occurs close to Jerry Garcia’s birthday, but usually in September when it is not quite so hot. This year it will be at Jakes on September 28. However, I wanted to introduce my first blog here by recalling the Jasper blog and talking about today’s birthdays.
http://jaspercolumbia.net/blog/?p=2183
Jerry’s guitar playing has influenced many players over the years and left a great legacy with the Grateful Dead, the Jerry Garcia Band and other projects such as the Pizza Tapes. Here is a nice version of the cover of Peggy-O from the later stretches of the Grateful Dead.
Tonight there will be a special showing of the movie, Sunshine Daydream which chronicles a legendary show from 1972. This is a great version of Jerry’s melodic playing. This sort of make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It is amazing. I am looking forward to seeing this movie tonight. Check out your local theater.
Jerry was also involved in an influential group known as Old and In the Way. This band gathered some amazing talent together to play a totally different style of music than the Dead. Here is a great tune by them which was written by Peter Rowan. Love seeing Mr. Rowan play this with the Mosier Brothers. In this cut, you can hear Jerry playing banjo.
But today had a lot of other great musicians born today. One of the most important is Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Mr Eliott was a contemporary of Woody Gurthrie and is one of the last of the old school folk singers still standing. He has played with a number of other important folks like Bob Dylan, Jerry Jeff Walker, Johnny Cash and many others. Here is a clip of him on the Johnny Cash. Listen up and hear some real music right here.
Today is the birthday of the original drummer for the Grassroots, Rick Coonce. Here’s one of their best tunes and the one I like the most, Let’s Live For Today. This is a great one with an introduction by Jimmy Durante.
In addition to Jerry Garcia another true guitar genius was born on this day, Robert Cray. Ed Salter and I saw him back in the day of real music at the Carolina Coliseum. And, it was one great evening. But, it was not because of me. Here’s two of his best. Right Next Door
It’s a Smoking Gun (so called) here too.
The last guitar player I will mention is Tommy Bolin. He was a great player who was star crossed. I did not to get to see him with Zephyr like some of my friends. But, I saw him with the James Gang at the old Charlie B’s Ranch. (Who remembers that venue outside Anderson?) So, here’s a tune with the James Gang. Funk 49 with Tommy Bolin.
Finally here is some Tommy on the most important work he did, playing with Billy Cobham on Spectrum. This first one is Stratus. Pretty amazing stuff and it shows where the influence of Tommy’s playing is still felt today. What a great group of players and think of all the poor kids who don’t know they are listening to some of the best players ever when they are playing Grand Theft Auto IV!
Well that is all for my first blog on music. Hope you enjoy it and the fact I did not clutter up your Facebook feed.
Rock on and come out to Loose Lucy’s at 4:20 this afternoon and catch Chris Lawther. I am looking to playing a short Jerry set with him. But, I am sure he is going to cover a lot more ground than that.
Bentz
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Great to see you doing this, Bentz!
Ha, I have a very steep learning to make.
Well, I was planning on following your blog, but I can not ever find it or the url.
Great looking blog so far. Keep it up!
Man, I thought I would never get this far. Was looking at WordPress.org yesterday so I even started out at the wrong spot. Hope to stay with it and figure this shit out dude.