Periodically, a 30 year friend of mine (and fellow guitarist) get together and go out to see some musicians play.
Last night we decided to check out what guitarist...



...Robben Ford was up to.


The opening act was...



...Joe Bonamassa.

Didn't know much about this cat. As it turns out he opened for B.B. King when he was 8 years old.
He's been gigging since 12 (currently 29). It seems his dream was to be a Guitar-Hero and that's what the set's material sounded like.
He's got a great guitar sound that's reminiscent of Eric Johnson.
The problem was almost every song made direct references to things you've heard before.
ZZ Top (Waitin' For The Bus), Led Zeppelin (fast section of Dazed and Confused), Peter Frampton (Do You Feel Like I Do) and a certain Jethro Tull song I can't remember the name of.
The crowd enjoyed it so I guess that's all that really matters.


I've been a fan of Robben Ford since...



...The Inside Story (1979 produced by Steve Cropper)
The title track is one of my favorite instrumentals.
The group that recorded this record was basically The Yellowjackets with Robben Ford as front man

Hadn't seen Robben Ford play since the Blue Line era ('92-'93) so I didn't know what to expect.




Last night's band consisted of...

Robben Ford - Guitar



Performed/Recorded with: Miles Davis, The Yellowjackets, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sadao Watanabe, Bob Dylan, Debarge, Victor Feldman, Ivan Neville, Kenny Loggins, etc.


Michael Landau - Guitar (used to be one of L.A.'s 1st call session players)



Performed/Recorded with: Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Boz Scaggs, Pink Floyd, Patti LaBelle, Al Jarreau, and almost anybody else you can think of.


Andrew Ford - Bass



Performed/Recorded with: Chaka Khan, Oleta Adams, Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Patti Austin, Alphonse Mouzon, David Crosby, etc.

Gary Novak - Drums



Performed/Recorded with: Lee Ritenour, Chick Corea, Allan Holdsworth, George Benson, David Sanborn, Maynard Ferguson, etc.

In other words, these guys can play!

However unlike the opening act, these wiley veterans didn't feel the need to shove that fact down your throat.
They played well arranged songs and the solos were tasteful and very well executed.
The songs were either Jazz-Blues (meaning more that just the 3 chords) or R&B based.
And the common denominator was that the stellar rhythm section of Ford/Novak made every tune groove hard.
Because all the tunes had such great grooves and chord changes, it gave Ford and Landau a lot to work with melodically and rhythmically during their solos.
I noticed that pretty consistently, the comping guitarist would lay out for a chorus during the other guitarist's solo.
This gave the soloist (and the song in general) the added dimension of dynamics.



There's was a nice rearrangement of Help The Poor from a driving R&B piece to a sultry bossa nova vibe.
Mike Landau gave a killer rendition of the Jimi Hendrix tune Up From The Skies.
Even Robben's vocals (which i'm not normally fond of) worked tonight.

My buddy and I enjoyed ourselves...



...And from the reaction of the crowd, they did also.


Btw, for those of you in the L.A. area, The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills is a nice intimate venue.
Tower of Power, Etta James, Average White Band, Michael McDonald, Cyndi Lauper, Greg Allman, Missing Persons & David Cassidy (bg ) among others are scheduled to appear there in the coming months.


Meals are a bit pricey but that just goes with the territory.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Great review, tA.....makes me want to check out some of Robben's stuff.

I still say, you missed your calling.....it's never too late!

Man, LA always has the Best shows!!


I love Robben Ford, I remember all the time it took me to hunt down that Inside Story album, back in the day!! (the birth of the Yellowjackets!)

I also love his 1997 instrumental album, Tiger Walk, with Bernie Worrell (organ, keys), Steve Jordan(drums) and Charlie Drayton(Bass)!





Nice to see Landau still tearin' it up over there! You ever check out his album, Tales from the Bulge? Slammin!!





...
[Edited 8/4/06 10:57am]

cubic61052 said:

Along with the albums already listed (The Inside Story & Tiger Walk) i'd also look into...



...these.

Talk To Your Daughter:
A very schizophrenic record but there are 4 songs that do I couldn't do without.
Help The Poor, Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues, Getaway & Revelation (another super instrumental)

Robben Ford & The Blue Line:
The formation of a consistent core band (Roscoe Beck - bass & Tom Brechtlein - drums) makes this an overall better release.
Standouts are Prison of Love, Tell Me I'm Your Man, I'm A Real Man & *You Cut Me to the Bone.
* Besides this being my favorite cut on the album (blazing shuffle) it also showcases Roscoe Beck's technique of simultaneously playing the bassline with one hand while tapping chords with the other. Makes the tune sound like there's a B-3 playing when there isn't.

The Yellowjackets:
Their 1st album. Same players as on The Inside Story.

I haven't kept up with some of his later albums but i'll let you know when I hear anything.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

paligap said:

Will definitely be checking these out. Landau is nasty.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I've loved Robben since I first heard Talk To Your Daughter. He's probably my favorite guitar player. Incredibly versatile.

I saw him maybe 2 years ago at Yoshi's in Oakland. I think he had a completely different band then. I've never seen him play with another guitar player, so that's interesting he does now. I know he has tendinitis, so maybe he needs a bit of support, though his playing is still in top form.

Roscoe Beck, as you mentioned is simply amazing, and makes a three piece band sound like a four piece. I saw Robben play with him twice, and they complimented each other really well.

The first time I saw him (At My Place, TA probably remembers this place on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica) Sting was in the audience and played a few songs.

It should be mentioned that he played on Hissing of Summer Lawns, a Prince & Prince fan favorite.

But I think you really have to see him live. I haven't yet heard an album that does justice to his playing, and his voice as you mentioned, is no better on record.
[Edited 8/4/06 15:37pm]

NDRU said:

At My Place?
That was a great club. Played there a few times in a band with Carmen Grillo (ex-Tower of Power), Bill Champlin (Sons of Champlin, Chicago) and his wife Tamara, Jason Scheff (pre-Chicago) and a few other good players.

I saw Roscoe Beck do the 2-hand thing live with the Blue Line band at the Palomino (on Lankershim in N.H'wood). Remember that joint?
Saw a lot of good shows there. (Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Albert Collins, Jack Mack & The Heart Attack, etc)


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Back@ya:

That's Greg Allman & Friends and one of those "Friends" is Robben Ford. If there aren't any shows toward OC, or LA proper, I might have to hike out to Agoura Hills to catch it.

theAudience said:

I saw the Perri Sisters there long time ago. They put lyrics to Pat Metheny songs in harmony a la Manhattan Transfer. That was superb!


Palomino! I saw Jaco's WORD OF MOUTH band there.

I really try to stay out of SFV...got a haunted past out there.

PFunkjazz said:

No; that was the Country Club in Reseda. Sherman Way a few block east of Reseda on some side street.

PFunkjazz said:

I just passed by there last night on my way to my friends house to go to the gig.
It's some kind of Latin facility now.

Saw Allan Holdsworth, James Brown and few other acts there I can't remember.


I lived in N.H'wood when I inititally came out here. Been to spots all over The Valley.

Jimmy Smith used to have a place in N.H'wood.
There were quite a few Jazz spots up and down Ventura Blvd.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

PFunkjazz said:

Neil Larson on keys and Willie Weeks on bass along with R.Ford.

The Canyon Club is the only date listed in the L.A. area so far (11/28).
Might have to deal with that one.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Sounds like you got a taste for Southern blues rockers with a flair for jazzy improvising. Don't know if you're hip to Gov't Mule. Guitarist Warren Haynes is the leader and he's bandmates with Greg in the Allman Brothers. Mule's got an new album due in a few weeks and they will likely hit LA and Orange counties in Oct/Nov (as with Greg, those dates are unannounced, but I expect them). Check mule.net for a sample and info if you're interested, but I'll be calling you out when I get the word. They're hard rockin' and very good. They vary their setlist enough to warrant catching multiple stops of each tour and I've driven to San Diego for an overnighter.


due Aug 22

PFunkjazz said:

Wouldn't mind catching them.


I've been onto the Allmans...



...since day one.

As a matter of fact, during the 70s, Butch Trucks used to come sit in with us at Tommy's in Tallahassee.


Aquarium Rescue Unit...



...is another good intermittent group featuring players from some of those Jam Band crews.
(Oteil & Kofi Burbridge, Jimmy Herring)



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

A same sorta promo-shot is used on the innersleeve of Robben's debut-album .
I never saw the promo-pic above untill my recent google-search .
It seems one from 1981 and also appears on the innersleeve of the Jap-press of Mirage A Trois .



I dig his syncope-chops in the Top Secret-jam , on that album .



[Edited 8/5/06 14:43pm]

theAudience said:

Wouldn't mind catching them.


I've been onto the Allmans...



...since day one.

As a matter of fact, during the 70s, Butch Trucks used to come sit in with us at Tommy's in Tallahassee.


Aquarium Rescue Unit...



...is another good intermittent group featuring players from some of those Jam Band crews.
(Oteil & Kofi Burbridge, Jimmy Herring)



tA [/quote]

Oh yeah, now I remember you brought up ARU, back when we were chatting with Vernon Reid. Cool; you're in the loop. I'm also keeping an eye out for Derek Trucks' Band:

Their latest


A goodie from few years back

[Edited 8/5/06 19:17pm]

theAudience said:

It was a great club. So small, but got some great people. I also saw George Duke & Stanley Clarke there.

Unfortunately, it closed soon after I came of age...

Not sure if I ever went to the Palomino or not. The only thing I remember doing in N. Hollywood was buying pipes & screens.
[Edited 8/7/06 11:01am]

Mannnnn.

tA, I read your entire post while repeating the same phrase:

"Ohhhhh!"


Orgnotes, man. You'll never guess who inquired about me!!!

NDRU said:

It wasn't a little joint on Burbank Blvd. was it?


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

ThreadBare said:

Go 'head witcha bad self.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

David Z. also produced a Robben Ford album,Supernatural.
the album was engineered by Susan Rogers,recorded at Sunset Sound and features b3 organ courtesy of Ricky Peterson.

1BadMoFo said:

Not one of my favorites but there's definitely a slew of good players on it.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Ha! yeah I think it was, but that was a few years ago, now. I live in Oakland & work in Berkeley where you can get weed delivered with a pizza, and now I don't even smoke!

But I remembered last night I think I did go to the Palomino one time. Was it a pretty decent sized club? If it's the same one I saw...ahem...Danzig there. That was a crazy show, preachers out in front trying to save our souls, the audience practically assaulted the opening act.

NDRU said:

I don't "burn tree" anymore either but if the name of the joint was PipeWorx, you're busted.

The Palomino was kind of a mid-size place I guess. Pretty sure it was originally a C&W joint based on the name and design.
Some years ago, a friend and I (same cat I went to the Robben Ford show with) were 1st in line to see Albert Collins' 2nd show at The Palomino. We're standing there talking when all of a sudden the front door flies open and out comes a wailing Albert onto Lankershim Blvd (with the 1000 ft guitar cord valet in tow) putting on a show for the neighborhood.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Here are the So Cal dates for Gov't Mule.


THE HIGH & MIGHTY TOUR W/ DONAVAN FRANKENREITER



Thurs 10/05 Wiltern Theatre Los Angeles, CA Pre-Sale 8/11 NOON EASTERN


Tue 10/10 The Grove Anaheim, CA Pre-Sale 8/11 NOON EASTERN

UGH! both are worknights for me, but I'm hitting both. PM me with your interest.

PFunkjazz said:

Done.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Donovan Frankenreiter!!!!
I sent you his CD, tA.....you need to check him out..

I caught the Yellowjackets about 4 years ago(?) at the Ford Theater in Hollywood. I had heard about them, but never seen them, but it wound up being a really cool concert and a killer bass solo by Jimmy Haslip. They are really nice down to Earth guys too. Robben's wife opened up for them (she's more show tuney songstress). I will definitely check out the venue in Agoura Hills. I don't go to any mainstream concerts these days because of the crowds and I prefer small intimate venues such as those. When we went to the Ford Theater we sneaked in some Carl's Jr. and a bottle of wine. Tacky but filling.

LQ

cubic61052 said:

I'll move it up the rotation. Thanks.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431