To say that guitarist Charlie Hunter’s been busy is an understatement. Constantly touring and collaborating with Garage à Trois and Groundtruther, he still found time to record Copperopolis with a trio that has been together for over five years.
This followup to 2004’s Friends Seen and Unseen finds Hunter with drummer Derrek Phillips and saxophonist John Ellis exploring a rock-oriented sound. The music still grooves, but with more bite and grit, marked by harder rhythms and edgier riffs. Though the sound is indeed heavier this is not headbanger material with flaming guitars and smoking stages—rather, Hunter’s own brand of jazz, blues, funk and now rock.
This is immediately evident on “Cueball Bobbin'” as the guitarist surprises with a nasty (but sweet) tone from his eight-string axe as Phillips pounds a mean backbeat. The sound is circa-'60s and '70s rock (a la Cream and Clapton) with John Ellis alternating between horns, Wurlitzer, and melodica on various tracks. Hunter cranks out his trademarked guitar sound playing bass, rhythm, and solo sections simultaneously with organ pedal sounds—now augmented with occasional overdrive.
Things grind down to a smooth texture on “Frontman” with fuzz-toned guitar and lithe keyboards in a mellow flow that shows the trio’s range. Always playing with soul, they pursue a gutsy feel with touches of the street and urban blues. One slight criticism is that the music doesn't show the crunchy side enough. Pieces like “Blue Sock” are solid, but all too familiar; and “The Pursuit Package,” a funky guitar/drum snippet, is abruptly cut off at a little over two minutes.
But the tight trio brings uninhibited and enjoyable performances on the opium-induced ”Drop the Rock,” with Ellis laying down some sweet bass clarinet sounds as Phillips provides a percussion canopy. The recording ends with a nice interpretation of Monk's “Think of One”—an all-out swinging jam session with slaying solos.
Track Listing: Cueball Bobbin'; Frontman; Swamba Redux; Copperopolis; Blue Sock; The Pursuit Package; A Street Fight Could Break Out; Drop the Rock; Think of One.
Personnel: Charlie Hunter: eight-string guitar; John Ellis: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, Wurlitzer, melodica; Derrek Phillips: drums.
Peter Gabriel to Receive the Frankfurt Music Prize 2006
Almost everyone is familiar with his legendary hits, such as 'Sledgehammer', 'Biko' and 'Big Time', and his videos are considered to be milestones in the history of pop culture: Peter Gabriel, rock musician, songwriter and video artist, will be awarded the 2006 Frankfurt Music Prize during the international Musikmesse. He was singled out for the prize because, with his creative work, his appearances and his support for young talents, he laid a vital foundation stone for the future of rock and pop music. With this choice, the jury is honourring him as a leading musician on the European rock-music scene, for his musical achievements and his artistic and social activities. The prize will be presented by the Mayor of Frankfurt am Main, Petra Roth, at a ceremony in Frankfurt on the eve of the Musikmesse, 28 March 2006.
Peter Brian Gabriel was born in Great Britain in 1950, the son of an electrical engineer. In 1966, together with Tony Banks, Michael Rutherford and Anthony Phillips, he founded a band called 'The Garden Wall', which was soon renamed 'Genesis'. Later, they were joined by drummer Phil Collins. The band achieved a break through with its fourth album, and were known for their song-based progressive rock music and the theatrically staged live shows, which were primarily the work of Peter Gabriel and his fascination for visual interpretation.
In 1975, Gabriel announced that he was leaving the band and published his first solo album two years later. Gabriel was able to consolidate his career as a solo artist thanks to the successful single, 'Solsbury Hill'. Commercial success came with his third solo LP, which includes 'Biko', a political protest song that Gabriel dedicated to the South African anti-apartheid activist, Steve Biko.
With his 1986 album, he demonstrated that social commitment and social involvement by no means contradict his existence as an avant-garde, modern music artist. His singles, 'Big Time' and 'Sledgehammer', were hits. And he produced videos such as the world had never seen before. After touring the world for Amnesty in 1988, Peter became a human rights activist and set up an organization called 'Witness', giving cameras to Human Rights groups around the world. He was awarded a Grammy for the soundtrack of the controversial Martin Scorsese film, 'Last Temptation of Christ'. Subsequently, Gabriel focused his attention on setting up his Real World Studios in the English county of Wiltshire, with the aim of offering unfettered creative opportunities for musicians of all different types of music from all over world.
It was not until 1992 that Gabriel reappeared on the musical radar screen, when he published his 'Us' album, which once again set new standards in the video world. Another album followed in September 2002 after a gap of almost ten years: 'Up'.
The Frankfurt Music Prize is awarded annually in alternate years in the fields of classical and popular music (jazz, rock, pop). Next year, it will be given for achievements in the field of classical music.
Duke Robillard подготовил диск, в котором отдаёт дань признательности своим учителям, сообщила компания Stony Plain Records. Диск в действительности – набор композиций в подражание различным известным стилистам традиционного попа - James Burton, Steve Cropper, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan и др. Как объявлено, альбом, выдержанный в саунд-формуле, имевшей громкий успех в последние несколько лет, увидит свет 14 марта.
Pat Traver s представит публике очередной альбом тяжелого блюза 21 февраля. Диск выйдет, как и прежние релизы Пэта, на лейбле Blues Bureau. Он называется «PT Power Trio 2». Трэверс занимает нишу добросовестного интерпретатора чужой музыки, и очeредной диск канадского слингера не стал исключением. Он составлен из каверов песен великих рокеров - Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie, Johnny Winter, Queen, Deep Purple, Grand Funk, Cream, Robin Trower, Bad Company. Также 21-го февраля срок выхода в Америке концертного «Live from Austin, TX» певца Tony Joe White.
В середине марта на прилавках в Европе появится очередной альбом легендарной группы гитариста Кима Симмондса Savoy Brown. «Вlues Balls & Boogie» (Aim Records) – концертный СиДи, на котором группа в обновленном с прошлого релиза составе исполняет классические боевики ансамбля с дисков 70-х годов. Среди них такие известные фанам вещи, как «Street Corner Talkin», «Hellbound Train», «Needle & Spoon», «Tell Mama» и др. Диск уже вышел в Штатах. В день выхода диска Savoy Brown, 14 марта, поклонники ритм-блюза получат в своё распоряжение новую пластинку «All the Way», записанную ведущей дивой жанра Etta James. На диске слушатель найдёт, в частности, её авторские версии знаменитых композиций «Imagine» Леннона, «It's A Man's Man's Man's World» Джеймса Брауна и «Purple Rain» из репертуара Принца.
Re: Собачки на обложках Автор:pempeДата: 15.02.06 23:48:23
B.B. King предлагает нашедшему его собаку по кличке Люсиль вознаграждение в виде одной из своих гитар с автографом. Люсиль, двухгодовалая белая мальтийская болонка, пропала несколько дней назад в Западном Голливуде, сообщило агентство Associated Press. Люсиль находилась под присмотром Мэтью Либермана, менеджера Би Би Кинга. Он не знает, как собака убежала из дома, но, скорее всего, она ускользнула сквозь приоткрытые ворота. 80-летний Би Би Кинг и Либерман обошли ближайшие приюты для животных и развесили 500 объявлений о пропаже Люсиль, но поиски не увенчались успехом. Свои гитары, также как и любимую болонку, Кинг называет «Lucille». По легенде, на одном из ранних выступлений музыканта два слушателя подрались и подожгли клуб. Кинг вернулся в горящее здание за гитарой, которую оставил там в суматохе. Позже выяснилось, что драка началась из-за женщины по имени Люсиль.
Re: Собачки на обложках Автор:pempeДата: 12.02.06 23:41:15
Blind Faith's debut gig was in front of a cool 100, 000 people on a warm day in Hyde Park. Since 7th June, 1969 when this concert took place, it has never been seen in its entirety. This is a unique opportunity to see the world's first Supergroup perform for the very first time. Sanctuary Visual Entertainment will release "Hyde park 1969" the DVD on 10th April 2006.
The audience gathered in London's central Hyde Park, were filled with anticipation awaiting Blind Faith's debut. The newly formed collective of four virtuoso musicians who individually were already rock royalty, were the talk of the town and expectations both within the band and out amongst the counter-culture generation crowd, were high. Fusing the psychedelic blues of Eric Clapton and the soulful vocals and keyboards of Steve Winwood, with Rick Grech on Bass and the phenomenal Ginger Baker on drums, they didn't disappoint. The set may have lasted just over 40 minutes long, but fans were treated to a selection of timeless tracks including Presence Of The Lord, Sleeping In The Ground and The Stones classic Under My Thumb.
The DVD "Hyde Park 1969" also boasts archive footage of the various members of Blind Faith performing within their earlier musical guises. Clips of the Spencer Davies Group performing I'm A Man, Traffic's Hole In My Shoe, Family performing Dim and Cream with Sunshine of Your Love, act as a gentle introduction to the main concert event. There is also a discography for all the members of Blind Faith pre 1969, plus a collection of rare photos set to the sounds of Well All Right.
By the end of the 60s with hippies still dancing on the horizon and a man on the moon a new form was taking shape on this musical stage. The Supergroup: a band of highly talented individuals creating a new musical experience. The very first of these was Blind Faith consisting of Steve Winwood, the original blue eyed soul boy who came from a musically supportive family and shot to prominence shortly after he joined the Spencer Davis Group in 1963 aged 15. The band had numerous chart toppers including Keep On Running and I'm A Man. He went on to forge a wider musical path absorbing influences including psychedelia, British folk and jazz that enhanced his R n'B sensibilities. He did this with Chris Wood, Dave Mason and of course Jim Capaldi who fused together to create Traffic, a successful collaboration that spawned hits like Paper Sun and Hole In My Shoe.
Eric Clapton was the superstar of Blind Faith. He originally became obsessed with the Blues as a teenager and joined the Yardbirds in 1963. As they went more commercial with hit single For Your Love Eric left to join John Mayall's Bluesbreakers as the unchallenged master of white rock blues guitar. Eric Clapton is God was a well documented graffiti of the time as his stature further grew with Cream. This power trio of Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce were each heralded as fully blown rock stars enjoying major international commercial success with hit singles and sell out concerts for their loud, blues inspired inventive music that featured extended solos and improvisation.
Blind Faith's Ginger Baker also came from the critically acclaimed Cream. After gigging with jazz ensembles, his wild rhythmic style moved on to R&B outfits led by Alexis Korner and then Graham Bond. His ferocious unconventional playing, that had got him the sack in some of his early bands, developed into a creative force that was admired by numerous other recognized rock and jazz drummers and it has often been said that he was the greatest drummer in the world.
The final member of Blind Faith was bassist Rick Grech who joined the Farinas that eventually evolved into Family a progressive, arty folk rock band from Leicester. Rick did not come from the same rock royalty as the other members of Blind Faith but had been admired for some time by Eric Clapton and provided the essential solid support the band needed.