James Asher - Tigers of the Raj

The ten pieces in Tigers of the Raj trace a journey to Rajasthan, the land of princely dynastic rulers, elegance, and stark beauty. Rhythmic elements, also used in Feet in the Soil, underpin the wider range of themes that characterizes the album. The power, splendor, color, and epic sense of adventure found in the ancient palaces of Rajasthan made a profound impact on the author who here attempts to orchestrate moods and feelings evoked by his journey, weaving together modern techniques with ancient sounds in a musical score fit for a maharajah. State-of-the-art hard disk recording techniques are tastefully and expertly combined with magnificent musical productions by Indian artists. The santoor play of Kiran Pal Singh (who is one of only five disciples of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma) is enhanced by the infectious conga playing of Miles Bould (who has frequently toured with Sting). World renowned frame-drum player Glen Velez here joins guitarist Volker Grun, who flew especially from Germany to contribute more of the unique swing that previously enriched Feet in the Soil. Twenty musicians in total join here to co- create this impressive tribute to Indian culture and art and evoke in music the experiences of a traveler journeying through the "Land of Kings." The album is further uplifted by acoustic percussions, sitar, santoor, sarangi, flute, and the voices of several Indian singers used to create a magical musical atmosphere. Like in Feet in the Soil, James Asher uses drums as the base of his musical composition Tigers of the Raj. Rajasthani drumming rhythms were created in consultation with Sandeep Raval, a remarkable table player and expert of Indian folk music. Contemporary Western dance sounds were added and also melody, contributed by Craig Pruess, both a keyboard player and an expert in sitar, tambura, and swarmandala instruments with twelve years of experience in the study of Indian music. The trance-like opening piece Temple Gates is characterized by a hot and driving tempo, enriched by the duj-djun's of Peter Lockett (who is the percussion player on the musical score of the James Bond feature Tomorrow Never Dies) and the dhols of Johnny Kalai (whose Dhol Foundation was the opening act in the concert given by the BBC in honor of India's soth anniversary of independence featuring Ravi Shankar.) A haunting and ethereal female voice opens the temple gates of this mesmerizing piece, leading the listener into the heart of the composition and beguiling one to join the dance. Who is She? Is She a Rajasthani Temple Priestess? Her enchantment is an invitation to enter the hypnotic sway of the dance that climaxes with the sounds of guitar and sarangi. James Asher's album is a welcome surprise; it honors the richness of Indian classical music and weaves it with variations on Western rhythms. Enhanced by the quality of its excellent production, Tigers of the Raj stands out as an original album of world music with broad appeal. From the haunting themes of Red Desert to the majestic finale of the last track, its melody, groove, and atmosphere make it an all-absorbing experience. Never has Indian fusion sounded this good before! - by TJE NAPRA June 2000. (New Earth Records website)

Artist: James Asher
Album: Tigers of the Raj
Year: 1998
Label: New Earth
Runtime: 70:24

Tracks:
1.  Temple Gates (Radio Edit) 4:33 
2.  Trans-India 5:44 
3.  Prayer Wheel (Ragu Patti) 6:28 
4.  Red Desert 5:40 
5.  Assam 4:54 
6.  Further East 5:25 
7.  Nataraj Express 5:39 
8.  Liquid Sky 5:35 
9.  Duskfire 7:03 
10.  The Astrologer's Seat 11:04 
11.  Temple Gates (Extended Mix) 8:13 
All compositions by j. Asher, except Red Desert and Nataraj Express co-composed by J. Asher and Craig Pruess

Personnel:
James Asher (Keyboards, Percussion and Soundscape)
Sandeep Raval (Tabla, Dholak, Tassa and Djembe)
Johnny Kalsi (Dhol)
Sumeet Chopra (Tabla, Douffli, Tassa and Keyboards)
Kiran Pal Singh (Santoor)
Kiran Thakrar (Keyboards)
Glen Velez (Frame Drums, Reik and Percussions)
Billy Wilmington (Drums, Darabouka and Ankle-Bells)
Tom Eldridge (Djembe)
Mohan Parmar (Manjira)
Surinder Kamath (Flute)
Volker Grün (Guitar)
Craig Pruess (Sitar, Swaramandala, Tambura and Keyboards)
Surjit Singh (Sarangi)
Peter Lockett (Djun-Djuns, Chapa, Kanjira and Cymbals)
Miles Bould (Congas and Timbales)
Chhaya Vachharajani (Vocals) - 6,7,9
Al Gromer Khan (Sitar) - 10
Swati Natekar (Vocals) - 3
Pandit Vishwa Prakash (Vocals) - 8
Dinesh K. Mahavir (Vocals) - 4

Jazz Saxophone Classics: John Coltrane - Blue Train

01. Blue Train (10:42)
02. Moment’s Notice (9:09)
03. Locomotion (7:14)
04. I’m Old Fashioned (7:57)
05. Lazy Bird (7:08)
06. Blue Train (alternate take) (9:56)
07. Lazy Bird (alternate take) (7:56)


John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
Lee Morgan – trumpet
Curtis Fuller – trombone
Kenny Drew – piano
Paul Chambers – bass
Philly Joe Jones – drums

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Jazz Saxophone Classics: Sonny Rollins - Sonny Rollins and The Contemporary Leaders

1.  I've Told Ev'ry Little Star (Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein) 5:26
2.  Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With a Dixy Melody (Sam M. Lewis/Jean Schwartz/Joe Young) 4:54
3.  How High the Moon (Nancy Hamilton/Morgan Lewis) 7:44
4.  You (Harold Adamson/Walter Donaldson) 4:15
5.  I've Found a New Baby (Jack Palmer/Spencer Williams) 3:38
6.  I've Found a New Baby (alternate take) 4:24
7.  Alone Together (Howard Dietz/Arthur Schwartz) 6:00
8.  In the Chapel in the Moonlight (Billy Hill) 6:41
9.  The Song Is You (Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein) 5:44
10.  The Song Is You (alternate take) 6:11


Sonny Rollins (Tenor Saxophone)
Hampton Hawes (Piano)
Barney Kessel (Guitar)
Leroy Vinnegar (Double Bass)
Shelly Manne (Drums)
Victor Feldman (Vibraharp)

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Rare Jazz Saxophone Recordings: Joe Farrell & Art Pepper - Darn That Dream

01.Section 8 Blues
02.Darn That Dream
03.Mode For Joe
04.Blue & Boogie
05.You Stepped Out Of A Dream
06.Someday My Prince Will Come
07.On Green Dolphin Street
08.Fun for One and All.


Joe Farrell (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone)
Art Pepper (alto saxophone)
George Cables (piano)
Tony Dumas (acoustic bass)
John Dentz (drums)

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Jazz Saxophone Classics: Sonny Rollins - Newk's Time

1. Tune Up 5:49
2. Asiatic Raes 6:01
3. Wonderful! Wonderful! 6:05
4. The Surrey With the Fringe on Top 6:35
5. Blues for Philly Joe 6:49
6. Namely You 3:19

Sonny Rollins - Tenor Saxophone
Wynton Kelly - Piano
Doug Watkins - Double Bass
Philly Joe Jones - Drums

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Cool Jazz Saxophone Recordings: Paul Desmond - Dave Brubeck & Paul Desmond 1975 The Duets

01. Alice in Wonderland (4:04)
02. These Foolish Things (5:10)
03. Blue Dove (4:35)
04. Stardust (4:45)
05. Koto Song (5:57)
06. Balcony Rock (2:17)
07. Summer Song (3:19)
08. You Go to My Head (7:32)

Dave Brubeck - piano
Paul Desmond - alto saxophone

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Contemporary Jazz Saxophone: David Sanborn - Another Hand

Sanborn Best "True Jazz" recordings since he was playing Gil Evans Orchestra

alto saxophone - David Sanborn
guitar - Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, Al Anderson, Dave Tronzo
piano - Terry Adams, Mulgrew Miller
organ - Leon Pendarvis
bass - Charlie Haden, Greg Cohen
bass guitar - Marcus Miller
drums - Joey Baron, Steve Jordan, Jack DeJohnette
percussion - Don Alias
vocals - Syd Straw
horn section - Lenny Pickett (tenor saxophone, clarinet)
Art Baron (trombone).

1. First song (5:23)
2. monica jane (5:30) [Bill Frisell, horn arrangement: Lenny Pickett]
3. come to me, nina (5:28)
4. hobbies (4:59)
5. another Hand (6:45)
6. Jesus (3:35)
7. weird from one step beyond (6:14)
8. CEE (2:26)
9. medley (12:21)
10. dukes & counts (5:32)

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The New Bootleggers

You Can’t Cash My Checks

It’s so hard to stay honest in a world that’s headed to hell
You can't make a good living these days cause the fruit just won't sell

So if you go out my back door
Just over the hill
You'll see all these plants
That's been paying my bills

But you can't cash my checks
And you can't feel this hunger
You can push me into cold water
But you can't hold me under
Jamey Johnson, singer song writer

From an article in Mother Jones magazine: The New Dealers we learn how more people than we realize are making ends meet. I personally know two such individuals who grow and sell, neither can get work for various reasons. These are the new bootleggers who are not getting rich, but are just making ends meet.




In a forthcoming post you'll see that our elected officials are only interested in their wealth, not your well being nor the country's so long as it conflicts with their money grab.

Patricia Barber - A Distorsion of Love

Pianist and singer Patricia Barber's second album (and major-label debut) is a consistently interesting, but not always completely rewarding, array of original instrumentals, vocal standards, and surprise cover versions. The arrangement of "Summertime" that opens the program is eerie almost to the point of creepiness, and all the more effective for it: after a long instrumental prelude, Barber sings the lyrics over the most minimal bass-and-piano unison pedal point, her voice goosed with reverb and wailing softly like a ghost. "Subway Station #5," the original composition that follows, is nervous, jumpy, barely tonal, and moves niftily from a contrapuntal and polyrhythmic introduction into a straight swing section. The problem is that it lasts almost ten minutes, and by the seventh or eighth minute, its ideas seem pretty well played out. "Or Not to Be" and "Yet Another in a Long Series of Yellow Cars" suffer from similar treatment. But her singing on "You Stepped Out of a Dream" and, especially, her sweet and touching rendition of the soul classic "My Girl" are quietly spectacular. There's every reason to expect great things of her in the future. - by Rick Anderson, AMG

Artist: Patricia Barber
Album: A Distorsion of Love
Year: 1991
Label: Antilles (1992)
Runtime: 59:07

Tracks:
1.  Summertime (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin/Dubose Heyward) 6:14
2.  Subway Station (Patricia Barber) 9:31
3.  You Stepped out of a Dream (Gus Kahn/Nacio Herb Brown) 7:36
4.  Parts Parallels (Patricia Barber) 5:06
5.  Or not to Be (Patricia Barber) 7:04
6.  Yellow Car (Patricia Barber) 5:50
7.  Yet Another in a Long Series (Patricia Barber) 4:28
8.  I Never Went Away (Richard Rodney Bennett) 4:37
9.  My Girl (Smokey Robinson/Ronald White) 3:44
10.  By Myself (Howard Dietz/Arthur Schwartz) 4:53

Personnel:
Patricia Barber (Piano, Vocals)
Wolfgang Muthspiel (Guitar)
Marc Johnson (Bass Guitar)
Adam Nussbaum (Drums, Shakers)
Carla White (Finger snaps)
Big Kahuna (Finger snaps)

Happy Holidays from Four on The Floor

Various Artists - Into the Christmas

Artist: Various Artists
Album: Into the Christmas  I-II
Year: 2011
Quality: eac-flac files, artw.
Label: ITR (Into the Rhythm Blog - for You)
Runtime: 103.32

Tracks:
01 - Lester Bowie - Almost Christmas
02 - Odetta - Rise Up Sheperd And Follow
03 - Ella Fitzgerald - Good Morning Blues
04 - Jimmy Smith - Jingle Bells
05 - Wynton Marsalis - Sleigh Ride
06 - Bela Fleck - J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio - BVW 248 # 41 Ich will nur zu Ehren leben
07 - Silje Nergaard - Is Christmas Only a Tree
08 - The Classical Jazz Quartet - Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
09 - Fione Apple - Frosty The Snowman
10 - Priscilla Ahn - Silent Night
11 - Tony Bennett - White Christmas
12 - Grover Washington Jr. - Christmas Day Chant
13 - Holly Cole - If We Make It Through December
14 - Judy Holliday & Gerry Mulligan - It Must Be Christmas
15 - Oscar Peterson - Away in a Manger
16 - Ray Brown Trio - Rudolph The Red - Nosed Reindeer
17 - Betty Bennett -  Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
18 - Diana Krall - Let It Snow
19 - Pink Martini - Auld Lang Syne
20 - Ottmar Liebert - We 3 Kings (of Orient R)  Santa Fe X'mas
21 - Simon Shaheen - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
22 - Glen Velez & Mike Richmond - The Little Drummer Boy
23 - Tarun Bhattacharya - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
24 - Ustad Amjad Ali Khan- Silent Night
25 - Folk Scat - Silent Night

Republican and Democrat Brains

"We have long had death and taxes as the two standards of inevitability. But there are those who believe that death is the preferable of the two. "At least," as one man said, "there's one advantage about death; it doesn't get worse every time Congress meets."
Erwin N. Griswold (1904–1994), appellate attorney

Draw your own conclusions. I would enjoy hearing your thoughts.

Elvin Jones with Dave Liebman, Steve Grossman and Gene Perla

Santa Claus came early this year! I was trying to take an extended break from blogging to attend to some other "doctoral" activities in my life these days, but someone posted this amazing clip on the Facebook and it was too good to pass up and not share with you all. Merry xmas!

Here's the seminal band of Elvin Jones with Dave Liebman, Steve Grossman and Gene Perla from a French television broadcast:



This band and, in particular, the album "Live at the Lighthouse" was very influential music to me as a student during the mid 90s in Montreal. I had a band with tenor players Al McLean and Sean Craig with Paul Shrofel on piano and Sage Reynolds on bass called "The Jazz Assault" (!) in which we attempted to perform all the music from that particular album and pay tribute to that great band. It was a great experience and any sense or feeling of musical hesitation was strictly forbidden! This was easily one of the most intense bands I've ever played in. In fact, after one of our performances at the Upstairs Jazz club one of our teachers (who shall remain nameless) remarked: "I feel like I've been raped by eighth-notes!" At the time we wore that as a badge of pride but now, I'm not so sure...haha.

So I'll be watching this clip a few times over the next few weeks....and if you are looking for some related Elvin Jones vocabulary to practice on the drums, head over to Ted Warren's blog Trap'd for a nice lesson on some classic Elvin triplet phrases.

Thanks again for stopping by and see you all in the New Year!

Hariprasad Chaurasia & Zakir Hussain - Venu

The performance captured on this recording represents an early meeting of Hariprasad-ji with the great percussionist Zakir Hussain. This historic 1974 concert at the Stone House in Fairfax, California is marked by a youthful vigour that cannot fail to inspire the listener. In an enthusiastic exchange of rhythmic complexities these two artists reveal the mastery of improvisatory technique that is a hallmark of Indian music. Venu was recorded live at a 1974 concert in a large granite room, literally a stone house. It was re-mixed July 30-31, 1989 at Studio X in Petaluma, CA. - from the CD booklet

What Zakir Hussain and Hari Prasad Chaurasia have recorded here is nothing short of sublime. For those unfamiliar to music of this kind, this recording is an excellent introduction. Brilliant virtuosity and outstanding musicianship are enhanced by an unique acoustical setting and tasteful recording methods to render this one of the best recordings under the Rykodisc label. The warmth of tone and expressful phrasing of Hari Prasad are only accompianied by the droning tambura on the first half and later joined by the mastery of Zakir Hussain on the tabla in the second half. The energetic nature of this music surprisingly brings one to stillness...a stillness that is well suited for pre- or post-meditation listening. Listen and you'll see. OM Shanthi, Peace. - by a customer, Amazon.com

Artist: Hariprasad Chaurasia & Zakir Hussain
Album: Venu
Year: 1974 (live)
Label: Rykodisc (1989)
Runtime: 66:00

Tracks:
1.  Rag Ahir Bhairav - alop and jor 29:50 
2.  Rag Ahir Bhairav - slow gat in rupak tal, fast gat in teental 36:10 

Personnel:
Hariprasad Chaurasia (Bansuri=Bamboo flute)
Zakir Hussain (Tabla)

Politicians, Constituents, and the F-Bomb

“When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency”
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), poet, critic, and writer

The political media is portraying an Iowa grocery store shopper's rude comment, "you're a fucking asshole, as evidence that Newt Gingrich is falling rapidly in the polls. To me it’s just further proof of society’s lack of manners and decorum, which sadly is not news.




Gingrich is doing what any candidate for public office needs to do, which is meet and greet the people who will have an opportunity to cast their vote for or against. There is no need and indeed no excuse for such behavior.

Disgracefully politicians behave similarly: former Vice President Dick Cheney shamefully told a colleague from across the aisle to “Go fuck yourself,” in June of 2004 during a debate regarding Halliburton’s role in the reconstruction of Iraq. His boss President George W. Bush gave the middle finger salute before filming started, which was recorded.

Democrats have been just as bad. Elected leaders need to set examples for civility and for ethical behavior, not elevate contemptible and despicable behavior.

Jimmy Smith - Home Cookin'

The Hammond organ mastery of Jimmy Smith is arguably nowhere as profound as on this collection. Support is provided by the formidable trio of Donald Bailey (drums), Kenny Burrell (guitar) and Percy France (tenor sax). On Home Cookin' (1959), they couple a few understated cool R&B classics with their own originals. The almost dirge-like cadence of "See See Rider" is given a bluesy and low-key workout, featuring tasty interaction between Smith and Burrell. The languid pace churns steadily as they trade off impressive solos with almost palpable empathy. Burrell's "Sugar Hill" swings with a refined post-bop attack. His call-and-response with Smith conjures the pair's trademark give and take, which is assuredly one of the reasons the two maintained a five-plus-decade association. Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman" is nothing short of definitive as the upbeat rhythm immediately propels Smith and Burrell into an otherwise unassuming and practically infectious bounce. Also duly noted is the sturdy backing of Bailey, whose discerning and compact snare is impeccably suited to the arrangement. Sadly, the track fades just as the band begin to really get loose. "Messin' Around" and "Gracie" bring France on board, adding a subtle reedy texture to Smith's intricate and advanced melodies. "Come on Baby" is another Burrell composition that slinks with a soulful mid-tempo groove, allowing for some inspired soloing. Although the CD reissue contains five additional cuts, a vivacious reworking of Jimmy McGriff's "Motorin' Along" was the final side on the LP. The title perfectly captures the travelogue nature, proving that getting there is indeed half the fun. Luckily, among the supplementary selections is an alternate take of "Motorin' Along," two readings of the pop standard "Since I Fell for You" and an impressive cover of Jack McDuff's "Groanin'." Jimmy Smith's voluminous catalog is remarkably solid throughout and Home Cookin' is a recommended starting place for burgeoning enthusiasts as well as a substantial entry for the initiated. - by Lindsay Planer, AMG

Artist: Jimmy Smith
Album: Home Cookin'
Year: 1959
Label: Blue Note
Runtime: 70:40

Tracks:
1.  See See Rider (Ma Rainey) 6:38
2.  Sugar Hill (Kenny Burrell) 5:21
3.  I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) 3:58
4.  Messin' Around (Jimmy Smith) 5:57
5.  Gracie (Jimmy Smith) 5:57
6.  Come On Baby (Kenny Burrell) 6:52
7.  Motorin' Along (Jimmy McGriff) 5:12
8.  Since I Fell For You (Buddy Johnson) 4:21
9.  Apostrophe (Percy France) 6:37
10.  Groanin' (Jimmy Smith) 8:12
11.  Motorin' Along (Alt Tk) 5:05
12.  Since I Fell For You (Alt Tk) 6:25

Personnel:
Jimmy Smith (Organ)
Kenny Burrell (Guitar)
Donald Bailey (Drums)
Percy France (Tenor Saxophone) - 1,4-6,9

The YQR Jazz All-Stars

The YQR Creative Arts Association Presents:

"A Jazzy Holiday Gathering"

Featuring Jeff McLeod & The YQR Jazz All-Stars

with:

Jeff McLeod - Piano
Andy King - Trumpet
Donny Kennedy - Alto Saxophone
Kelly Jefferson - Tenor Saxophone
Joel Kerr - Bass
Jonathan McCaslin - Drums

Wednesday, December 28th 2011

7:30pm

Appearing at:

The Exchange
2431 8th Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan

Tickets $20/$10 students (available at the door)

Happy Birthday Keith Richards

"Some of it, you really want to unlearn."

Keith Richards, guitarist, songwriter for The Rolling Stones

Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbán - Mambo Sinuendo

Mambo Sinuendo is a collaboration between Ry Cooder and Buena Vista alum (and formerly of many other groups as well) Manuel Galbán. The album attempts to catch an old style popularized in Cuba by Galbán, and was, surprisingly, never followed up on by anybody after Galbán. It's a guitar-based romp closely based in the pop/jazz crossovers of the 1950s-1960s (Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, etc). There's a touch of exoticism here and there, and a larger touch of a relatively Hawaiian feel throughout the whole via the guitar techniques employed by the pair. It's all somewhere in a form between lounge, mambo, and Esquivel's old space-age-bachelor-pad music. In rare instances, there's even a little bit of a house drum loop added in by the percussionists. Aside from the stray spacey chorus in the title track, it's an entirely instrumental affair, which suits the musicians quite well, giving them a chance to show off their full virtuosity along the way. The musicality these guitarists hold, and the interplay between them, is really the treat of the album. For a nice look at the musical genre that never was, but probably should have been, this makes a good show. Newcomers to Cooder should perhaps dig into some older releases to get a feel before coming to this album, but all others should embrace it quickly. - by Adam Greenberg, AMG

Artist: Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbán
Album: Mambo Sinuendo
Year: 2003
Label: Nonesuch
Runtime: 50:29

Tracks:
1.  Drume Negrita (Ernesto Grenet) 5:00
2.  Monte Adentro (Arsenio Rodriguez) 2:53
3.  Los Twangueros (Manuel Galbán/Ry Cooder) 4:42
4.  Patricia (Perez Prado) 3:29
5.  Caballo Viejo (Simon Diaz) 3:51
6.  Mambo Sinuendo (Manuel Galbán/Ry Cooder) 2:31
7.  Bodas De Oro (Electo Rosell) 4:40
8.  Échale Salsita (Ignacio Pineiro) 4:27 
9.  La Luna En Tu Mirada (Luis Chanivecky) 4:13
10.  Secret Love (Sammy Fain/Paul-Francis Webster) 5:49
11.  Bolero Sonámbulo (Manuel Galbán/Ry Cooder) 4:31
12.  María La Lo (Ernesto Lecuona) 4:18

Personnel:
Manuel Galbán (Guitar)
Ry Cooder (Guitar, Steel Guitar, Trés, Vibes, Electric Piano, Organ, El. Bass)
Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez (Double Bass)
Jim Keltner (Drums) - 1-5,7,8,11
Joachim Cooder (Drums) - 1,4-9,12
Miguel "Angá" Diaz (Congas) - 1-5,7-9,12
Juliette Commagere (Coro) - 2,6
Carla Commagere (Coro) - 2,6
Helb Alpert (Trumpet) - 6
Gregorio Hernandez (Bata Drums) - 3
Maximino Duquesne Martinez (Bata Drums) - 3
Marcos H. Scull (Bata Drums) - 3
Yosvani Diaz (Bata Drums) - 3

Quincy Jones - Gula Matari

With his second and last album under the Creed Taylor aegis, the complexities of Quincy Jones' catholic, evolving tastes start to reveal themselves. We hear signs of his gradual gravitation toward pop right off the bat with the churchy R&B cover of Paul Simon's mega-hit "Bridge Over Troubled Water," dominated by Valerie Simpson's florid soul vocal and a gospel choir. His roots fixation surfaces in the spell-like African groove of the title track, a dramatic tone poem that ebbs and flows masterfully over its 13-minute length. From this point on, it's all jazz; the roaring big band comes back with a vengeance in "Walkin'," where Milt Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Hubert Laws, and other jazzers take fine solo turns, and things really get rocking on Nat Adderley's "Hummin'." Major Holley is a riot with his grumble-scat routine on bass. The whole record sounds like they must have had a ball recording it. - by Richard S. Ginell, AMG

Artist: Quincy Jones
Album: Gula Matari
Year: 1970
Label: A & M Records
Total time: 34:21

Tracks:
1.  Bridge Over Troubled Water (Paul Simon) 5:09
2.  Gula Matari (Quincy Jones) 13:02
3.  Walkin' (Richard Carpenter) 8:02
4.  Hummin' (Nat Adderley) 8:07

Personnel:
Quincy Jones (Arranged and Conducted)
Pepper Adams (Baritone Saxophone)
Danny Bank (Bass and Baritone Saxophone)
Hubert Laws (Flute)
Jerome Richardson (Soprano Saxophone)
Freddie Hubbard (Trumpet)
Danny Moore (Trumpet and Flugelhorn)
Ernie Royal (Trumpet)
Marvin Stamm (Trumpet and Flugelhorn)
Gene Young (Trumpet and Flugelhorn)
Wayne Andre (Trombone)
Al Grey (Trombone)
Benny Powell (Trombone)
Tony Studd (Trombone)
Eric Gale (Guitar)
Toots Thielemans (Guitar and Whistle)
Herbie Hancock (Piano)
Bob James (Piano)
Bobby Scott (Piano)
Grady Tate (Drums)
Don Elliott (Bass Marimba) - 2
Jimmy Johnson (Percussion)
Warren Smith (Percussion)
Ray Brown (Double Bass) - 1,3,4
Ron Carter (Double Bass) - 2
Richard Davis (Double Bass) - 2
Major Holley (Double Bass and Voice)
Milt Jackson (Vibraphone)
Seymour Barab (Cello)
Kermit Moore (Cello)
Lucien Schmit (Cello)
Alan Shulman (Cello)
Valerie Simpson (Vocals)
Marilyn Jackson (Vocals)
Maretha Stewart (Vocals)
Barbara Massey (Vocals)
Hilda Harris (Vocals)

Brad Mehldau Maison de la Radio Paris 1999

Brad Mehldau Piano Solo 1999-09-21
Maison de la Radio,Paris,France
Broadcast

Brad Mehldau:Piano

01:Interview with Brad Mehldau (34:10)
02:Brad Melhdau piano solo (30:00)

Tracks

01 Fire And Rain
02 Paris
03 Airport Sadness
04 Perugia

Bitrate 320

Classical Saxophone: Amy Dickson - Plays Glass Tavener Nyman

She is not just a pretty face. She can play saxophone too!

1-3 Phlip Glass - Violin Concerto
4 Jonh Tavener - The Protecrting Veil (First Movement)
5 Michael Nyman - Where the Bee Dances

Amy Dickson: Soprano saxophone
Royal Philarmonic Orchestra Conducted by Mikel Toms


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Jazz Saxophone Classics: Johnny Griffin John Coltrane & Hank Mobley - Johnny Griffin Vol.2 A Blowing Session

1 Smokestack
2 The Way You Look Tonight
3 Ball Bearing
4 All The Things You Are
5 Smokestack (Alt. TK.)

Johnny Griffin (tenor saxophone)
Hank Mobley (tenor saxophone)
John Coltrane (tenor saxophone)
Lee Morgan (trumpet)
Wynton Kelly (piano)
Art Blakey (drums)

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Loud TV Commercials -- Are You Deaf Yet?

“Speech is for the convenience of those who are hard of hearing; but there are many fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) essayist, poet, philosopher

FINALLY! THE JARRING, BLARING, AND ANNOYING VOLUME OF TELEVISION COMMERCIALS IS GOING TO STOP.

Sorry, I didn't mean to yell, I was trying to write about the commercials, but I couldn't hear myself think.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the FCC said cable and satellite TV companies as well as local broadcasters will be required to make sure the volume on commercials is kept in check. The rules go into effect in December 2012.


Sadly we still have to wait another year, but then one can rest their eyes and not end up like a scared cat clinging to the ceiling once the commercials start screaming at you.

Sonny Rollins - S. Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders

The last of the classic Sonny Rollins albums prior to his unexpected three-year retirement features the great tenor with pianist Hampton Hawes, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Shelly Manne (all bandleaders for Contemporary Records during this era) on an unusual but inspired list of standards. Rollins creates explorative and often witty improvisations on such songs as "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody," "You," "In the Chapel in the Moonlight," and roaring versions of "I've Found a New Baby" and "The Song Is You." Great music. - by Scott Yanow, AMG

This is superb last studio session before Rollins almost 3 years gap. And it's from his artistic peak. He plays with great feeling sometimes very quick (The Song Is You) and sometimes economical (How High The Moon, I've found a new baby - with interesting one tone passage in mid part) but always perfect. But whole band plays great. Perfect production too . Like band's playing in my living room. I love similar productions, it's the best in jazz. - Frantisek Slaninka, Amazon.com

Artist: Sonny Rollins
Album: Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders
Year: 1958
Label: OJC (1988)
Runtime: 54:57

Tracks:
1.  I've Told Ev'ry Little Star (Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein) 5:26
2.  Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With a Dixy Melody (Sam M. Lewis/Jean Schwartz/Joe Young) 4:54
3.  How High the Moon (Nancy Hamilton/Morgan Lewis) 7:44
4.  You (Harold Adamson/Walter Donaldson) 4:15
5.  I've Found a New Baby (Jack Palmer/Spencer Williams) 3:38
6.  I've Found a New Baby (alternate take) 4:24
7.  Alone Together (Howard Dietz/Arthur Schwartz) 6:00
8.  In the Chapel in the Moonlight (Billy Hill) 6:41
9.  The Song Is You (Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein) 5:44
10.  The Song Is You (alternate take) 6:11

Personnel:
Sonny Rollins (Tenor Saxophone)
Hampton Hawes (Piano)
Barney Kessel (Guitar)
Leroy Vinnegar (Double Bass)
Shelly Manne (Drums)
Victor Feldman (Vibraharp) - 4

Jimmy Scott - Over the Rainbow

There have been few 75-year-old vocalists working in any popular music style that sounded as good as Scott did on this session from late 2000, aided by contributions from top players like Joe Beck (guitar) and Grady Tate (drums). Scott loves those sentimental songs, and this set is full of standards in that vein, from the title track and "Pennies From Heaven" to "P.S. I Love You" (the Jenkins-Mercer composition, not the Beatles song) and "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)." For the most part the arrangements are appropriately small-scale, letting Scott's voice hog the foreground and squeeze plenty of nuances from his sad vibrato. "Over the Rainbow" itself suffers from an excessive wash of vibes, but fortunately that's not typical of most of the set, which just does toe the right side of gushing emotion. It is a refreshing change of pace, though, when a trace of somber darkness is introduced on the foreboding, doomy arrangement of "Strange Fruit," which benefits from a guest shot by David "Fathead" Newman on tenor sax. - by Richie Unterberger, AMG

Artist: "Little" Jimmy Scott
Album: Over the Rainbow
Year: 2000
Label: Milestone (2001)
Runtime: 56:29

Tracks:
1.  Pennies From Heaven (Johnny Burke/Arthur Johnston) 3:18
2.  Over The Rainbow (Harold Arlen/E.Y. Harburg) 3:48
3.  All Or Nothing At All (Arthur Altman/Jack Lawrence) 5:44
4.  Strange Fruit (Lewis Allan) 3:56
5.  Don't Take Your Love From Me (Henry Nemo) 5:27
6.  Just Friends (John Klenner/Sam M. Lewis) 5:35
7.  P.S. I Love You (Gordon Jenkins/Johnny Mercer) 4:49
8.  Everybody's Somebody's Fool (Ace Adams/Reginald Adams/Lionel Hampton) 4:34
9.  If You Only Knew (Rose Marie McCoy/Mendelsohn/Singleton) 3:19
10.  I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) (Duke Ellington/Paul Francis Webster) 5:00
11.  I'll Close My Eyes (Buddy Kaye/Billy Reid) 5:04
12.  When Did You Leave Heaven? (Walter Bullock/Richard Whiting) 5:50

Personnel:
Jimmy Scott (Vocals)
Joe Beck (Guitar, Alto Guitar, Acoustic Guitar) - 1-5,7,8,11
George Mraz (Double Bass) - 1,3-5,7,9,11
Grady Tate (Drums) - 1,3-5,7,9,11
Michael Kanan (Piano) - 3,9,10,12
Larry Willis (Piano) - 1,4,6
Joe Locke (Vibes) - 2,5,8,11
Gregoire Maret (Harmonica) - 6,9,11
Bob Kindred (Tenor Saxophone) - 1,7
Justin Robinson (Alto Saxophone) - 3
David "Fathead" Newman (Tenor Saxophone) - 4

The Monday Morning Paradiddle

Seasons greetings everybody!

Well it's been busy around these parts these days with the holidays fast approaching and the usual flurry of Christmas gigs with very talented musicians. Plus we've had some serious snow here in Calgary over the past few days so I've had to dust off my shovel and get back into that routine.

However, still time to share some interesting things that have come across my desk here at Four on The Floor lately:

-Thanks to Jay Hoggard who hipped me to these awesome Tony Williams drum solos via the Facebook:



I think of Tony now every time I play my newly refinished Premier drum set that I recently had redone in that classic TW Yellow finish. Hey, why not?

So here's the story on that. A couple of months ago I sent Rene Audette of Billy Blast Drums some Gretsch Catalina Maple toms (that I found used on Kijiji) and my 20" Premier XPK bass drum that came from the first drum set that I bought with my own money as a kid 20 years ago (!) That Premier kit has been my work horse kit since the early 90s and I've played hundreds of gigs on it from coast to coast in every style imaginable. I still have the toms as well but they were rewrapped in a slick red sparkle wrap by Ed Peck over at EPEK Percussion a couple of years ago.

Rene did an exceptional job of removing the existing finish on the Gretsch toms and the wrap from the Premier bass drum. He does great work for a great price and I highly recommend him if you are looking for any work to be done on your existing drums or for some reasonably priced custom drums.

I took these photos with my iPhone so unfortunately they don't do the finish of the drums much justice but you get the idea:




You'll notice that there are Premier badges on the toms. Yes, I cheated and put Premier badges on Gretsch toms. I just decided to do that for continuities sake. I think they look pretty good.

Here's a before and after comparison photo of the bass drum shell:



And here are the shells after I took them out of the box once they arrived in the mail:





They look a bit more "blonde" than they do yellow in these photos (!) but as you can see, Tony clearly approves : )



-I've really been digging the many videos on Allen Herman's youtube.com channel lately: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChicWebb?feature=watch



I was first introduced to Allen's fine drumming from his participation in Billy's Martin excellent drumumentary "Life on Drums" (Allen was Billy's first drum teacher). Allen demonstrates some great examples of snare drumming in his videos with lots of information and concepts passed on from his teacher, Joe Morello.

-Interested in some holiday cheer? Thanks to Carolyn Kellogg via Ted Giola via Peter Hum at jazzblog.ca here is Charles Mingus' favorite egg nog recipe: http://carolynkellogg.tumblr.com/post/13976963626/charles-mingus-eggnog-recipe



"Charles Mingus Egg Nog Recipe"

* Separate one egg for one person. Each person gets an egg.
* Two sugars for each egg, each person.
* One shot of rum, one shot of brandy per person.
* Put all the yolks into one big pan, with some milk.
* That’s where the 151 proof rum goes. Put it in gradually or it’ll burn the eggs,
* OK. The whites are separate and the cream is separate.
* In another pot— depending on how many people— put in one shot of each, rum and brandy.
(This is after you whip your whites and your cream.)
* Pour it over the top of the milk and yolks.
* One teaspoon of sugar. Brandy and rum.
* Actually you mix it all together.
* Yes, a lot of nutmeg. Fresh nutmeg. And stir it up.
* You don’t need ice cream unless you’ve got people coming and you need to keep it cold.
Vanilla ice cream. You can use eggnog. I use vanilla ice cream.
* Right, taste for flavor. Bourbon? I use Jamaica Rum in there. Jamaican Rums. Or I’ll put rye in it. Scotch. It depends.
See, it depends on how drunk I get while I’m tasting it!
-Charles Mingus

-Here's some footage of the great Al Foster to check out with Dave Holland on bass and Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone on Billy Strayhorn's "Take the A Train":





Love those Paistes!

-For all my bass playing friends out there who happen to read my blog, check this guy out !



-And finally, special thanks to John Riley who forwarded me the MOST amazing Buddy Rich bootleg site you will ever come across: http://www.mikejamesjazz.com/br_clips.html#unique_index

There are some serious gems in there including the infamous Buddy Rich "Look Ma, no hands!" double bass drum solos. The Sammy Kaye compilation of Buddy's introductions and monologues on the microphone from his short-lived nightclub "Buddy's Place" are worth it on there own!



I'm going to be taking a break from blogging here at Four On The Floor for the next while. After all, I need some time to shovel snow, make Egg Nog and and bake some festive cookies.

Thanks again for your continued support, drive safe everyone and see you in 2012!

Chick Corea Elektrik Band 1986

Chick Corea Elektrik Band 1986-07-27

Live under the sky Japan

Tracks

01 - The Silver Temple
02 - No Zone
03 - Unknown
04 - Unknown

Lineup

Chick Corea - keyboards
Jamie Glaser - guitar
John Pattitucci - bass
Dave Weckl - drums

SBD Total Time 50 mins

Bitrate 320

Collector Items: Serge Chaloff - The Complete Serge Chaloff Sessions

All Times Best Baritone Saxophone Player

You don't know what baritone saxophone is if you don't know these amazing recordings!!!

If you want to listen to these cds click here and take look

New Jazz Saxophone Recordings (2011): David Binney & Mark Turner - Barefooted Town

1. Dignity
2. Seven Sixty
3. The Edge of Seasons
4. Barefooted Town
5. Secret Miracle   
6. A Night Every Day   
7. Once, when she was here   

David Binney: alto saxophone, voice
Ambrose Akinmusire: trumpet
Mark Turner: tenor saxophone
David Virelles; piano
Eivind Opsvik: bass
Dan Weiss: drums

If you want to listen to this cd click here and take a look at last lines before comments

Rare Jazz Saxophone Recordings: Lee Konitz Pony Pointdexter Phil Woods & Leo Wright - Saxophone Summit

1.Native Land
2.Ballad Medley : a) Skylark, b) Blue and Sentimental,
c) Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You, d) Body and Soul
3.Prompt
4.The Perils of Poda
5.Good Booty
6.Lee-o's Blues
7.Lee's Tribute to Bach and Bird

Lee Konitz (as)
Pony Poindexter (as)
Phil Woods (as)
Leo Wright (as)
Steve Kuhn (p)
Palle Danielsson (b)
Jon Christensen (ds)

If you want to listen to this cd click here and take a look at comments

Smooth Jazz Saxophone: David Sanborn - Closer

01.Tin Tin Deo
02.Señor Blues
03.Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
04.Smile
05.Enchantment
06.Ballad of the Sad Young Men
07.Another Time, Another Place
08.Capetown Fringe
09.Poinciana
10.You Must Believe in Spring
11.Sofia.

David Sanborn (alto saxophone)
Lizz Wright (vocals)
Russell Malone (guitar)
Bob Sheppard (flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone)
Gil Goldstein (accordion, electric piano)
Larry Goldings (electric piano, organ)
Mike Mainieri (vibraphone)
Christian McBride (bass instrument)
Steve Gadd (drums)
Luis Quintero (percussion)


If you want to listen to this cd click here and look for "open box" icon

Jazz Saxophone Classics: John Coltrane - John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman

01. They Say it's Wonderful (5:21)
02. Dedicated to You (5:32)
03. My One and Only Love (4:55)
04. Lush Life (5:30)
05. You are Too Beautiful (5:37)
06. Autumn Serenade (4:20)

Personnel:
John Coltrane - tenor saxophone
Johnny Hartman - vocals
McCoy Tyner - piano
Jimmy Garrison - bass
Elvin Jones - drums

If you want to listen to this cd click here and take a look at last lines before comments

Rare Jazz Saxophone Recordings: Eric Dolphy - Chico Hamilton feat. Eric Dolphy (May 19 & 20 1959 Sessions)

Eric Dolphy's Early Recordings

1 Fat Mouth (Vance) 3:01
2 Theme for a Starlet (Keller) 2:46
3 Little Lost Bear (Krevit) 1:48
4 Champs-Elysées (Wiggins) 2:32
5 Pretty Little Theme (Hamilton) 1:51
6 Lost in the Night (Maltby) 3:18
7 Frou Frou (Young) 3:19
8 Cawn Pawn (Smith) 2:31
9 Lullaby for Dreamers (Vance) 2:59
10 Opening (Hamilton) 1:39
11 Lady E (Dolphy) 2:40
12 Truth (Drucker) 3:08

Personnel
Eric Dolphy - As, fl, bs cl
Dennis Budimir - g
Nathan Gershman - cel
Wyatt Ruther or Ralph Peña - b
Chico Hamilton - dr

If you want to listen to this cd click here and take a look at comments

Jazz Saxophone Classics: Stan Getz - Anniversary

1. El Cahon
2. I Can’t Get Started
3. Stella By Starlight
4. Stan’s Blues
5. I Thought About You
6. What Is This Thing Called Love
7. Blood Count

Personnel:

Stan Getz, ts
Kenny Barron, p
Rufus Reid, b
Victor Lewis, d

If you want to listen to this cd click here and take a look at last line before comments

Jazz Saxophone Classics: Stan Getz - Serenity

1. On Green Dolphin Street
2. Voyage
3. Falling In Love
4. I Remember You
5. I Love You

Personnel:

Stan Getz, tenor saxophone
Kenny Barron, piano
Rufus Reid, bass
Victor Lewis, drums

If you want to listen to this cd click here and take a look at comments

Jazz Saxophone Classics: Gerry Mulligan - Mulligan Meets Monk

01. 'Round Midnight 8:30
02. Rhythm-a-Ning 5:20
03. Sweet and Lovely 7:18
04. Decidedly (take 4) 5:54
05. Decidedly (take 5) 6:39
06. Straight, No Chaser (take 3) 7:01
07. Straight, No Chaser (take 1) 5:31
08. I Mean You (take 4) 6:54
09. I Mean You (take 2) 6:32

Personnel:
Gerry Mulligan - baritone saxophone
Thelonious Monk - piano
Wilbur Ware - bass
Shadow Wilson - drums

If you want to listen to this cd click here and take a look at last lines before comments

Archie Shepp & Richard Davis - Body and Soul

This duet date from 1989 demonstrates the deep blues feeling and technical mastery Archie Shepp has on the tenor saxophone. Comprised of four standards -- "Things Ain't What They Used to Be," "Body and Soul," "Pannonica," and "'Round Midnight" -- this set is one of Shepp's most enjoyable ever. The reasons are myriad, but it is in large part due to the fluid, loping bass of Richard Davis. Recorded in a club in front of a live audience, Shepp digs deep into his own history of influential tenor players and comes out not wanting, but on par with them, from Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis to Sonny Rollins to John Coltrane. His playing here is big, meaty, and warm, full of subtle emotions as well as bleating cries. Davis' sense of time and melody is nearly incredible on the title track and on "'Round Midnight." The interplay Shepp shares with him is tasty, coming from fragmentary elements in Monk's changes; Shepp and Davis move around the lyric and cut to the heart of the tune's color and ambiguity. It's a haunting version and one that offers a completely different reading of the tune over 17 minutes. On "Pannonica," Shepp's blues feeling comes out of Ben Webster as well as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and his soloing is full of warmth, humor, and a ragged sort of elegance. This -- like Shepp's date with Horace Parlan, Goin' Home -- is a major addition to the saxophonist's catalog. - by Thom Yurek, AMG

Artist: Archie Shepp & Richard Davis
Album: Body and Soul
Year: 1989 (Recorded live at Club Cantare, Boston in October 1st, 1989)
Label: Enja (1991)
Total time: 54:18

Tracks:
1.  Things Ain't What They Used To Be (Mercer Ellington) 12:36
2.  Body And Soul (Johnny Green) 17:17
3.  Pannonica (Thelonious Monk) 7:21
4.  Round About Midnight (Thelonious Monk) 17:03

Personnel:
Archie Shepp (Tenor Saxophone)
Richard Davis (Double Bass)

Brian Blade with The Chick Corea Trio

I'm loving all these clandestine close-up drum videos that pop up on youtube.com from time to time. It's like sitting over your favorite drummer's shoulder to catch all their slick moves (although I'm not sure how those drummers feel about this!)

Here's Brian Blade in some swinging trio footage with Chick Corea on a Thelonious Monk composition:

Kirk Whalum - In This Life

Of all of Kirk's CDs this is my favorite from beginning to end. This CD is the essence of soul-filled contemporary/popular jazz music without being overproduced or busy. The production values are supurb! Both the music and the lyrics speak to the essence of life in a way that truly give honor to life. The breadth of Kirk's sax is wonderfully matched with Mike Reid's vocals and Matt Rollings piano. The respective "duos" with Larrry Carlton and Dwight Sills could not have been played any better. A pristine collection of songs! - by M. McGhee, Amazon.com

I haven't been able to stop listening to this album for 2 weeks. I feel as though I have found someone's musical diary, revealing the innermost and profound confessions of the least-understood emotion in history -- love. The most surprising fact is that as I listen, and listen again and again, I felt as though when I finished the diary I looked, it was my name that was the one that was on it. Kirk Whalum has his finger on the very pulse of all our deepest thoughts and secrets and translates them into words and music that literally transcend definition in any other form but his soulful renditions. I have never experienced an album so vividly raw and emotional since I heard Eric Clapton's "Pilgrim". Whether drawn from his own experiences or those of others Kirk Whalum speaks to us all: men and women; husbands and wives; lovers and lost loves. We hear his rich, plaintive saxophone and wondrous vocals and somehow can't believe -- "how did he know? how could he understand what I felt?" From start to finish, "In This Life" is an instant classic for anyone who has ever loved and lost -- or loved and won -- or loved at all. I just ordered two more copies for people I care for who are experiencing transitional periods in their relationships -- just so they know there are words and notes and 60 minutes of musical enlightenment to ease their way -- over and over and over again. - by powermuffn, Amazon.com

Artist: Kirk Whalum
Album: In This Life
Year: 1995
Label: Sony/Columbia
Runtime: 59:30

Tracks:
1.  In This Life (Mike Reid/Allen Shamblin) 3:36
2.  'Til I Get It Right (Larry Henley/Red Lane) 4:58
3.  Drowning In The Sea Of Love (Kenneth Gamble/Leon Huff) 7:02
4.  Peaceful Hideaway (A. Smith/Kirk Whalum) 4:33
5.  I Wouldn't Be A Man (Rory Michael Bourke/Mike Reid) 5:05
6.  Living For The City (Stevie Wonder) 4:33
7.  My Father's Hope (R. Jackson) 4:27
8.  When The Night Rolls In (Sally Dworsky/Brenda Russell/Rick Wayland) 4:35
9.  I Turn To You (Mike Reid/Allen Shamblin) 5:27
10.  Reck'n So (Kirk Whalum) 3:58
11.  The Way I Need You Now (Barry Alfonso/Mike Reid) 4:56
12.  Reprise: Dans Cette Vie ( In This Life) (Mike Reid/Allen Shamblin) 6:15

Personnel:
Kirk Whalum (Tenor Saxophone)
Matt Rollings (Piano, Keyboards) - 1,2,8,9,11,12
Mike Reid (Vocals) - 1,5,9,11
Brent Mason (Guitar) - 2,6,8,9,12
David Hungate (Bass Guitar) - 2,8,9,12
Terry McMillan (Percussion) - 3,6,8,9,11
Owen Hale (Drums) - 3,5,8,9
Cedric Lee (Bass Guitar) - 4,7,10,11
Bob Bailey (Backing Vocals) - 3,5,11
Chris Willis (Backing Vocals) - 3,5,11
Duawne Starling (Backing Vocals) - 3,5,11
Louis Nunley (Backing Vocals) - 3,5,11
Larry Carlton (Guitar) - 4,7,10
Rick Jackson (Keyboards) - 4,7,10
Ricky Lawson (Drums) - 4,7,11
Brian Kilgore (Percussion) - 4,7,10
Dwight Sills (Guitar) - 7,10,11
Vaneese Thomas (Vocals) - 2,12
Teresa James (Vocals) - 3,8
Reggie Young (Guitar) - 3,5
Barry Beckett (Piano and Organ) - 3,5
Willie Weeks (Bass Guitar) - 3,5
Paul Franklin (Pedabro, Steel Guitar) - 6,7
Don Potter (Guitar) - 7,11
Mark Summer (Cello) - 1
Farrell Morris (Vibes) - 2
Sonny Landreth (Guitar) - 3
Mark O'Connor (Fiddle) - 6
Ndugu Chancler (Drums) - 10
Ralph Penland (Drums) - 12
Eddie Bayers (Drums) - 12