Nuggets
Josh was practicing drums last night and he's working on a Carmine Appice workbook.
So after he finished, we did a little digging on the web into Carmine. Listened to some Vanilla Fudge and then came to Beck, Bogert, and Appice.
That took me back to my late teens and college years when I used to listen to Jeff Beck all the time.
Jeff Beck is one of the great guitar virtuosos.
And the record to check out, if you want to give Jeff Beck a try, is called Blow By Blow.
This could be called "jazz fusion" but to me its Jeff Beck showcasing his amazing guitar playing skills for the world to hear.
Highlights include Freeway Jam, Cause We've Ended As Lovers, Scatterbrain, and the opener You Know What I Mean.
What's a Nugget to some is a Staple for others. The Beck/Hammer Lp's are simply fantastic, and Blow by Blow is certainly the best of the three (Wired, Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer Live), but I love them all. 'Cause We've Ended As Lovers - you don't get better than that.
Posted by: Jackson | November 11, 2005 at 07:54 AM
Any guitar player worth his weight in salt owns this record and dreams of being able to play any of it fluently.
Posted by: Tony Alva | November 11, 2005 at 08:51 AM
Have you checked out Wayne Krantz? Plays in the village every other Thursday. Mind-blowing.
http://www.waynekrantz.com/
Posted by: charlie crystle | November 11, 2005 at 09:37 AM
Jeff is to guitar what Dylan is to Songwriting . . . a legend who has continually re-invented himself over the course of decades. Blow-by-Blow is a classic for any guitarist. I wore it out on vinyl and now have it on CD, SACD and iTunes. Who says everything gets pirated? Incidentally, a lot of the best keyboard stuff on this one was played by Max Middleton, not Jan Jammer.
Posted by: James Kahler | November 11, 2005 at 11:08 AM
I agree with the comments on how unique and talented Jeff Beck is, but also one of the most temperamental, which has limited his output and collaborations. Only time I saw him was in 1975 and he got so pissed off with minor technical difficulties that he thru his Strat into the audience and his roadie had to dive in after it. I still go back to the Jeff Beck Group album and the classic - Going Down. He resurfaced on a great recent Buddy Guy CD, Damn Right I got the Blues, with a fantastic version of Mustang Sally.
Posted by: Don | November 11, 2005 at 12:57 PM
Next to Blow By Blow I'm partial to "Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer Live" Live "Freeway Jam" is a treat!
another great one is Truth... Rod Stewart at his best.
Posted by: Hue Mooksuki | November 11, 2005 at 03:54 PM
Oh yeah, The fact your son is working through the Carmine Appice workbook is very cool.
Posted by: Hue Mooksuki | November 11, 2005 at 04:00 PM
I gotta put in for Mark Knopfler and Rudy's on 49th Street. Got me my Pensa 5 years ago...sweet.
Posted by: charlie crystle | November 11, 2005 at 04:35 PM
er, 48th street. can't type.
Posted by: charlie crystle | November 11, 2005 at 04:36 PM
My dad bought me this album when I was a kid, but I immediately discarded it because at the time I only listened to speed metal. I should probably revisit it since my tastes have broadened quite a bit and I'm working on my vibrato (I imagine that Beck's kicks ass). I didn't think it was jazz fusion though. To me that brings to mind Steely Dan and the like.
Posted by: Toby | November 12, 2005 at 07:29 AM
Steely Dan is more 'Jazzy' than jazz - if you like Beck's Blow By Blow era stuff, check out Spectrum by Billy Cobham also featuring Mr. Hammer, with Tommy Bolin and Leland Sklar - fusion at it's best, way funkier than Mahavishnu.
Posted by: jackson | November 12, 2005 at 11:10 AM
Thanks for the recs Jackson, I'll have to check some of that stuff out.
Posted by: Toby | November 12, 2005 at 04:56 PM