Musical Musings Blog 2... The Infinite Musical Continuum

  From a performance on "The Midnight Special" from February 7th, 1975, here is Dave Mason & His Band performing "Bring It On Home To Me".  Check it out.

  From his "British Blues Explosion" live concert CD and DVD live performance, here is Joe Bonamassa and His Band playing his cover of Led Zeppelin's "How Many More Times" from their debut record Led Zeppelin, paying tribute to Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham and one of the greatest rock and roll bands in history.  This is a medley, because there is also an excerpt of Albert King's "The Hunter", as another verse in this cover of "How Many More Times", and of note, there is a great drum solo in the middle. The band lineup for this performance is: Joe Bonamassa: lead guitar & vocals Reese Wynans: Hammond B3 organ, keyboards Michael Rhodes: bass Anton Fig: drums Check it out.  

  Dizzy Gillespie telling the story about being on the French riviera and then playing a tune all about it, from July 10th, 1981, at the 1981 North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland.  

  RIP Bob Weir, one of the founders and original architects of The Grateful Dead. When the Dead would trip off into one of their dazzling live cosmic jams, lead singer Bobby was the ringmaster who knew when to grab everyone and guide them back down to earth. On his own solo music he upheld the Dead’s communal spirit and was always willing to share the spotlight with talented musicians. In recent years Weir fronted the post-Jerry Garcia/Phil Lesh version of the Dead and introduced the group’s music and vibe to new generations of Dead Heads. We’ll never forget when he performed on ACL TV in Season 28 with RatDog.

  This number is called 'Lord, Lord". This recording is from July 14, 1979 at the PWA Zaal, North Sea Jazz Festival. Dave Brubeck, born on December 6, 1920, in California, was an influential American jazz pianist and composer known for his innovative approach to time signatures and his role in popularizing modern jazz. In 1951, he formed the Dave Brubeck Quartet, a groundbreaking ensemble. The quartet, featuring Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums, gained widespread acclaim for their distinctive sound and complex, polyrhythmic compositions. One of the quartet's most iconic albums, "Time Out" (1959), showcased Brubeck's fascination with unusual time signatures. The album's signature track, "Take Five," composed by Paul Desmond in 5/4 time, became a jazz standard and a crossover hit, reaching a broad audience and introducing many listeners to the world of modern jazz. Brubeck received numerous accolades,...

  More blues from Sista Monica Parker from her performance on October 9th, 1998 with the song "The Sista Don't Play".  

  This week's Sunday Special.  From a performance in the late 1960s, here is jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton performing the medley of "No More Blues" and "Chega de Saudade".

  From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack. From the CBC Archives, Interview with Paul Desmond. Paul Desmond was an American alto saxophonist best known as a key member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. He was born in 1924 and died in 1977. Desmond wrote “Take Five,” one of the most famous jazz compositions of all time, which became a top 40 hit and helped bring modern jazz to a mass audience. His playing style was cool, lyrical, and understated—he described his own tone as “like a dry martini.” Desmond’s importance lies in three areas: 1. Sound and Style: He was a central figure in the West Coast “cool jazz” movement. His light tone contrasted with the more aggressive bebop style of the 1940s and 1950s. 2. Composition: “Take Five,” written in 5/4 time, broke rhythmic conventions and became jazz’s best-selling single. 3. Influence: His phrasing, melodic restraint, and harmonic intelligence shaped generations of saxophonists who valued lyricism over speed. After leaving Brubeck, he pe...

  A rare concert performance on this Full Concert Friday of another British blues band, Chicken Shack performing at the Forum Musique France in 1969.  Chicken Shack still exist today.  Their first stint was from 1965-1974 and they have been together now in one form or another for the last 50 years, since 1976.  Bandleader Stan Webb on guitar and vocals plays in the current lineup alongside guitarist Gary Davies and bassist Jim Rudge.  In 1969, when this concert film was taken, the band included Stan Webb on guitar and vocals, Andy Silvester on bass, Christine Perfect (later, Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac fame), on keyboards and vocals... or (after Perfect left the band), Paul Raymond on keyboards, and Dave Bidwell on drums.   The set list is: 1. See See Baby/Let Me Love You Baby (Buddy Guy cover) 2. Lonesome Whistle Blues 3. Nightlife (Willie Nelson cover) 4. Worried About My Woman 5. Hideaway (Freddie King cover)

  Blood Sweat & Tears Live in Stockholm, Sweden, 8/6/1973 Jerry Fisher: Lead Vocals Bobby Colomby: Drums Jim Fielder: Fender bass and rhythm guitar Larry Willis: Acoustic, Electric Piano, clavinet, organ, Moog George Wadenius: Guitar Lew Soloff: Trumpet and flugelhorn Dave Bargeron: Tenor and bass trombone Lou Marini Jr.: Sax, flute Tom Malone: Trumpet, trombone, flute, Fender bass.

  From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack. Midnight Voyage (Calderazzo) Personnel: Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone; Pat Metheny – guitar; Jack DeJohnette – drums; Dave Holland – bass and Joey Calderazzo – piano Truly, an all-star lineup: Each member was a major voice on their instrument. This wasn’t a pick-up band, but leaders collaborating as equals. Balance of fire and lyricism: Brecker’s technical command met Metheny’s melodic sensibility, anchored by Holland’s depth and DeJohnette’s coloristic drumming.. This was the absolute peak of 1990s jazz fusion: It blended straight-ahead jazz, fusion energy, and world-music influences without feeling forced. This project won a Grammy, cementing its place as a milestone in Brecker’s career. It stood out because it wasn’t only about Brecker’s brilliance. It was about five top musicians creating a collective sound greater than the sum of its parts.

  From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack. Personnel: Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone; Pat Metheny – guitar; Jack DeJohnette – drums; Dave Holland – bass and Joey Calderazzo – piano Truly, an all-star lineup: Each member was a major voice on their instrument. This wasn’t a pick-up band, but leaders collaborating as equals. Balance of fire and lyricism: Brecker’s technical command met Metheny’s melodic sensibility, anchored by Holland’s depth and DeJohnette’s coloristic drumming.. This was the absolute peak of 1990s jazz fusion: It blended straight-ahead jazz, fusion energy, and world-music influences without feeling forced. This project won a Grammy, cementing its place as a milestone in Brecker’s career. It stood out because it wasn’t only about Brecker’s brilliance. It was about five top musicians creating a collective sound greater than the sum of its parts.

  From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack. Personnel: Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone; Pat Metheny – guitar; Jack DeJohnette – drums; Dave Holland – bass and Joey Calderazzo – piano Truly, an all-star lineup: Each member was a major voice on their instrument. This wasn’t a pick-up band, but leaders collaborating as equals. Balance of fire and lyricism: Brecker’s technical command met Metheny’s melodic sensibility, anchored by Holland’s depth and DeJohnette’s coloristic drumming.. This was the absolute peak of 1990s jazz fusion: It blended straight-ahead jazz, fusion energy, and world-music influences without feeling forced. This project won a Grammy, cementing its place as a milestone in Brecker’s career. It stood out because it wasn’t only about Brecker’s brilliance. It was about five top musicians creating a collective sound greater than the sum of its parts.

  The blues is this week's Sunday Special.  From the Ann Arbor Festival in Ann Arbor, Michigan, (not sure what year), here is bluesman and slide guitar legend, Hound Dog Taylor performing "Wild About You Baby".  Dig it!  

  From his "Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks" live concert record and DVD here is Joe Bonamassa with his blues band playing the tune "Love Ain't A Love Song".  The band features Joe Bonamassa on lead guitar, Kirk Fletcher on rhythm guitar, Reese Wynans on Hammond organ and piano, Michael Rhodes on bass, Anton Fig on drums, and the horn section of Ron Dziubla on baritone saxophone, Nick Lane on trombone, and Lee Thornburg on trumpet and horn arrangements.  

  From Louis Gerrits on YouTube.  A performance by The Brecker Brothers in Velden, Austria, on April 7th, 1980. Michael Brecker: Tenor Randy Brecker: Trumpet Mark Gray: Keyboards Neil Jason: Bass Barry Finnerty: Guitar Richie Morales: Drums

  Norman Greenbaum with his 1970 rock and roll tune "Spirit in the Sky".  A message in this song, really, is about the afterlife and has a very spiritual meaning, about death and then, what the afterlife would or will be, should you believe that a better place exists for humanity after our time on earth is over.  

  From a performance at the Beacon Theater in New York, New York, here is Joe Bonamassa & his band playing his song "Blue & Evil".  

  Another song, an original, from Minnesota funk and R&B band Parlor Greens, on local Minneapolis record label Colemine Records.  This one is called "Eat Your Greens" live at Portage Lounge.  

Jazz singer Freddy Cole performing the tune "You and Me Against The World".  Discovered this by chance one day playing on the local jazz radio station, Jazz 88, KBEM out of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.  A great tune originally performed by Helen Reddy and written by Paul H. Williams and Kenneth Lee Ascher.  

  Gary Burton on vibraphone, playing the jazz classic "Sweet Georgia Brown".  Check it out.  The performance dates to sometime in the late 1960s.  

  This clip is a portion of my feature-length documentary, Sing Sing Thanksgiving, recorded in 1972 at the prison in Ossining NY outside of New York City. We got permission to present the concert from the Warden and took full of it to create and then record this incredible event plus tell the lives of some of the inmates who helped make it happen. Regarding the Sing Sing prison performance, B.B. King said in an interview with NPR: "I've played a lot of prisons since but Sing Sing is the only one that I can remember the name of and the reason is because I was scared. I thought it was the end of my life." The experience was an emotionally charged one for King who was initially apprehensive about performing at the prison. However, the performance turned out to be a success, with the inmates showing great appreciation for the music. King's fears were alleviated, and the event left a lasting impression on him. He considered it is absolutely best performance up until tha...

  Parlor Greens' take on Dolly Parton's classic Jolene with their trademark funky organ sound! Gritty Hammond organ takes the melody while Jimmy James' signature rhythm guitar drives the whole thing! Tim Carman holds it down on the kit nice and tight keeping everything right in the pocket in a way that would make Dolly proud!

  Excerpt from the documentary film "Memphis '69: The 1969 Memphis Country Blues Festival" on Fat Possum Records - https://store.fatpossum.com/collectio...

  Bret Primack discusses the first time he "really" heard Coltrane, during a psilocybin trip in 1970. Bret's new book "How John Coltrane Changed Me - A Jazz Journey" is now available on Amazon. Click to pre-order the Kindle version. http://tinyurl.com/howcoltranechangedme #johncoltrane

  The title of this performance and video says it all.  Dave Brubeck and his quartet performing "Someday My Prince Will Come" in the late 1960s.  The band lineup includes Dave Brubeck on piano, Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Jack Six on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums.  

  From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack. Milton Nascimento (vo,g), Herbie Hancock (p), Wayne Shorter (ss), Stanley Clarke (b), Robertinho da Silva (ds), Live under the Sky 1991, July, 1991 at Yomiuri-land-East, Tokyo-Japan. Their collaboration was unusual because it blended two traditions rarely brought together at that level:Jazz meets Brazilian songcraft. Wayne Shorter, already a major figure from Miles Davis’s Second Quintet and Weather Report, joined forces with Milton Nascimento, Brazil’s iconic singer-songwriter rooted in MPB (Música Popular Brasileira). Shorter wasn’t just adding sax solos over Brazilian rhythms—he integrated his harmonic language with Milton’s melodic, folkloric, and spiritual writing. Both artists were drawn to themes of transcendence. The collaboration wasn’t just stylistic—it had a deep sense of searching. That’s why their music still feels like more than a fusion record; it’s a meeting of spiritual voices.

  This week's Sunday Special.  From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.  Tommy Flanagan Trio, Concord Jazz Festival, 1991, with Tommy on piano, George Mraz on bass and Lewis Nash on drums.

  Bessie Smith performing St.Louis Blues (1929). Nicknamed The Empress of the Blues she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. ...And here, is a bonus, a longer version of the video of St. Louis Blues.

  A day late, but worth the wait.  From local Minneapolis record company Colemine Records, check out Parlor Greens with their version of "Auld Lang Syne".  The band is a trio and includes Adam Scone on Hammond B3 organ, Jimmy James on guitar, and Tim Carmen on drums.  

  "A Wave of Hope" from Phish's 12/29/2025 show at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY.