Tune in tonight to HBO at 8pm EST for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's honorary induction ceremony for the great Paul Butterfield Blues Band. I think the inclusion of Tom Morello and Zac Brown in the tribute was an excellent and strategic musical move to raise awareness and turn on younger and uninitiated viewers to the power and legacy of this great player and band! That being said the other band (Sam Lay, Elvin Bishop, Billy Boy etc) certainly had the traditional approach covered for all those still seething after our "rocked up" performance. What an amazing and humbling honor to be the one to pay tribute theres more than a few great players that could of got this call and I think that was discussed/argued here. In the end Paul Butterfield is being honored to millions, by the who's who of the music world from today and yesteryear and we should all be VERY proud of Paul his band and their contributions to this music we so love and our quirky little instrument that has brought so many of who otherwise might not mx together! Thank you to Adam Gussow who took so much time with me early on and ALL the members of the MBH forum lovers and haters alike you've all helped me so much. PS: BTW 'll be playing through a Suzuki Harmonica in the Key of D over A (2nd position) customized by Joe Spiers through a Greg Heumann BlowsMeAway Productions ultimate 57 which I helped design, into Lone Wolf Blues Company LLC Pedals into a Harp Gear 4/10 HG 50 made by the great Brian Purdy with a Sylvester J Bobtaillian logo, wearing a real Wrangler red jacket provide by Jason D. Moore a one eyed cat dress shirt by Cem M. Basman and a Sylvester Bobtail T-shirt by Cecily Dibble!Thank you! Jason ---------- www.mooncat.org
Last Edited by Moon Cat on May 30, 2015 1:39 PM
Thanks for letting us know, Jason. I didn't know about the showing and will def. tune in.
The track below helped convinced me that playing blues harmonica was something that I needed to do. I haven't listened to it, really listened to it, for many years--decades, in fact--because I was afraid that something that moved me as a 17-year old couldn't possible live up to my memory of it. But listening just now: Butterfield is, at least here, an extraordinary blues singer. And his genuis, on harp, is that in his amplified stuff here, he waves goodbye to the Little Walter approach and takes the instrument somewhere entirely new. This doesn't devalue LW at all; it's simply the way of the world that the truly exceptional players reinvent the instrument, making it impossible for all but the very strongest who come after them to come up with a similarly new approach. This is one of those occasions, like BB King's "Live at the Regal" and the Allman Brothers' "Live at Fillmore East," when the live album captures a kind of music that couldn't happen in the studio:
Last Edited by kudzurunner on May 30, 2015 3:58 PM
Yeah, buddy! ---------- Ricky B http://www.bushdogblues.blogspot.com RIVER BOTTOM BLUES--crime novel for blues fans available at Amazon/B&N, iTunes, iBook THE DEVIL'S BLUES--ditto HOWLING MOUNTAIN BLUES--Ditto too, now available
Paul Butterfield destroyed my mind in 1967. Jason Ricci destroyed it again tonight. ---------- Ted Burke __________________ ted-burke.com tburke4@san.rr.com
There are others I've talked to in my life apart from this forum who were either ecstatic about Jason's rocking version of "Born in Chicago" and others who had conniptions because there wasn't enough Butter in the mix. I am old enough to remember Butterfield in the sixties and having to be brow -beaten by a good many college folkie-blues purists who reviled PB because he didn't have nearly enough Little Walter in his playing. Too loud, too many notes, too fast, the usual off-the-shelf dismissals. Butter wasn't showing respect, they maintained, the same contempt expressed in varying degrees of subtle and less subtle contempt for anything new. Seems to me Butterfied and band were showing an amazing amount of respect for the musicians who inspired them and for the blues itself, the key word being inspired. Little Walter, James Cotten, Jr.Wells et al inspired Butterfield to pick up the harmonica and attempt to do something as great and as magnificent as what they had laid down. The consequence of this man honoring his muse, learning his lesson and playing what he heard in his head and felt in his bones is that he is now regarded as one of the blues harmonica giants. We acknowledge that Paul Butterfield changed the way blues harmonica was played and that he and his band were fundemental in changing the direction of music. Their influence is vast. Jason was right and rightous to play "Born in Chicago" they way he did, fast, slicing, wicked and sly, full of the rage to live and invent new music. Merely doing a note for note replication of Butterfield's sound wouldn't have been an honest presentation. The point is to pay tribute and to demonstrate how the music has influenced younger musicians; the excitement is in hearing more brilliance built on a foundation of what his already the work of genius. ---------- Ted Burke __________________ ted-burke.com tburke4@san.rr.com
Last Edited by ted burke on May 31, 2015 7:25 AM
Great post Jason. Very good. I have utterly enjoyed your educational vids, too. You are leading the way, with your genuine and dedicated approach. Kudos! I am glad you got the call. You deserve it! I gave up waiting by the phone after a couple weeks.... Funny descriptive term, too. "Seething". You choose your words wisely. And do a good job of not offending anyone. Almost too hard to imagine where the blues harp is heading next. You are right. The younger generation needs the connection stimulated.(we are getting old fast) Class act. Keep up the good work! Always respectful to give credit to those who helped you, too. ALOOOHA! ---------- Yes, there are blues in Hawaii.
I suppose my one personal concern is that all the new generation will watch this and perhaps come away with that modern/shred approach and somehow think this is what Butterfield brought to the world. I imagine a kid watching Jason's segment, going "cool" and then clicking on old Butterfield youtube and being let down somehow.
Not to say everyone will do this, of course. Good thing may be that the kids will at least explore.
As an old guy, I watch as what I consider to be depth, groove and feel slowly disappear in favor of instant gratification and quick short term technical impressiveness, which is where our contemporary society seems to be heading.
A younger listener starts his musical journey somewhere, and someone being introduced to the blues by Jason Ricci's powerful virtuosity and inventiveness doen't mean that the listener will be disappointed by older musicians when he (or she) investigates their work. I was introduced to Butterfield in the late sixties when I went to the Chessmate , a no age limit folk and blues club at Livernoise and 6 Mile Road near the University of Detroit. It was love at first listen, so to speak, and after a while I wondered where Butter had gotten his chops and inspiration. Moving backwards, I came across the Names, Muddy, John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Sonny Boy(s), Sonny Terry,Freddie King, BB KIng, Albert King, Jr.Wells, James Cotton...rather than being disappointed that these older cats weren't playing as fast and furious as the white musicians they inspired, I was all the more enthralled by the music, by the blues. Much is the truth in my learning about Jazz, basically starting with Bitches Brew era Miles and Mahavishnu Orchestra, and then , working backwards in historical line up, coming across Armstrong, Coltrane, Parker, Ellington, Count Basie, Sun Ra, an endless range of others; even with the absence of loud, blistering electric guitars that I craved at the time, my range and tastes expanded inspite of myself. It's my feeling that listeners who might not be familiar with Butter or the blues tradition will not, as a whole, be alienated by an older music made to less hectic tempos. ---------- Ted Burke __________________ ted-burke.com tburke4@san.rr.com
Man, Anton Fig and Willie Weeks couldn't let groove disappear if Houdini himself was shredding a keytar in spandex with a mullet!!!! ---------- www.mooncat.org
Everyone has his own life experiences which create his view of the world.
Love that everyone can see the world in their own way, at the same time understanding that everyone else does, too, and that no view is inherently better than any other's (so long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others).
Moon Cat meows "Man, Anton Fig and Willie Weeks couldn't let groove disappear if Houdini himself was shredding a keytar in spandex with a mullet!!!!"
Cool. Don't know who these guys are or what is actually being said, though. ---------- The Iceman
If you wanna pay tribute to Butter by playing note for note, simply put the original record on and hire young, good looking kids to fake it.
If you want to do a REAL tribute, find someone that Butter had influence on AND has a huge influence himself on players today. Have him bring it! Be himself.
I'm sure if Butter were listening somewhere he would much rather hear Jason be himself rather than a copy cat.
Well done Jason! I'm truly sorry for the 1/10,000 of 1% that didn't get what they would have preferred.
Personally, I watched with giddy delight and a great sense of pride. Thank you. ---------- www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband
Anton Fig (Drums) Toured with: Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon, B. B. King, Peter Frampton, Joan Armatrading, Cyndi Lauper, Link Wray, Robert Gordon, Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart and Kix. Worked with on sessions single gigs and on letterman with Miles Davis, James Brown, Springsteen, and everyone else… He also recorded with Butterfield, Satriani, Kiss and basically you name it…Seriously surprised you never heard that name…
Willie Weeks (Bass) (From Wiki sorry getting lazy) : Weeks has worked in the studio and/or toured with artists as varied as: Gregg Allman, David Bowie, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Roy Buchanan, Jimmy Buffett, Kevin Chalfant, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Hank Crawford, Robert Cray, Pino Daniele, Bo Diddley, The Doobie Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Vince Gill, Isaac Hayes, George Harrison, Etta James, Billy Joel, Rickie Lee Jones, Wynonna Judd, Chaka Khan, B.B. King, Lyle Lovett, Gail Davies, David Lee Roth, Michael McDonald, Don McLean, John Mayer, John Mellencamp, Bette Midler, Randy Newman, Pino Palladino, John Scofield, Carly Simon, Soulive, Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Richard and Linda Thompson, Joe Walsh, Bobby Womack, Leon Russell, Steve Winwood, Stevie Wonder, Ronnie Wood, and Eikichi Yazawa.
Weeks' playing on Donny Hathaway's Live (1972), including a 3½ minute bass solo on "Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)",[1] is regarded by many bass players as some of Weeks' best work. Weeks played a 1962 Fender P-Bass through an Ampeg SVT amplifier on the recording (though it had initially been reported that he played through an Ampeg B-15). Weeks also played bass at the Crossroads Guitar Festival on July 28, 2007 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.[2] Willie Weeks anyway fair to say these two know what a pocket is. All the best! ---------- www.mooncat.org
Last Edited by Moon Cat on May 31, 2015 3:57 PM
Thanks Harp Dude! Great video Goldbrick what a honor being in the presence of guys like that! ---------- www.mooncat.org
Last Edited by Moon Cat on May 31, 2015 3:04 PM
Oh yeah she was SOOOO NICE too! I might get to do her new record! fingers crossed: Felicia Collins and also Sid McGinnis... ---------- www.mooncat.org
Last Edited by Moon Cat on May 31, 2015 3:29 PM
Jason has to play like Jason. I thought he paid sufficient homage to PB with what he played. But he also played what PB might have played had PB known what Jason knows. It was a great show.
And Jason - THANK YOU! For giving the Ultimate 57, which you helped design - national exposure!
So - did you get to swap any licks backstage with Stevie?
Awe thanks Greg! I did almost play the first 12 bars note for note (Butter)…But I sincerely felt that the harp would of got buried a bit if it didn't get played up to the level of the evening and did feel Paul would of wanted it and me to shine in a way relevant to our time like he did at his time! I actually had a dream, where he "visited" me the night before sound check and he told me too…For whatever it's worth I thought a lot about all this stuff before the gig and made the decision to play the way I thought was best for Paul, The Blues, The Harmonica world in general and myself and I promise I was last on that list. Also Paul Shaffer told me to rock and said thats why he picked me, so I did…And yes a few will always have a problem with anything and that makes for longer threads, better internet marketing, improved search engine results and higher google ratings! Love the haters!!! "If you don't like me and still watch EVERYTHING I do…Bitch your a fan"-Madonna And for the record while were at Miley Cyrus rules! lol ok…Having fun..
The mic (Ultimate 57) was awesome as always Greg and thank you again and Shure actually commented to me how much they loved the design I gave them one of your cards…Hopefully they'll call...I did get to pee next to Stevie but he didn't know…or whatever.. and I wasn't going to say: "Hey bro I play harp and I pee too…Like: 'hey not so different'? Maybe?" HAAA! I just shut up , I was thinking to myself the whole time... like holy shit that guy wrote "Songs in the key of Life" what do I say???…Yeah just pee… Just pee and shut up...Lots of stories like that… What an honor! Still buzzing! ---------- www.mooncat.org
Last Edited by Moon Cat on May 31, 2015 4:03 PM
Protagonist was old action movie hero who wanted to make an artistic statement the old fashioned way - with groove.
As the story unfolded, his 20 something daughter couldn't contain herself and let loose a barrage about how her dad was a nobody - nobody cared - he didn't have a facebook page - nobody was tweeting about him - no 1,000,000 video hits. You know, all that digital stuff that our society has turned into - young kids interests - you are nothing unless you have this kind of presence, etc.
Well, protagonist held his vision - created something with groove and depth and triumphed with huge acclaim at the end.
Nice mirror to society these days and a great alternative view of these realities.
Moon Cat - who are these haters? I only see folk of different opinions here. ---------- The Iceman
jason was a perfect choice for that..he did great..better than great.. one of the top pro session/ studio band leaders picked him.. he stepped up and kicked some ass with some of the very best musicians out there
what's not to love about mooncat representing to the whole world?.. one of our own.. a harp player with international exposure
peed next to stevie wonder! how cool is that!
jason, i am so proud of you. thanks for all you keep giving to harmonica players everywhere.. you are a hero!
This is one time I regret not having HBO. However, I was able to find brief clips of the ceremony/performance here and there, including one featuring a killer Jason solo.
I could well run out of adjectives for what I saw. Phenomenal playing, an amazing performance, perfect stage presence, unparalleled technique . . . and a sound/style that is unique (an over-used word that, in this case, fits perfectly). I think Butterfield would be far beyond proud and honored.
As to the debate between purists and those who just love the music. I can only say this. Different strokes for different blokes . . . and all that jazz.
Addendum: A month back, in a column I wrote for a Midwest magazine, I was touching on how those of different ages tend to view time/life, events, and traditions. I think it fits here.
"It’s a cultural echo that the older perceive the younger as arrogantly naïve. Likewise, the young tend to regard greybeards as annoyingly pertinacious. The generations are separated by a chronological chasm of vastly different experiences, or lack thereof. They are also possessed of dissimilar social values. Again, this is no great revelation. Values, though always in flux, are predictably redundant."
In short, we often revere that which we loved when we were younger. That's cool, but it's equally important to adapt, and appreciate the new.
And with that BS/blather aside . . . Jason . . . your performance made me break into a big, stupid grin. Thanks. I can't wait to sometime see the entire performance
Apologies for the length of this. Just felt I had to say it.
And more important, offer my congrats and appreciation. ---------- Marr's Guitars
Offering custom-built Cigar Box Guitars for the discriminating player of obscure musical unstruments
