Robben Ford Discussion

[Daved]

The band for the two shows this weekend, one in Steamboat Springs,Colorado and one in Irvine Lakes, California, will be a trio with Hilary Jones & Roscoe Beck. Both shows will be fly-ins using local rental gear.

Then, starting in Seattle on the 30th, Robben will be using a 'new' band, using their own gear, for the rest of this west coast run.

Greg Matheison - keys
Andrew Ford - bass
Gary Novak - drums

Robben will be rehearsing with these players over the next 2 days.
I plan to pick up a cargo van next Monday, drive around L.A. gathering up equipment, and then leisurally drive to Washington for the first show at the Jazz Alley on that Thursday.
_________________
B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

[rainmkr63]

You have it rough Daved, and you get paid to do this

Thanks for the updates!!!

Rob

[Auburn Ron]

Hello Daved !
Yes, thank you for keeping us up to speed,
so................Andrew Ford, any relation ???
See you at Yoshi's Ron

[mayer]

Looks like a killer lineup:

http://www.ulv.edu/music/faculty/ford.html

http://www.larrycarlton.net/brandnew/gregmathieson.shtml

Daved, any ideas on the material - anything new or different with this band?
_________________
- Mayer

[Daved]

Sorry, I've only spoken with the players over the phone and will meet them face to face tomorrow when I fetch their gear, so we'll all have to learn together.

Hilary was telling me a few days ago that she knows Gary Novak personally, considers him a friend and highly respects his playing.
_________________
B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

[Aeolian]

Like Tom, Gary played with Chick Corea in the Electrik Band. No appologies for that kind of playing. I remember him from what Robben called his "east coast" band during the Tiger Walk tours. The west coast band was Billy Johnson and Myron Dove from Santana's band, and Gary Heinman from Curtis Salgado's band (although they all play together in the bay area in various purmutations). The keyboard player and bass player that played in the east coast band with Gary seemed cut from the Ubberjam like funk/jam band format. I wonder if these are the same guys, I couldn't remember either of their names. The keyboard player just used Robbens Wurlitzer and Korg organ, and the bass player had an SVT head and a white Fender bass, I think a P bass, and had that modern thumpy funky sound. Looking forward to this. Sorry I won't get to see you Daved, but enjoy your time with Gregg.
_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

[marinblues]

Wow, what a line-up!

Any dates in Europe?

thanks

Marin

_________________
-> my stuff

[yebdox]

Hi, all,

I just got back from Seattle for the friday night gig at Jazz Alley - stayed for both sets. My plane was late, so we missed the first 10 minutes of the first set, but they all played and sounded great! The first set I sat in the balcony - the mix and tone was fabulous up there. The second set, we sat right at the stage in front of Robben - interesting difference in the Dumble tone on stage, vs. what was in the mix... more high end, a little bit of sizzle, and not what I might have wanted to hear, but they've got it all down... the sound and balance out front was warm, clear, spot on. Novak and Mathieson were especially good soloists, Mr. Ford (the bass player) was very tight and supportive and soloed well, once he got going... they played extremely tight! Great dynamics, often with cues from Robben to lay out - he's a fine band leader, in that respect. Robben's rhythm playing especially blew us away (fellow guitarist and his wife sat with us) - especially while singing at the same time... so inventive, he doesn't repeat the same rhythm voicings and fills the way I would have to, if I were trying to sing at the same time. But then, he's Robben Ford... I. obviously, am not, so no need to remind me.

Robben alternated between his Tele (62?) and what looked like a new 59 LP RI, nice tiger stripe flame top, which brings me to my question for anyone in the know... he obviously had the pickup split wired into a rotary switch where the neck pickup tone would be, and used it liberally for that honking rhythm stuff, then clicking it back for both coils on solos, but I think it was just the bridge pickup that was on, split, rather than both outer coils. Whatever, the tone was fabulous... it's been a few years since I've seen Robben live, I've forgotten how inventive he is ... it really strikes home when you hear him play a familiar tune and realize how fluent and creative he is with his comping and his soloing.

Hope you all get a chance to hear and support him soon! I would have stayed for all 3 days if I could have.. thanks for a great show, Robben! My wife went up to say hello and apologize for falling asleep at a club gig in LA about 15 years ago.... he was very gracious to her, which just made it all the more fun for her. Good thing he's married, every girlfriend I've ever taken to hear him (including my wife of 15 years) can't take their eyes off his dimples... I'm not always sure they appreciate him for the right reasons, but what the hay.

[PierreL]

Thanks for the review. Sounds like it was a great concert

[Red Suede]

Guys, check your early Carlton albums. Greg Mathieson is one of the keyboard players along with Terry Trotter on a bunch of that stuff. A master at comping behind a guitar player, so these shows will be very cool.

[yebdox]

Oh, yeah, red Suede, very true.... have you heard that live album with Mathieson and Landau at the Baked Potato? (probably a dumb question for this group)... if you haven't, it's a double album from 2001 I believe, definitely worth it... some great grooves, and they all just went in and jammed without a rehearsal ( or so they say). Mathieson really knows how to build a solo with energy!

[Red Suede]

Thanks for the heads up, yeb,
I'll check out that album.

[marinblues]

I saw Mathieson playing with Larry just 2 months ago.

Here's some live footage.

That was quite a surprise since the last time I heard of Mathieson was when I bought my Larry's first LP "Mr 335 Live in Japan" back in 1981!
_________________
-> my stuff