Robben Ford Discussion

[matthew]

This is my first time posting here - I usually just read all your great commentary - and since no one wrote anything up on these shows, I thought I would share my recollection.

The lineup was Gary Novak on drums, Chris Chaney bass, and Mike Landau on guitar.

Landau played 2 -3 different strats all night, Chaney played a P-Bass plugged straight in, and Robben had his Dumble head and 2x12 cab, and played his Tele and Goldtop.

I listed the songs I remember across the 6 sets I caught below, but have to say that this was the most astounding I personally have ever heard Robben sound, which is why I wanted to share my memories of this event... I have seen him about 30 times since the mid-90s in his
various incarnations, and this was, Imo, the most interesting and incendiary playing I have ever seen him perform.

The group playing together sounded very, very much like the Joe D'iorio recording, which has been one of my favorites for years. Landau and Robben exchanged licks all night long, as well as showing off some fantastic dual-guitar part playing. If you mentally sub in Landau's organ and faux-pedal steel licks and similar ornamentation for Joe's jazz-box tracks, you'll have a real good idea of what this band sounded like.

It was the tightest, and most stretched out, "outside" playing I have ever seen of Robben's. He was really playing through the changes all night long; even his oldest chestnuts got a different treatment and feel than with his other bands. To me, this was Robben truly playing jazz in the context and framework of his newer songs. Much less noodling than Jing Chi (pls don't flame me!), and again, just playing extended melodic lines across all the changes. This particular band definitely pushed him hard!

Some highlights for me were:

- A lot more than the usual "quiet" playing by Robben, more fingers, and extended use of the volume pedal. Fantastic, and extensive comping by Robben, much more than usual. Also, a lot (underscore) of blazingly fast and articulate runs by Robben. I know there were some recent threads on this board about him not playing like that anymore, but he was playing very much in the vein of the yellowjackets and GIT stuff I mentioned above, across all the sets I caught. Just one jaw-dropper after another, continuously.

- What started out as Chaney bass solos, and ended up 10 mins later as Robben / Chaney duets! Incredible interplay between the 2 of them...

- I never realized just how good Landau was until seeing him work his stuff into Robben's repertoire in a very seamless and complimentary way. Always tasty, always supportive of the song, etc, and really pushed Robben with their back and forth. Played wonderful fake organ / horn stabs (like Roscoe used to do on bass) behind Robben on Lovin cup that made me forget to miss a keyboard player...

- Great band sound; Chaney's bass tone gave me chills; everybody could be heard and was well balanced anywhere I walked in the house.

- Landau singing and playing "Up from the skies", Robben introducing it as "a song that Mike just plays the shit out of!", and Robben doing some amazing comping behind him. Novak pulling out the brushes, and doing amazing quiet stuff. Well, turns out Mike does actually play the heck out of it!

- A real outside kind of tune of Landau's that Robben introduced as "weird and hard to explain" that went on for about 30 mins. Very jazzy and angular, and a bunch of interesting changes that they all pushed to the edge.

- Lastly, Robben was having fun, and cracking up throughout!

Apologies for the diatribe, but that's my recollection of some of the finest music I've seen in many years... I hope some of you have the opportunity to catch this band as well.

Songs (going from memory, in no specific order):

Good thing
Tired of talkin
Freedom
Don't deny yr love
Keep on Running (Chaney killed this)
Supernatural (encores)
Lovin cup (every set)
Chevrolet
Up from the skies (Landau)
You Lie (?) (Great Landau tune with dual vox)
"Outside" Landau instrumental
Indianola (great Landau fills and solos; absolutely smoking by Robben)
Cannonball
Homework (great vox by Robben)
Over My Head
Nothin to nobody
Hey Brother (Robben and Chaney amazing duets)
Top of the hill

Cheers,

Matthew

[UncleSalty]

Great review, Matthew! I saw Landau sit in with Jing Chi a couple of years ago and I think it was one of the first times they'd played together. It was good but they were still feeling each other out and there was very little interplay between the two of them. Sounds like they've taken it up by degrees and degrees since then. Hopefully, Robben'll take Landau in to record with him for that record due next year...

[JavaDiva]

Matthew, thanks for the great review of the Seattle shows. I saw the show in Portland last night, and it was wonderful. I agree with what you wrote about Robben truly playing jazz in the context and framework of his newer songs. Even the standards sounded fresh. And yes, jaws were dropping all over the theater last night - even on stage a time or two! Robben is truly at the top of his game.

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

Awesome review .... Thanks, Matthew
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Travelling by train of thought

[PierreL]

Great review, thanks for that...now I hope that some recordings will surface someday so we can also share those magic moments.

[JohnnyZ]

Damn nice review! I'm always amazed at how people can post the set list (I never can remember, just totally into it without thinking!)) I especially like that little bit of commentary next to a tune (i.e. "great Landau fills and solos; absolutely smoking by Robben"). Thank you!

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

[JohnnyZ]

[JohnnyZ]

[yebdox]

(I posted this last week in the Landau appreciation thread - thought I would add my two cents!)

Hey, I was there for both sets on saturday - I have probably seen Robben play 30 times in the last 25 years and he always amazes me. I especially have come to appreciate his comping - so clean, inventive, direct. Big contrast with Landau, who I also have admired for several years and have never heard live, before. Mike was obviously there in a supportive role, soloed about every 3rd tune and always was low in the mix, though they seemed to be controlling alot of their own volume from the stage. I loved it when Mike would crank, but even on stuff that featured him, it seemed like that CAE head never even really opened up. Mike's comping is equally as creative, but kind of sneaks up on you - a little chord slide with the whammy bar, lots of volume pedal swells, organ style chorusing.

Gary Novak is a great player, who I've only heard with Chick Corea before - very energetic, great time keeper. I still miss hearing Tommy Brechtlein, who is about as inventive as they come, but Novak has played with some heavy hitters (including Holdsworth) and deservedly so. Chris Chaney sounded really good, especially coming from an alt rock background.

Robben's ability to comp creatively behind his own singing, keeping the guitar under control and weaving in and out of rhythm and solo sections is always amazing. It would be enough to just be that good without worrying about getting the vocals right, but he sounds better than ever - his voice is much stronger than it was 20 years ago.

All in all, a great evening. I live in Spokane, so it's a 4 hour drive plus an overnight stay somewhere, but that's better than flying to LA. Jazz Alley is a great venue, good food, always a great calendar of musicians. I hope they continue to do well - my friend, Dave Stryker always looks forward to playing there, as the number of quality jazz clubs continues to dwindle. I think Robben must enjoy it up here enough to keep it an annual thing, and I know that they enjoy having him. I plan on going every chance I get, when he gets within 300 miles!

[pullagnm]

What equipment did Robben play through?

[Bluelobster]