Robben Ford Discussion

[AlChuck]

So it appears that Jeff Beck is next going to do a trio project with Rhonda Smith on bass (who has been in his band for about the last two years) and Veronica Bellino on drums.

There was some discussion over the last couple of days on the Jeff Beck Appreciation Society (Yahoo group) where a couple of people complained that trios never sound good because when the guitarist solos there are no chords.

I felt compelled to point out that some trios sound really good... like Robben's trios... With good enough players that can suggest the harmony within the context of their improvising, you don't miss anything. I feel sure that with a bassist of Rhonda's capability and with Jeff Beck's often-overlooked skill as a chordal player, this will be an exciting band to see and hear.

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

I like trios, especially in a live setting.

I like Robben's current trio best of all his bands. I think Andy Hess and Toss Panos work magic with Robben's music.

Check out this video on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPPTvHlD2rY

It's a good audio example of what the trio sounds like, for anybody who hasn't heard them live yet. The video quality is poor, but the audio demonstrates the dynamic journey. That's what I like about trios, the dynamic element.
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Travelling by train of thought

[AlChuck]

I saw one of the shows that was recorded for Soul On Ten a couple of years back - Robben with Travis Carlton on bass and Toss Panos on drums. He did have a Hammond B-3 player, Neil Evans, on some of the stuff, but I felt the earlier numbers before Evans joined were full and complete.

Trios can be fantastic, but it's gotta be tough on the guitarist to provide everything without keys or another guitar to simplify things a bit.