Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 646 Location: City of Trees, USA
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 8:18 pm Post subject: Robben's Clinic Today
It's hard to adequately describe a Robben Ford Clinic. It's a great combination of instruction, insight and inspiration. If you've never done one, you've missed a great opportunity to share some of the amazing music that Robben lives. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, or somewhere in between, there's something for everyone in the inclusive manner in which Robben teaches and shares his thoughts.
This was my second Clinic. My first was last October. I'm glad I went back. Some of the stuff that went over my head like a speeding freight train last time slowed down a bit this time, so I could absord a bit more. Some of the material was the same as October, but presented from different angles. And some was comepletely new.
Once again, Robben's explanation of the simplicty of basic harmonic theory (taught with the high-tech visual aid of a photocopied handout that is nothing but a drawing of one-and-a-half octaves on a piano keyboard) was fantastic. He then moved to simple "rules" concerning chords. From there, it was his explanation of what is durable and creative about the blues form. ("Three chords. Nobody's asking for a lot from anybody. Just commitment.")
Robben weaves a lot of his personal musical history into his presentation. As he often explains, his first idol was Mike Bloomfield. (Once again, the bio about Bloomfield, "If You Love These Blues," gives great perspective.) But this time around he also spoke at length about his original instrument, the alto sax, and his admiration for Paul Desmond. He continues to be amazed by many sax players, especially Michael Brecker, who he recently heard in New York, and who knocked him out.
This time around there was a lot of interesting discussion about songwriting, and Robben gave a detailed and fascinating comparison of how two songs on "Supernatural," "Let Me In," and "Hey Brother" came about. The former began as a set of chords, then melody, then lyrics. The latter was the opposite, based on words Robben began to compose in his mind while driving home from the airport. The give and take between Robben and the attendees provided a lot of fascinating insights into great songwriters like Jimmy Webb (who insists that everything rhyme) and Oscar Hammerstein III (who claimed that rhyming made no difference at all).
Robben is great at absorbing all manner of questions, and then, no matter how musically technical or historically arcane the question, providing responses that everyone in the group can relate to. Along the way, he wove in his own history. Particularly interesting this time around were perspectives he gave on how he'd interacted with other musicians over the years, both in the music and off stage. Interesting lessons, and not just for playing with other musicians, but also with respect to interacting with folks at work, at home, or in any situation.
Lots of interesting gear: Robben brought the "new" (he thinks it was made in '99 or so, but was orphaned in the store's inventory until he bought it this year) Les Paul, a Deluxe Reverb, and the Dumble combo he had rebuilt from a Dumble head. The head-turner of the day, however, was an attendee who pulled out a 1950's Gibson L-type. Robben's excited "hey ... I once had one of those," led to a horror story about the headstock on Robben's having been snapped in aircraft baggage. A 17-year old attendee had a Fender Elite he'd recently found, the type that became the "Robben Ford Model." One of the attendees had recently purchased a Dumble, at a price that I won't mention here in the post, but that caused everyone's jaws to drop, and led to Robben later wondering out loud if his Dumbles were his "retirement fund."
Three attendees answered the call to plug into the Dumble and play with Robben. The 17-year-old went first, with some great straight-ahead blues licks. Definitely a lot of talent in this young man. Next up was our own JackD, who brought his Ibanez Artist (the model that later became the Scofield) with him from Rochester, MI. Jack got Robben going with a great rendition of Kenny Burrell's "Blues for Del," with the two of them going back and forth with solos. Very, very nice. JackD did our BBS group proud. The third player was from San Diego, a gentleman who brought his teenaged guitar-playing son with him. He got a great sound and some wonderfully melodic stuff out of his Carvin semi-hollow that was reminiscent of some of the great Western Swing players of the 1950's, so much so that Robben was (as were some of the rest of us) surprised to learn that he wasn't all that familiar with some of the players who had perfected that sound, like James Burton and Scotty Moore.
There was lots new to learn. E.g., while I knew about Robben's time with Joni Mitchell and the "Miles of Aisles" live album, I hadn't known that he'd played on some of the cuts on the "Hissing of Summer Lawns" album. So I had an immediate homework assignment when I got back to the house, digging out my vinyl copy of this 1975 gem, that includes people like Larry Carlton and Joe Sample.
Some final notes. First, for Elizabeth: Wide pattern blue plaid shirt open over white crew-neck tee-shirt, olive drab denims, and plain brown cowboy boots. E.g., relaxed "home" clothes.
Also, Robben mentioned that this coming Monday the 30th will be Anne's and his 18th Anniversary. Maybe a salute on this BBS is in order, or a congratulatory e-mail to them at anne@annekerryford.com
I guess that JackD and I were the only ones there from this board. If you were there "incognito," let us know.
The next Clinic is November 13. Info on Robben's web site. The weather will be a lot cooler by them, but the reception at the Ojai Womens Club auditorium will be just as warm. _________________ - BlueRunner
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Southern California
Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 9:00 pm Post subject: Re: Robben's Clinic Today
BlueRunner wrote:
Robben is great at absorbing all manner of questions, and then, no matter how musically technical or historically arcane the question, providing responses that everyone in the group can relate to.
Sounds like a terrific time! I drove up to San Luis Obispo this weekend and as I drove by the turnoff from the 101 that goes up to Ojai my car started to veer to the right. I'm going to have to go again to the first clinic he has next year. That wll be my 3rd!
Just to add one thing from my experiences at these clinics. If Robben doesn't know the answer to a question he'll just say so. He won't try and BS you. He not there to impress anyone, he's just there to share music with everyone. These clinics are the chance of a lifetime.
Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 243 Location: Rochester, MI
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 12:04 pm Post subject:
Sorry for the delay in posting my report. I few back to Michigan Sunday and went right to the Allman Brothers concert (a great show!!).
BlueRunner did a great job of describing the event, so I don't need to cover the same material. I thought I'd give some additional perspective on how the clinic related to me.
When I arrived, Robben recognized me from the past including a clinic I did with him in Detroit earlier this year. He said it was great to see me but also (half jokingly) asked, "What are you doing here? You already know all this stuff!" From my time at GIT and having most of Robben's instructional material, he was right. So why did I go and what did I get out of it (and why should you go too)? Here's some thoughts:
First, it is just great being able to hang out with Robben. You've heard it a million times, but he is just a great guy. It's a real pleasure spending time with him talking about music, life, and guitar stuff.
Second, even if you know a lot of "stuff" (e.g., music theory, guitar technique, etc.) you can still learn a lot at the clinic. I learned a ton, but here's just a few examples, which I've named:
"Love what you play-play what you love". At one point in the clinic, Robben played some old Mike Bloomfield and BB King CDs. While the music was playing, I watched Robben. He had his eyes closed, his head down slightly and rocking back and forth, and you could see his his whole body moving to the groove. This is stuff that he's been listening to for 35 years and he still totaly loves it!! I really got an appreciation for what this music means to him and why he's so good at it. He's playing what he loves and he loves what he's playing.
"Know your stuff--but know enough". Music is not rocket science. A lot of us can get really bogged down in the technical side of music. A person needs to develop the tools they need play the music they love, and that's enough. Then you've got to go and make music and make the most of what you know. Knowledge will open up the doors, but then you've got to walk though and make the music happen.
"It's all about the melody, stupid." The three most important things in real estate are location, location, location. The three most important things in (good) improvisation are melody, melody, melody. No matter what he was talking about, Robben always seems to come back to the importance of the melody.
"If you want to go far, play rhythm guitar." Robben said he absolutely loves playing rhythm guitar. I agree. It's a lost art and if you really want to distinguish youself as a guitar player, work on your rhythm playing.
Anyway, I hope you find these thoughts helpful. If I can think of anything else, I'll let you know. I really enjoyed the clinic and would recommend it to anyone at any level. I'm sure that at some time in the future, I'll once again make the journey from Michigan to Ojai.
Last edited by JackD on Mon Aug 30, 2004 6:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 243 Location: Rochester, MI
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 12:12 pm Post subject:
Sorry for so may typos in my last posting. I had to fix one, however. In my first point above, I meant to to say "HANG out", not "HAND out". Although Robben had some very nice paper hand-outs at the clinic, the cool part was hanging out!!
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 1043 Location: Boulder, CO
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 12:36 pm Post subject:
I fixed it for you.....
Thanks for the great post! We appreciate it!
The clinic I went to Robben put on EC's Beano Bluesbreaker CD. You could see the love in his eyes. Just hanging and listen to CD's with Robben is a very fun experience! When people are sincerely passionate it's infectious. That's what we all feel hanging with the Man!
Hey Robben, feel free to hang with us up hear on board anytime! You are always welcome!
Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 4:41 pm Post subject:
I thank you guys for the updates.
While I don't think the Nov. clinic will work for me, I'm pretty sure that I'll be planning on the one around the Feb. timeframe.
Just some curious questions. Did anyone record the clinic? What do the hand-outs contain? Any noteworthy guitars? What did everyone do for lunch- was it a group thing, Robben included, or did people just go their own way by themselves or in groups? Did anyone go out that night?
Also, where did out-of-towners stay? Did anyone happen to stay at the Oakridge Inn (that's where I had a reservation), and how was it? If not, where did you stay, and how was it?
Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 243 Location: Rochester, MI
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 6:00 pm Post subject:
I did record the clinic. I think a number of people did as well. I have not yet listened to it because I just got back last night. However, I couldn't help myself and I did listen to the part where I played with Robben once I got back to my room at the Inn.
As far as handouts, we got a mock-up of a keyboard; 3-4 exercises from Robben's rhytm guitar book; a chart for Moonchild Blues; and a set of triads that work well over a G7, C maj 7, and D minor.
Robben just brought his Les Paul (which sounded great--although I think that if Robben was playing on a Sears Silvertone it would still sound great). He also brought a Dumble combo (that I got to play out of) and a Deluxe Reverb.
For lunch, everyone was on their own. Everything is in walking distance. Small groups of folks hooked up. BlueRunner and I had lunch together. Robben had to go home and get his CD player. I'm not sure if he typically has lunch with any of the guys.
I flew up on Friday and stayed in Ojai on Friday and Saturday. I stayed at the Rose Garded Inn. It was fine. It was very laid back. If you like knotty pine, you'll love this place. I think it was $100 or $110/night.
Since I was by myself, I didn't to much. I don't think there was anyone else from the clinic sticking around in Ojai. I just had dinner at some nice restaurants in the downtown area. I didn't go out of the area to go to a club--I had to get up at 5:00 a.m. Sunday to get to LAX for my flight!
Joined: 07 Oct 2003 Posts: 10 Location: Vancouver BC
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:53 pm Post subject:
Thanks for the great info about the clinic. I'm determined to get to one but probably not until the new year. I'm sure I'd learn alot but as a really new player, I have to admit I feel a little intimidated not only by Robben but by the other participants too. Maybe it's something about starting to learn rather late in life. However, it's too good an opportunity to miss and Robben was so nice when I did meet him in Seattle. All the info about the clinic helps alot. If anyone from Vancouver BC is thinking of going, I'd love to hear about it.
Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 646 Location: City of Trees, USA
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 9:02 pm Post subject:
While it's based on only two clinics and a bunch of concert experiences, I'm confident in guaranteeing that Robben would never intimidate even the most novice of musicians. It's just not in his nature. As for the other participants, you'll find nothing but encouragement and shared experience on a whole lot of levels. So don't be bashful about signing up. _________________ - BlueRunner
I attended one clinic in May, and justified it this way:
I currently pay a guy $30 bucks an hour for guitar lessons. Sitting with Robben Ford with 20 other folks for 5 hours cost $150 ($30 bucks an hour)
Show me a better value than spending quality, intimate time with a world class artist for that kind of money. Frankly, I would pay $30 bucks an hour to carry Robben's amps, if I could listen to him play.
As far as intimidation goes, perhaps a little if you don't know what a triad is, or some of the complex chords being discussed. I am truely a novice player, and wished I knew a bit more at the class. Picking up Robben's home training books in advance would have helped me.
But, the purpose of the clinic was not to teach, but to inspire and unveal. I now find myself enjoying Robben's music much more knowing how it came to be. Many songs that I considered 'not heavy or bluesy' enough, I find myself rediscovering and really enjoying.
As I said, this is world class. I'll be going again soon.
Joined: 07 Oct 2003 Posts: 10 Location: Vancouver BC
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:55 am Post subject:
Thanks for all the encouragement. My cost would be somewhat higher since I would also have airfare from Vancouver and hotel bills. For reasons I won't go into here, I can't rent a car so getting to the clinic from the airport is a challenge but, if I can figure it out, I know it would be worth it. And of course signing up for a clinic would also be a great incentive to practice, practice, practice.
Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 646 Location: City of Trees, USA
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:41 pm Post subject:
Casy1: I probably sound like a shill for the Ojai Chamber of Commerce, but:
While we have lousy bus service around here (it's Southern California, after all), if you end up flying into LAX or Burbank, there's a good local airport shuttle service known as Roadrunner that is fairly reasonable. From the airport to Ojai may be in the $40-50 range one way, with a discount if you prepay a round trip. Once you're in Ojai you may feel sort of stuck there, but it's a nice place to be stuck, especially if you like to run, walk or bike. (There's a place in town that rents bicycles.) And there are some nice places to stay that are within easy walking distance of the clinic venue. Let me know if you end up registering for a clinic and I'll try to come up with more specific ideas. _________________ - BlueRunner
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Southern California
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 5:42 pm Post subject:
BlueRunner wrote:
Casy1: I probably sound like a shill for the Ojai Chamber of Commerce, but:
While we have lousy bus service around here (it's Southern California, after all), if you end up flying into LAX or Burbank, there's a good local airport shuttle service known as Roadrunner that is fairly reasonable. From the airport to Ojai may be in the $40-50 range one way, with a discount if you prepay a round trip. Once you're in Ojai you may feel sort of stuck there, but it's a nice place to be stuck, especially if you like to run, walk or bike. (There's a place in town that rents bicycles.) And there are some nice places to stay that are within easy walking distance of the clinic venue. Let me know if you end up registering for a clinic and I'll try to come up with more specific ideas.
I wouldn't be surprised if you were able to catch a ride with someone who lives here in So Cal and is driving to the clinic. Heck, I'd give you a ride from the LA area if I were going to the same clinic as you. When you decide you want to go I'd let everyone here know and see what happens.
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It's hard to adequately describe a Robben Ford Clinic. It's a great combination of instruction, insight and inspiration. If you've never done one, you've missed a great opportunity to share some of the amazing music that Robben lives. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, or somewhere in between, there's something for everyone in the inclusive manner in which Robben teaches and shares his thoughts.
