Robben Ford Discussion

[BlueRunner]

A very fine day in Ojai yesterday. Puffy clouds, cool breezes, a very nice new restaurant next door to the Women's Center ("Azu," in the old bakery building). Oh yes, and the Clinic.

It was, for the most part, a new group. There was one participant there for the second time. I was the only three-striker in the group. Folks came from as far away as New York, Little Rock, Portland, etc. We had one woman in the group, from the Bay Area. During introductions she quipped that she was there to reduce the testosterone level, but her Barry Bonds sweatshirt was clearly a territorial challenge down here in Dodgerland.

This time around brough new insights into Robben's personal musical journey. He spoke about his high-school sax playing, and how the first LPs he ever bought for himself at the local record store were Ornette Coleman's "New York Is Now," and Archie Shepp's "The Way Ahead." He talked about melody, e.g., if you can't sing it, it's probably not worth listening to, and about how much he's always loved the melodic lines of Paul Desmond. And how he's never been one to memorize a lot of melodic lines, but that an early one that's stuck with him is "Green Dolphin Street," which he fell in love with as a teenager.

The CD "needle drop" was a bit different this time around, as well. While he had the first Butterfield Electra recording with him, the first CD into the boombox, right before lunch, was Laura Nyro's "New York Tendaberry." (If you're somewhere between 50 and 60, you remember where you were when you first heard that album, and what it did to you. Robben sure does.)

As usual, Robben had his way of describing the structure of scales and chords so that he didn't talk down at the pros in the group, and he didn't talk up at the novices. Everyone was a participant in his from-the-ground up explanation of how simple it really all is. (I sat between a fairly recent music-degree grad from Cal State Fullerton and a guy my age who'd never had any music theory in his life. Robben had fascinating gifts for both of them -- sometimes in the same sentence.)

There were the usual questions about gear and technique. Robben was playing the Les Paul straight into a Deluxe Reverb. It doesn't get simpler. But as he went through some demonstrations, it was made clear how much of his tone and dynamic range comes straight from his fingers -- not from tubes and capacitors and wires. He emphasized in some new ways his philosophy that to be a better player, you have to learn to be a better listener. And he did a great demo of one of the first times he ever heard BB King, doing the band bits with his mouth, and King's opening licks on the guitar. As Robben said, "That's just ONE note. And he only plays it once every four bars! That's what you can do when you put everything you have into just one note."

Robben had some head charts that were new from my last Clinic, a year ago, an arrangement based on "Everyday I Have the Blues," and his tune "Blues Alley." Chords, some fills, some melody lines. And everyone had fun playing along.

As always, there were fun new people to meet. Robben was taken aback a bit by one participant who looked almost a dead ringer for Robben's brother Pat. When even Robben remarked that he thought so, you knew it was real.

As always, Robben was gracious on receipt of compliments and very complimentary about the many great musicians he's worked with over the years. One participant thought he'd committed a faux pas when he complimented Robben on a solo on a Ford Bros. recording, only to have Robben advise him that the solo wasn't his, but Volker Striffler's. But as the complimenter tried to apologize, Robben smiled and assured him, "No, this is great. Volker's such a shy person he hardly ever takes compliments easily, so when I tell him about this one he'll really be pleased, just like I'm really pleased that you recoginized what a great player he is!"

Sadly, I had to take off a little early due to a family committment, so wasn't around for the end-of-the-day "who has the nerve to plug in and jam with Robben" time. There were some folks in the group I'd have liked to have heard.

Oh yes, and Elizabeth: Faded grey tee-shirt, baggy jeans, and plain old brown oxfords. Face it, Robben's actually been home for a while, and is enjoying just being around town. (I may get out to the Bluesbreakers show in Lancaster in two weeks. I'll be sure to give you a sartorial update after that, if I do.)

Next Clinic is in January. Always a gorgeous time of year in Ojai. Of course, every time of the year is gorgeous in Ojai.
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- BlueRunner

[JohnnyZ]

Beautifully written, Blue. Thanks!
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Soul on Eleven

[Leftbender]

Wonderfull review, blue! I hope one day I have the opportunity to join a RB clinic. Speaking of Elizabeth, though, where is she???????? Haven't heard of her for ages!!
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"Don't play what's there, play what's not there" Miles Davis

[bluenote]

mAKES YOUR MOUTH WATER JUST HEARING ABOUT THE CLINIC, HEY JOHNNY Z, I MIGHT HAVE WAIT ONE MORE TIME BEFORE GOING TO A CLINIC...JANUARY MAY BE TO SOON FOR ME....I WENT TO THE CLINIC IN MAY, TOOK THE FAMILY ON VACA IN JUNE, TOOK A MOTORCYCLE TRIP IN JULY, AND IM LEAVING FRIDAY TO GO FISHING IN WISC. SO THE WIFE AND THE BANK ACCT TELL ME I MAY HAVE TO WAIT, HOW BOUT YOU....JANUARY OR LATER? AND BY THE WAY BLUE, THANKS FOR THE CLINIC REPORT...I COULD PICTURE THE WHOLE THING LIKE I WAS THERE!!!!!!
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vaporizer manufacturer

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

BlueRunner, thanks for sharing your wonderful experience with us !

It sounds like it was a fantastic day for everyone involved.
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Travelling by train of thought

[JohnnyZ]

I'm going to pass on the January clinic too, but most definitely would be interested in the one after. Maybe by then, RoadWarrior will be ready to join us!
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Soul on Eleven

[JackD]

Blue:

Great review--I wish I could have been there! It's hard to believe that we were both at the clinic a year ago (boy, how time flies!) I'll have to come to one next year so I can get the every-other-year rotation happening.