Robben Ford Discussion

[Red Suede]

Ha! Got my ticket for Larry Carlton on May 1st at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz and Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, and Tommy Castro at the Garden Theater Montalvo on June 18th. This is a very good next two months for me.

[Bluelobster]

Red Suede you are as lucky as Jean Constant with Lando & Roby in SaFari
Tthe Droolllllllllllllllllllllinnng Lobster.......................;

[Aeolian]

Well, one show down. Red must have been at the early show because I missed him running in just as the second was about to start.

Wow! Those shows with Robben must have really fired Larry up. He was on it last night. Previously he eschewed fast playing as a usless stunt and championed slower, more melodic playing. Well last night, he used all of it. And his fast playing was very interesting as he moved though substitutions in a very musical way. Not just useless flash. He even did some Sco like skanky rakes. Together with his signature sweet touch it was a master class in making complete music with a guitar. How to use every dynamic, technical and harmonic device to make wonderful music. The band was Tos Panos on drums with his loose swinging style, Carlton stalwart Greg Mathison on keys (coming to a Robben show soon), Larry's son Travis on bass, and a New Orleansish tenor player I didn't catch the name of. Travis took a great bass solo over "Put It Where You Want It". Full of all the usual bass technical tricks like the Victor Wooten rascadas, but very musical and developed. It melodicaly went somewhere. Afterwards Larry said "I wonder where he got that from". Couldn't be closer to the truth. Dad's musical sensibilities must have rubbed off somewhere. The sax player sang a great minor blues as Tos laid down the New Orleans funk groove. Larry just tore it up. Like Robben, enough sophistication to let you know he had it, and keep it interesting, but true to the spirit of the blues. He did a version of Miles of Smiles on the electric that was an abject lesson in mastery of the fingerboard. Another Robben similarity. Like Robben and Chris Cain, Larry can move small chord voicings around better than most guitarists can work single notes. Stuff just kept falling out of him, chorus after chorus.

Larry was using a couple of his signature Mr. 335's. One in a darker sunburst for a couple of songs, and most of the night on one with a lighter sunburst more like his old faithful. It must be great to not have to tour with a precious instrument and still be comfortable playing. Maybe Robben could get Gene or Bill Chapin to make him a Tele so he could keep that special one safe.

This was the thickest tone I've heard from Larry live over the last 10 years. He had the input gain up around 3:00 and used the volume pedal, the tone knobs on the guitar and his touch. No channel switching. For Miles of Smiles he did back off the input gain and up the master for more clean headroom. Then he spun it back. His ability to go in and out of an overdriven tone on any particular note is what inspired me to buy my Fuchs and try to learn some touch. This isn't just using the volume pedal, he has the dynamic range in his hands to get just the tone he wants for each note. Everybody fixates on his extended triadic theory, or Robben's half dimished usage. But for me the most amazing thing about these two guitarists is their touch. Many folks can study and cop the runs, but these guys make music by making each note sound like it should within the phrase. And their control of the sound of the notes is as good as their command of the rest of the instrument.

What a night. Now for the both of them together.
_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

[Red Suede]

Caught the early Carlton show. Carlton is a master at organizing his set so that he hits a lot of different moods, fast to slow, melodic, jazzy,etc. He's one of the only artists that holds my attention the whole night. He talked about hwi biggest hit, "Smiles and Smiles To Go", and how he couldn't perform it correctly becoause part of the acoustic pickup wasn't working right, so we were going to see something unique tonight, which was him performing the tune on electric guitar. The guy just has such a natural stage presence, you feel included in the show. The last three times i've seen him, he's been showing off his chops,and this time was no exception. Excellent show. (His son stole the show for me, picked out excellent notes while backing the other musicians. I wonder if while he was growing up, Abe Laboriel showed him a few things).

[Aeolian]

Larry has always had better chops than he was given credit for, but on things like Last Nite and Live at the Greek, his fast playing is a bit choppy and sounds a little strained. I don't know what it is but he really had things smoothed out Monday night and was phrasing within the fast runs like Bird. Simply wonderful. Maybe he's decided to just go for it. Maybe the duet things with other guitarists like Luke and Rit stuck in his craw. But he now is using everything and showing complete mastery of the guitar. Very few chops player have anything close to his touch and sensitivity. And now he is playing in their yard too. What a range to have at one's beck and call.

The great thing about Kuumbwa is that you can easily hear the folks talking from the stage without the mike. So all the little jibes and under the breath comments are shared with the audience. I can't wait to see Robben there next month. Guys like that who are just down to earth and friendly. It feels really personal and they can get loose and just have fun. At one point Larry started playing a chord voiced head to Minute by minute and then stopped and looked at Greg. Then he did it again and when he stopped, started muttering about how with a set up like that, how could Greg have missed the cue. The he swung the microphone over and boldly announced "Now we're going to play Minute by Minute" with a big grin on his face. To which everyone, including Greg, laughed. It's like being in your living room with these folks. And I think the musicians feel it too and it helps them relax and let it all hang out. The one time I was fortunate to play there, it was the most aware and appreciative audience I've ever played for. When guys like Robben and Larry notice the subtle things they do being picked up on, I'm sure they get inspired to dig deep and bring up their best.
_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

[Red Suede]

Going to see Robben at Kuumbwa an the 23rd of this month. Thanks for the heads up, Aeolian. If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known.

[JackD]

GREAT reviews! I had a wonderful time seeing Robben and Larry in New York in March. I'd love to see them again!