Robben Ford Discussion

[BlueRunner]

Two nights in a row of great music. (See my review of Robben's Canyon Club gig in the Robben threads.) Last night it was the John Anson Ford Amphiteater in L.A. (a wonderful 1200-seat venue near the Hollywood Bowl) for its annual "Lady Jazz" concert (promoted by www.instrumentalwomen.com), featuring great players from around the area and around the country who just happen to be women. (Hilary Jones, one of Robben's great drummers, is a frequent participant in Instrumental Women activities, as is Stratocaster giant Darlene Moreno.)

Last night's "theme" was "Blues in the Summertime." Among the great performers was vocalist Barbara Morrison, who came out on stage for a medley of WC Handy's "St. Louis Blues" and Ida Cox's "Wild Women Don't Have The Blues" wearing a sequined and beaded flapper dress right out of the 1920's, topped with a feathered headdress! (Later in the show she came back out and did the double-entendre'd "Man Size Job" (written by Denise LaSalle), inviting young men to come up to the foot of the stage to answer her question "what grade are you in?," while imploring the audience to help raise her bail, as she was certain "they're gonna' arrest me for some of these lyrics."

But the revelation of the night was guitarist and singer Lois "Lady Mac" McMorris, based out of Omaha Nebraska. I'd never heard of her (my loss), but she's apparently toured with BB King, worked with jazz bands, and appeared with a lot of blues artists. It was a stealth act. For the first half of the show she pretty much played restrained rhythm guitar. Even when the rhythm section paid tribute to Stax Records with a nicely-grooved "Green Onions," I was disappointed by how little Steve Cropper came out. But after intermission, the music director cut her loose.

Wow. Not only did she have great pipes and dance moves, but on the guitar? BB King licks, shredding, and ... well, let's put it this way:

I've seen the old films of T-Bone Walker doing the behind-the-neck playing that she did --
I've seen Keith Richards doing the use-the-mike-stand-as-a-slide thing --
I've seen Steve Vai do the overhand full-hand fist-tapping thing --
I've seen Pete Townshend do the "move around holding the guitar like it's a baby -- it's all in the feedback" thing --

But in my entire life, I've NEVER seen someone put the guitar down on the stage floor and play it with stilleto heels!

So, does anyone out there know anything about this woman?
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- BlueRunner

[Bluelobster]

now i am over drooling

[JohnnyZ]

Please send me a link to purchase the dvd...