Robben Ford Discussion

[yebdox]

I had the pleasure of heading to Seattle this weekend with my wife and best guitar playing buddy and his wife, to catch the Ford/Landau/Haslip/Novak conglomeration for the late set on friday and both sets saturday. Really wonderful stuff! I've seen Robben 25 or 30 times over the last 30 years, 3 or 4 times at Jazz Alley. He played great, as usual and it was fun to hear some new stuff off the new album (which is out in March, he said). Especially wonderful to hear Landau, who is soooo tasteful and surprising.... I've been a fan forever, but this is only the second time I've gotten to hear him in a club (although maybe with James Taylor a few years back)... last time was with Robben as well, 2 or 3 years ago at Jazz Alley.

Landau had most of his typical small pedal board gear and was playing through a Hot Rod Deville(!) - I didn't get a chance to ask the tech (not Daved) if it was modified, or not. At times, Mike was a bit low in the mix, but he had plenty of volume if he needed it. Great stuff, and such a great contrast and foil for Robben. They clearly were having fun, especially the last set on saturday night. Landau is like a slightly wicked tone elf - constantly riding his tone and volume controls, switching pickups between phrases several times on the same solo... really a Master of the Stratocaster!

Jimmy Haslip played incredibly well, so supportive and tasteful, took a few wonderful and very melodic solos. Novak was hot, maybe occasionally overplayed to a very slight degree, but was clearly having fun... nice solos, and wrote one of the tunes.... had a section in 5/4, very nice tune, and a great player overall (who am I to find fault?)

Landau sang 2 or 3 of his own tunes each set to Robben's 4 or 5. Killer versions of Oasis, especially, but not too many old standbys. Opened with Just Like It Is on all the sets I heard, and closed a couple with Spoonful. Robben was happy to let Mike take the spotlight on a few tunes without soloing himself.

We were staying at the same hotel up the street and ran into Robben and Jimmy when we were going out to eat. Jimmy was gracious and Robben was polite but private, as he has always been when I've tried to say hi. I suspect that he would prefer just to play at this point in his life and not deal with fans so much. I supposed we can be a tiresome lot... it's probably hard to tell the gracious fans (I hope we are!) from the ones who latch on, so probably best to keep the shields up and on full power in unknown territory.

After reading Daved's recent comments about a change in direction for Robben this year, I get the sense that trying to keep a band and a schedule up in the air year after year mostly by yourself when you are artistically but maybe not commercially as successful as we would all wish, might get tiring. He would probably rather be paid incredibly well and have plenty of time to stay home with his wife, write and record with his peers and just travel when he feels like it. I don't know, but I certainly wish the best for him and hope that he can afford to do exactly what he wants to do in life, if not now, then in the very near future. His writing and playing have always inspired me and I don't need a personal connection with an artist to have a successful relationship with their music, but it is fun when it happens.

Anyway, great stuff from our hero and his compadres, well worth the 600 mile round trip. I hope Jazz Alley remains successful for years to come, they manage to support some stellar musicians, Robben among them.

[BAIR]

Just got back from the Sunday show at Jazz Alley. WOOOOOWWW. What a set. Close to 2 hrs of rippen it up with blistering riff coming from 2 sides. Robben and Michael blew me away. Puttin down solo's with Rock, Blues, Jazz etc. influance, and just pure emotion. A perfect balance of guitars, with a bass and drums chasers. Jimmy put down a bass solo that had me jumping out of my chair and thrusting my fist in the air. And Gary did his thing too.
Well the set started out with JUST LIKE IT IS, then WHAT'S UP. But they were just warming up. The rest of the night was song after song from there new album (Bands Name- Renegade Creation) there going to release in March. Don't be surprised if Robben And Michael sneak in a song from Tigar Walk. So everyone go see them Live you won't be dissapointed. Seeing this band Live will cure you ills Please NO PHOTO's
at the shows
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BAIR

[AlChuck]

Renegade Creation? I thought they were being billed as Trial By Fire.

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

Thanks for the reviews! It's been great to read about these shows.

There's a cool video from a radio station appearance (The Bob Rivers show). The link is:

http://www.bobrivers.com/#v10589
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Travelling by train of thought

[gill]

check out roadwarriors link for ford and landau on bob rivers radio show. cool tune. very melodic and chord changes are very cool.

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

Two more videos from Bob Rivers' studio:

http://www.bobrivers.com/#v10580 (last week)
http://www.bobrivers.com/#v10000 (Aug 6, with Bill Evans)


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Travelling by train of thought

[PierreL]

Yeah ! Great clips, thanks for the links.

[rainmkr63]

how do you watch or listen through these links? I can get to the RF/ML but nothing plays, do I need to sign up or something?

R.

[gill]

i think you have to have latest version of quicktime. and maybe register. it seems like i did that a whie back. any one else have the answer.

[PierreL]

No need to register, it's certainly a matter of codec or plugin in your browser.

[BAIR]

Question: (Renegade Creation? I thought they were being billed as Trial By Fire.)

What Robben said was there was some problems using Trial By Fire. And so I checked online and sure enough there's a band in New Jersey called TRIAL BY FIRE.
So at this time it sounds like there calling themselves RENEGADE CREATION Now they played a new tune Sunday night at Jazz Alley called RENEGADE. Mike and Robben dueling in there own ways made this tune kick a##. I hope the band keeps us informed on Name and Release of CD. Tt will be a must bought CD

PEACE
BAIR
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BAIR

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

What is meant by "Play the Rainbow"? Is it a phrase that Robben and Mike use to describe a certain type of playing, or is it a song title? I've seen it used once before in a musical context to mean "making it vivid".
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Travelling by train of thought

[AlChuck]

I thought it meant what it is you do when you have a gig at the Rainbow...

[SuperReverb2]

Sat through both Saturday night shows at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. Rick Wheeler (usually Carlton's Tech) was doing the tech/sound for the show. Got to talk to him a bit, and managed to hang out with Landau and Novak after the second show for a drink or two. Even one of Robben Ford's brothers was there doing the drum tech work. (his name escapes me right now) KILLER, KILLER shows! The first show was great, the second show was even better. Great trades between Ford and Landau. Each played with respect for the other. Very cool to watch and listen to. Landau had a couple of show stopper solos in the second set. There was talk of an album (I believe in the spirng) with this group. Hope so. I'd buy it in heartbeat.


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[AlChuck]