Robben Ford Discussion

Dave G. · Newbie Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 1

Hi all you lovers of great music.Ijust wanted to say that Robbens show at the Horseshoe March 27th was absolutely great!I have been a fan for about 20 years now and have only had the opportunity to see him a few times,a few years ago at the House of Blues in Chicago(Blue Moon tour) and I attended his first clinic in Ojai.I will always remember walking in to the clinic before it started and overhearing him say`there`s even some cat from Canada coming` and I was amazed that he didn`t realize that he is THE MAN for so many of us musicians and music lovers.I was blown away that he would be surprised to have someone travel a long distance to be there-I`d do it again in a heartbeat!Imagine how surprised I was to find out Alexander Dumble was also attending the clinic!
Well it`s true -everything you read about Robben being a great guy and so happy to impart his love for music to all of us at the clinic and teach us what the true essence of great playing is,not tricks and licks.
My girlfriend was travelling with me and he graciously let her sit in on the afternoon session of the clinic(she was tired of walking around Ojai by herself and her feet hurt)-what a great guy!
I could go on and on about the clinic(definitely a high point in my life-meeting the man responsible for creating the music that is so moving to me and my family).
Now about the Horseshoe gig-The opening band was not my cup of tea but many people seemed to enjoy them-they were not the right kind of band to be sharing a bill with a band of Robben`s calibre and clearly were more performance then music oriented.This aside Robbens show was amazing and so very different from the Blue Moon show I saw in Chicago 2 years ago.Very much more jazz oriented and a lot of of great songs and tremendous playing by the band!I now feel that Robbens versions of Homework,Badge and Keep on Running are the definitive versions (I know this is subjective but I`ll be willing to bet most on here agree).The palylist was similar to what others here have posted so I will not repeat that info.My only misgivings were that the stage was too low (couldn`t see well) and that I didn`t get a chance to say Hi to Robben and tell him how much the clinic had meant to me as a musician.

Cheers..... Dave

Bluelobster

tle · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 10:51 pm Post subject:

Dave,
I could shoot myself when i found out couple days after that Robben was in Toronto. The date wasn't listed on his touring schedule. Anyway, the Horsehoe would've been a great place to see him.
BTW What was he using? the 60 Tele or his new Bakers? Still Dumble? Excuse my typical guitar nerd questions , but my earliest recollection of Robben live was a video somebody shot of an outside gig inToronto, (DuMaurier Jazz Festival? perhaps) and he was smoking on that Tele. Prior to seeing that, Ed Bickert was the only one I dug as a Tele player.
TLe

Muiricane · Member Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 19 Location: Michigan

Ya, I have that video also, and Robbens playing is absolutely amazing. The sound of the video is not so hot but the performance is stellar. When Robben recently played in Detroit, he used the black Baker and '60 Tele about 50/50. The Baker sounded great, but that Tele thru the Dumble is the BEST!

tle · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 9:46 pm Post subject:

I can't believe you got that video as well, it really got around then. It was crappy sound, because it was shot on a handheld camcorder. The performance was amazing though. Robben sounded way more agressive and taking way more chances.
TLe