Utopia

Something Blue – Utopia – March 25, 2023

This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Bob Reynolds, The James Quintet, and Regis V. Gronoff. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.

Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM CST, at kasu.org.

Régis V. Gronoff – Darker Resonanz
www.jamendo.com/album/179008/darker-resonanz

The James Quintet – Live – Trenton Avant Garde Fesival 09-12-1992
archive.org/details/jamendo-007052

Bob Reynolds – Somewhere In Between
bobreynolds.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere-in-between

Jazz Friends – Jazz Friends 2011, Guitars in Jazz
www.jamendo.com/album/94812/summer-jazz-2011
www.jamendo.com/album/118676/jazz-friends-2013-guitars-in-jazz

Tom La Meche – Où se cachent…
www.jamendo.com/album/5905/ou-se-cachent
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents NJHB Playing Colossus

DJ Hairy Larry Presents NJHB Playing Colossus
From The Archives Of Something Blue March 19, 2023

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a song I wrote that NJHB played at my Senior Recital.

The Senior Recital is a rite of passage for music students, the most important recital in their undergraduate studies. My recital was on November 8, 2013, and I had been playing all year with NJHB, the New Jazz House Band. It only made sense to me to bring this rehearsed act to the Fine Arts Recital Hall to close the recital with 4 of my original compositions.

My song, “Colossus”, was one of our favorites and we kicked off the NJHB set with it.

This recording of Colossus featured Arkansas musicians, Suzanne Michell – vocals, Addison Boling – drums, Matt Jackson – bass, Jay Shepherd – guitar, Don Bowyer – trombone, Joseph Curtis – trumpet, Cody Ballard – tenor sax, and Hairy Larry – piano and vocals.

Suzanne and Fred drove up from Little Rock to play the recital. Matt Jackson, from Kennett, Missouri, attended school at ASU, and Don Bowyer, who has played trombone all over the world, was the Dean of Fine Arts. I attended classes with all the other musicians and Jay and Cody have also taught at the music department. I was more than pleased to have such fine musicians presenting my songs at the recital.

Ok now, Here’s NJHB, recorded live on November 8, 2013, playing “Colossus” in the Fine Arts Recital Hall.

archive.org/details/hl2013-11-08
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Suddenly

Something Blue – Suddenly – March 18, 2023

This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Jay Shepherd, Dave Stryker, and Sunna Gunnlaugs. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.

Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM CST, at kasu.org.

Sunna Gunnlaugs – Becoming

Sunna Gunnlaugs – Home

Dave Stryker – Blue To The Bone
www.davestryker.com/

Jay Shepherd – Delta Jazz Workshop July 12, 2016
www.jayshepherdguitar.com/jazz
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents Jay Shepherd Playing Footprints

DJ Hairy Larry Presents Jay Shepherd Playing Footprints
From the Archives Of Something Blue March 12, 2023

Thanks Marty, today we’re hearing a Wayne Shorter standard played by Jay Shepherd at the Delta Jazz Workshop.

I took Jazz Arranging with Jay Shepherd and we both had a good class. Jay continued on to take a Masters in guitar performance and then taught at ASU until he moved to the other side of the state. I would still see him every year at the Delta Jazz Workshop where we worked together again teaching jazz improvisation and playing in the workshop’s small groups.

On July 12, 2016, it was Jay’s turn to entertain the Delta Jazz Workshop attendees. Playing with Jay were Tyler Washam – piano, Shane Chastain – piano, Terrell Montgomery – bass, and Keyven Dunn – drums. All except Shane were students at ASU. All from Northeast Arkansas except Keyven Dunn who was from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, before he attended ASU.

Wayne Shorter is one of the most influential jazz composers of all time. His standard, “Footprints” is one of the most frequently covered jazz songs.

So now, recorded live in the Fine Arts Recital Hall on July 12, 2016, here’s Jay Shepherd playing “Footprints”.

www.jayshepherdguitar.com/jazz
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Hit

Something Blue – Hit – March 11, 2023

This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Marco Benevento, Akrasia, and The Dip. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.

Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM CST, at kasu.org.

Marco Benevento Live at Barnstock on 2023-02-26
archive.org/details/mb2023-02-26.ca14.flac16

The Dip Live at Brooklyn Steel on 2023-02-25
archive.org/details/td2023-02-25.AKG483.SOUNDBOARD

Akrasia Live at Music Night on Jupiter on 2023-02-25
archive.org/details/akrasia2023-02-25
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents Mike Dollins

DJ Hairy Larry Presents Mike Dollins
From The Archives Of Something Blue March 5, 2023

Thanks Marty. Today we’re going to hear some jazzy blues recorded live at the Craighead Forest Bandshell.

Mike Dollins is a blues musician and promoter from Little Rock. We had the idea to have an Arkansas Blues Caravan bringing musicians from all over the state to perform at the Bandshell. The acts performing included Suzanne and Fred, Sandy and Roy McCann, Ben “Swamp Donkey” Brenner, Jawbone and Jolene, and Mike “Whiskerfish” Dollins and The Big Blue Cats.

It was great weather with everyone enjoying everybody else’s blues. A good time was had by all, the musicians and the audience.

I picked a Robert Cray song, “Phone Booth”, played by the Big Blue Cats to play today. Playing on the song are Mike Dollins and Ben Brenner, guitar; Mark Dixson, bass; and Ted Thorsen, drums; all from the Little Rock area.

So, it was May 20, 2007. Musicians from all over the state gathered at the Craighead Forest Bandshell to party, trade stories, and play music. It don’t get no better than that.

Now here’s Mike “Whiskerfish” Dollins and The Big Blue Cats playing “Phone Booth”.

Arkansas Blues Caravan

archive.org/details/arkansas_blues_caravan

Mike “Whisker Fish” Dollins and the Big Blue Cats Live at Craighead Forest Bandshell on 2007-05-20

archive.org/details/bbc2007-05-20
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Northern

Something Blue – Northern – March 4, 2023

This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Bob James, The New Mastersounds, and Club d’Elf. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.

Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM CST, at kasu.org.

New Mastersounds Live at Umeda Shangri-La, Osaka, Japan on 2023-02-09
archive.org/details/nms2023-02-09.AKG_C451B.24bit

Bob James – Grand Piano Canyon

Club d’Elf Live at Park City Music Hall on 2023-02-23
archive.org/details/delf2023-02-23.cmc622.sbd.matrix.flac16
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents Bebop Beatniks Playing Sheltered

DJ Hairy Larry Presents Bebop Beatniks Playing Sheltered
From The Archives Of Something Blue – February 26, 2023

Thanks Marty. Today we’re going to hear an original jazz song accompanying a spoken word poem by Walt Whitman.

The nice thing about the Delta Jazz Workshop is getting to play with musicians you haven’t seen for a year, as well as musicians you’ve just met.

On July 10, 2019, Bebop Beatniks were playing the Wednesday night concert featuring the working piano trio with Jeremy Jackson on bass, Alex Washam – drums, and Hairy Larry on piano.

Kevin Tinker was on trumpet and Emily Lindley on vibes. Both Kevin and Emily had played with us for years.

We also featured our frequent guest, Jay Shepherd on guitar. Rounding out the horns we had Michael McGowan on tenor sax. This was the first and only gig, so far, that Bebop Beatniks had McGowan as a guest beatnik.

One of things to listen for today is the amazing horn duets with Kevin and Michael working together like the seasoned pros they are.

Another thing you will notice is that I read the poem “Tear Down and Build Over Again” by Walt Whitman. Spoken word over jazz goes back to bebop and the beat poets, and has always been a part of our show.

So now, from their new album, “Church”, here’s Bebop Beatniks playing my song, “Sheltered”, on July 10, 2019, in the Fine Arts Recital Hall, at the Delta Jazz Workshop.

archive.org/details/bebop-beatniks-church
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Weather

Something Blue – Weather – February 25, 2023

This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Jazz Is Dead and Bela Fleck. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.

Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM CST, at kasu.org.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Live at Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Philadelphia, PA) on 2019-12-03
archive.org/details/bfft2019-12-03

Jazz Is Dead Live at Tarrytown Music Hall on 2023-01-26
archive.org/details/sk2023-01-26.EJL
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents The Steve Davis Trio

From The Archives Of Something Blue February 19 2023

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a jazz standard recorded at KASU Jazz Thursday.

I played with Matt Jackson in NJHB. He’s a fine bass player who’s in demand, playing with many musicians. He told me about a band he played in, the Steve Davis Trio, and after we adjusted our schedule a little we found a date when they could play.

Steve Davis plays guitar. Matt’s on bass and rounding out the trio is Michael Cates on drums. They work well together delivering a tight sound on jazz standards, pretty much playing all my favorite songs. At the top of that list is “Stella By Starlight”, a fantastic ballad.

Their Arkansas Roots come from Kennett, Missouri, just four miles across the state line, in the bootheel.

Matt Jackson, Michael Cates, and Steve Davis are all from Kennett. Matt attended school at ASU where he played in Tom O’Connor’s big band. Of course Matt also performed regularly in Jonesboro with NJHB and they all played at KASU Jazz Thursday.

Both Matt and Michael play solos on this recording so you get to hear everyone solo.

Now here’s the Steve Davis Trio, recorded at KASU Jazz Thursday on February 28, 2013, playing “Stella By Starlight”.

www.astate.edu/news/steve-davis-trio-to-entertain-at-kasu-jazz-thursday-feb-28
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