Thinking

Posted on June 8, 2024 by Hairy Larry

Something Blue – Thinking – June 8, 2024


This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Joe Lee, Warren Bernhardt, Braxton Cook, and Steve Kuhn. 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.

Steve Kuhn – To And From The Heart
stevekuhn.bandcamp.com/album/to-and-from-the-heart

Steve Kuhn

Warren Bernhardt – So Real
www.discogs.com/artist/345763-Warren-Bernhardt
music.youtube.com/channel/UCrue94Qf9uihQSMXsI1LjxA

Braxton Cook – Somewhere In Between

Joe Lee And Friends – Boppin’ At The Forest
archive.org/details/joe-lee-and-friends-boppin-at-the-forest
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents Joe Lee And Friends playing Kinda Tawny

Posted on June 2, 2024 by Hairy Larry



DJ Hairy Larry Presents Joe Lee And Friends playing Kinda Tawny
From The Archives Of Something Blue 2024-06-02

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear Joe Lee play his own arrangement of the Bill Holman song, “Kinda Tawny”.

“Boppin’ At The Forest” is the third album that I helped Joe record and release. It’s the first one where I recorded the band. On “Sounds Of The Sixties” and “Joe Lee Swings On” I digitized the music from Joe’s master tapes.

Joe had this idea. He wanted to record the charts that he arranged for his band and used when touring in Arkansas, Memphis, and all over the mid south.

Back in the day it took quite a setup to make audio recordings so live audio wasn’t recorded like it is today. But Joe still had the sheet music and he had some friends who knew how to play. So we had a project to work on.

The project was preserving Joe’s arrangements as music and recording the sound of Joe’s current band.

Joe’s new studio was his living room. I ran mic cables into his study where he kept his tapes and a bunch of recording stuff he used at Alley. I hooked the mics into a mixer board and recorded stereo to my computer. So in 2001 I was ahead of the curve doing digital recording.

Playing on “Kinda Tawny” were
Joe Lee – Tenor Sax
Craig Baker – Trumpet
Dru Davison – Bari Sax
Joy Sanford – Piano
Tom Mason – Bass
and
Mike Overall – Drums

All fine outstanding musicians with deep ties to the Northeast Arkansas jazz scene.

The results were spectacular. Joe really knew how to put it together. On “Kinda Tawny” he just kept building and building on the head, adding instruments and changing the parts. Then we’ll hear some great solo work by Craig Baker and Joy Sanford.

Besides being the recording engineer and coproducer I took the photos for the album cover and Vivian did all the layout.

So now, recorded at Alley in 2001, here’s Joe Lee and Friends playing “Kinda Tawny”.

Joe Lee And Friends – Boppin’ At The Forest
Something Blue Archives
archive.org/details/joe-lee-and-friends-boppin-at-the-forest

Something Blue Archives – List Of Concerts
archive.org/details/somethingbluearchives?sort=-publicdate
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Mystic

Posted on June 1, 2024 by Hairy Larry

Something Blue – Mystic – June 1, 2024

Spafford


This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Snap Crow Legs, Tedeschi Trucks, and Spafford. 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.

Tedeschi Trucks Band Live at Keller Auditorium on 2024-05-23
archive.org/details/ttb2024-05-23

Spafford Live at The Railgarten on 2024-05-23
archive.org/details/spafford2024-05-23

Snap Crow Legs Live At The Craighead Forest Bandshell May 15, 2011
archive.org/details/scl2011-05-15
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents Snap Crow Legs Playing Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Posted on May 27, 2024 by Hairy Larry


Snap Crow Legs

DJ Hairy Larry Presents Snap Crow Legs Playing Will The Circle Be Unbroken
From The Archives Of Something Blue 2024-05-26

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a gospel song recorded by a rock band at the Craighead Forest Bandshell in 2011.

When they first played at the bandshell Snap Crow Legs knocked everyone out with their bright, upbeat sound. They soon became regulars playing popular repertoire that included classics from all genres and contemporary rock. On May 15, 2011, they had a little personnel update with Mitch Hollifield as their front man playing acoustic guitar and sharing lead vocals with Greg Phillips.

The recordings I made that day quickly became my favorites and not just because they invited me up to play on three songs. I love it when I go to festivals and the bands invite guests from other bands to play. I really love it when I’m the guest.

Needless to say I had sung “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” many times but never before with Snap Crow Legs. So I kind of made up a harmony/counterpoint part and did the best I could.

When you’re invited up to sing with a band they usually have you sing through someone else’s microphone. The only problem is I sing louder than just about everyone so you will hear me coming in kind of strong before Vivian got my vocal levels under control. She’s the reason I’ve made so many good live recordings for Something Blue, because she was the mixing engineer on the job in real time. There will be two more songs from this concert on Something Blue, this week, and I will post a link to the whole concert on the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.

Playing with Snap Crow Leg were
Greg Phillips – guitar and vocals
Mitch Hollifield – guitar and vocals
Nate Gastineau – drums
Rick Grippo – bass
and
Tanja McKay – violin.
Not only are they all from Northeast Arkansas most of them teach at ASU.

The reason I chose this song this week is just how much fun we had singing it. When a live band is enjoying themselves on stage the audience can tell. It’s one of the things that makes live music great.

Ok now, recorded at The Craighead Forest Bandshell on May 14, 2011, here’s Snap Crow Legs singing “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”.

Snap Crow Legs Live At The Craighead Forest Bandshell May 15, 2011
Something Blue Archives
archive.org/details/scl2011-05-15

Something Blue Archives – List Of Concerts
archive.org/details/somethingbluearchives?sort=-publicdate

Sunday In The Park 2011 – Photos – May 15, 2011
deltaboogie.com/sundayinthepark051511/

music

And that’s Snap Crow Legs singing “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” on May 15, 2011. Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00, for more Snap Crow Legs, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Spafford.


Tedeschi Trucks Band

DJ Hairy Larry With Snap Crow Legs Playing Black Magic Woman
Something Blue – Mystic – 29 second spot

This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Snap Crow Legs, Tedeschi Trucks, and Spafford. 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.


Spafford

Now Online – Something Blue – Rojo

Something Blue Rojo

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Something Blue Rojo

Posted on May 25, 2024 by Hairy Larry

Something Blue – Rojo – May 25, 2024


This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Giant Steps, Trish Clowes, and Cedar Walton. 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.

Trish Clowes & Ross Stanley – Journey to Where
trishclowes.bandcamp.com/album/journey-to-where

Cedar Walton – First Set
www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/cedar-walton

Giant Steps – Jazz Thursday 2013-05-23
archive.org/details/gs2013-05-23
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents Giant Steps Playing Perdido

Posted on May 19, 2024 by Hairy Larry


Michael McGowan And Joy Sanford

DJ Hairy Larry Presents Giant Steps Playing Perdido
From The Archives Of Something Blue 2024-05-25

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a Duke Ellington tune played at KASU Jazz Thursday.

By Duke Ellington tune I mean composed by Juan Tizol, a longtime member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. “Perdido” was first recorded on December 3, 1941. Miles Davis made it his own. He recorded it with the Tadd Dameron Quintet in 1949, released as “Wahoo”. Then again with Jimmy Forrest in 1952.

Joe Lee loved the song and often played it. The musicians Joe played it with also played in the bands, Nightlife and Giant Steps.

I recorded Giant Steps at KASU Jazz Thursday on May 23, 2013, at TheArts@311 in downtown Jonesboro. It was a great show featuring Michael McGowan on tenor sax, along with the regular Giant Steps personnel.

Michael McGowan lived in Jonesboro and played with the Jonesboro Jazz Society Big Band. Then he moved to Texas but he still came back occasionally. I met him at the Jazz Thursday show in 2013 and then, in 2019, I got to work with him at the Delta Jazz Workshop. He even played on our Wednesday night Bebop Beatniks set. I also recorded him playing piano with the Jazz Writers Big Band.

He remains close friends with Craig Baker who plays trumpet with Giant Steps. I contacted Craig to book the show. There was that one time when I showed up at the pizza place to hear Giant Steps play and Tom Mason couldn’t make it. Craig asked if I could sit in so I got to play bass with Giant Steps.

The other musicians in Giant Steps also have ties to Northeast Arkansas and ASU. Joy Sanford, piano; Tom Mason, bass; and Mike Overall, drums.

Ok now, recorded at KASU Jazz Thursday on May 23, 2013, here’s Giant Steps playing “Perdido”.

Giant Steps – Jazz Thursday 2013-05-23
Something Blue Archives
archive.org/details/gs2013-05-23

Something Blue Archives – List Of Concerts
archive.org/details/somethingbluearchives?sort=-publicdate
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Louise

Posted on May 18, 2024 by Hairy Larry

Something Blue – Louise – May 18, 2024

Stackabones

This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Striding The Blast, Stackabones, and Yarn. 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.

Stackabones Live at 118 North (Wayne, PA) on 2024-05-05
archive.org/details/stackabones2024-05-05/
stackabones.bandcamp.com/

Yarn Live at 118 North (Wayne, PA) on 2024-05-05
archive.org/details/yarn2024-05-05/
yarnmusic.net/

Striding The Blast Live at In The Loft at The Edge Coffeehouse on 2017-01-28
archive.org/details/stb2017-01-28/
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents Striding The Blast Playing Twist Of Fate

Posted on May 12, 2024 by Hairy Larry


Striding The Blast

DJ Hairy Larry Presents Striding The Blast Playing Twist Of Fate
From The Archives Of Something Blue 2024-05-12

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear an original song recorded In The Loft At The Edge.

I’ve played at The Edge Coffeehouse for years either in one of the rooms downstairs or on the front porch. When I learned about their loft it was an eye opener. The room upstairs was usually used for meetings, game nights, or book clubs but it was an ideal performance venue with an obvious stage area in front of two windows overlooking the ASU campus.

Besides, you could get on your phone and order coffee or a meal and they would bring it up to you.

I also loved promoting shows In The Loft At The Edge. So interesting. We had jazz nights, acoustic nights, ambient nights, and a bunch of mix and match too.

James Carvell and Joey Hankins are the singer/songwriters in Striding The Blast and they cowrote the song we’re hearing today, “Twist Of Fate”.

I worked with them a lot at Blues Fest and other venues. They are real crowd pleasers with their high energy, harmony vocals, and exuberant lyrics. I even shot a couple of Striding The Blast videos. I’ll post links on the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.

Playing In The Loft that night were Joey Hankins – vocals and percussion, Mark Meyer – guitar, and James Carvell – guitar and vocals. We were having an Arkansas Roots style acoustic night at The Edge Coffeehouse with Eden Prime and Bear Country also playing. All of the bands knew each other and I enjoyed it when the bands featured guests from the other acts. Of course, we were all singing in the audience.

So now, recorded In The Loft At The Edge on January 28, 2017, here’s Striding The Blast singing “Twist Of Fate”.

Striding The Blast Live at In The Loft at The Edge Coffeehouse on 2017-01-28
Something Blue Archives
archive.org/details/stb2017-01-28/

Something Blue Archives – List Of Concerts
archive.org/details/somethingbluearchives?sort=-publicdate

Striding The Blast Concede Your Defeat Video

Striding The Blast Reggae Love Song

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Circular

Posted on May 11, 2024 by Hairy Larry

Something Blue – Circular – May 11, 2024


This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Manuzik, Reno Project, Luck & Doc, Boom Boom Beckett, Maggy Mistake, and NJHB. 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.

MixRemix On Anonradio – From The Creative Commons Jazz Library – 2024-04-26
jazz.mixremix.cc

Manuzik-Nouvelles Shortstories
www.jamendo.com/album/327/nouvelles-shortstories

Reno Project -1.0
www.jamendo.com/album/23661/1-0

Live At The Wake by Luck & Doc
archive.org/details/BSOG0069

20 – Boom Boom Beckett
www.jamendo.com/album/166470/20

Maggy Mistake-4 Losers
www.jamendo.com/album/63941/4-losers

NJHB-Colossus
archive.org/details/hl2013-02-02
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents NJHB Playing El Amor Cubano La Mujer O El Caballo

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Hairy Larry



DJ Hairy Larry Presents NJHB Playing El Amor Cubano La Mujer O El Caballo
From The Archives Of Something Blue May 5, 2024

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a Cuban love song written and performed by the Dean of Fine Arts.

When Don Bowyer came to ASU he was looking for someone to play music with so, of course, everybody mentioned me. I was a student in the music department at the time and I played out a lot, including at our monthly New Jazz In Jonesboro show with NJHB, the New Jazz House Band.

We played all original songs and Don Bowyer is an outstanding jazz composer, so he fit right in. On February 2, 2013, he brought music for a song he wrote called “El Amor Cubano: La Mujer o el Caballo?” roughly translated as who is your true love, your woman or your horse? So the title’s funny but the song is actually quite beautiful.

Also difficult. Most jazz changes are 12, 16, or 32 bars. Dr. Bowyer extended that out to 44 bars by including two 16 bar movements and several 4 bar tags.

The band was up for it and we did pretty good but I wouldn’t say as good as the definitive version that you can hear on youtube from the “Itchin’ in the Kitchen” album recorded by the Don Bowyer Big Band and released on February 1, 2003, almost exactly ten years earlier. Of course, they rehearsed. Still, there are only 68 plays on Youtube Music while the NJHB concert has almost 1600 views.

I will include links to the album and the NJHB concert on the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.

Playing on the song were Hairy Larry – piano, vocals, and congas, Don Bowyer – trombone, Matt Jackson – bass, and Carl Abraham – drums.

Now, recorded at The Arts@311 in downtown Jonesboro on February 2, 2013, here’s NJHB playing a Don Bowyer composition, “El Amor Cubano La Mujer O El Caballo?”. Just listen to this beautiful trombone.

NJHB Live at TheArts@311 on 2013-02-02
Something Blue Archives
archive.org/details/hl2013-02-02

Something Blue Archives – List Of Concerts
archive.org/details/somethingbluearchives?sort=-publicdate

Itchin’ In The Kitchen
Don Bowyer Big Band
music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lCdc12eO2I8jiZkfgA3uayXYIWB4bf8pc Continue reading

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