DJ Hairy Larry Presents Hairy Larry

From The Archives Of Something Blue 2023-04-02

Thanks Marty. Today, I’m singing a Willie Nelson song accompanied only by acoustic guitar.

Everyone says “Crazy” is a Patsy Cline song but Willie wrote it. I love both of them and I love the song. “Crazy” was a country music hit written to a 32 bar jazz change with a lot of blues in it. So when it comes to American roots music, Crazy’s got it all.

On May 18, 2008, we were hosting Sunday In The Park at the Craighead Forest Bandshell. There was a little bit of time for a short set so I was the surprise guest. Just me and my guitar, I stood up to entertain the audience playing “Crazy”, other jazz and blues standards, and a few originals.

Everything worked out fine. The audience enjoyed the change and I enjoyed the solo performance. As a bonus, I got good recordings for Something Blue.

I’m from the Chicago area but I’ve lived in Arkansas for over 50 years, digging into my Arkansas Roots. I have also been a volunteer at KASU since 1991, the year Blues Fest started at Craighead Forest Park. In fact it was KASU’s participation in Blues Fest that brought me to KASU.

So here I am now, recorded on May 18, 2008, at the Craighead Forest Bandshell, singing “Crazy”.

archive.org/details/hl2008-05-18
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Nostalgia

Something Blue – Nostalgia – April 1, 2023

This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Lisa Ahia, AlinaHipHarp, Samara Joy, and Nick Walters. 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.

Gary Gazaway Live at Arkansas State Student Union Outdoor Stage on 2011-10-15
archive.org/details/gg2011-10-15

Samara Joy – Linger Awhile

Home

AlinaHipHarp – Altera Vita (for Pharoah Sanders)
alinahipharp.bandcamp.com/album/altera-vita-for-pharoah-sanders

Nick Walters – Padmasana
nick-walters.bandcamp.com/album/padm-sana
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DJ Hairy Larry Presents Lisa Ahia Singing This Masquerade

From The Archives Of Something Blue March 26, 2023

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear Lisa Ahia sing a Leon Russell song.

After I went back to school I spent a lot of time playing jazz and listening to local jazz musicians. I decided to do an ASU Jazz Festival, Bebopalooza!, on campus and featuring some great jazz by ASU students, alumni, and faculty.

With my close ties to KASU I wanted the station involved too and they were glad to help, both with promotion and then with booking some of the bands.

On October 15, 2011, we had Bebopalooza! outside of the Student Union. Closing the festival it was Gary Gazaway and The Memphis Jazz All Stars featuring Lisa Ahia singing. They played a great set with everyone thrilled by Lisa Ahia’s vocals.

Musicians for the show included Gary Gazaway, who took his communications degree at ASU; his wife, Lisa Ahia, from Hawaii but now living in Pocahontas; David Eckert, librarian at the Jonesboro Public Library; and Joy Sanford, a Jonesboro resident who took piano at ASU and later was a prized accompanist in the Music Department.

Ok now, here’s Lisa Ahia, recorded at Bebopalooza! on October 15, 2011, singing a Leon Russell song, “This Masquerade”.

archive.org/details/gg2011-10-15/

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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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