I love it when two musicians from completely different musical backgrounds come together and play music. This performance by Sam Bush and Jorma Kaukonen from High Sierra Music Festival on June 30, 2000 could be what influenced Jorma to record Blue Country Heart which is a masterpiece of roots blues and country featuring Jorma, Sam, Bela Fleck, Byron House and Jerry Douglas. The picking in this set is mind blowing and the synergy between Jorma and Sam is amazing. For some of the tunes, Sam plays slide on what he refers to as a ham can which is a National dobro mandolin. Jorma accuses Sam of being a “very disturbed man” for playing such an instrument. The rhetoric between these guys is hilarious. This is one of the favorite live shows in my collection and I hope you find it as much fun as I did. Its a 256kbps MP3 rip of a lossless soundboard and the sound quality is A+. Enjoy!

Jorma Kaukonen & Sam Bush

6/30/00

SBD>Tascam DA-30MKII>digital out>Sek’d Prodif plus soundcard >
Sound Forge>CD Architect>Plextor 8/20

Recording:
Ken “Easy Ed” Edwards
CD Mastering & Seeding:
Ken “Easy Ed” Edwards

01. intro by Wesley Robertson

02. Hesistation Blues

03. the roots of Rock and Roll and Bluegrass

04. Crossroads Blues

05. if you have any questions

06. Sally Where’d You Get Your Liquor From?

07. deeply disturbed

08. How Long Blues

09. my middle name

10. Mann’s Fate

11. favorite Jerry tune

12. Sittin’ on Top of the World

13. (applause)

14. 99 Year Blues

North Mississippi Allstars performed a concert from WXPN’s World Cafe in Philadelphia on Friday, March 23. NPR broadcasted the show and is offering it in streaming format on their website. North Mississippi Allstars are an amazingly talented band that borrows heavily from the Mississippi Delta Blues but also blends other styles and genres including Soul, Pop, Rap and Rock to create a sound all their own. NPR provides a good introduction:

Led by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, the group formed in 1996 in (surprise) northern Mississippi, where its members learned firsthand the rich blues tradition of the area from legends like R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. After honing its chops as a unit touring with larger acts, the band released 2000’s Shake Hands with Shorty to widespread praise, including a Grammy nomination and a W.C. Handy Award for Best New Artist Debut.

Check it out!

The new JJ Cale and Eric Clapton collaboration, The Road To Escondido is a must hear for any Clapton /Cale/Blues/Guitar fan. Its got a laid back blues, rock, soul, americana sound and some killer guitar work. In addition to the licks of Cale and Clapton, Derek Trucks also lays down some slide work on this one. Most of the songs were written by JJ Cale with “Three Little Girls” written by Clapton and “Hard To Thrill” by (of all people) John Mayer. The shows on the tour for this album must be amazing as they freature the likes of Taj Mahal, Doyle Bramhall II, Derek Trucks, Albert Lee, Nathan East, Willie Weeks and Steve Jordan. There is a great video documentary of the making of the Road To Escondido over at ericclapton.com.
Related mp3:

Eric Clapton - TearsInHeaven.mp3

Taj Mahal - StatesboroBlues.mp3

O my god! Derek Trucks has been asked to join Eric Clapton in his upcoming European tour. Talk about a tour de force, these guys will be lighting up the stage every night. Derek Trucks will go down in history as the best slide bluesman of all time (with all due respect to Duane Allman). Add Trucks’ slide to Eric Clapton’s already incredible brand of blues and you’ve got a musical match made in heaven. Add to that the guitar licks of virtuoso Doyle Bramhall II and who knows what could happen!

Here is the skinny from derektrucks.com:

It’s official! Eric Clapton has invited Derek to play guitar in his band for his upcoming European tour starting in May. Derek is very excited to have the opportunity to play with this living legend. Just to clarify, The Derek Trucks Band will not be opening these dates but the DTB Songlines tour will continue throughout the spring and summer as Derek juggles a busy schedule for ‘06! More Derek Trucks Band dates will be added to the tourpage soon so keep an eye out. For the official Clapton press release and tour dates go here

And the list of musicians on the tour (thanks Jambase!) :

Clapton has assembled an impressive band, including several album collaborators. The 2006 tour band will consist of: Eric Clapton, guitar, as well as Doyle Bramhall II and Derek Trucks also on guitar, Chris Stainton and Tim Carmon on keyboards, Willie Weeks on bass, Steve Jordan on drums, The Kick Horns: Simon Clarke, Roddy Lorimer, and Tim Sanders on brass, and backing vocals by Michelle John and Sharon White.

And just in case you’ve never checked out Doyle Bramhall II before, I present to you with the following:

The new Derek Trucks Band album Songlines was released today. I’ve only listened to clips, but what I’ve heard sounds killer! I’ve come to have high expectations from the Derek Trucks Band because everything he does is amazing. From his work with the Allman Brothers to his work with The Dead to his solo stuff, everything he touches is pure musical bliss! Derek Trucks is a true musical prodigy. At only 27 years old, Derek Trucks has a list of musical accomplishments that a seasoned blues man would be proud of. It makes me wonder about all the great things to come.

Here is a really great bio from 2002 in which Phil Lesh states that he had to pull the car over the first time he heard Derek’s guitar:

real media
windows media: low | medium | fast

And a killer Derek Trucks Band Show from New Year’s 2005 featuring Gregg Allman and Susan Tedeschi:

Band/Artist: Derek Trucks Band
Date: December 31st, 2005
Venue: Variety Playhouse
Location: Atlanta Georgia

Source: Peavey PVM480s(fob 3rd row just left of center aligned with drum kit @ 13′)via Canare L-4E3-2P Star Quad cable>Edirol UA-5 @24bit 48khz>Toshiba 2060 CDS
Lineage: laptop recording
Taped by: huffy@mississippi.net
Transferred by: none

Listen to it here:

I just listened to one of the best Little Feat live performances that I’ve come across. This show comes from Telluride Bluegrass Festival 1988. Little Feat is in tip top shape for this performance with newly added Craig Fuller on vocals. Other highlights include Sam Bush and Washboard Leo on Cajun Girl. You can stream or download this show off the live music archive. I love the performance Dixie Chicken from this show. I highly recommend a listen! Little Feat are currently touring. Here are the dates as they appear on littlefeat.net:

To purchase advance show tickets, please visit our Music Today ticketing page http://littlefeattickets.musictoday.com.

02/14/06
Carmel, California - Sunset Center
www.sunsetcenter.org

02/15/06
Blue Lake, California - Blue Lake Casino
www.bluelakecasino.com

02/16/06
Seattle, WA - The Triple Door (2 Shows)-
www.thetripledoor.net

02/17/06
Portland, OR - The Roseland Theater
www.doubletee.com

02/18/06 -
Grants Pass, OR - Rogue Theatre -
www.roguetheatre.com

02/19/06
Crystal Bay, NV - Tahoe Biltmore

02/21/06
Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot

02/23/06
Aspen, CO - Belly Up, Aspen -
www.bellyupaspen.com

02/24/06 -
Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater -
www.bouldertheater.com

02/25/06-02/26/06 -
Durango, CO - Ft. Lewis College Concert Hall -
www.durangoconcerts.com

02/28/06
Missoula, MT - The Wilma Theater -
www.mediarts.org

03/05/06
Orlando, FL - Orlando Harley-Davidson

03/15/06
Ridgefield, CT - The Ridgefield Playhouse
www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org

03/16/06
Blackwood, NJ - Camden County College / Dennis Flyer Theater
www.jupresentsne.com

03/17/06
Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
www.jupresentsne.com

03/18/06
Champion, PA - Seven Springs Resort
www.7springs.com

03/19/06
Uncasville, CT - The Wolf Den @ Mohegan Sun Casino
www.mohegansun.com

03/20/06
Winchester, VA - Sweet Caroline’s
www.sweetcarolines.net

03/22/06
Teaneck, NJ - Mexicali Blues
www.createavibe.com

03/23/06
Jim Thorpe, PA - Penn’s Peak
www.pennspeak.com

03/24/06
Private Event

03/25/06
Westhampton Beach, NY - Westhampton Beach P.A.C.
www.whbpac.org

03/26/06 -
Killington, VT - The Pickle Barrel Nightclub -
www.picklebarrelnightclub.com

04/5/06 -
Private Event

06/03/06
Geneva, NY - Private Event

06/04/06 -
Augusta, NJ - Mike Arnone’s Crawfish Fest -
www.crawfishfest.com

06/07/06 -
Glen Allen, VA - Innsbrook Pavilion

06/11/06 -
Loudoun, VA - Live At Belmont

08/18/06 -
Sturgis, MS - Sturgis South Bike Rally

08/19/06 -
Woodstock, GA - Woodstock Concert Series

09/16/06 -
Eureka Springs, AK - Eureka Springs Festival