Jazz/Funk pioneer Mike Stern talks about his favorite techniques playing over chord changes. The Half-Whole Diminished Scale is particularly useful for using dissonance over dominant 7th chords. Stern’s own words about his style and his journey as a guitarist: I’m … Continue reading
Mike Stern/Bob Berg Band defines Jazz/Rock Fusion. When saxophonist Bob Berg was tragically killed in December, 2002 at the age of 51, he’d just recorded two projects that would demonstrate just how passionate and far-reaching a contemporary post bop player … Continue reading
It’s not as if Albert King hadn’t tasted success in his first decade and a half as a performer, but his late-’60s/early-’70s recordings for Stax did win him a substantially larger audience. Though 1972’s I’ll Play the Blues For You followed … Continue reading
It’s an old story. A great jazz spot goes out of business and the magic goes silent often with nothing more than a sign on the door. Except in New Orleans where they know how to give people and places … Continue reading
Larry Carlton is unsurpassed in playing complicated chord changes while making them sound smooth and connected to even the musically untrained ear. Larry Carlton was born in Torrance, California. He started learning to play guitar when he was six years … Continue reading
Little Milton and host of The !!!! Beat Bill Hoss Allen announce Clarence Gatemouth Brown for a jumpin’ on air performance of his instrumental Okie Dokie Stomp. Gatemouth Brown plays the Okie Dokie Stomp on a Rickenbacker guitar for the 1966 television show The !!!! Beat. At the time he was … Continue reading
Decades following his beginnings as an R&B singer, Little Milton performs the blues number Feel So Bad with a large backing band for the closing credits of the live Sunday night TV show Night Music. He may not be a household name, but die-hard blues … Continue reading