AlChuck
Well-known member
I remember about a quarter-century ago when Robben Ford first surfaced on the scene, playing blues... then he was in Tom Scott's LA Express, backing up Joni Mitchell... he did a solo album ,and I saw him and his band play at the first Berkeley Jazz Festival that I attended in 1978 or so...
Then he seemed to fade away for many years, playing as a guest on some of the Yellowjackets records and doing some studio work, only to come back in the late eighties, playing with Miles Davis for a brief time, then fronting a blues band.
I always loved his touch and phrasing... and I've kept hopiong he would move back into a jazzier direction again some day...
Then the other day I picked up this record called Jing Chi, where Robben plays with Jimmy Haslip (bass) and Vinnie Colaiuta (drums). I was a bit worried cause it seemed like one of those jam session things that ends up being disappointing, where no real chemistry or magic seems to happen between the players... like I found the Scott Henderson-Victor Wooten-Steve Smith collaboration Vital Tech Tones to be.
Well, I am pleased to report I am just delighted with this one. They play together like old friends, and it all meshes well. The tunes are vehicles for jamming but hang together as good tunes. There's even a couple of vocal tracks, one sung by Ford, another by Haslip.
If you like blues-based guitar playing that goes a bit further, full of style and panache, check it out.
Then he seemed to fade away for many years, playing as a guest on some of the Yellowjackets records and doing some studio work, only to come back in the late eighties, playing with Miles Davis for a brief time, then fronting a blues band.
I always loved his touch and phrasing... and I've kept hopiong he would move back into a jazzier direction again some day...
Then the other day I picked up this record called Jing Chi, where Robben plays with Jimmy Haslip (bass) and Vinnie Colaiuta (drums). I was a bit worried cause it seemed like one of those jam session things that ends up being disappointing, where no real chemistry or magic seems to happen between the players... like I found the Scott Henderson-Victor Wooten-Steve Smith collaboration Vital Tech Tones to be.
Well, I am pleased to report I am just delighted with this one. They play together like old friends, and it all meshes well. The tunes are vehicles for jamming but hang together as good tunes. There's even a couple of vocal tracks, one sung by Ford, another by Haslip.
If you like blues-based guitar playing that goes a bit further, full of style and panache, check it out.
