Grover Washington, Jr.: “Winelight” (2015) Hybrid Multichannel SACD Review

Grover Washington, Jr. is considered one of the creators of smooth jazz, and his 1980 release Winelight remains one of his most popular records, due in large part to “Just The Two Of Us,” which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award. Now Audio Fidelity, along with Elektra Entertainment Group and Rhino Entertainment Company, has released a special hybrid multichannel SACD version. This is the first CD version of this album I’ve owned. All of my Grover Washington, Jr. albums up to this point have been on vinyl. This limited, numbered edition sounds fantastic. (By the way, I don’t know how many were made, but my copy is number 1478, so there are at least that many in existence.)

Winelight kicks off with its title track, a cool, kind of mellow, relaxed instrumental track with a bit of a funky vibe to keep things interesting. And that’s Steve Gadd on drums. I’ve always respected his work. “Winelight” was written by William Eaton, and was released as a single. It’s followed by “Let It Flow,” and this too has a sort of laid-back funk thing happening at the start. But this one certainly has more of a late-night feel, like you should have a glass of wine while listening to it (just take a look at the album cover to get an idea of the feel). Things get groovier a couple of minutes in, when the bass takes on a bit more prominence (that’s Marcus Miller on bass on this album), and Grover Washington, Jr. lets loose on the saxophone. I definitely prefer the livelier sections of this track. “Let If Flow” was written by Grover Washington, Jr.

“In The Name Of Love” is fairly mellow, but has kind of a happy vibe. It’s a good tune, but I prefer the following track, “Take Me There.” It has a nice groove, with some sweet, smooth playing by Grover Washington, Jr. (who also composed this tune). The rhythm asserts itself partway through, which gets Washington even more energized, and the song builds and builds beautifully, for some of the most exciting playing on the album. The tune then relaxes back into that good groove.

“Just The Two Of Us” is the album’s big hit, written by Bill Withers, William Salter and Ralph MacDonald. This is the only track on the album to feature vocals, which are provided by co-writer Bill Withers. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “We look for love, no time for tears/Wasted water’s all that is/And it don't make no flowers grow/Good things might come to those who wait/But not for those who wait too late/We got to go for all we know/Just the two of us, we can make it if we try.” This song totally holds up, and at seven and a half minutes, there is plenty of good playing.

The album then concludes with “Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba),”a mellow, laid-back tune written by Grover Washington, Jr. It gets more interesting when Washington has that great, extended lead spot. Otherwise, it feels more like background music.

CD Track List

1. Winelight
2. Let It Flow
3. In The Name Of Love
4. Take Me There
5. Just The Two Of Us
6. Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)

This special limited edition of Winelight was released on March 10, 2015 through Audio Fidelity.

Grover Washington, Jr. died in 1999, at the age of 56.

Grateful Dead Meet-Up At The Movies, 2015

This year’s Grateful Dead Meet-Up At The Movies features a show from their summer 1989 tour, this one from July 19th at Alpine Valley. Several shows from this tour have been released on CD, DVD, and in theatres. In 2012, for the second official Meet-Up At The Movies, they showed the previous night’s show, also at Alpine Valley. And though it wasn’t part of the Meet-Up At The Movies series, they did play another show from that summer 1989 tour in the movie theatres – the July 7th show in Philadelphia, which became titled Crimson, White And Indigo. And much earlier than that, the July 4th show was released on DVD and CD as Truckin’ Up To Buffalo. With all of these summer 1989 concerts being shown, I can’t help but wonder when the July 2nd show at Foxboro will come out. That was the only show I caught that summer, and I’d love to revisit it. My memory has it as one hell of a good show, with “Playing In The Band” into “Crazy Fingers” to open the first set. I also remember a glider overhead during “To Lay Me Down,” dipping its wings in time with the music.

Well, the July 19, 1989 concert will be shown in theatres on just one night, May 4, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. Check your local theatres to find one screening it. You can purchase tickets online through Fathom Events.

Crate Digger: An Obsession With Punk Records by Bob Suren (2015) Book Review

Music is very personal to me, as it is to many people. As it most certainly is to author Bob Suren, who shares his personal connections to various bands and albums in his new book, Crate Digger: An Obsession With Punk Records. This book is not just for fans of punk, but music fans in general, particularly those of us with the collector gene as part of our psychological makeup. The book will likely make you think of your own collections and connections, and lead you to revisit some of those moments of your own life. Plus, you might learn a thing or two about certain records and bands (there are several bands mentioned in these pages that I hadn’t heard of before, but now am curious about). Crate Digger also includes lots of black and white photos.

Bob Suren grew up in a small town in Florida, and the time and place certainly had an effect on his connection to music. “The music circulated slower then. It was harder to find and people appreciated it more. Scoring a great record was cause for celebration and that great record inevitably was dubbed for everyone in the crowd” (p. 100). He tells a humorous anecdote about a hitchhiker that he thought was a fellow punk rocker turning out to be a homeless guy. “Back then, especially in a small town, punk rockers were uncommon. If you saw someone in a band T-shirt, you had a secret connection” (p. 22). But the T-shirt the man was wearing turned out not to be a Bad Brains shirt after all. Bob gave him a ride anyway, shared his pizza, and turned the guy on to Bad Brains. I ended up reading this section aloud to my girlfriend. It’s that kind of book.

In addition to being a music fan, Bob Suren has been a band member, and includes anecdotes of his adventures, like when his band was caught in a sudden downpour and their van’s windshield wipers stopped functioning. “We lost visibility in one second and clearly we were going to die. Brian R., who was riding shotgun, let out an ape-like yell and punched the dashboard. The wipers came back on. It was a punk rock miracle” (pages 10-11). One of my favorite stories is that of him wanting to put his own band on vinyl, and how it led to his own record label, Burrito Records, and a relationship with Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys.

Bob Suren has also been a record store manager, as well as a record label owner. And for those of us who dreamed of owning a record store, there are lots of cool anecdotes regarding his store. (Fans of High Fidelity should dig those passages as well.) He also became involved in internet radio in 2011. “Internet broadcasting reminded me of all the mix tapes my friends and I traded. The idea was the same: Spread the music around” (p. 89). This book got me thinking about all the mix tapes I’ve made over the years (many of which are still in my possession), and how each of those tapes tells its own story.

This book doesn’t proceed chronologically, but feels more like the order of memory, with one story reminding him of another. It’s not all positive. He talks about damaging his hearing. He also talks about his separation from his wife. I find the stuff about music far more interesting than the stuff about various women he’s been interested in the last couple of years, and fortunately the music makes up the bulk of the book.

At one point Bob Suren relates how his mother once told him, regarding punk: “You’re a nice boy, Bobby. I hope this music doesn’t change you.” He then tells us: “Of course, the music did change me. I think it made me a better, stronger, funnier, and more critical person and it has given me some of the greatest moments of my life. And I still think I am a nice boy” (p. 111).

Crate Digger: An Obsession With Punk Records is scheduled to be published June 9, 2015 through Microcosm Publishing.

Grateful Dead Auction

The reunion/farewell Grateful Dead concerts are coming up, but in the meantime a Grateful Dead auction is going to be held. Called the Grateful Dead Family Jubilee Auction, this will take place on April 11th and April 12th. For sale are items from a private collection based in the Chicago area, and it doesn't seem that any of the proceeds go toward any of the Grateful Dead-related charities. There are some interesting items, however, including several items signed by band members. A lot of it is, as you might guess, expensive. But there are also a number of items with low starting bids - T-shirts and the like (one item I'm curious about is Grateful Dead: The Game, an unopened board game that I'd never heard of; its starting bid is $10).

As for the more expensive items, some of the surprises include Grateful Dead equipment road cases used on tour, a test pressing of Jerry Garcia Band's Run For The Roses album, and a Built To Last RIAA Gold Sales Award for the sale of over 500,000 copies from the Grateful Dead office in San Rafael. There are also drum sticks and cymbals used by Mickey Hart.

And of course there are plenty of posters and framed photographs.

There are 346 lots for the first day, and 365 lots for the second day. You can check out all the items at the Grateful Dead Family Jubilee Auction site. The items for each day are listed separately, so here are links to both...

Day One (April 11, 2015)
Day Two (April 12, 2015)

Yonder Mountain String Band at House Of Blues, West Hollywood, 4-4-15: Photos

It had been a long time, but Yonder Mountain String Band finally returned to southern California last night with a show at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood. The last time they came through town, Jeff Austin was still in the band, so last night was the first time L.A. saw Jake Jolliff on mandolin and Allie Kral on fiddle. Jake is one hell of a good mandolin player, and Allie sang the heck out of “Jolene.” Also, her presence on fiddle made last night’s version of “Crazy Train” the best I’d ever heard. Ben Sollee, who opened the show, joined the band for a couple of numbers, including a wonderful new tune titled “Black Sheep” and the always-appreciated “Criminal.” Percussionist Jordan Ellis also joined them on “Criminal.” The whole band was energized and in great spirits throughout the show, which of course carried over to the audience. And it was great hearing them do Bruce Springsteen’s “It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City.”

Here are a few photos from the night:

Huck Finn Jubilee Festival 2015 Lineup

Bluegrass fans should be pleased with the lineup for the 2015 Huck Finn Jubilee Festival, which includes Ralph Stanley, Ricky Scaggs, Railroad Earth, and Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn. The festival is going to be held June 12th to June 14th at the Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park in Ontario, California.

Tickets are available now, including three-day passes, single-day tickets, as well as RV and camping reservations, which can be purchased online. And for folks who aren’t into camping, there are also hotel packages.

Here is a list of artists for each day:

Friday

• Dr. Ralph Stanley
• Del McCoury Band
• Hot Rize
• Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn
• Sierra Hull
• Driven
• SWBA Bluegrass Kids

Saturday

• Railroad Earth
• Jeff Austin Band
• Ricky Scaggs and Kentucky Thunder
• Steep Canyon Rangers
• Lonesome River Band
• Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
• Detour

Sunday

• Damascus Road
• Leftover Salmon
• Greensky Bluegrass
• Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass
• The Infamous Stringdusters
• Russell Moore & Illyrd Tyme Out
• Blue Highway
• Tennessee Mafia Jug Band

The music starts at 10:15 a.m. on Friday, and at 9:15 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Paul Kelly: “The Merri Soul Sessions” (2015) CD Review

I never know quite what to expect from Paul Kelly, except I can count on whatever he does to be really good. He’s such a talented songwriter that he can explore all sorts of territory and come out with excellent material. His 2012 release, Spring And Fall, an album of love songs, ended up on my list of favorite CDs of that year. On his newest album, The Merri Soul Sessions, he is joined by a number of vocalists to help him tackle mostly new material (and one classic tune, “Sweet Guy”), giving this album a very different feel from previous releases. Plus, a lot of this material, though new, has a classic feel, which is totally delicious. Singers joining him on this release include Linda Bull, Vika Bull, Clairy Browne, Dan Sultan and Kira Puru.

The album opens with “Smells Like Rain,” featuring Linda Bull on vocals. Linda is one half of the Australian vocal duo Vika And Linda (both of whom are on this CD). I love the mood of this song, with its slow, deliberate, seductive groove, and Linda’s vocals rising above it and sometimes winding around it. This song was written by Paul Kelly, Dan Sultan and Kev Carmody. Check out these lines: “Dark electric sky/Thunder from the west/Oh, my man’s got a hard head/He plays it close to his chest.”

That song is followed by “What You Want,” this one featuring Vika Bull (Linda’s sister and the other half of Vika And Linda). “What You Want,” written by Paul Kelly and Dan Sultan, has a great early 1960s feel, right from the beginning with the way the title line is sung, a delightful surprise the first time I listened to this album. And Vika’s vocals are just wonderful. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Oh, don’t deny me, boy/You don’t know what it is you need/You don’t show it but I know it’s/What you want.” This is one of my personal favorites.

Vika Bull also joins Paul Kelly on “Sweet Guy,” the one older tune on this CD. It was originally on Kelly’s So Much Water So Close To Home, and also included on the 2011 compilation Greatest Hits: Songs From The South Volumes 1 & 2. And Vika delivers another excellent vocal performance on this one, and you really believe her when she sings “It’s become my problem,” and know she’s experienced something when she asks, “What makes such a sweet guy turn so mean?” Also, I dig the work on keys toward the end.

Both Vika and Linda Bull sing on “Down On The Jetty,” a song written by Paul Kelly and Linda Bull. Their vocals sound so pretty together, making this track one of the CD’s highlights for me. Plus, I just love the tone of this song, led by some wonderful work on acoustic guitar.

Clairy Browne joins Paul Kelly for “Keep On Coming Back For More.” Clairy Browne is known for fronting Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes, a band from Melbourne that has a great early rock and R& feel. “Keep On Coming Back For More” has a cool, heavy rhythm and features a strong, kick-ass vocal performance by Clairy Browne. “All my friends keep shaking their heads/You don’t care for me, you never did/I’m so tangled up inside of your spell/And the gates of heaven now, baby, lead straight to hell/So I, I, I, I, I keep on coming back for more.” Dan Kelly plays lead guitar on this track. Clairy Browne also sings lead on “Where Were You When I Needed You,” turning in a beautiful and emotional performance.

Dan Sultan takes lead vocal duties on “Don’t Let  A Good Thing Go,” a tune written by Paul Kelly and Bill Miller, and having a wonderful soul groove. “You don’t want to be tied down/You’ll wake up on stony ground/And all you know in pieces around/Now there’s just one thing you should know/Don’t let a good thing go.” Kira Puru, lead singer of Kira Puru & The Bruise, sings lead on “I Don’t Know What I’d Do,” a haunting track. You can really hear the desperation, uncertainty and doom in her voice when she sings, “I don’t know what I’d do/If we were parted/I don’t know what I’d do/If you were gone.”

And if you were concerned that you wouldn’t get to hear Paul Kelly’s own voice on this album, don’t worry. He sings lead on “Righteous Woman” and “Thank You,” and shares vocals duties with Vika and Linda Bull on “Hasn’t It Rained.” I really like these lines from “Righteous Woman”: “Righteous woman, laying down the law, getting on a glow/Righteous woman, surrendering to the full, ecstatic flow/Now she looks out and sees the brass buttons glinting in the tenth row.” And “Thank You” is actually my favorite track on the CD. It’s so sweet, so beautiful, so moving. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Sometimes I feel so mean and ugly/I want to hurt what’s close to me/The cruel things I’ve said and done/You never took them personally/Thank you for loving me.” I love this song.

The album closes with “Hasn’t It Rained,” a good and uplifting gospel song credited to the entire band, and featuring Paul Kelly, Vika Bull and Linda Bull on vocals.

CD Track List

1. Smells Like Rain
2. What You Want
3. Keep On Coming Back For More
4. Sweet Guy
5. Righteous Woman
6. Don’t Let A Good Thing Go
7. Where Were You When I Needed You
8. Thank You
9. I Don’t Know What I’d Do
10. Down On The Jetty
11. Hasn’t It Rained 

The band for these tracks is Paul Kelly on rhythm guitar, Ashley Naylor on lead guitar, Cameron Bruce on keyboards, Bill McDonald on bass, and Peter Luscombe on drums and percussion. By the way, in the liner notes, Paul Kelly talks a bit about how this album was put together. The Merri Soul Sessions was released on January 27, 2015.