Jazz Covers: Spyro Gyra

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My previous post, I interpreted the current theme as covers of a jazz classic. Here, a jazz band (well ... jazz-fusion) doing covers of music from the 70s.

One of my favorite jazz-fusion groups is Spyro Gyra. Their music is kind of easy to listen to - not the kind of jazz that requires you to work hard. And while I recognize that there is a place for that kind of musical experience, it's generally not my favorite experience: I prefer accessible melody.

I don't keep track of what most bands are doing on an ongoing basis and I had my doubts that they had ever done any covers - mostly not their "thing". But wait ... no ... There's their <Vinyl Tap> album: all covers in their jazz/fusion style. The band has been around in various configurations since 1974, and this collection from 2019 was their 31st.

A number of prominent reviewers express scepticism that the band could pull off an album of covers - but they do. Remarkably well. All of them filled with unexpected notes- the essence of jazz.

And, while you really should go out and get yourself a copy of the whole album, we can give you a handful right here. And then maybe you'll head out a buy it for the rest.

family bands: isley brothers

purchase [Stephen Stills: Love the One You're With]

There are various multi-guitar version on the U_tube with any combination of CSNand/orY - acoustic/electric/mixed, many of them satisfying (tho not always), but few come close to the sweet harmony that the original version from Stills' album brings. CSNY aren't related - as in family - except that they are known to fight like members of a family are known to do, and, after so many years, they must be just one notch down from family. But this post isnt about them as family. It's about the Isley Brothers doing a Stephen Stills song:

Love the One You're With: strikes me as rather "hippie" in theme. Take a minute to think it through:
If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with 
(a phrase ascribed to Billy Preston, but with likely earlier versions dating back to the '40s or possibly Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello in the 50s)

Peace and Love, man. It's OK to love anyone on the moment/ go with the flow. Why not make the best of the moment:  the time only comes around once.

The structure of this song seems to call out for the incorporation of an organ (or whatever takes its electronic place). The Isely Brothers turned out a version of a CSNY song that almost matches Steven Stills' original.  In the original, Stills (Wow) plays guitar, organ and various percussion (along with the vocal). Crosby, Nash and Rita Coolidge add to the original.

The 1971 Isley Brothers rendition is decidedly more gospel - see the  vocals (gospel: may include clapping and foot stomping along with the focus on vocal harmonies) - the version linked to at the top

Guest Stars: Old Times Good Times

Stephen Stills: Old Times Good Times

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Stephen Stills's first solo album is a buffet of guest appearances. I could post to this week's theme at least five times from this album alone, and each post would include an amazing guest appearance by a well known artist (think Eric Clapton, Cass Elliot, Ringo Starr and others). But I think out of all of the guest appearances on this album the best one has to be the performance by Jimi Hendrix on Old Times Good Times. I have always thought it was a bit odd that Hendrix, a superstar at this point in his career, didn't force himself on the song more than he did. He plays a solo, but it's not blaring and self-serving like Clapton's is on the following track, instead his contribution is more understated and supportive. But this is exactly what makes his work on this song so excellent. He adds a unique sound, a bluesy grit, that few other people could add as effectively.

Give it a listen.

Advice: Love The One You're With

Stephen Stills: Love The One You're With

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I've been waiting for this one to show up all week, but I've waited long enough. Love The One You're With is the first song on Stephen Stills's first brilliant album. The liner notes on this album read like a dream team of 60's musicians and performers. Ringo Starr, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cass Elliot, Booker T. Jones, David Crosby, Graham Nash, and John Sabastian all make cameo appearances here. In fact, this is the only album in the world where both Hendrix and Claption make an appearance.

If this album has a flaw it is that it stretches so far and is so ambitious that it loses a bit of its cohesiveness, but you tend to forgive this tendency simply because each song, taken on its own, is so good.  Love The One You're With is actually one of the weaker tracks, in my opinion.  It's catchy, and kind of fun, but Do For The Others, Old Times Good Times, Go Back Home, and others overshadow it easily.

By the way, "if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with" is actually terrible advice. I know it's very un-60's of me to say this, and it would probably make for a lousy song, but if you can't be with the one you love, wait a while until (s)he comes back! You'll save yourself a lot of heartache (and if you're married, you might save on lawyer's bills too).

Little Black Book: Marianne

Stephen Stills: Marianne

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Back in 1971, despite their success, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young were so ambitious that the band alone wasn't enough of an outlet for their creative endeavors, each member released strong solo albums. David Crosby had If I Could Only Remember My Name, Graham Nash with the wonderful Songs For Beginners and Neil Young was between über-classics After The Gold Rush and Harvest. Today's selection, Marianne, is from the aptly named Stephen Stills 2.

Stephen Stills 2 was recorded with Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Mac (Dr. John) Rebennack, Nils Lofgren, The Memphis Horns, among other luminaries of the seventies Rock scene. On Marianne, Stills channels The Beach Boys with Brian Wilson-like falsetto vocals, it was released as a follow-up single to hit Change Partners. You're a sweet little heart breaker, Marianne...