Saturday Night Seduction ~ “Jeeps Blues” ~ Duke Ellington

Recorded July 7, 1956 at the Newport Jazz Festival.

Composed by Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges aka Jeep.

The song originally recorded in 1938 and first released by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra but it wouldn’t even be recognized fully until Ellington At Newport released in 1957.

It would be the highlight of this concert and never ever again forgotten through jazz history.

 

Saturday “Slow Down (But Don’t Stop)” ~ Benny Latimore

I have been waiting forever for somebody to finally post this song on You Tube.

Outside of Latimore’s 74′ release of “Lets Straighten It Out” nothing in my mind ever came close again until this one. From the 1988 album of the same name the song was the ultimate getting things heated up number. Reminds me of a lot of good times partying with friends around the time of its release. Another great one from the album was “All You’ll Ever Need”.

Latimore had a different tone than traditional Blues. He was a master at combing it with pure raw R&B ballads and all done more than tastefully. To me he was the one who finally put the “Soul” back in the 80s that had been missing since the 60s.

Sunday Evening ~ “Down In Mississippi” ~ Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces (Featuring) Terry Evans

Filmed and recorded at The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA on March 25, 1987.

When Cooder got this ensemble together it was more heavenly made and magical. The harmonies of Bobby King, Terry Evans, Arnold McCuller & Willie Green Jr. enhanced more than just the music. Terry Evans on this song brought it all the way down to where the Blues had originated. The Soul…and it poured out of him and the rest that night up on the stage and moved the emotions of every single individual in the audience not just listening but actually hearing and feeling it.

And that in itself defines what the Blues is all about. Pure raw emotion expressed from the heart and Evans sang it convictionally.

The man who wrote the song J. B. Lenoir was born in Mississippi in 1929 and the lyrics were inspired by Civil Rights and the Free Speech movements. He died in 1967 after suffering a heart attack associated from a car accident three weeks earlier.

No doubt he was smiling from up above from the performance Terry Evans who gave it more than his all singing Lenoir’s work that night.

And Cooder is a genius who has always played with genuine originality, another guitarist that will go into the history books as being among the best.

 

Tuesday Time Machine ~ 1963 ~ Gerry Mulligan ~ Night Lights

This album titled song was composed by Gerry Mulligan and this particular piece to me is straight out of the jazz history books. It is a timeless mood for those of us who like the wee hours of the morning and the dark we seem so accustomed to as if 3:00am is the norm.

It reminds me of either driving around or sitting down by Detroit’s riverfront on a hot summer night when it’s still 80 degrees out in the middle of the night.

Friday “Free” ~ Mr. Big

Written by the band.

Originally released off their third  album –Fire and Water in 1970.This performance was from their 5th album – Free Live in 71′.

Paul Rodgers – vocals
Paul Kossoff – guitar
Andy Fraser – bass
Simon Kirke – drums

Wednesday When It Was Music ~ Ella Fitzgerald ~ Blues In The Night

Woodstock 42TH Anniversary (via Longshot’s Blog)

BY THE TIME WE GOT TO WOODSTOCK, WE WERE HALF A MILLION STRONG~!   It took place Aug. 15-18. It was the Concert of ALL Concerts. And it only seemed like yesterday. There was no Violence nor Chaos at the venue in the 4 days. The only disruption there was, was trying to get there. For the conditions that took place with lack of water, food, & personal necessities. Woodstock remained Peaceful throughout the four days without incident. In th … Read More

via Longshot’s Blog

The End ~ The Doors ~ Perfection ~ Song into the Night

Released in 1967.