Monday YouTube Fix: James Brown Live in Bologna, Italy

In the fall of 1993, during my freshman year at Northwestern University, my friend Matt Kerste asked me if I wanted to head downtown to see James Brown at the UIC Pavilion.  I couldn't believe there were any tickets available but he said it wasn't quite sold out so we hopped in the car.

Before leaving Evanston we swung by Rose Records (many of you probably don't even know what a record store is!) and asked the man at the Ticketmaster machine for a pair of tickets.  This was about three hours before showtime.  To our amazement, a pair of seats in row J on the floor popped out of the machine.  Not bad for a crowd of over 6,000!

Matt and I stuck out on that floor like sore thumbs (Matt is also over 6 feet tall and has bright red hair) but man did we get down! That was a baptism by fire to groove like I could never have imagined.  His band was beyond tight.  The music I heard that night immediately affected all aspects of my tuba playing.  It was a magical night!

This clip is almost a full hour long! It is from a concert in Bologna, Italy in 1971.  This band is beyond words.  You can zone out on any single player and be amazed.  Only a musician like James Brown could assemble a lineup like this:

James Brown: vocals, organ
Bobby Byrd: MC, vocals, organ
Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison: trumpet
Clayton "Chicken" Gunnells: trumpet
Fred Wesley: trombone
St. Clair Pinckney: tenor saxophone
Phelps "Catfish" Collins: lead guitar
Hearlon "Cheese" Martin: rhythm guitar
William "Bootsy" Collins: bass guitar
John "Jabo" Starks: drums
Don Juan "Tiger" Martin: drums

The bass player, Bootsy Collins, is one of the best musicians to ever make their living in the bass clef.  He is a treat to listen to.  Everything about his playing, articulation, groove, note length, seems just perfect to my ears.  This clip is why YouTube was invented.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIvrfWGGSwU

Stevie Wonder: Monday YouTube Fix

The Monday YouTube Fix is back after a brief hiatus due to way too much international travel with horrible internet connections.  Look for weekly video links again.  In fact, if you have any clips to suggest please leave them in the comments.  If you've followed this feature you know I post all different kinds of music.  My only requirement is that it's good! I figured what better way to start off 2013 than with Stevie Wonder.  I can't name 10 musicians in the history of music that play with more style than this guy.  He is a true living legend.

I was reminded of his brilliance when Lance LaDuke and I were eating some absolutely incredible ramen in Singapore last week.  The ramen place was playing his 'Fulfillingness' First Finale' album in its entirety.  I'm not sure whether the star of the meal was the broth or Stevie's funk.

This is some footage from the studio of his iconic "Superstitious."  The trumpet player, Steve Madaio, is amazing.  You must be warned...the fade out at the end of this clip is criminal.  What I wouldn't pay to hear them jam on this for another 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE

Monday YouTube Fix: Deodato

If this clip doesn't make you bob your head, tap your foot, or get up and start dancing in the middle an otherwise quiet room you might actually have passed away without knowing it. This arrangement of the great Richard Strauss tone poem 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' was made famous to me by my favorite band in the world, Phish.  They do a wonderful cover of this funky version.  This is the first time I've seen this clip and I almost flipped my desk over in excitement!

This features Eumir Deodato on the organ fronting his band and they are joined by the Orquestra Experimental de Repertorio.  The guitar solo is smoking enough that I'm surprised it didn't catch on fire in the middle of it.

Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e075fXCMM_Y]