Beignets & Coffee (feat. Nick Moss)

#107 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series, Beignets & Coffee, features some serious Chicago muscle and Alligator recording artist Nick Moss on guitar. Although the track is a New Orleans-y kinda thing and it's title an homage to the legendary Cafe DuMonde, the guitar playing is straight outta Chicago. Born and raised in Chicago, Nick was a member of both Jimmy Dawkin's and Jimmy Rogers' bands before breaking out on his own. As a solo artist, Nick has released fourteen albums and has won three Blues Music Awards. One in 2019 for 'Traditional Blues Male Artist' and two in 2020 for 'Band of the Year' and 'Traditional Blues Album of the Year'. Nick graciously stopped by while touring through SF back in 2017 and this is the wonderful result. Enjoy!

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Marcus David (Nick Gravenites, Clover) on drums, and myself on bass. It was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA. Mixed by the Godfather of Grunge, Jack Endino (Soundgarden, Nando Reis), and as almost always, masterfully mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering.

Vibin' (feat. Warren Wolf)

#106 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series, Vibin', features the terrifyingly talented Warren Wolf on you guessed it...Vibraphone. This riff was one of the first to come to me after the COVID lockdown and I knew I wanted vibes on it, so I Googled "Bobby Hutcherson protege" and the first hit was a Jazz at the Lincoln Center tweet about Warren Wolf. So down the rabbit hole I went. This cat is truly BADASS and I apologize for not knowing about him before! He plays with everybody, Esperanza Spaulding, Christian McBride, Mulgrew Miller, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Ron Carter...in other words he is at the top of a very small group of otherworldly Jazz musicians. A second generation musician (of course), Warren's trajectory was set by his father, Warren Sr., first studying classical music and then moving into Jazz and ultimately completing his formal education at Berklee. Shortly after graduating, Warren joined the Berklee faculty teaching Vibes, Percussion, Drums, and Piano while also gigging on the fertile local Boston Jazz scene including being the house drummer at the storied Wally's Cafe for two years. In 2005, Warren left Boston returning to his hometown of Baltimore to begin the journey which he continues today of being a world renowned Jazz artist. So what the hell is he doing playing with me??? I don't know, but I sure am grateful! I hope you enjoy this even half as much as I do.

The backing band on this track is my Bay Area neighbor, Scott Amendola, (Nels Cline, Charlie Hunter) absolutely swinging the 7/8 shit out of the drums and myself on guitar and bass. The track was recorded at Warren's, Scott's, and NTA San Bruno. Mixing and Mastering duties performed by the Grand Wizard of Greaseland, Christoffer "Kid" Andersen.