vis-à-vis (feat. Big Sam)

#138 in the Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumental Series, vis-à-vis, features the trombone playing of New Orleans funk master, Sammie 'Big Sam' Williams. If you've ever been to New Orleans you most likely will agree that "It" is in the air. The swampy humidity and incredibly rich and often horrific history manifest a roux of art unrivaled anywhere else in this country. From Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, and the Marsalis Family to Professor Longhair, Lee Dorsey, Little Richard, and The Meters, New Orleans is the Blues, Jazz, Funk, and Soul capital of the world. Of course, credit is due to Detroit, Kansas City, Memphis, Muscle Shoals, Chicago, Augusta, New York, LA, etc...but the birthplace, that's New Orleans. So, imagine the honor, pride, and childish excitement that a Jewish kid from Boston (me) feels when an alumnus of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band agrees to collaborate on a track. Big Sam and Big Sam's Funky Nation have been bringing "it" to the world for 25 years now. Dave Matthews and James Brown, Elvis Costello, and Allan Toussaint, if I was to list these acts without explanation you might think I was giving examples of opposites but, in actuality, these are all acts that have had the joyous opportunity of making music with Big Sam. I could go on, but better to let the music speak for itself. Please move the furniture out of the way, turn it way up, and get down to this almost five minutes of funky goodness. Enjoy!

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Alvino Bennett (Dave Mason, Stevie Wonder) on drums, and myself on bass. The basics were recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA with overdubs at Sam's place in New Orleans. Mellifluously mixed and mastered by the infamous F-Bomb.

Lower East Side Blues (feat. Jim Campilongo)

#137 in the Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumental Series, Lower East Side Blues, features a certified master of the telecaster, Jim Campilongo. Born in South San Francisco at just the right time to have his mind opened and blown by the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, Jim was deep in it and gigging by the mid '70's. He quickly became a San Francisco A-list guitar slinger but didn't really start to get national and international attention until he formed Jim Campilongo and the 10 Gallon Cats. I can clearly remember being here (SF) in the mid-'90s and everybody talking about Jim and his Roy Buchanan-esqe super tasty badassery. Being the big fish in the little pond was not enough for Jim so he pulled up stakes and bravely headed for New York City. A wise choice indeed. In 2002, his Electric Trio toured Europe and Scandinavia and recorded the album American Hips and in 2003 he formed the group The Little Willies with Norah Jones. Since then Jim has worked with artists as varied as; Big Al Anderson, Bright Eyes, Cake, J. J. Cale, Burning Spear, Nels Cline, Charlie Hunter, Peter Rowan, Martha Wainwright, Luca Benedetti & Capt. Picard himself Patrick Stewart. I can not tell you how many, great in their own right, guitarists I know that when they are in NYC make the pilgrimage to Jim's longstanding and legendary weekly residency at the Livingroom. I hope you enjoy this relatively brief example of a master at work and then venture beyond into the fifteen-album rabbit hole of Jim Campilongo. Enjoy!

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Andrew "the kid" Guterman (Rick Estrin) on drums, and myself on bass. The track was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA. Mixed by the Grammy-winning Godfather of Grunge, Jack Endino (Nirvana, Nando Reis) and masterfully mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering.