Make Me (feat. Lachy Doley)

#78 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series is Make Me, featuring the whammy clavinet wizardry of Lachy Doley. One late night, a few years back, I was venturing down a YouTube rabbit hole and I stumbled upon an absolutely mesmerizing live performance by the Lachy Doley Group. I immediately reached out via the miracle of the internet and in no time at all, we were making music. He asked if I wanted him to play B3 (organ) or whammy clavinet? I had never heard of whammy clavinet so of course, that's what I chose and that is what you are hearing on this track. Lachy is from Adelaide, Australia and as well as fronting the aforementioned Lachy Doley Group (including 2 charting LP's and an Australian Music Award), he has worked with Jimmy Barnes, Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa and Powderfinger. What is whammy clavinet, you ask? Well, here's a good entrance to the rabbit hole: https://youtu.be/UpajvAc9MJk 

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 track was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA with additional tracking in Adelaide, AU. Mixing and Mastering duties were handled by the infamous F-Bomb. 

Prescience of Mind (feat. Scarlet Rivera)

#77 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series is Prescience of Mind, featuring the legendary and gifted violinist, Scarlet Rivera. A member of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue and an integral part of the sound of Dylan's album Desire (including the iconic track Hurricane). Scarlet continues to play amongst the Gods. She is good friends with Joni Mitchell and performed at Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration with Brandi Carlisle. She has played Carnegie Hall with the Duke Ellington Orchestra as well as working with the Indigo Girls, Keb Mo, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and most recently Eric Andersen. Scarlet has also just released, All Of Me, a solo album which is her maiden voyage as lead vocalist. Check out the incredibly timely track Lady Liberty and the tribute to Joni, Songbird. It really is an honor to have Scarlet as a comrade and collaborator. 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 track was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA. The Grammy winning and extremely personable, Matt Winegar (Primus, Fantastic Negrito), mixed and mastered this one! And a special shout out for facilitating and engineering Scarlet's tracks; Eduardo Del Signore.

This Is Our Last Chance (feat. D.J. Williams)

Greetings Friends, Family, Associates, Acquaintances, Comrades & Accomplices,

#76 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series, This Is Our Last Chance, features a cat known more for his deeply funky rhythm playing than his soloing, but looky here, D.J. Williams sure can solo too! Born in New Jersey, raised in Liberia, and settling in Richmond VA, D.J. began his musical journey on classical piano and then heard the light of Curtis Mayfield from his Mom's record collection, which set the course that he's still following today. D.J. has been a member of Karl Denson's Tiny Universe since 2011 and is also the leader of the all-star collective, Shots Fired. We were lucky enough to catch up with D.J. while he was touring through Santa Cruz. Remember touring??? 

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Marcus David (Nick Gravenites) 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 as always, masterfully mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering.

Open Road (feat. David Grissom)

#75 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series is OPEN ROAD, featuring the guitarist's guitarist, David Grissom. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky but, not surprisingly, David has been living in the musical oasis of Austin, Texas since the early '80s. David joined Joe Ely’s band in 1985 where he stayed until 1991 when he joined up with John Mellencamp. He left Mellencamp to form his own band, Storyville, with Stevie Ray's rhythm section, Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon. Since then he has toured and recorded with Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers Band, The Dixie Chicks, Chris Isaak, Robben Ford, John Mayall, and Ringo Starr. His songs have been cut by Rita Coolidge, Trisha Yearwood, and Lee Ann Womack. And just to add to his overachieving ways, he's been a collaborator of Paul Reed Smith's for 25 years, resulting in the DGT (David Grissom Trem) signature model guitar and the PRS/Grissom Amplifier. Dude's got tone and note choice for days...

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Andrew Guterman on drums and myself on bass. The track was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA and wickedly mixed and mastered by the Supreme Ruler of Greaseland, Christoffer "Kid" Andersen.

 

 

Bayou Teche (feat. Sonny Landreth)

#74 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series, Bayou Teche, features the slide guitar mastery of a name that strikes fear in some and awe in others, Sonny Landreth. Everyone agrees that Sonny is a FREAK! I mean that in the most respectful and loving way. Eric Clapton says "Landreth is one of the most advanced guitarists in the world and one of the most under-appreciated." (Sonny has performed at five of Clapton’s Crossroad’s Guitar Festival.) Not to get too technical but, Sonny has developed his own techniques of fretting behind the slide and a hybrid flat picking and finger style, right-hand technique that leaves us, mere mortals, just scratching our heads. Originally from Mississippi, and a long time Louisianan, Sonny started out in Clifton Chenier's Red Hot Louisiana Band and quickly graduated to playing and recording with John Mayall, Mark Knopfler, John Hiatt, Govt. Mule & Eric Johnson. I’m sad that Sonny and I missed playing together in Hiatt’s band but this is the next best thing. Check it out!

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Andrew Guterman (Rick Estrin) on drums and myself on bass. The track was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola, CA. The Grammy winning and very bearded, Rob Schnapf (Beck, Booker T., Mavis Staples) brings his mad mixing skills. And as always, masterful mastering by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering. 

Blues for Booker (feat. Mike Dillon)

#73 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series, Blues for Booker, features the super vibey vibraphone-isms of Mike Dillon. Mike is a member of Critters Buggin, Les Claypool's Fancy Band and Garage A Trois (with Charlie Hunter, Skerik & Stanton Moore). Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Mike now lives in New Orleans where he plays with other NOLA residents, Ani DeFranco, Galactic, Robert Walter and Johnny Vadakovich to name just a few. Mike's musicianship is second only to his sense of humor, for example, naming his trio with saxophonist Skerik; The Dead Kenny G's. Get it? Funny, right? Okay, so, turn the lights down low and enjoy your favorite imbibement with this jazzy little number.

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Willy Jordan (Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio) 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 as always, masterfully mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering.

Lucky Charm (feat. Lucky Peterson)

#72 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series, Lucky Charm, features the late, legendary, Lucky Peterson. Discovered by Willie Dixon at the age of 5, Lucky was a gifted pianist and guitarist. He appeared on the Tonight Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, and cut his first album all in 1969 before turning 6! He was sideman to Etta James, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Little Milton and Mavis Staples. As a solo artist, he left a recorded legacy of more than 30 LP's and a lasting impression of joy and soulfulness to all that were fortunate enough to be in the same room with him. He was gracious enough to lend his badassery to this track a few years ago while passing through SF on one of his almost non-stop touring itineraries. I hope you enjoy this half as much as we did having him. Rest in peace Lucky and thank you for your service.


The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Marcus David (Nick Gravenites) 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 as always, masterfully mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering.

Unity (feat. Brother Paul Brown)

#71 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series is UNITY, featuring the psychedelic soul-funk stylings of Brother Paul Brown on the Hammond B3. Brother Paul has a bio-pic-worthy life story. Sadly, he lost his single Mom very early, was sent to a school for homeless boys, discovered an old piano there, and eventually climbed out the second-story window and headed straight for Memphis where he would ultimately become musical director and producer to the GREAT Anne Peebles (I Can't Stand The Rain) for more than 20 years. I'd watch THAT movie! Just a few other NTK nuggets: Brother Paul has won a Grammy for his work on Gloria Gaynor's triumphant 2019 release Testify, was nominated for a Grammy for producing Bobby Rush's Down In Louisiana (2014) and pre-plague was touring internationally with the Waterboys. Did I mention he has an infectiously positive vibe as well?

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 track was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA. And the newest addition to the team; Mixing and Mastering by the Grand Wizard of Greaseland, Christoffer "Kid" Andersen.

And please remember the movement continues:

You Move Like Funk (feat. Eric McFadden)

#70 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series, You Look Like Funk, features a guitarist on a first-name basis with the funk, Eric McFadden. As well as being a George Clinton / P-Funk alum, Eric has played with an incredibly diverse array of heavies, including Les Claypool, Joe Strummer, The Reverend Horton Heat, Galactic, Keb Mo, Eric Burdon, Fishbone, Widespread Panic, Jackson Browne, Nels Cline, and Mike Watt. We were lucky enough to have Eric and his Tasty Face bandmate and wife, Delphine de St. Paër, stop by while having a moment off the road at home in SF. I hope you enjoy the result.

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 always, masterfully mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering.

And please remember the movement continues: