Jazzerman Takes Off for the Moon

Thanks to the Internet, I’ve discovered and been inspired by several guitar players and other musicians who may be technically amateur but play on a professional level (in my opinion).

One of them is Jazzerman, a university professor who started out playing rock and blues and has since switched to jazz guitar.  He’s got a collection of priceless guitars too.

Here’s Jazzerman playing “Fly Me to the Moon,” a song I first heard from my parents and then read the music notation much, much later in a book by Warren Nunes.

Watch this.

Grace Potter and Joe Satriani: "Cortez the Killer"

Joe Satriani jams with Grace Potter et al on the classic Neil Young tune “Cortez the Killer.”  Sit back, relax and have a cold one.

John Scofield and Jaco Pastorius Play "The Chicken"

Jaco Pastorius never fails to inspire me.  John Scofield too.  These two great musicians can fill up all the spaces in a jazz trio setting.  And Jaco doesn’t even play that loud.

Here Jaco is having a great time.  He apparently enjoyed playing with Sco and Kenwood Denard.  This contrasts Jaco Pastorius’  appearance at GIT where he is said to be dismayed at Frank Gambale’s over-the-top and insensitive playing.

Well, Jaco loved Carlos Santana’s playing.  As the story goes, he went onstage without permission just to be able to play bass with Devadip.

Too bad Mr. Pastorius had to exit his life gig early.

Frank Gambale’s Bop

Frank Gambale took the progression of the song "All the Things You Are," wrote a nifty bop-ish melody and titled it "You Are All the Things."  "Stella by Flashlight," anyone?