Church Street Blues (Norman Blake)
“Church Street Blues” is another
classic. It has been covered by many, many artists, notably Tony Rice. My version contains elements of both Norman’s original recording and Tony Rice’s cover but I did try to individualize it. I don’t know for sure but Norman might have written it about Church Street in downtown Nashville, a few blocks from the Grand Ole Opry.
Cherokee (Ray Noble) 7 String Guitar Solo
Cherokee” is a jazz standard written by Ray Noble in 1938. Cherokee has a 64-bar AABA construction. The A-section chord progression is similar to many standards but the B-section cadences (via ii-7–V7–I progressions) into the keys of B Major, A Major and G Major before moving toward the B♭ tonic.” Always a challenge to perform especially solo!
Li’l Darlin’ (Neial Hefti) – Solo 7 String
Li’l Darlin’ was written in 1957 jazz by trumpeter Neal Hefti for the Count Basie
Orchestra and is a jazz standard recorded and performed by many. It became a favorite of guitar players and Joe Pass, Charlie Byrd, George Benson, Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell, Howard Alden, George Van Eps and Howard Roberts all recorded versions of it.
The Basie original was done at a very slow tempo but I like it more up both in solo and trio playing.
Celebrating the Beatles – “A Day in the Life” (Lennon-McCartney)
The recording of “A Day in the Life” started on Thursday evening on January 19th, 1967 in Abbey Road Studios.
John Lennon’s masterpiece…
I would also like to note that the bridge to the song was written by Paul McCartney. “A Day in a Life” is the closing track on “Sargent Pepper” album. I can’t describe the effect it had on me at fourteen when I first heard it!
Ain’t MisBehavin’ (Waller-Razaf) – 7 String Guitar Solo
“Ain’t Misbehavin‘ is a 1929 stride jazz/early swing composition with 32 bars in AABA measure with a slow-to-moderate pace. With lyrics by Andy Razaf and score by Thomas “Fats” Waller and Harry Brooks, the number was created specifically as a theme song for the Razaf/Waller/Brooks Broadway musical comedy Connie’s Hot Chocolates. In a 1941 interview with Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Fats said the song was written while “lodging” in alimony prison, and that is why he was not “misbehaving”. (Source: Wikipedia)
Just Friends (John Klenner and Sam M. Lewis)
I enjoy improvising on this standard written in 1931.
Celebrating the Beatles! “You Got to Hide Your Love Away” (Lennon//McCartney)
Recorded by the Beatles,
53 years ago today on Thursday, February 18th, 1965. It was recorded with no electric instruments was recorded and finished that afternoon. I decided to record it myself in celebration of the Beatles!