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Topic: Hot Club of Cowtown - Need to be on Marty Stuart Show |
Scott Shewbridge
From:
Bay Area, N. California
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Posted 29 Jan 2012 10:27 am |
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Yesterday I had the good fortune to take two swing guitar classes taught by Whit Smith of the Hot Club of Cowtown. Some very nice moving voicings that I plan to work on and add to some of the things Leon Grizzard has shared here. Whit channels Charlie Christian, Eldon Shamblin and Junior Bernard while very clearly expressing his own voice. Fabulous.
I also got the chance to see the Hot Club of Cowtown playing at the Freight and Salvage last night, as part of this weekend's Django Festival. What a fabulous performance. All three of these musicians are virtuoso class and their animation and interaction is a joy to watch. They are some of the most talented musicians I've seen in a long time, deserving of attention. Elana James fiddle playing is superb and her expressive facial emotions are a joy to watch. Reminded me of Louis Armstrong in some ways, though I gotta say, I'm quite a bit more attracted to Elana than Louis! And Jake Erwin shows you an Oklahoma boy can lay it down on that slap bass like nobody's business.
I absolutely adore the way they mix the Gypsy genre with the Western Swing thing - very appropriate and very much to my tastes.
Here is a video of them doing Stay All Night
http://player.vimeo.com/video/27580482
Here is a nice Gypsy number too, Tchavalo Swing:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/uXe-K_gLX6A
If you get a chance to see them, go. And if anyone from the Marty Stuart Show is paying attention - Please give this group some consideration. I think they have the potential to really cross quite a few genres and bring some vitality and youth into the "high-end" country music / jazz scene. These faithful bearers of American musical heritage deserve support. |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 29 Jan 2012 11:33 am
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| Wow! What great music! And performed with excitement and energy! |
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Scott Shewbridge
From:
Bay Area, N. California
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Posted 29 Jan 2012 11:33 am
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| By the way, when I say American heritage, I am referencing some of the heavy hot jazz style of western swing such as by the Farr Brothers and the Sons of the Pioneers. Don't try to tell me Django and Stephane didn't hear a thing or two those boys were doing.... |
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Scott Shewbridge
From:
Bay Area, N. California
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Posted 29 Jan 2012 11:35 am
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| Paul, they are in Sacramento tonight at Harlow's - 7 PM. Highly recommended. |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 29 Jan 2012 12:08 pm
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| Scott: I'll be in Davis tonight playing the "Man Hater" tunes. But I'm sending a message to Joe Carlson of the forum. He might be interested, as he's a very accomplished jazz guitar player. Thanks for the post. |
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Larry Schoppe
From:
Lake Jackson, Texas, USA
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Posted 29 Jan 2012 2:25 pm
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| Hot Club of Cowtown is one of the best bands out there. I got to see them twice in one week last month. What incredible showmen they are! |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 29 Jan 2012 7:43 pm
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| That's a Pro group. Now all they need is a handsome young standup steel player. |
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