The Blues Blogger

I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting this past weekend. You see it was two years ago around this time that I suffered my heart attack. I’m mentioning this because as I look back, I believe strongly in the positive medicinal and psychological affect music can offer. There’s no greater healer in my mind. Music possesses special powers, and the blues especially has the capability to make you feel better through the sharing of other’s life experiences. That’s not exactly a secret, but perhaps I can say I’ve experienced it a little myself. It was always music that got me through some tough times. So when you hear a good thing, especially one that motivates you, I believe it’s important to pass that information along.

This Past Weekend

Between having so much to do and drifting off into my recent past, I found myself genuinely impressed when I listened to Mike Zito’s latest release Pearl River. It’s so upbeat and positive that after a few listens, I accomplished so many tasks around the house with such little effort I didn’t know what hit me. It comes at the perfect time as I think back to a very arduous moment. It was the songs on Pearl River this past weekend that kept reminding me what can be accomplished if you put your mind to it and set the right tone…

Things start cooking with the opening track Dirty Blonde; a gritty and infectious groove that showcases Zito’s fantastic fretwork and earthy vocals. The title track “Pearl River” is a rousing song featuring Cyril Neville’s (Neville Brothers, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson…) tasteful vocals enhanced by keyboardist Reese Wynan’s (Double Trouble) pensive touch. The third track “Big Mouth” is a fabulous funky R&B number with plenty of foot tapping vivacity… With the rock n soul “Change My Ways,” to Shoes Blues,” (a variation of “Walking Blues”) which introduces singer Susan Cowsill, the catchy tunes kept coming. From the haunting “The Dead of Night” to the closer “C’mon Baby,” the music here never disappoints. This is a fantastic sequel to Zito’s previous 2008 Eclecto Groove release “Today.” It’s addictive and a very captivating album. With “Pearl River,” David Z once again sits at the producer’s helm along with label CEO Randy Chortkoff.

Mike Zito

“Music can change everything – how you feel, how you see and what
you believe,” Zito explains.

Mike Zito grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and became immersed in the musical sounds of the Southside. He was inspired enough to start singing and performing at the age of five. After receiving a Van Halen record as a birthday gift, the guitar would became his main focus; setting the stage for his future. As time progressed, he would gain further influence from artists such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, Walter Trout, B.B. King and Buddy Guy.

At the age of 19 Zito worked in the local St. Louis music scene and continued to develop his sound. In 1996 he launched his debut independent release Blue Room, followed by 1999’s America’s Most Wanted.

Zito began to tour, and when he was off the road would continue to perform regularly six nights a week in and around St. Louis. He had many challenges along the way. But Zito was able to gain some focus when he took the advice of fellow musicians who warned him of the needless journey of heading down the wrong road. Eventually he found the love and support from his now wife who helped him clean-up and refocus on his career.

With a fresh outlook, Zito formed a new band and released “Slow it Down” in 2004. He once again began performing across the country doing 250 shows in 2005… With his fourth release Superman in 2006, Zito’s soulful influences were starting to really show.

In 2007 Zito signed with Eclecto Groove Records which resulted in 2008’s David Z. (Prince, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Jonny Lang) and Tony Braunagel (Eric Burdon, Taj Mahal, Phantom Blues Band) produced album “Today.” Along with top notch world class musicians that included keyboardist Bentmont Tench (Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash) and bassist James “Hutch Hutchinson. (Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Joe Cocker) Zito generated his most critically acclaimed work.

Over the course of time his experiences have led him to larger audiences where he’s shared the stage with performers such as Chuck Berry, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tab Benoit, Walter Trout, Bernard Allison, Coco Montoya, Joe Bonamassa just to name a few.

“There is something in Zito’s music that went straight to my heart that goes way beyond his incredible talent as a musician…it’s that his music has such a message of positivity and hope. That’s universal, and when you pair that up with music that appeals on so many levels simply as great contemporary music, it makes Mike Zito a guy who truly deserves to be heard.” ~ Randy Chortkoff

Zito is a very talented artist that is sure to be a household name in the very near future. The result on his latest release is an enthusiastic production with an infectious blues/rock tone dripping with a cool soulful vibe. If you’re looking for a push start to your day then this record should give you the energy required to sail through. Be sure to check it out, you won’t be disappointed. It just may be what the doctor ordered.

Are you familiar with Mike Zito’s work? Any songs or moments in his career you’d like to share? Your comments are always welcome!

TheBluesBlogger

Mike Zito 2009 Tour Schedule

September

09/22/09: Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic
09/23/09: Sallisaw, OK – Cherokee Casino
09/24/09: W. Siloam Springs, OK – Cherokee Casino
09/25/09: Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
09/26/09: Columbia, MO – Roots n Blues Festival
09/27/09: Columbia, MO – The Blue Note

October

10/01/09: New Orleans, LA – Ogden Museum of Southern Art
10/02/09: Port Arthur, TX – Dylan’s
10/03/09: Baytown, TX – TX Nat’l Motorcycle Rally
10/06/09: Austin, TX – Continental Club
10/08-10/09: Biloxi, MS – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
10/11/09: Houma, LA – The Balcony
10/22/09: Cape Griardeau, MO – Rude Dog Pub
10/23/09: St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
10/24/09: Springfield, MO – Cartoon’s
10/25/09: Kansas City, MO – Knucklehead’s
10/27/09: Omaha, NE – Murphy’s Lounge
10/28/09: Lincoln, NE – Zoo Bar
10/29/09: Cedar Rapids, IA – Chappy’s Safari Lounge
10/30/09: Des Moines, IA – Blues On Grand
10/31/09: St. Louis, MO – Private

November

11/06/09: Big Pine Key, FL – Rob’s Island Grill
11/07/09: Key West, FL – 12-Step Music Festival
11/07/09: Pig Pine Key, FL – Rob’s Island Grill (after party)
11/09/09: Nashville, TN – TBA
11/11/09: Tuscarawas, OH – The Canal House
11/13/09: New York, NY – Sullivan Hall w/Tab Benoit
11/14/09: Buffalo, NY – Lafayette Tap Room w/Ana Popovic & Jason Ricci
11/17/09: Dubois, PA – Treasure Lake Ski Lodge
11/18/09: New York, NY – Terra Blues
11/19/09: New Castle, DE – J.B. McGinnes Pub
11/20/09: Fall River, MA – The Narrows Center For The Arts w/Tab Benoit
11/25/09: Boulder, CO – Boulder Outlook Hotel
11/26-28/09: Blackhawk, CO – Blackhawk, CO
11/29/09: Evergreen, CO – Little Bear Saloon

December

12/04/09: Humble, TX – Rock, Wine & Blues
12/05/09: New Orleans, LA – Rock n’Bowl
12/06/09: Houma, LA – The Balcony
12/10-12/09: Biloxi, MS – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Tags: Blues Music Awards, Blues News, Blues Reflections, New Releases, Reviews by The Blues Blogger
9 Comments »

The following article was written exactly one year ago. Out of the many jazz posts I’ve done, this one is my favorite. Twenty two years after his tragic death, Jaco Pastorius’ extraordinary talent continues to generate a sentimental spot, and is a source of inspiration for musicians and fans the world over.… I hope you enjoy the variation in genre this time around. ~TBB

September 2008

Saturday morning I had breakfast with an old friend that I’ve known for most of my life. It’s been a few months since we last spoke, so we took the opportunity to get together for a few hours to catch-up on stuff. My friend is a bass player and doesn’t play live that much anymore, but he continues to record as often as possible. I won’t get into his music credits in order to maintain his privacy, but he’s a respected musician in many circles. It’s really cool, as we have been in contact for over 40 years now. I owe much of my music sensibility to this gentleman. So much so that I weaved him into a piece I wrote called Remembering Little Walter.

He was always a little different in his approach to his instrument than your average musician. To this day he reminds me of Jaco Pastorius. Not only in his tone, but also the way he’s able to make his bass sing so expressively. His playing is always a focal point on anything he touches; bringing his experience to the forefront on every note for all to enjoy.

During those few hours during breakfast we discussed that it was 21 years ago this Sunday that the great Jaco Pastorius passed away. I mentioned that I felt from an influential perspective, Jaco just may be to bass players what Hendrix was to guitarists. The impact Jaco created was truly inspirational and it’s difficult to ignore his influence not only on bass players, but all musicians that were fortunate enough to hear and experience his very special gift.

Jaco Pastorius

was on born on December 1, 1951 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Shortly after his birth the Pastorius family moved to Fort Lauderdale Florida. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement’s Catholic School in Wilton Manors, and he attended high school at Northeast High in Oakland Park. While growing up, Pastorius loved playing sports and watching basketball with his father.

Jaco started his music career by playing the drums; following in his fathers footsteps. A broken wrist while playing football prevented him from drumming. The injury eventually required surgery and Jaco decided that he would fill in the vacant bass player spot in a nine piece band he was in called Las Olas Brass. The band did covers of popular R&B artists such as Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Otis Redding.

As Pastorius’ interest in jazz developed, so did his desire to play the double bass; an instrument used not only in jazz settings, but other genres such as 1950s-style blues and rock and roll. After saving up money to buy the instrument, he discovered that it wouldn’t hold up to the Florida humidity. Instead he replaced his bass with a Fender that he pried the frets out of. Jaco then filled the fret holes with wood putty, and coated the fingerboard with marine varnish.

“I had an upright — it took me years and years to get enough bread to get it,” he once said. “I’m from Florida, so one morning I woke up, go in the corner and the bass is in a hundred pieces, cause the humidity is so bad, I mean, the upright just blew up. I said forget it, man, I can’t afford this any more. So I went out, got a knife and took all the frets out of my Fender. That was it.”

Throughout his youth Pastorius continued to develop his skills, honing his songwriting prowess in bands like Wayne Cochran and The C.C. Riders. In 1974, he started to play with his friend and later famous guitarist Pat Metheny. Together they recorded with artists such as Paul Bley. They also made an album together for ECM with drummer Bob Moses entitled Bright Size Life.

In the mid seventies, Pastorius met up with drummer Bobby Colomby, who played with Blood Sweat and Tears. Together with Colomby acting as producer, Jaco made his first album the infamous self entitled album entitled Jaco Pastorius in 1976. The album became the talk of the jazz scene and was widely praised by critics. His solo album was also noted for its incredible lineup of serious jazz musicians that included Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, David Sanborn, Lenny White, and Michael Brecker just to name a few. Even R&B singers Sam & Dave would reunite to appear on the track “Come On, Come Over”.

The Weather Report Years

It was during the time that Pastorius released his solo album that he ran into keyboardist Joe Zawinul in Miami where Weather Report was playing at the time. Not being shy about his talent, Jaco told Zawinul that he was “the greatest bass player in the world.” And he sarcastically told Zawinul that he thought his band was sort of alright… Sources say that Zawinul initially had a few F sharps for Pastorius, but eventually admired him for his brash demeanor. The two of them would stay in touch and it eventually led to Jaco joining the band during the recording of Weather Report’s Black Market album. Pastorius contribution to the band became a vital part of the group’s makeup. His presence brought Weather Report new fans and enhanced the band’s compositions and their live shows.

If people were unaware of Jaco’s talent, the Grammy nominated album Heavy Weather in 1977 would certainly change that. His bass playing on that album was outstanding, and he would also receive a co-producing credit along with Zawinul. Pastorius also returned to his original instrument the drums by playing on the cut Teen Town.

During his career, Pastorius played on many recording sessions for other musicians, both in and out of jazz circles. Some of these include, Ian Hunter, David Sanborn, Al Di Meola, Mike Stern and Biréli Lagrène.

Out of the many guest appearances by Pastorius, my personal favorites would have to be the some of the work with artist Joni Mitchell. The album Shadows and Light in 1980 had him and friend Pat Metheny joining forces again. The music on this album was beautifully driven with Pastorius’s melodic flair.

As the years passed Pastorius started to develop severe mental health issues. Drinking and drug use would only worsen the problem. Diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, he began a path of strange behavior that ultimately affected his life on and off the stage. Slowly he started to become an outcast in the music community as he would be banned from one club to another. Eventually it was this erratic behavior that would take his life as he was involved in a fight with a bouncer after sneaking on stage at a Santana concert. The confrontation would send him into a coma. On September 21st, 1987, he was taken off life support, and at the age of 35, we lost the great innovator.

Many artists over the years such as Miles Davis, Marcus Miller, John McLaughlin, Rod Argent, Bela Fleck and countless others have paid tribute on their albums to this legend of the music world. All of these artists work ensures us that his legacy will continue to be honored for a long time to come.

My Breakfast Meeting Came To an End

When I think about some of the people that inspired my love for music, I think about the great Jaco Pastorius. It was Jaco that led me to listen more intently to Weather Report and artists such as Joni Mitchell and Pat Metheny. When I worked at the record boutique in my teens; I turned as many people on to Jaco as I could. I would play his music to anyone who was willing to listen. His self entitled first solo album Jaco Pastorius along with Heavy Weather will always be one the most played vinyl jazz albums I still own and will forever cherish; major pieces of inspiration for TheBluesBlogger.

As my friend began to drive off, I started to think, it really was him that made me aware of Jaco. It was his playing over the years that opened my ears up to the jazz genre and provided the inspiration and motivation to move to NYC and search for work in a recording studio. Listening would not be enough! I had to be a part of it somehow. My friend allowed me to be a part of his music world, and it helped me to appreciate music generated right from the creative process. Thank you my friend!

During the writing of this article, I realize I have left many gaps in the life and career of Jaco Pastorius. There are just too many to fill in just one post. Perhaps that’s where you can help. Please make sure you add your comments below and help fill in some of the details that may be important to you. Did Jaco have any influence on you as a music lover? Or did he inspire you as a musician? Your comments are always appreciated.

Take Care,

The Blues Blogger

Tags: Jazz, Jazz Reflections, Reflections, The Seventies by The Blues Blogger
18 Comments »

This post is going to be brief as I’ve been a little under the weather this past weekend… Whenever I feel this way I tend to drift off somewhere out of the norm. I’m not sure why that is, but it happens every time… Shuffling slowly around the house, I glanced out the front window and shook my head in disbelief. As I watched my ridiculous next door neighbor continue to lower property values, I thought to myself, “What Animals.”

A few minutes later my wife and I started a discussion regarding these insensitive people. I will not go into detail, but I jokingly said to her I was going to hire a band one day, put them in the backyard and have a massive party early on a Saturday morning… Just as I said that, I heard a bass beat from the past start to fade in to my reflective mind. Then I started to sing (not very well I might add) a song I imagined would be good to cover. Oh well… No one should ever stop you from dreaming.

The Animals

is an English group from 1960s famous for their coarse bluesy rock sound with R&B textures. Part of the British Invasion, there were many incarnations of the group before emerging as a proponent of the psychedelic rock era. They were only around a few short years before disbanding. However, over time there’s been several reunions of the original group. In recent years Burdon and original drummer John Steel have toured with new versions of The Animals as Eric Burdon & the Animals and Animals & Friends respectively.

Perhaps the significance of this post, and another reason the song came to me, is the upcoming anniversary of Jimi Hendrix death on September 18th. A day that coincidentally also stands out as my son’s birthday…

What’s the correlation of The Animals and Hendrix some of you may ask? Well, original bass player Chas Chandler when he left the group went on to become Hendrix’s manager and recruited Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell to form The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Chandler also produced Hendrix’s first two albums and was also responsible for introducing him to Eric Clapton. This is the famous meeting where Hendrix got a chance to play with Clapton and Cream.

There is so much to discuss about Eric Burdon and The Animals, but this post is really about a quick song that came to mind while being under the weather and feeling a little sardonic… If you’re looking for more information on The Animals or any of the original band members, I’ve included some links below:

Original Members of The Animals

Eric Burdon
Alan Price
Chas Chandler
John Steele
Hilton Valentine

As we all continue to juggle our day to day responsibilities, there are always challenges we have to face. But it’s the music that helps many of us with the curves life can toss. There is no better therapy in my mind!

How many of you have disruptive insensitive neighbors? Do you have a theme song that comes to mind when you’re under the weather and still have to deal with ridiculous people?

TheBluesBlogger

Tags: Blues Reflections, Classic Rock, Reflections, Rock, The Sixties by The Blues Blogger
12 Comments »