Go cruising with Plainsense in his Boattail Riv. Along the way we will discuss what's on our mind while drinking a craft beer, smoking a fine cigar and only listening to good music. So hop in and let's go! I only ask that you throw in a little gas money.
I was terribly saddened to learn of the passing of another great blues guitarist, Otis Grand, who died on June 9, 2023. Grand, whose real name was Fred Bishti, was born in Beirut, raised in the San Francisco Bay Area but found his fame in Britain. He was regarded as one of the best blues guitarists on the European circuit yet kept in touch with his many friends in the U.S. blues scene. Under appreciated in America, Grand also wrote and sang and put out several blues cds that were as good as any in the blues genre. With exquisite taste in singers, side men and women and material, I have 2 or 3 of Grand's cds in heavy rotation on my disc player most weeks. His collaborations with the cream of the crop of U.S. blues singers like Sugar Ray Norcia and Curtis Salgado capture some of their best work. For those unfamiliar with Grand's work, here is one of my favorite Grand originals,"Finish Line", off of his cd "Nothing Else Matters" featuring Curtis Salgado on vocals and a stellar horn section that includes the late great Bob Enos and Ritch Lataille from Roomful of Blues and Sax Gordon among others.
In 2013 Grand returned to the place of his birth, Beirut, Lebanon where he and his Blues 65 Band was the closing concert at the Zouk Mikael's International Music Festival under the stars in an ancient amphitheater. A generous friend, Otis invited many of his American blues musician friends to play in his band and share in a most unique and special life experience. Mr. Grand will be sorely missed.
The last time Alejandro brought a band to town it was pre-covid and the band had just survived a close call when their vehicle hit a deer on the way to Kansas City. Escovedo, who had been on the road constantly since recovering from a serious illness years earlier, announced to the crowd that his current tour would be his last. At least for a good while. It was July 3, 2019 and the band had the 4th of July off but were doing a show in Madison, WI on the 5th. It was not the first time I drove for over 5 hours to see Escovedo and was hoping it would not be the last.
Fast forward to June of 2023 and Escovedo was back. This time with a slightly pared down band, just drums and keyboards to accompany his capable guitar work. As usual, he picked incredibly talented musicians, Mark Henne on drums and Scott Danbom on keyboards and violin, to accompany him. Although Escovedo's reputation in the music world is such that musicians line up 10 deep for a chance to add him to their resume, I have toyed with the idea of what a "help wanted" ad for a spot in his band would look like. I imagine it would read something like "versatile musicians wanted, steeped in improvisation, not easily flustered and comfortable with any genre from punk to folk or country to jazz".
The reason I mention this is because I am sure neither Henne nor Danbom ever thought they would be doing experimental theater, playing table side at a jazz club, when they signed on to be in Escovedo's band. So seven songs into his performance at the already intimate dakota jazz club, Alejandro asked that the house light be turned up. Danbom traded his keyboards for a violin and Henne his drums for a tambourine and they ventured out into the audience to serenade us tableside. But that is quintessential Escovedo. Restless, ever changing, mixing things up and never resting on his laurels, of which there are many.
But I am getting ahead of myself. The show for my son and I started with the trailing, ethereal guitar notes to "Way it Goes" as we were being seated at 7:30 pm. I later learned from AE's setlist that he had opened with "Wave". Word to the wise to be prompt and when they say "music at 7:00 pm" they mean it.
"Dearhead on the Wall" was next, followed by a rousing version of another track off Boxing Mirror, "Break This Time", which featured some chunky rhythm guitar work by Escovedo. While I have become somewhat spoiled by the long list of great lead guitar players Escovedo usually brings on the road with him, it was refreshing to hear Escovedo's guitar work with emphasis on rhythm front and center.
Escovedo continued with his career retrospective playing "This Bed is Getting Crowded" off of Street Songs of Love followed by "Teenage Luggage" off his collaboration with Italy's Don Antonio, The Crossing. Escovedo took the opportunity to mention how he was looking forward to returning to Italy later this year to work on another project with his friend Don Antonio.
Alejandro dedicated the next number, Ian Hunter's "I Wish I was your Mother" to his doctor. The performance was especially poignant in light of the fact that his doctor (who saved his life) recently lost his mother and this was her favorite song of Alejandro's.
It was at this point that the house lights came up and the trio ventured out into the audience to play a 3 song acoustic set of "Something Blue", "San Antonio Rain" and a song he rarely plays live "Last to Know". Below are a snippet from "San Antonio Rain" and the full "Last to Know".
Following the acoustic set the band returned to the stage and kicked off with one of the nights highlights, a powerful rendition of "Sally was a Cop". After being relegated to a tambourine the previous three numbers Henne was chomping at the bit to get back to his drum kit. You can see why Escovedo picked him to play in his band. The Austin transplant and native Philadelphian propulsive syncopated drumming was exactly what the song called for. It also helps to have a solid harmony singer in addition to being a great drummer.
Next up was "Too Many Tears" before a clever reworking of his closest thing to a hit single "Always a Friend" which he transformed into a medley with Smokey's "Tracks of My Tears" and "Lively Up". No Escovedo show would be complete without "Castanets" after which he took an extended break causing many in the crowd to to think the night was over. He rewarded those who stuck around with a heartfelt "Sister Lost Soul" dedicated to all his friends who have left us too soon before ending on a punk rock note with "Chelsea Hotel 78".
Later this summer Alejandro, Nancy and their two dogs are renting an RV and driving to Calgary. Normally this would be a beautiful road trip but sadly there are currently approximately 400 forest fires raging across Canada. I pray this turns out better than their Honeymoon when they were stranded in a hurricane down in Baja. Please be safe and we will be praying for rain.
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