Checked out some cool guitar players last weekend at the SJ Jazz Festival....

[Rod S]

Last weekend we had a big 'jazz' festival here in SJ. Hard to call it 'jazz', since 90% of the stuff I saw, I wouldn't call jazz http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

Anyways, checked out Corby Yates and Eric Sardinas.

 

I was only able to check out Corby for about 20 minutes (I was heading to check out this brazilian singer which I really like... then the show was late by 1/2 hour.. arghhh), but I like the style, clean sound, good voice, good technique (OK, I'm a keyboard guy http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif). Looking at the guy you think he belonged more at a research lab then singing the blues... Nothing terribly innovative, but the sound was good (that was probably the stage with the best sound actually), band was tight, cool songs.

 

I really like Eric Sardinas. Style and sound with tons of attitude. He was playing some type of hacked dobro(or resonator? I can never remember the difference). Really wacky technique, but sounded great. Bass player was good (nothing exceptional, but tight with the groove), but the drummer was excellent. I'm going to try to pick up his CD this week.

 

Makes me rethink the stuff I'm working on, where I have 20-30 tracks of music.... http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/eek.gif Nice to hear this type of act where the guys get an amazing sound with just 3 players. I'm not a huge connoiseur of blues, but I liked both acts a lot. Nice to see people people still following this style...

 

Have you guys checked these 2 out before?

[michael saulnier]

I saw Eric Sardinas in San Diego, where he opened up for Johnny Winter. Eric is high energy, wailing blues. ALL THE TIME. I really was digging him for about 15 minutes and then... slowly... it started to be too much...

 

Then he started in on the "beer bottle" routine. You know, where he grabs a bottle from a person in the crowd, uses it for a slide for a while, and then chugs the contents while still playing... It got the crowd fired up... I thought it was too much of an ACT.

 

I'd still say if you haven't seen him, it's probably worth it to check him out... I mean how many times can you see a guy who WAILS on electric dobro?

 

I'm not sure if I'd make the show a second time.

 

Johnny Winter on the other hand was one of the saddest experiences I have ever had at a show. I've seen him at least 6 previous times and I certainly rank him in his prime as one of the best blues players around. He LIVES the blues in a way many "posers" don't and he has a depth of style that ranges from full on slide madness to sophisticated delta fingerpicking blues. He's a living legend.

 

That night he was the "walking dead". He was pale... even for an albino, kinda swayed from side to side all night with his eyes closed, had almost no volume to his voice, (which is usually a scratchy roar), and had to be led out on the stage and off of it. Knowing the vitality of the guy from all his previous shows it was sad, tragic, and made me wonder why is he doing this. He could still play, but it was lacking much of the FIRE that he usually brings to a show.

 

Maybe it was just a bad night, too much medication, or something... I don't know... but I really felt as though I would never see the Johnny Winter I knew again.

 

guitplayer

 

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[Rod S]

I saw Eric Sardinas in San Diego, where he opened up for Johnny Winter. Eric is high energy, wailing blues. ALL THE TIME. I really was digging him for about 15 minutes and then... slowly... it started to be too much...

 

Maybe it was the 1st time. Can't say I would see him again, but then again, it's very few artists that I would see twice.. to little time and too many shows to see http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

Then he started in on the "beer bottle" routine. You know, where he grabs a bottle from a person in the crowd, uses it for a slide for a while, and then chugs the contents while still playing... It got the crowd fired up... I thought it was too much of an ACT.

 

Well, it is. It doesn't bother me when people pull up shit like that and can play. It pisses me off when people can't play and pull stuff like that. It's all good. He only did the beer bottle thing for 5 minutes. He also went off the stage and started walking around playing. It's all part of the show I guess.

 

I've seen BB King in concert, and it's a pleasure to see/hear him play. I like seing both extremes though. Eric is pretty extreme with his looks and style of playing. As I said, as long as the person can play, it's all good IMHO.

 

Thanks for the comments. As far as Winter, the one sad act I remember was Ray Charles, who looked like he was intoxicated (drunk, I think). Granted the guy is blind, but he almost had to be carried to the piano. It didn't look like he was just 'walked' in the right direction... His voice sounded like shit and his piano playing was average.