Category Archives: Piano

Edward The Mad Shirt Grinder – The Beautiful Articulation of Nicky Hopkins

Posted on by Musicofourheart
Cover of "Beck-Ola"

Cover of Beck-Ola

Jeff Beck Group HandbillNicky Hopkins is without question rock’s greatest session musician. His signature contributions are still felt strongly today, 18 years after his passing. I continue being blown away by the breadth and depth of Nicky Hopkins piano contributions to rock.history

My first encounter with Nicky Hopkins’s musicianship was with The Jeff Beck Group and Beck-Ola. I saw Nicky Hopkins play with The Jeff Beck Group at the Fillmore East on July 3, 1969. He is depicted performing with The Jeff Beck Group on the cover of this definitive book by Julian Dawson.

Nicky Hopkins got his recording start with Del Shannon. You can hear his piano virtuoso as a lad of 17 on the 1961 hit, “Runaway”.  His frail health (he suffered from Crohn’s disease) forced him into the life of a session musician, where he excelled.

Nicky Hopkins was known as the Sixth Stone. His body of work with the Rolling Stones is immeasurable, ranging from “Ruby Tuesday” to “Waiting On A Friend”.

Nicky moved to Mill Valley, California to improve his health and took up with such San Francisco bands as The Jefferson Airplane and Jerry Garcia Band. He was considered a full-partner in Quicksilver Messenger Service and his touch played a fundamental role in Shady Grove and Just For Love.

The musicians he worked with over the decades were very taken with him.

“It was such a thrill to work for him as well as have him work with me. Every time I hear Joe Cocker’s ‘You Are So Beautiful’ I want to cry before Joe’s even come in. People try to emulate that piano piece, but there’s only one person could have played that—Nicky Hopkins.”
– Peter Frampton

He worked with all four of the Beatles when they went solo. I am especially fond of his song, “Edward (The Mad Shirt Grinder)” that he recorded with QMS and on his best solo album, The Tin Man Was A Dreamer ( George Harrison, Mick Taylor, Klaus Voormann and Hopkins’ fellow Rolling Stones sidemen Bobby Keys and Jim Price.)


 

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2012 – Laura Nyro

Posted on by Musicofourheart

The 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Laura Nyro, c. 1968

Image via Wikipedia

I was truly pleased to see Laura Nyro‘s name among the 2012 inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That honor has been long overdue. I wrote a blog post earlier this year about Laura Nyro. I mentioned in that post that Earthworks Films, Inc. is working on a film about Laura Nyro entitled, December’s Boudoir. It would be terrific and well-timed if that movie was ready to be released in harmony with Laura Nyro’s induction. I’d love to see some of the footage shown as part of her induction. Keeping my fingers crossed about that possibility :)

The induction ceremony moves to Cleveland, Ohio and will be held on April 14, 2012. It will be the culmination of a 10 day celebration starting April 5th. There will be more details of that celebration posted on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Web site going forward. I see lots of advantages moving the induction ceremony from the Waldorf Astoria in New York City to Cleveland. One can only hope that for the 10 day celebration the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame plans to use the Web more actively with live Webcasts, video of recorded events and Web page information about each day of Induction 2012. It would be wonderful to include a wider, interested audience in this celebration.

I read and listened to Scott Simon NPR column, Simon Says about “Laura Nyro’s Lasting Eclectic Musical Legacy” which serves as the impetus for today’s music blog post.

Thank God for Spotify’s extensive music cloud which offers a comprehensive choice of Laura Nyro’s catalog.  Christmas and the beads of sweat is an ideal listen as we enter the twelve remaining days of Christmas 2011.

 

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Rio – Keith Jarrett

Posted on by Musicofourheart

Keith Jarrett | RIO | ECM 2198/99Keith Jarrett’s latest solo recording, Rio is a masterpiece of poetic justice. Find a quiet space, breath deeply and be ready to be swept away by the piano fortissimo’s that exude from Keith Jarret‘s fingertips. The resonance of his touch combined with his exuberance will immerse you in the warmth that is Rio de Janeiro.

Rio is 15 delicious tracks of 100% improvisation.

I have not been this moved by a Keith Jarrett recording since The Köln Concert in 1975. I recall opening the rice paper sleeve and placing Side One of this classic ECM vinly record on my Technics turntable. Those were the days I owned a high-end separates system. The sound of Keith Jarrett’s solo piano wafted through my KEF speakers expanding my consciousness an astral plane of intellect. Each subsequent side of The Köln Concert expanded that tapestry of thought.

Rio and Keith Jarrett are stirring my longings to play the Baldwin piano we have in the family room again. Why should such a beautiful instrument sit idle? I am inspired to begin my musical journey anew…..inspiration leads to creativity and with it follows the sweet rewards of accomplishment :)

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The Rum Diary + Soundtrack

Posted on by Musicofourheart

I caught Johnny Depp‘s appearance on The David Letterman Show last night to promote his production company (Infinitum Nihl) film The Rum Diary. I am glad I stayed awake for Johnny’s interview with Dave as this has re-ignited my passion for Hunter S. Thompson‘s gonzo journalism.

I was happily surprised to discover that the movie The Rum Diary is based upon the “first” novel by the Hunter S. Thompson. Johnny Depp as a close friend of Hunter S. Thompson(to learn more about Johnny Depp’s explosive pal read the Newsweek column Depp wrote) was the first to discover the original pieces of the book while going through a box at Hunter’s home. It was then the pact was struck between the two of them that a film could be made from these writings. Johnny Depp quipped to Hunter S. Thompson that first a book should be published. The Rum Diary was written in the early 1960s but was not published until 1998.

The Rum Diary.jpg

The movie, The Rum Diary was filmed in 2009. The Web site for The Rum Diary is smartly designed, with rich, interactive content that provides an engaging browsing experience. You owe to yourself if you remotely consider this film to peruse the site.

Take a minute to watch the trailer, I found it to be both humorous and strikingly original. We are eagerly looking forward to seeing the movie this weekend.

It’s noteworthy that Johnny Depp plays as a musician on four tracks on the The Rum Diary Soundtrack. He plays some instrumental rockers with his band, the Johnny Depp Band. There is a stark contrast of his musicianship on “The Mermaid Song” which he performs as a solo pianist. The same song is then sung by Johnny Depp’s bohemian kin Patti Smith. “The Mermaid Song” is performed a capella featuring Patti’s unique tonality. Her phrasing coupled with the timbre in her voice is haunting and poignant.