DMichaelOlive: December 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Da funk and Sangiovese

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Electric Guitar Review & Bogle Phantom

Today, it’s time for electric guitarists. But first gotta get the wine set. It has to have some heft to it and since I’m sitting in the midst of two feet of snow and frigid temps, let’s go with a 2006 Bogle Phantom. It’s a mixture of 55% syrah, 42% zinfandel, and 3% mourvedre. Bouquet has plenty of dark fruit, i.e. blackberry, blueberry, and a hint of carmel. Palate is luscious with the fruit coming through strong and mild tannins. It’s a powerhouse at $18.00. For heaven’s, sake don’t spill it on the carpet when you get down to the music.

Steffan Shackinger
Perfect Waves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX61Jlvd-Yw&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=FC0717F8258F5221&index=4
Time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GJs6Cj7X2I&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=FC0717F8258F5221&index=7
Dixieland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=famYtHftpwE&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=FC0717F8258F5221&index=8

Orianthe
Introduction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXf8oJq049w
Now or Never: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtzmfwONkU&feature=related
Drive Away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9zO7qZfWpY&feature=related

Jeff Beck
Cause we’ve ended as lovers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIFFRHBCPzA
Goodbye Porkpie Hat/Brush with the Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ej3BdMpgZw

Joe Satriani
Satch’s boogie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7qD4acDu68
Flying in a blue dream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOsgv_X_cV8&feature=related

Kirk Hammett & Metallica:
Enter Sandman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QP-SIW6iKY

Stevie Ray Vaughn
Crossfire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYIjgl9xiUY
Scuttle Buttin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLKxvjbWULQ

Mark Knopfler
Sultans of Swing Guitar later version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2nQZPC2uTs&feature=related
Money for Nothing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlPjxz4LGak&feature=fvw

Eric Clapton
Layla: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQVvF0AeRLI
Crossroads (Cream): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OLK_HSyy1U&feature=PlayList&p=1B77A8511568ECD4&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=33

Larry Carlton
Don’t Give It Up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mffJZ2WR42o&feature=related
Oui Oui Si: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD_GyIwaneo&feature=related

Cheers!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Chandon Champagne & Acoustic Guitar Review

Three days left of the year, so let’s start out with a recap of some of my favorite acoustic guitar work that I’ve reviewed this year. And so you’re not left high and dry wondering what to get for the New Year, get yourself a bottle of Chandon Blanc de Noir “Champagne.” Actually it’s called a sparkling wine because it’s from California and not grown in the Champagne region of France, but it’s made by Moet & Chandon, the makers of Dom Perignon. It has a bouquet of freshly sliced strawberries and currents. The taste follows the bouquet adding hints of raspberry with a light mousse texture. It’s served at White House banquets, so you know it’s a good one. And you can probably find it on sale for about $15.00 a bottle right now. Normally it runs around $18.00. Get a bottle now and you’ll be set for sitting safely at home watching some of the videos below.

Adam Rafferty 11/12:
Chameleon (Hancock): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5uMEkKzOrs&feature=PlayList&p=0EDBFD34E63F0BAC&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
Billie Jean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiXCyISQSdE
Ain’t no sunshine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TyPG3EZrP4

Tony Haven (11/8)
Waves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjCtVPyuyCw

Kotaro Oshio 9/4
Dancing Crickets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oek5jiErMg4&feature=related

Andrew Winton 9/2
Pink Palace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THsXXBPERC0
When your number’s down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKnngyCIctA

John Mayer 8/2
Message in a bottle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmYys-ZjNrg&feature=related
In Your Atmosphere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMVQ1synlaU

Tommy Emmanuel 6/28
Classical Gas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX0eTp7SoNU&feature=related
House of the Rising Sun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIWSVTaytOw&feature=related

Phil Keaggy 6/9
Salvation Army band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDPM4-YIF9c&feature=related
Shades of Green: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp4wbcuKRn8&feature=related

John Goldie 4/26
Summertime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHUHT95agXg&feature=related
I heard it through the grapevine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN9OJOfWSU4&feature=related

Eric Mongrain 4/15
Air Tap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbndgwfG22k&feature=related
PercusienFa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUQzXQhAgvw&feature=related

Erick Turnbull 2/24
Bomba Checka: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T90ELHF8rIM&feature=related

Kelly Valeau 2/2
Another Brick in the Wall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gInwUzAOxj8

Thomas Leeb 1/26
Grooveyard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwb1lc0XStc

Eric Roche 1/24
Smells like teen spirit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zxZcUrfX0o
She drives me crazy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-tO6IFwBXI
Jump: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J045nbHuKrE

Cheers!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Have I mentioned how much I hate winter? If not, let me tell you, I HATE WINTER! Got back late last night from Chicago driving through a blizzard and tunnels carved through eight-foot snow drifts by some massive machine. Thank God for four-wheel drive. A trip that normally takes eight hours took twelve and I reached Omaha only to find that I-80 had been closed. Fortunately, my family and I stopped for dinner and while searching for a hotel through my iPhone, I saw that I-80 had just reopened. So we crept home at 35 mph on a highway whose speed limit is seventy-five. It took another two hours and I was able to power through the deep snow of our subdivision and get into the garage. Once again, I HATE WINTER!

Be that as it may, this being the last week of 2009, I will be doing a review of the year: one blog on acoustic guitarists, one of electric, and, of course, a bass guitar review. But today, one last review of an old favorite of mine. I like him for his sense of melody and lyric as well as his guitar work.

Bruce Cockburn is a sixty-four year old Canadian singer/guitarist/song writer. He studied at Berklee in early to mid-1960’s and although he started out playing in various bands, went solo in 1968 and has been playing alone since then. He’s released thirty-three studio CD’s/albums of his music over the years of his career. He is an outstanding guitarist and a poignant lyricist with a style ranging from 1960’s-folk to jazz-influenced rock to blues. His songs have been performed by the likes of Dan Fogelberg, Bare Naked Ladies, and even U2. For those of you who are techies, he’s been a long time patron of Linda Manzer guitars. His career is too long to document here so I’ll let his music speak for itself.
Interview & style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK64qc-Mbts

Humla Meditation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuUrrlSYLxY

The last night of the world: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02TUsZzF6es

If I had a Rocket Launcher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOjHior0RfU&feature=related

One minute guitar lesson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK4GJp7MyIc&feature=related

Lovers in a dangerous time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8edn7DaoD7U&feature=related

Down on the Delta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9Uj4CTiHQI&feature=related

Call it democracy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68zccrskOqQ

Live down to the Delta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9Uj4CTiHQI

Get up Jonah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bwlLGsl-TY

Child of the Wind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j1SIUGRxRM

Soul of a man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYOz-turJ3g

And since it’s stinking cold outside and the snow is up to my window sills, let’s skip the wine and go for something a bit warmer: Benedictine and Brandy or B&B. It’s a soul-warming combination of brandy and Benedictine liqueur. Those must have been very happy monks at the Benedictine Abbey in France. Has a taste of honey with a kick. It’s absolutely my favorite for sipping by the fire. It’s about $30-$35.00 a bottle but it lasts a long time. Pour two fingers into a small brandy snifter, settle back, rent a movie, and wait for your snow service to shovel you out. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Cream and Marquis Phillips Shiraz

I’ve been traveling way too much and haven’t been able to blog, but tonight I’m back in town and featuring my favorite rock group of all time: Cream. I heard them back in 1967 and was blown away. I can honestly say I learned how to play bass guitar by listening to Jack Bruce & his incredible improvisational work on the live albums. When you listen to the album version of “I’m So Glad” you will hear just how original he was. He, more than any other bassist, ushered in the era of the solo bass guitarist. Clapton is, of course, Clapton, at his creative best. The band just drove each other to unexpected heights, discussed a bit in the interview with Eric at the end. Hope you enjoy a bit of rock nostalgia.

I’m so glad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2S3XVQebXs&feature=related

I’m so glad (album version off “Goodbye”): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6xKaUDookk

Sunshine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqh54rSzheg

Rollin and Tumbling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnz-wd9uMrY&feature=related

Crossroads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3h8hgSt0Fo&feature=related

Crossroads 1968: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OLK_HSyy1U&feature=related

Spoonful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f90vO-ZpiOk&feature=related

Interview with Eric Clapton & Jack Bruce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjg5U_RYoZc

And to go with a heady group like Cream, how about a Marquis Philips 2006 vintage Shiraz from south Australia? Your nose is flooded with blackberry & black cherry aromas while on the palate layers of blackberry, cherry, and red current jam roll out in succession. Tannins are mild with a long, lingering finish. At $18.00 it's a great buy. Especially since Australia is synonymous with Shiraz and can be quite pricey. Great wine!

Cheers!

DMichaelOlive

The Death Whisperer Series