Robbie McIntosh & Arietta's Quartet

Robbie McIntosh (born October 25, 1957), is an English guitarist who started out as a session guitarist and member of the Pretenders from 1982 to 1987. In 1988, he joined Paul McCartney’s band and was a featured guitarist until 1994. More recently he worked as a sideman with John Mayer as well as touring with his own band, the Robbie McIntosh Band.

He started playing guitar at the age of ten and his early influences were the Beatles, the Stones, the Spencer Davis Group, the Kinks, and Jimi Hendrix. Later, his father’s influence exposed him to Django Reinhardt and other jazz greats. He joined the Pretenders in 1982 and took a short detour in 1985 to play on Roger Daltrey’s sixth solo album, “Under a Raging Moon.”

He was the featured guitarist with McCartney’s band and recorded on his albums from 1989 to 1993. In 2004, he toured with Nora Jones then joined John Mayer’s tours from 2006 through 2010. He is one of the premier slide guitarists and a favorite of mine. I think you’re going to like him.

Best of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkW9Q6lXJ9k

I saw three ships: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31uz8lkLLBY

Demo #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxA1Id09SXY

Stone Cold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf621Zd2rpc

Dueling with Derek Trucks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g2-8lAjubk

Talking guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ReEBOTrpwI

Robbie’s bit with Paul McCartney: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BORQTtjscTg

Blues Slide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuSjelpUj9Y

Medley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIft1yp29H4

Biodegradable man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHysjOEkbV4

Off the ground: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eqqKxZ1jXE

Pick up the pieces: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdTTnh4vJlc

Coffee cup with Scott McKeon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJSxgGheVL0

Hang me on the line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ML1EL8YVT8

I’m in San Francisco this week on a consulting gig and at dinner with the research team, one of the wines we sample was Arietta’s “Quartet”, a superb blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Now, this wine is outside of my usual price range (~$60.00), but I thought since it was such a wonderful wine, I’d review it anyway. Besides, it didn’t cost me a thing.

The wine is deep garnet with aromas of blackberries, mocha, pepper, and coffee. The palate is full of dark fruit, cassis, and chocolate. It’s a very smooth wine with mild tannins and a touch of oak. Very nice, as you’d expect for the price, but then again, if someone else is buying, it’s a great choice.

Cheers!

Johnny A. and La Madrid Reserve Cabernet Franc

Johnny A. is a guitarist/songwriter, born November 14, 1952 in Malden, MA. His first musical interest at the ripe old age of six was the drums. But after hearing the Beatles in 1964, he bought a $49.00 Lafayette Electronics guitar and started down the path toward the guitar wizard he is today.

In the late 70s, he formed a group called Streets that played the Boston music scene. He worked as a sideman for a number of years, playing with percussionist Mingo Lewis, drummer Doug Clifford, and keyboardist Bobby Whitlock. He branched out after those gigs and went on a seven year stint as the music director and guitarist for The J. Geils Band frontman Peter wolf, joining him on his albums and co-producing his “Long Line 1996” release.

Johnny launched his solo career in 1999 with the release of his debut album “Sometime Tuesday Morning.” The song, “Oh Yeah” became a number one single across the USA on the AAA radio format. His next release, “Get Inside,” continued Johnny’s rise in the music world and he continues to tour with his own band. In 2010 he was the recipient of the Boston Music Award’s Blues Artist of the Year.

As you’ll hear, his approach to the blues is quite sophisticated, blending it with jazz chording and scaling in a unique way even throwing in some Wes Mongomery-style octaves on Krea Gata.  He doesn’t sing a lick, but he sure can play. Enjoy!

Oh Yeah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ7amOCI6DI

Hip Bone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCTm1TcL7z8&feature=relmfu

Two Wheel Horse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pK8KdWkNS4&feature=relmfu

Get Inside: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hc3DZsjiK0&feature=related

Smoke on the Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2-Vmtti6NA&feature=related

One November Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNo_FNcD1OU&feature=related

Overdrive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aGhE-xMYf0&feature=fvwrel

Krea Gata: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URQyEVoQJ9I&feature=related

Up in the Attic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnErQNT--1w&feature=related

Lullabye for Nicole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvPLI_pYxU8&feature=related

A Poor Side of Town: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3S7JYlhr_g&feature=related

Ignorance is Bliss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dped6eRaFUM&feature=relmfu

Red House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwmQZUyj-ig&feature=related

Walk Away Renee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IRetoeEecc&feature=related

Johnny A’s blues style strikes me as exotic, so I suggest pairing his music with a 2009 La Madrid Reserve Cabernet Franc from the Agrelo Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina. My wife and I were in Chicago last week and had dinner in a delightful wine bar called Bin 36. If you’re ever in Chi-Town, don’t miss this place. We ordered several wine flights and this particular wine stood out so much so that we bought a bottle to drink later in our hotel.

It’s deep ruby red with a nose filled with raspberries, cranberry, exotic spices and the green pepper so characteristic of a Cabernet Franc. Flavors of blackberry, herbs, and pepper are balanced by soft tannins and a finish of spice and dark berries. A very nice wine and perfect for the sophisticated blues of Johnny A. Happy Easter to all of you. He is risen! 

Cheers!