Alex Hutchings & 2012 Eroica Riesling

UK based guitarist and composer Alex Hutchings has extensive experience in playing rock, funk jazz and R'n'B and has toured throughout the UK, Europe and South Africa. He also composes music for BBC TV and radio, working on programs such as Big Brother and Brainiac.

Alex Hutchings is described as a guitarist possessing an immaculate technique that places him in a different league to his contemporaries. His playing has an authenticity and passion that is similar to that of Larry Carlton. He’s has played in many top venues in and around the country, as well as festivals and clubs abroad. Some of these include the Sha la la music Club Cypress, Austrian festivals, Cannes Film France, Gibraltar Tri-centenary events as well as the Green Dolphin club (South Africa) and the coco blues club (Thailand).

In 2004 Alex co wrote the smash hit theme from the Brainiac series now in its fourth series, as well as being released on various DVD's. 2005/6 saw Alex perform live on various radio stations as well as two global TV appearances, and audience figures were in the millions.

He’s a heck of a Jazz-Fusion guitarist and I hope you enjoy his music..

Cantelope Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNRqs5jGr7k

Just cruising: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZGjMPiKjlg

To cry from joy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nJYZSrufjM

Eight String Jam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAQ0HXAEAxk

Sophisticated blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO1ZfK8NzOs

Room 335 with Jess Lewis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRTD12fl6Mo

Night train: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19zfs3-5GrE

Funky strut: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M7rJjPQJP4

Timeless journey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxxbufWqydk 

Feelin fine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pznzcvh_XYA

Ice cold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et5EwhNWoO0

It’s all good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMFC7TI9Ujw

Rock and a hard place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKh7uPXCdP0

Happy as Larry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I0kjUWJaII

In my opinion one of the top Rieslings in the U.S. is Chateau St. Michelle’s Eroica, born of a collaboration between Gemany’s Dr. Loosen and Chateau St. Michelle vinters in Washington. The 2012 Riesling Eroica offers up aromas and flavors of star fruit, citrus rind, green apple and solid minerality on the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, off-dry through the mid-palate and clean and fresh on the finish. It’s a delicious, textbook Riesling that’s downright seductive with nuanced flavors of crisp baking apple, mineral, and a touch of cinnamon, with notes of lemon verbena and bay leaf. Great wine and a great guitarist. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Adam Rafferty & Chateau St. Michelle Dry Riesling

Adam Rafferty is one of the funkiest acoustic guitarist out there and, of course, one of my favs. He had quite the childhood starting with his birth and upbringing in Harlem that led to getting hooked playing blues guitar at age 6. When he turned 10, he had the dubious honor of getting mugged in front of his apartment building.  By the age of 12 he was playing in a hard rock band then got ripped off by a club owner on his first gig at 15.

He started playing professionally at 19 and at 20 he was playing an after hours joint in Harlem on 137 street and Adam Clayton Boulevard where he says the band leader regularly 
drank himself into to oblivion and threatened customers with a 10 inch kitchen knife.

Adam’s played everywhere from the New York City subway to the upscale music rooms and concert halls of New York and Europe. He’s one of the most prolific producers of YouTube (millions of viewers) and instructional videos as well as two books explaining how to play his arrangements. He’s particularly well known for his arrangements Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson songs, but if you’ve never seen him combine playing two simultaneous melodies while accompanying himself as a human beatbox on Herbie Hancock’s Chameleon, you’ve led a deprived life. It is not to be missed. Oh, and you might want to check out his version of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” Best I’ve ever heard…Oh hell, while your at it, his version of one of my all time favorite Michael Jackson songs, “The Way You Make Me Feel” is incredible. And I used to do George Gershwin’s “Summertime” in coffee houses when I was playing professionally…but not like him.

Sigh, oh to be so talented.

Human Nature: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNxiE1edUNg

Storm wind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMEMfJM4QsA

The Hippie Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAmtVpZKd64

Yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeCLOgFqNsU

Can’t buy me love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6nvBRc0DfM

Get back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPqU5Qp5_9k

Higher ground: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZakmPbXhBUM

The way you make me feel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T10El7IG1VE

Black or white: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkju__lOlk8

Thriller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZQuU8rE1LE

Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLF7-Ui94AI

Lovely day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjY-KQz5p5s

Summertime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DwZHV5cbYI

Rock with you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWz9y9k7DIo

Superstition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1CZqlEb8H4

Chameleon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnvd6etRlHk

I’ve said several times that my favorite wines for summer are Sauvignon Blancs, Rieslings, Rosés, and Pinot Noirs. They’re light, crisp and fruity which certainly goes well with Nebraska’s summer heat. Tonight I’m suggesting a very nice Riesling to sip while you listen to the amazing Adam Rafferty. The 2011 Chateau St. Michelle Dry Riesling ($7.50) is just what its name implies. Drier than the usual Riesling, crisp, refreshing, and loaded with aromas and flavors of peaches, apples, and lemon-lime with a honeyed finish. It’s also a bit higher in alcohol content (12%) than a standard Riesling, which to me adds to its refreshment. All in all it’s a bright, juicy wine. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Summer wines under $25.00

I love wine. Having been in executive management for over twenty years, I've had some good ones, usually on an expense account with business people. Anyone can find a good wine for a hundred bucks. In fact, if you pay a hundred bucks and it isn't good, you have a big problem.

The real challenge for me is to find really good wines for under $25.00. Ones that I serve and recommend to friends...and sometime horde for myself! So, in the coming days I will discuss some of my favorites and going forward, I'll add new ones as I find them. While I've found some of the best wines I've ever tasted for $25.00 to $50.00, that's a bit pricey. As you will see, I usually try to stay around $15.00. Unless it's absolutely critical, I'm not going to specify a particular year as these wines are very consistent and I get frustrated when I can't find a recommended year at the store.

So, since it's summertime and the livin' is easy, let's start with whites, Sauvignon Blancs and Rieslings to be exact. Both types are light and refreshing, perfect for warm summer nights. The Sauvignon Blancs will be drier while the Rieslings are slightly sweet.

Sauvignon Blanc:
1. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc; New Zealand; about $16.00.
Chill it well. Make sure you use a large wine glass and fill it about one-third full. Swirl the wine and smell the bouquet. It explodes with peach, citrus, and grapefruit. The taste is refresshing with citrus overtones and a clean finish. My absolute favorite of the group.

2. Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc; California; about $20.00. Very clean, refreshing. Not quite as strong a bouquet as the Kim Crawford. Whitehall Lane is a very good vineyard, its Cabernets running $40.00 and more.

Riesling:
1. Snoqualmie Naked Riesling; Washington; $10.00. Excellent wine. I discovered this one while eating at Legal Seafoods in Boston. Slightly sweet, excellent finish. Yum!

2. Bridgeview Blue Moon Riesling; Oregon; $10.00. Incredible taste with distinct honey overtones. Great for just sipping on the porch, while you watch the sunset.

3. Chateau St. Michelle Dr. Loosen Eroica Riesling; Washington; about $22.00. Dr. Loosen wines are famous in Germany. It's an Alsatian style Riesling, not as sweet as the first too. While I really like it, it's tough to pass up the other two given their price is half as much. But try it anyway. It's a true German style riesling.

Tomorrow, I hit some summer reds. Gotta go. My Snoqualmie Riesling is getting warm.