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!

Jon Gomm & Waterbrook Reserve Merlot

Jon Gomm is an English singer-songwriter with a style reminiscent of Michael Hedges. Like Hedges, he uses his guitar to create drum sounds, bass lines and melodies simultaneously. His songs draw on a range of influences and styles, including blues and soul.

Jon started playing ukulele at the age of two and began classical guitar lessons at the age of six. At twelve he was accompanying his father, a music critic, to blues gigs in his hometown of Blackpool and played electric guitar in the style of the rock greats as a teenager.

Jon turned down a place at Oxford University to study English and instead attended The Guitar Institute. While there, he paid his way through college playing jazz in café-bars and recording as a session guitarist. Later, he moved to Leeds to study in the jazz degree course at the Leeds College of Music. He started soloing while in Leeds and developed is current percussive style.

The tattoo on his arm is from the cover of the Michael Hedges album “Oracle.” His version of Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody” is one of my favorites. Enjoy!

Ain’t nobody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vCcZIARw9k&feature=related

Passion flower: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY7GnAq6Znw&feature=fvwrel

Topeka: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVuupi2KOtw&feature=relmfu

Message in a bottle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-fpLmJHLvw&feature=relmfu

Loveproof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyHqGmwY8hg&feature=relmfu

Hey Child: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHJJQCaS7X4&feature=relmfu

Stupid Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwaUmhR2yNs&feature=relmfu

Waterfall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxLNkinFY8Q&feature=relmfu

Temporary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNxCakR8jdk

Gloria: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMZamW-4btc&feature=relmfu

 High and Dry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cie4FvPlr78&feature=relmfu

I’m featuring a real steal tonight. Waterbrook’s Reserve Merlot was ranked #71 in Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2012, especially at $18.00/bottle. It opens with a nosefull of black raspberries, plums, spice, which follow on the palate adding cherries, currents and chocolate. Really soft tannins and a very nice finish. It pairs nicely with the music of Jon Gomms.

Cheers!

Tommy Emmanuel and Freemark Abbey Merlot

Since I reprised my feature of Greg Howe, one of the finest electric shredders on the scene today, I thought  I should balance him with someone whom I consider to be the finest acoustic shredder to pick up the guitar, namely Tommy Emmanuel.

In case you’ve never heard of him, Tommy is a two time Grammy nominated Australian guitarist who plays like no one you’ve ever heard. He plays melody, rhythm, bass, and drum on one guitar. He got his first guitar at age 4 and was taught initially by his mother. In 1962 he heard Chet Atkins who became a huge influence on his unique style, one that entails using all ten of his fingers to play. I daresay if he had the flexibility, he’d use his toes, too. I had to cut myself off at including sixteen selections, but I could go on and on. You’re gonna like him!

Heartbreak Hotel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSISRyo8HE4&feature=related

Guitar Boogie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lbvSBNLLoo

Day Tripper/Lady Madonna: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYzajpeAWuA

Medley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7wAEMIAhFs

Here comes the sun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOw6gCPDEQ8&feature=related

House of the rising sun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIWSVTaytOw&feature=related

Nine pound hammer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bKoHoC9UiQ&feature=related

Blues Improvisation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBap_0FYYQs&feature=related

Classical Gas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQJ1k2HMoRU

Pegao: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuuBKuPZUuI

Sanitarium Shuffle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJlyvV7zNx0&feature=related

Happy Hour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Y_LgnFdko&feature=related

Endless Road: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54tRcKFEUlY&feature=related

Keep it simple: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvNxSRFTvGw&feature=related

And so it goes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqZzjM8CUG4&feature=related

Up from down under: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHFEPPXg9d0&feature=related

To enjoy Tommy, I suggest a 2008 Freemark Abby Merlot ($19.00). It’s a deep garnet color with a spicy oak bouquet. The flavors show layers of blackberry, cherry cassis, plums, vanilla, and dark chocolate. Both the entry and finish are smooth and rich with the latter lingering long after you’ve swallowed. It makes you want to open a second bottle, it’s that good. Wine Enthusiast rated it 94 and I agree. Very nice wine to accompany the acoustic shredding of Tommy Emmanuel. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Chardonnay's under $25.00

Tonight I'm going to recommend several chardonnays that I've enjoyed. Many of the chardonnays are quite pricey and those that aren't, usually aren't very good. But I've got a few favorites and I'm sure there are more. Here're my picks:

1. Franciscan Oakville Estates; California; ~$20.00. Very pleasant. Flavors of apples and pears, and a nice, (little bit dry) oak-y finish that comes across as simple and clean. Has an almost buttery richness to it.

2. Martin Ray Santa Cruz Mountains Reserve; California; ~$19.00. Similar to the Franciscan but not as buttery rich. A bit lighter.

3. Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay; New Zealand; $16.00. For those who don't like the oak flavor found in many chardonnays, this is a good one. Clean fruit with pear overtones. Nice finish.

Enjoy!