I was just thinking about our comments on the jam session. I rarely go to concerts anymore. My daughter and I usually catch one every year or so as a father and daughter date. I am leaving shortly with her for a Dolly Pardon concert in Huntsville, Alabama.
As great as the big acts are in concerts, my best memories are always the small venues where I saw some of the best acts prior to their auditorium filling performances. The GSEMH Facebook page tells me that Leon Russell played at the Great Southeast Music hall. I may have seen him there. Here is a link to the article I wrote about a small 500+ seat venue that seemed like a small studio. I am sure somewhere there is a place where you could share a bucket of beer with 500 close friends, but I will let the younger crowd build their memories while I continue to enjoy mine of years gone by. beaufortcountynow.com |
Somewhere in a musical career most artist just start phoning it in. I suspect that is because the money, drugs and girls are good. Eventually they are there for the money. I have watched many musical artist sing their hit songs again as if was a medical exam. I do not think that Leon ever hit that gully, he stayed on the plateau. There is a separation between singers and singer-songwriters. Like parents, the songwriter always loves his kids. And yes, I can imagine being in the jam session watching lightning strike again.
Here is Leon in with John Mayer from The 2011 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductions. He was sixty nine years old. beaufortcountynow.com |
Beautifully written my friend. Can't you just see you and me hanging out in the shadows, feeling a little special?
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Stan, it probably don't get no better than this. The perfect jam session, old coffee cups, cigarettes, a piano and microphone with a few friends sitting and standing around. I certainly helps to have a song to sing that makes everyone in the session feel like you are singing it just for them. A great talent at peace now.
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Arts of the Pamlico Weekly Update | Music through the Ages, Music, The Arts | Overdubbing, Proof that technology cannot improve the performance, but it can enhance the memory. |
He hind-of did, but never lost the sould that he kept around its edges holding it up.
I have been learning "Song for You", which is not that hard to play on the guitar -AM, E, C, Am/F, F, EM, DM & G, but try singing the song and keeping the soul in it, without hitting that high, screechy EM that Leon does. It's tough.
Leon was an Okie with an enigma, that he called life, and he lived it as such, everyday.