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So tasty! He just oozes the Blues.
This performance is so nice. I love him in this context.
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07-24-2014 11:28 PM
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Love his guitar playing but I wish he wouldn't sing.
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His singing doesn't bother me at all. I don't think he's the best singer in the world, but he's not bad either.
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He's great. I think his singing is fine.
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The thing with the blues is, and always has been vocals, the guitar is an accompaniment that would become pretty boring without the song. We are jazz musicians, we play the song. "I play tunes"....Joe pass!...L..
Originally Posted by DRS
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Robben Ford is an interesting guy. Met him at a guitar clinic in a music store in the early Ninties on a promotional tour for his CD Tigerwalk, which he was kind enough to sign. At a question and answer thing midway during his guitar clinic before the usual audience of 95% male guitar geeks and blues players with a smattering of jazz enthusiasts, I asked him first about his experience playing with Miles Davis, the question inspired by the coincidental fact that I had seen a PBS music jazz documentary including a video clip of them playing together on stage. Strangely enough, Robben replied that he had never played with Miles! Fortunately, another guy a few minutes later noted that he, too, had seen that jazz video clip on TV as well, rescuing me from looking odd man out.
The other question I asked him was whether he mentally scat his lead lines as he played them. The "what are you thinking about as you improvise" question. He replied essentially, no - that he liked to just ride the energy of the music like a surfer riding a big wave of emotion. I liked that answer. But I notice in the first video I watched here that he seems to be 'singing' or scatting. What do you think?
As for his voice - that is tough to appraise. I have a couple of Robben Ford CDs and I cannot say I love his vocals. Robben tends to leave me emotionally flat in some way with his high pitched transparent sounding tone. But an excellent blues/jazz guitarist.
Only listened to the first clip here yet, but the best solo so far was that trumpeter. Beautiful stuff.
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Remember first seeing Robben back in the 70's and became fan then. I hired him a few times to do guitar clinics at the music school always a great time. He seems to prefer playing versus talking. Then used to go see what became the YellowJackets when they used to play a small club in Hollywood all the time. Later I worked at a rehearsal studio and Robben would rent a room all the time to test gear. I even bought a Yamaha G112 after hearing Robben use one all the time at that club in Hollywood. Robben can get a great sound out of any amp. So I'm a long time fan of his playing and his singing is fine to me.
As for playing with Miles I've read interviews with him where he talks about it and there is a Miles DVD with Robben. I remember Robben being asked how he dealt with having to play changes with Miles. Robben said he just ignores the II chord and goes for the V, it's going to get there in a second anyway.
The best I ever heard Robben was Valley Arts Music store had an in-store Jam session one Saturday with Robben Ford and Jeff Porcaro on drums. What a great show/jam they blew everyone away that day.
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I like Robben's playing a lot. Tasteful guy. As for targuit's observation, I agree that he seems to be 'singing what he plays' in the solo.
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He sings great. Very musical, and without the usual heavy-handed "black" overtones that plague many - most! - white singers.
When you hear Robben sing, you are hearing Robben sing!
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Black overtones??
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I wonder if he is playing with loaner gear. It's hard to see the amp but an Epiphone semi hollow, I never seen him play one of those.
Still a great "Robben Ford" tone.
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Robben's been playing that guitar for a couple years now and has recorded with it too. There's is an video floating around with him talking about it. He main guitar is still that tele he uses a lot. Originally Posted by fep
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Fep, I wondered about that too. Perhaps he has a deal with Epiphone now..... Originally Posted by fep
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ruh, roh! Originally Posted by henryrobinett
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I like Robben's singing. I think these realty singing shows and all the modern pitch, rhythm and dynamic tools to 'correct' ones singing has really messed up with peoples perceptions, imo. It seems everyone has become a vocal critic.
If Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Mick Jaggar etc. where coming up in today's market, I wonder what people would think of them.
There is a lot of character and soul and groove in the imperfections. I like it real.
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Originally Posted by fep
He talks about the guitar first thing in this rig rundown. Originally Posted by MarkRhodes
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Another cool video. Where both guitarist pull out some jazzier licks the further it goes along. It's about 2:00 on.
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Love Robben's feel, whenever I hear him. They could lose all the 'verb in this vid', though! Originally Posted by Melodic Dreamer
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I understand and can see where your coming from. I use to hate any reverb, but that has changed throughout the years. For this style of music I like the verb. It has that almost slap back delay sound to it.
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I don't think the reverb that the microphone is translating is what they are hearing in that room. That reverb is over the top; likely the reverb in the amp coupled with the reverb from those wood floors. Not a typical sound for Robben.
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For all of you that like Robben Ford, I think you will also like Jack Pearson. Same kind of style.
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If you dig Robin and another no name guitarist (Larry Carlton)
you will love their live in Tokyo CD.
Live in Tokyo with Robben Ford ? Larry Carlton ? Official Website of Mr. 335
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I got it and have seen them live. Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
If you dig Robin and another no name guitarist (Larry Carlton)
you will love their live in Tokyo CD.
Live in Tokyo with Robben Ford ? Larry Carlton ? Official Website of Mr. 335
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Have loved his playing since I first heard him in the 80's. His tone, phrasing, and sense of rhythm just speak to me. I prefer his instrumental stuff, but I'd listen to him play gameshow themes.
We'd go see him in NYC at this little club called Mikel's around the time that "Talk to Your Daughter" was released. We would sit at a table about 15' feet away, and he was so laid-back and nice. I'd ask him all these guitar-geek questions and he was always gracious. An inspiring artist for me.Last edited by jbear; 07-29-2014 at 08:35 PM.
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I got you beat. I first heard Robben in the early mid 70s. He was from Yreka California (I think). I knew some people who turned me on to him. He was playing tunes like Four on a big fat bodied guitar - L5? I think it was bigger than a 175 - In a band with his brothers. It was named after their father. The XYZ Ford Blues Band. I can't remember his name. He had a sweet overdriven tone, even then. Then I heard him on Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark. Then I think it was his band that became the Yellow Jackets. I saw them live and got their first record. We had a few friends in common also we had dinner a couple of times after some gigs. Great guy.
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