Robben Ford solo - It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got that Swing) - live

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  • čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
  • Killer tone. Killer chops. Killer tux - look out James Bond. Just an awesome solo from a show in '88. He's got a little humor in there, too, playing a quick melody from the song "America" from West Side Story. This excerpt is from the "Echoes of Ellington Vol. 2" laserdisc.

Komentáře • 169

  • @scrumpymanjack
    @scrumpymanjack Před 7 lety +44

    Just ran into this guitar hero at LAX airport. What a thrill to see him walking along with his long hair, trilby hat and a guitar in gig bag slung over his shoulder looking as cool and relaxed as can be. I think I must have been the only person who knew who he was. Awesome.

    • @ashishrai4023
      @ashishrai4023 Před 3 lety

      U should have talke with him stupid..

    • @novakingood3788
      @novakingood3788 Před 2 lety +3

      @@ashishrai4023 Don't be so rude.

    • @user-dz3ie5me2t
      @user-dz3ie5me2t Před 3 měsíci +1

      Man, I envy Robben. He travels around the world creating great music with other great musicians, yet he is not too famous so won't be pestered for autographs and selfies in public places. I would rather be like Robben than be the richest and most powerful man in the world.

    • @scrumpymanjack
      @scrumpymanjack Před 3 měsíci

      @@user-dz3ie5me2t Yep - he's in the sweet spot! I regret not going up to him, actually. I would love to have said hi and told him how grateful I was for his music.

  • @toomanygittars
    @toomanygittars Před 13 lety +9

    Robben is one of those geniuses who OWNS the tone - be it a dry clean tone or a reverb-y overdriven one. I could listen to him playing this stuff for hours.

  • @jodyacoustic
    @jodyacoustic Před 4 lety +13

    I've never heard an upright bass sound so funky

  • @jm_tabs
    @jm_tabs Před 8 lety +7

    He REALLY makes musicians around him look Happier when he is on fire

  • @andbenitz
    @andbenitz Před 11 lety +24

    Great to see this early days Robben Ford, more jazzy than today. There's some Sco within his playing, that's just great. Nowadays his playing is totally unique, it's awesome to spot some propable influences, hehe. Nice vid!

  • @Santi66
    @Santi66 Před rokem +2

    Robben Ford is great... and the rare Fender Esprit also!

  • @panavisionnot7180
    @panavisionnot7180 Před 4 lety +5

    It's amazing how Robben playing had morphed almost overnight.. here I can just about hear little seedlings of his fully developed style evident later on " Talk to your daughter." onwards, but if listen to his earlier recordings / bootlegs ( when he was into Michael Bloomfield , ) it's like not the same person playing.. the influenced now the powerhouse influencer.
    .It goes to show that it takes time for every fruit to mature..

  • @donnaoberlin915
    @donnaoberlin915 Před 3 lety +3

    Love Robben clean- cut and Killin' it

  • @gtrDan1963
    @gtrDan1963 Před 12 lety +10

    Outstanding performance from Robben Ford, who combines a blues man's fervor with a jazz man's economy...
    This was from a great series of shows put together by ( I believe ) either Concord or Blue Note records.
    There's another show in the series titled "All Strings Attached", which is a jazz guitar spectacular featuring the legendary Tal Farlow playing along side John Abercrombie, Larry Carlton, Larry Coryell and John Scofield. I highly recommend it.

  • @rifftipton7709
    @rifftipton7709 Před 7 lety +10

    This is great, with Robben on his signature Fender and Tom Scott laying it down.

    • @easyguitare
      @easyguitare Před 3 lety +1

      In fact at that time that Fender wasn't a RF signature but just the Spirit (or a name like that) if i remember well. That Fender serie didn't have much success but was awsome guitar and if i look back, i should have bought me one...

    • @Hendrix67297
      @Hendrix67297 Před 3 lety +1

      @@easyguitare
      This was the Standard Fender Esprit he recorded Talk to your daughter album with.
      I think he bought on sunset when touring with Joni mitchell.

    • @easyguitare
      @easyguitare Před 3 lety

      @@Hendrix67297 Yeah ... great album BTW : i spent a lot of time on the solis from that album. I miss the time when Robben was playing long licks like in this video. He says he's not comfortable with those and is still wondering on how a John Scofield or Mike Stern can do that but still, i really enjoyed when he was doing it at the time & also with Miles ...

  • @ggman946
    @ggman946 Před 3 lety +2

    Seems like I revisit this video a couple of times a year. So inspiring!

  • @BobLponge75
    @BobLponge75 Před 3 lety +3

    Thank you for sharing that!!! Such a fan of his music

  • @bluesborn
    @bluesborn Před 11 lety +6

    I love the descending bass figure underneath Robbens solo.Very cool.

  • @Chrishagen
    @Chrishagen Před 3 lety +3

    Love the quotes from West Side Story! So smooth, a master so young already. You can’t learn that kind of talent unfortunately 😀

    • @Dang...
      @Dang... Před rokem

      Quote once, it's hip; same quote twice: it's a shtick. Sorry!

  • @catboyzee
    @catboyzee Před 6 lety +5

    Seeing Robben Ford play gives me an odd mixture of joy, entertainment, and despair...

  • @Geotubest
    @Geotubest Před 3 lety +2

    Beautiful playing.

  • @axocaster
    @axocaster Před 11 lety +6

    He looks even younger in the photos I've seen when he was playing with Miles. Definitely jazzier than his playing today. This must be Tom Scott and the LA Express who he credits with teaching him how to play jazz. Sounds like he was coming along nicely in this vid. Thanks for posting. I haven't seen any media of Robben during this phase of his career.

  • @rafiurster69
    @rafiurster69 Před 9 lety +6

    Yes Robben does seem great in the big band kinda setup. I would love to see RF in a complete big band setup if it's possible I dont know when!! Great music.

    • @JordanHigginsGuitar
      @JordanHigginsGuitar Před 4 lety

      He actually has done a full concert with a big band.
      "Midnight Comes Too Soon" - Robben Ford & hr-Bigband
      ^That's the name of the video but there are many others. Hopefully you enjoy!

  • @adaptiveagile
    @adaptiveagile Před 11 lety +1

    This has got it all. Brilliant.

  • @geetarnut
    @geetarnut Před 10 lety +9

    amazing how clean Robben solos over the chords at about 1:44 or so, unreal!!!

    • @ronnieanand
      @ronnieanand Před 9 lety +1

      Sonny Cannon Charlie Parker's Bebop lick :D

  • @brachashighhopeshomestead226

    Does anyone recognize a very young friend musician of a major collaborator with Robben, IN CONCERTS & RECORDINGS like COMMON GROUND - playing the larger, deeper octave Sax (Alto or Tenor?) - those amazing chops of BILL EVANS the saxophonist & other instruments(in the middle) looking out of his beautiful eyes, so handsome always!!

  • @mumenrider862
    @mumenrider862 Před 4 lety +5

    @1:58.. that look another bandmate gives you when they think you need to quit playing your solo and let someone else take over. :)

  • @ajoytiwari1985
    @ajoytiwari1985 Před 11 lety +3

    Robben Ford looks so sharp

  • @raggityman
    @raggityman Před 11 lety +5

    The horns are Tom Scott (soloing), Bill Evans and Randy Brecker.

  • @stuartstuart321
    @stuartstuart321 Před 6 lety +1

    you have to love this

  • @TheLefebvre17
    @TheLefebvre17 Před 5 lety +2

    Amazing guitarist..

  • @kingstumble
    @kingstumble Před 11 lety +2

    Blimey,never knew this existed.Fantastic.So young and fresh faced!
    Maybe a bit jazzier then,as Andre says but his blues roots are still plain to see.

  • @tomtrotier2618
    @tomtrotier2618 Před 6 lety +1

    Rockin' Robben!

  • @2gazbo
    @2gazbo Před 5 lety +1

    Love to see Robben Ford / Colin James on stage.

  • @602davido
    @602davido Před rokem

    The great Robben Ford.

  • @nojtone59
    @nojtone59 Před 5 lety +1

    Fender Japan put out a high end line of solid body and hollowbody guitars around 1984.Robin endorsed the model shown in this video.

  • @seanfitzpatrick7878
    @seanfitzpatrick7878 Před 2 lety +5

    Amazing solo from Robben but that's no surprise. How about those killer bass lines though?

  • @armandovico5140
    @armandovico5140 Před 5 lety +1

    Robben Ford has always displayed a high level of musicianship, tone,and cleanliness in his solos.This may be a jazz standard but the accompaniment is straight forward funk though. Anyway, Mr Ford navigates fluently in any style related to electric guitar.. Mariano Vico from Havana Cuba.

  • @hermanshermits124124
    @hermanshermits124124 Před 12 lety +1

    I love both actually.

  • @christophersinisi1109
    @christophersinisi1109 Před 3 lety

    Thanks for sharing this video!!!!

  • @christianmatthews5141
    @christianmatthews5141 Před 3 lety +4

    The bass player was killin’ it. Who was that masked man?

  • @hoosierfatha
    @hoosierfatha Před 5 lety +4

    Thats Tom Scott on Sax, he a Robben both played in the L.A. EXPRESS together for Joni Mitchel...

    • @frankd.506
      @frankd.506 Před 4 lety

      I have that album and a couple LA Express albums, great stuff, Joni could sure pick em I have a copy years later with Joni ,Pat Metheny and Jaco .

    • @hoosierfatha
      @hoosierfatha Před 4 lety +1

      @@frankd.506 Yes she could, I think she will go down in history as one the greatest Song writers, musician, and music producers of her time...

  • @jazzlefty
    @jazzlefty Před 13 lety +9

    its that Bill Evans on the second sax'

  • @johnpandolfino8663
    @johnpandolfino8663 Před 2 lety +1

    He's stepping all over that sax player.....

  • @fosterchild4523
    @fosterchild4523 Před 11 lety +1

    excellent

  • @TeamChickenHearts1
    @TeamChickenHearts1 Před 9 lety +1

    So Cool!!!

  • @tolgaguven3467
    @tolgaguven3467 Před 5 lety +2

    For those who still do not understand what happened when Ford and the sax player started playing one after the other, please learn what "trading" means in the context of jazz improvisation. And please stop saying things like "Ford got lost..., he got a nasty look from the sax player..., it was his turn…" You do not know what you are talking about.

  • @MrPatricktay
    @MrPatricktay Před 11 lety +2

    Do much younger...like his High School days here in Ukiah, when he played Tenor Sax in the band.

  • @RageCage64
    @RageCage64 Před 10 lety +22

    I was going to point out the ironic lack of swing in this song, but I was too engrossed by the playing.

  • @AllenPinchloaf
    @AllenPinchloaf Před 12 lety +1

    Robbens deep man! I can tell he took private! lessons man! ;.D

  • @darlenegoldstein3884
    @darlenegoldstein3884 Před 3 lety

    So very cool 😎

  • @WilliamMusicEater
    @WilliamMusicEater Před 14 lety +1

    Thats a GREAT One Ted Thanks for sharinggg TOP!

  • @LeeOLumbroso
    @LeeOLumbroso Před rokem

    It’s a pleasure to come across this video of a young Robben Ford both _‘paying his dues’_ as a jazz guitarist, and developing his own in~out style of playing, so thank you for that, Ted, but I have to add it’s bad manner to cut up a tune and give it to watch and hear starting in the middle… for what? so that listeners won’t have to suffer one minute or so of intro’ before Robben launches his solo??
    In fact, it is more disorientating than facilitating for the listener, on such sophisticated music.
    Here’s that whole *“It don’t mean a thing…”* interpretation _(8’30“ into the clip)_ :
    czcams.com/video/cOBSWZjfiiw/video.htmlm30s
    …where one can also see young *Tom Scott* on the left of the blowers trio and Randy Brecker on the right. In the 90s, I really liked Tom Scott’s music as much as Robben Ford’s, and it’s interesting to hear where he was at in 1986-1987 _(i.e. not quite with that later powerful voice of his own yet, as bluesy/churchy as Robben’s and even more exhilarating)._

  • @MassimoSelvi
    @MassimoSelvi Před 13 lety +2

    Great 00:19 quote L. Bernstein!!!!

  • @nateandguitar
    @nateandguitar Před 13 lety +3

    If you want an extra couple million views you should just change the title to "Amazing John Mayer Jazz Solo... RARE!!" That'd probably do it... and half the people would never even know, lol.

    • @shaddow1000
      @shaddow1000 Před 3 lety

      yes - he does look a bit like john mayer's dad in this one : )

  • @tonmisty
    @tonmisty Před 8 lety +33

    Why can't people just enjoy his great playing instead of trying to pigeon hole him into a certain style!

    • @philipfisher651
      @philipfisher651 Před 7 lety +2

      (sigh of relief) absolutely

    • @Theweeze100
      @Theweeze100 Před 7 lety +1

      Tony Alles
      Word!!!

    • @Royalrae23
      @Royalrae23 Před 7 lety +1

      Because they can't achieve that level. Its to technical for them.

    • @leonardoalves4622
      @leonardoalves4622 Před 6 lety +1

      Technical and musical... do not forget!

    • @JonnyRollin
      @JonnyRollin Před 6 lety +1

      Totally-Listen to the music without labelling it, in your pompous,snotty voice of Jazz.

  • @marcob.7801
    @marcob.7801 Před rokem

    He's only gotten better with age!

  • @anitadavideduo
    @anitadavideduo Před 13 lety +1

    YES!!

  • @kerranz
    @kerranz Před 13 lety +14

    wasn't that Fender called the 'Esprit' first?

  • @paulcooper5748
    @paulcooper5748 Před 2 lety

    Robben with short hair awesome guitarist.

  • @desertbuzzard3531
    @desertbuzzard3531 Před 6 lety +13

    Love the tasty licks here! To all those who find fault with this solo, I'd like to see you do better! In fact, now's your chance. Post your video here and show us you can do better. Being a copy of the old jazz players does not make you superior and does not prove a thing. Enough said. Post away guitar TARDS. lol.

  • @abrigospardos
    @abrigospardos Před 4 lety

    Killer axe, too. You don't see those Fender models much anymore.

    • @tedgalog
      @tedgalog  Před 4 lety

      I agree! Check out Garth Webber's CZcams channel - that's his main guitar and he gets a fantastic sound with that guitar, too.

  • @jasongarey8329
    @jasongarey8329 Před 3 lety

    The irony of this is hilarious. But I don't fault Robben. He's doing his thing.

  • @adburger
    @adburger Před 7 lety +3

    Tom Scott!

  • @tedgalog
    @tedgalog  Před 13 lety +1

    @jazzlefty: Yes it is.

  • @mevebarr713
    @mevebarr713 Před 2 lety

    Great RF

  • @tedgalog
    @tedgalog  Před 13 lety +2

    @nateandguitar Hahaha! Thanks for the laugh, I needed that.

  • @Dang...
    @Dang... Před rokem

    Bill Evans on tenor and Randy Brecker on trumpet. Who are the other musicians???

  • @ArkRed1
    @ArkRed1 Před 4 lety

    You want killer chops? Check out this tune with Jimmy Rosenberg and Frank Vignola.

  • @cgptony11
    @cgptony11 Před 12 lety +3

    Wow, I'm so glad I found these. I love Robben's playing, especially his jazzier stuff. What show was these taken from (it's probably posted on one of the other clips)? Thanks for posting

  • @bobbysbackingtracks
    @bobbysbackingtracks Před 13 lety +2

    this is the real deal here but not the correct title

  • @tdrtx
    @tdrtx Před 6 lety

    Here's the actual song "It Don't Mean a Thing" from the Ellington tribute (don't know what song they're playing in the video posted):
    czcams.com/video/7gnQ2CO4kwg/video.html
    As for the jazz or blues debate, when Robben was 19, playing with Charlie Musselwhite and then brothers Mark and Pat in the Charles Ford Band, he mixed jazz into his blues and vice versa - within a solo and within a set list. The Ford Band might play a Little Walter song ("I Had My Fun) or B.B. tune ("Help the Poor") and then shift gears to a Coltrane song, like "Mr. Day." 46 years after they disbanded, their influence can still be heard in Northern California - especially Robben's.
    When the brothers broke up, Robben was hired to lead Jimmy Witherspoon's group. During that period, he was part of a Guitar Explosion concert at Berkeley Community Theater, and stole the show - which also featured Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall, Mary Osborne, Roy Buchanan, Herb Willis & Joe Pass, Shuggie Otis, and T-Bone Walker. For his short set, he played a B.B.-style shuffle rendition of "Little Red Rooster" (blues) and an original Sonny Rollins-esque calypso called "For You" (jazz). He excelled at, and was at home in, both contexts.

    • @tedgalog
      @tedgalog  Před 6 lety

      How interesting, thanks. Here's the whole version of that song with the extracted solo: czcams.com/video/hkjxDk5SJdA/video.htmlm38s

  • @jiyujizai
    @jiyujizai Před 5 lety +1

    いいなあ😃サンキュー😉👍🎶

  • @Kindrobot
    @Kindrobot Před 6 lety +4

    For those who doesn't hear swing it's because you ain't got it yet. Try and listen for the 16 beat steady swing all the way through.

  • @MauriceBierhuizen
    @MauriceBierhuizen Před rokem

    Hell, I was waiting for that other genius Bill Evans to kick off his solo... not there 😭

  • @justinlee9756
    @justinlee9756 Před 6 lety +1

    Be kinda cool if he broke out that fender he is using in this era of his career again.

  • @gillan5
    @gillan5 Před měsícem

    Ford is as good as it gets, but man, every instrument is on the loosing streak once the horns take over. They blow everything away. Nothing beats a crafted horn solo.

  • @jayem1826
    @jayem1826 Před 2 měsíci

    What show was this?

  • @ScottMartinD
    @ScottMartinD Před 5 lety +3

    0:23

  • @MyTube4Utoo
    @MyTube4Utoo Před 6 lety +2

    OMG, when was this recorded, like 1914?

  • @MrWeedpatch
    @MrWeedpatch Před 11 lety +11

    Damn, a real guitar player! Who's John Mayer.Joe Bonamassa?? Give me a fkn break........

    • @YngtchieMusic
      @YngtchieMusic Před 6 lety +13

      I see you mentioned two great guitarists there.
      You can like all three, John, Joe and Robben. I do. It's nice.

  • @sinnerG7
    @sinnerG7 Před 12 lety +1

    Wow Robben had really short hair in this vid when was this recorded?

  • @jazzercaster4749
    @jazzercaster4749 Před 2 lety

    Lion King quote at 0:18

  • @manguera9
    @manguera9 Před 6 lety

    Tom scott sax, bill evans sax, Randy Brecker trompet i dont remenber the rest

  • @filipdinevmusic
    @filipdinevmusic Před rokem

    Was that Michael Brecker afterwards?

  • @ymelfilm
    @ymelfilm Před 2 lety

    Notice, he threw fancy guitars away, got back to old school

    • @ymelfilm
      @ymelfilm Před rokem

      @@detroitfunk313 he doesnt play it anymore

  • @ph6376
    @ph6376 Před 2 lety

    That looks like Tom Scott on sax.

  • @SkylerMauro
    @SkylerMauro Před 13 lety

    definitely quotes the lion king at 0:18.

  • @catboyzee
    @catboyzee Před 4 lety +2

    Always loved Robben Ford's playing. But of all the guitars he's played, the Fender Espirit has always been the sound I liked the least. I think the concept he and Dan Smith came up with had good intentions. But to my ears the Espirit sounds anemic and flat with no much presence; just has no 'oomph'...LOL! Even had a chance to play a couple of these guitars and found my personal assessments to be the same.

    • @SlightReturn666
      @SlightReturn666 Před 2 lety

      I agree with this. In his earlier work he most played a 335 and got a huge, beefy, slightly woody tone out of it. The Esprit always seemed a little effeminate to me. I wonder why he liked it so much.

  • @stuartstuart321
    @stuartstuart321 Před 10 lety +1

    Sweet

  • @futsal1958
    @futsal1958 Před 14 lety

    Yeah, can definitely see the similarity to Sco, although Robben looks a bit inhibited.

  • @marks7994
    @marks7994 Před 2 lety

    sco protocol vibe

  • @smalltown4855
    @smalltown4855 Před 2 lety

    my name is ford Robben Ford 00 major 7.

  • @shatnershairpiece
    @shatnershairpiece Před 6 lety

    Is it me, or does he look like the karate kid here? Will Steve Vai show up?

    • @tedgalog
      @tedgalog  Před 6 lety

      Haha! I guess Ralph Macchio has some talents besides karate and acting that we never knew.

  • @yagamei
    @yagamei Před 13 lety

    @smauro3 LOL, nice catch.

  • @SkylerMauro
    @SkylerMauro Před 12 lety +1

    @Kapteinar word

  • @AllenPinchloaf
    @AllenPinchloaf Před 13 lety +1

    @riktok hahahah yes!

  • @jiyujizai
    @jiyujizai Před 3 lety

    💛😃❤️🎶

  • @festuned
    @festuned Před 2 lety

    Tom Scott, sax?

  • @CoGAmbientMusic
    @CoGAmbientMusic Před 12 lety +1

    in fact he doesnt use the fourth finger! And I guess he nods like Spock!

  • @blackie75
    @blackie75 Před 5 lety

    Not keen on his tone here, but love the guy and his playing.

  • @stever819
    @stever819 Před 12 lety +2

    sure looks like John Mayer

  • @bmcgoo6027
    @bmcgoo6027 Před rokem

    Oh dear.

  • @NeilRaouf
    @NeilRaouf Před 12 lety

    hes got something scofield-like in his tone and phrasing........or does sco have something robben-linke...? hmmmmmmm.....

  • @bubblevest1544
    @bubblevest1544 Před 3 lety

    I didn’t recognize him with his shirt buttoned