Today is a sad day for me as I think about the passing of guitar legend Jeff Beck. When I was a kid I heard him in The Yardbirds. Later I discovered his solo album “Blow By Blow”, that recording changed the way I thought about the electric guitar forever.

Epic Records
Epic Records
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“Blow By Blow” was produced by George Martin, released in 1975 by Epic, and had tunes written by Beck collaborating with the studio band, Stevie Wonder, and Lennon & McCartney. The band featured Max Middelton on keyboards, Phil Chen on Bass, Richard Bailey, and an uncredited Stevie Wonder playing clavinet on "Thelonius".

Jeff Beck never stopped growing as a player and composer incorporating new styles as they came and went. When “Who Else” came out in 1999 I wound up with a pair of tickets for Jeff at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle and took my oldest son to the show. 

The sound of “Who Else” was Jeff embracing some of the elements of “Techno”. The band was terrific, very tight, and quite loud. The show featured several tracks from the new album and a large cross-section of his past catalog. I will never forget that show. 

Another show that I wish I could have seen live was the shows that the Blue-ray “Live At Ronnie Scott’s” from 2008 came from. A wonderful performance with a great band and some very cool guests sitting in. The display of effortless technique and melody is stunning. 

Jeff Beck is gone at the age of 78 but the legacy of his music will sustain me forever. 

 

 

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