Jazz and Blues Oriented Tracks

As with my interpretation of some other iconic "standards" I have posted here, it took a great deal of time with the original (in this case, from the Brubeck Quartet) tune bouncing around my conscious and subconscious before a fresh take could reveal itself.  
While not wanting to "modernize" the feel of the original, I wondered if it could actually sound like a proper "guitar" piece, and beyond that, one that would accept some very "modern" tones and effects that might convey a legit message that would have worked as well back then as right now.
On top of that, I felt that there might be more to say thematically, as well.
So, what I wound up doing was "taking five"--that is, taking a (more or less) five-minute break through a variety of soloing approaches, including playing major scale lines over the minor chord progression.
To enhance the weirdness of it all, I felt it only proper to use a sufficiently weird axe (my Danelectro Hodad), and played in a style not so popular in 1959, but soon to explode on the music scene thereafter.

Take Five (Hodad Funk)- Dave Brubeck Modern Instrumental Guitar Cover - a.b. dicchus

Having been exposed to "The Zep" (and a fan, of course) since practically Day One, at some point I think that their tunes had been so ingrained into my musical being, I just didn't feel the need to play them as "Carbon Covers". 
For instance, I found myself hearing "Achilles' Last Stand" as some sort of a "Jazzer". That eventually worked out into what you're hearing here.
This posting is a streamlined version of an extended "jam" I used as background for a YouTube Video entitled "Achilles' Last Groove - A Gutarist's Memorial":  essentially a slide show of a variety of git players (no longer with us in the flesh) that have been an influence to me.
I'm using two distinct rhythm loops (hence the project name: A/B Normal)that I operate and toggle in a live studio setting (as I have done with many of my works posted here). 

Kind of a nice change of pace, no?

Compilation

Achilles' Last Groove (Single Version) - Jazz Instrumental - a.b. dicchus (Led Zeppelin inspired)

Well, 2020 seemed to continue to deliver in the "natural (and man-made) disaster" department right up to it's end. (It's looking like 2021 is going to continue with that theme...)
This tune seemed pretty relevant when it was released by the Pat Travers Band, way back in 1980. No argument that it's a lot more relevant today!
I've always liked the chord movement (Travers an excellent Hammond / Keyboard player, too), as well as "The Beat Goes On" bass line; but I have felt that there was room for more "crash" and  "burn" in the sonic department. 
I think I've taken care of that in my interpretation.
I'm using the chorus melody as a one-time intro theme: "We can't stop the World from it's..."

Crash And Burn - Instrumental by Groove Crater Method (Pat Travers inspired)

The topic of "Monsters" is a wide and varied one, to be sure. From portrayals in literature and cinema, to real-life ferocious animals (including the two-legged variety)on land, sea and air, they attract our attention to some degree or another. 
The "Monster" giving inspiration for this work is from none of these sources, though.
This one has appeared throughout my life only on occasion, and seemingly at random and uncontrollably during sleep time.
It has taken on different forms, although never in Godzilla-like proportions; in other words, never a threat to humanity in general...just me.
It turns out that the trigger for it's visits stemmed from personal relationships that were not going well (or about to not go well); and I eventually used such visits as a wake-up call to address those issues.
The "Monster" actually became an attention-grabbing ally!
I've attempted to capture all those factors in this work, to some degree or another--maybe especially at the end, when part of me doesn't want to see an end to the "visits", as frightening as they were.

With the way things are going these days, I wouldn't be surprised by another visit sometime soon...

Fright Creature - Instrumental by Groove Crater Method (Medeski, Martin & Wood inspired)

Howard  is a guitarist, writer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, live performer, producer, studio engineer and online/onairwaves radio host; emphasizing musical communication through instrumental interpretation in various forms--at times employing spoken word, storytelling, reading or other audio sources in complement or contrast. 
His solo live performances feature real-time multi-instrumentalism employing live recording and synching of loops and subsequent improvising over them.

Check out "Howard Thrust - SIDE 2"  https://soundcloud.com/howard-thrust-2/tracks for recent and future postings here on soundcloud.
Check out "Howard Thrust - Musical Monologues"  https://soundcloud.com/howard-thrust-monologues/tracks for "story" with Music here on soundcloud.
Check out "Howard Thrust Radio"  https://soundcloud.com/howard-thrust-radio for complete Music shows, also here on soundcloud!
Check out "Escape Velocity with Howard Thrust" on KRHV every other Monday from 9P - 10P @ www.mammothfm.com or @ KRHV 93.3 FM in the Owens Valley, CA.
Check out "Howard Thrust" on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpAfG_aFKB0dDyp5mNl35sQ/videos !

AND NOW (massive drum-roll, please):  You can visit my WEBSITE by going to  www.hthrust.com

Thanks for looking and listening!