Such great recordings here with the incomparable Scott Nelson on guitar and friends

Scott is completely at home in so many styles and we cover a lot of territory here.  Enjoy

Thanks as always for your generous comments, likes and shares

Stylin’ - Scott Nelson / Jamie Rhind + Friends

1971 was an important time in music, where electricity was changing the landscape and Rock, Funk, Soul and Jazz were all merging into psychedelic grooves.  Marshal stacks were often taller than the players, the players were higher than the Marshal stacks, Strats and Les Pauls were the axes of choice, Hammond B3 Organs and Fender Rhodes keyboards could compete for volume with the guitars, and the hair was even longer than the jams.   Woodstock was a recent memory, Jimi Hendrix had just passed but had moved into the funk and soul inspired Band of Gypsies period, Sly & The Family Stone was heating it up with heavy funk and soul inspired grooves, and Miles Davis had just released the seminal Bitches Brew fusion double album that literally changed music.  This was where it was at, with each of these musicians and bands being influenced by each other.  Great stuff that produced legendary sessions and recordings and pushed music forward with power, energy, groove and volume.  

1971 commemorates this time and mindset, and recreates the feel with friends from around the world who continuously exhibit this spirit, energy and hair in their playing:

Alpha Roots - djembe  Stuttgart, Germany  https://soundcloud.com/alpha-roots
Rikard From - Hammond B3 organ  Umea, Sweden  https://soundcloud.com/rikard-from
Stephen "Pinner" Lipinski - guitar  New Jersey, USA  https://soundcloud.com/pinner
Scott Nelson - guitar  Pennsylvania, USA  https://soundcloud.com/scott-nelson-364333064
Marco Oversteegen - guitar  Almere, Netherlands  https://soundcloud.com/marco-oversteegen
Justin Valente  - guitar  New Jersey, USA  https://soundcloud.com/justin-valente
Jorg Calaminus - Dusseldorf, Germany - mastering

A couple of words on each of the players:  ALPHA ROOTS - Alphio was the perfect choice to add his soulful African djembe percussion voice.  One of the most prolific and inclusive musicians here on SoundCloud, always speaking with a positive voice.  Check out his often reggae and dub inspired recordings.  RICKARD FROM - my favorite B3 player here on SoundCloud.  We haven't recorded before but wanted his beautiful sound and also wanted these other heavy cats to be introduced to his Jimmy Smith type playing.  STEPHEN "PINNER" LIPINSKI - one of the hottest jazz fusion guitarists on SoundCloud, bringing more modern Scofieldesque jazz lines and harmonies to 1971.  SCOTT NELSON - another burning jazz and fusion guitarist, Scott sound combines elements of the contemporary guitar masters - Scofield, Metheny and Martino - to create his extraordinary playing.  MARCO OVERSTEEGEN - no one on SC has a closer overall sound to Hendrix, and we needed Marco's fabulous rhythm playing and soloing to anchor this 1971 mood.  JUSTIN VALENTE - Justin's my favorite blues rock guitarist, and just had to be a part of this summit, bringing us that heavy electric sound of Jimi, The Allman Bros, Freddie King and Stevie Ray Vaughn.  

So here's 1971.  Again.

Thanks to these great players for joining me and contributing so much to 1971, and also to all the listener, for your generous time, your comments and your shares.  And a special thanks to Jorg Calaminus for taking the initiative to master the sound for us to give you this real fine mix.
  

1971 - Alpha Roots, Rikard From, Scott Nelson, Marco Oversteegen, Pinner, Justin Valente, Jamie

Here's our take on the seminal Maiden Voyage, written and first recorded by Herbie Hancock in the early '60s, and recorded and performed again by so many jazz musicians since.  One of the all time classics in the repertoire.  Joining us on this tune are two of my very favorite jazz guitarists on SoundCloud, Stephan Lipinski and Scott Nelson, and the very fine bass player from the Netherlands, Kenneth Bruce.  Pinner takes the first solo, Scott the second and the tasty rhythm playing, and Kenneth anchors the grooving bass.  What a treat to be able to showcase Herbie's work so beautifully.

Stephan "Pinner" Lipinski - guitar solo (first)https://soundcloud.com/pinner
Scott Nelson - rhythm guitar and guitar solo (second)https://soundcloud.com/scott-nelson-364333064
Kenneth Bruce - bass https://soundcloud.com/ezay-music-productions

We thank you so much again for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares.

Maiden Voyage - with Stephan "Pinner" Lipinski & Scott Nelson / guitars and Kenneth Bruce / bass

What it Is was one of Miles Davis’ hottest grooves from his early ‘80s band. Recorded on his classic ’83 album Decoy, it featured the driving bass of Darryl “Munch” Jones, who went on to play with Sting and still now the Rolling Stones, and the unreal two guitar lineup of Mike Stern and John Scofield.  I was able to see this seminal band with both guitarists in Chicago, and it stays in my mind to this day as one of my favorite concerts of so very many, including 10 of Miles.  

Germany’s wonderful slap funk bassist Mirko “Stringburner” Borach came to me last year to ask if I could join him on What it Is, sending me the  outline recording we have here of this heavy chromatic funk fusion classic.  I was thrilled and quickly asked the superb fusion guitarist Stephan “Pinner” Lipinski to join us, with his perfect Scofield sound and approach.  But we needed a second guitarist to take Mike Stern’s place, and the remarkable Scott Nelson accepted.  Check out the incredible lines that Stephan and Scott create here for this.   Miles’ band at the time also featured Bill Evans on saxophone, and so we’ve grabbed the finest alto player I know to join us, recording artist Matt Criscuolo, who is just all over this.   As luck would also have it, my brother David Rhind is a fine trumpet player and Miles lover at the highest level - he has more than 400 Miles CDs in his collection - volunteered to handle and create the opening and closing trumpet lines.

Our recording of What it Is is truly special to me because of significance of Miles in my musical growth, and also because of what each of these superb musicians and friends means to me.  Please stick through to the very end to hear exceptional musicians playing their hearts out:

In order of appearance:

Mirko “Stringburner” Borach - bass  https://soundcloud.com/stringburner
Jamie Rhind - keyboards
David Rhind - trumpet
Stephan “Pinner” Lipinski - guitar (head)  https://soundcloud.com/pinner
Matt Criscuolo - alto saxophone  matt criscuolo
Scott Nelson - guitar  https://soundcloud.com/scott-nelson-364333064
Stephan “Pinner” Lipinski - guitar

Thanks as always for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares.

What It Is - with Mirko Borach, Matt Criscuolo, Stephan Lipinski, Scott Nelson and David Rhind

Blue Circle is a 12 bar blues with a modern, descending chromatic twist on the 9th and 10th bars.  The fabulous Scott Nelson and I have teamed up to create this original music.  Scott's guitar is haunting, going from subtle to explosive, as he expertly navigates these contemporary blues.  My approach to the tune was more introspective, in the style of the young Herbie Hancock in the '60s with Miles Davis's seminal quintet.  So great to have Scott's musicality again on this recording.  You can check out his extensive gallery of jazz and fusion: https://soundcloud.com/scott-nelson-364333064

Thanks so much for your generous time listening, for your comments and feedback, and for your shares.

Blue Circle - with Scott Nelson / guitar

Ba Ba De Bop is what SoundCloud is all about.  A pure collaboration among serious musicians.  Joining me for the first time with a real clear trumpet voice is Andrew "Styrmonix" Styrmo, doing his Miles thing here.   Andrew's also adding some hip vocals, in fact creating the name of the tune, Ba Ba De Bop.  You will hear that in the tune in fun places.  His trumpet -- beautiful tone, cool chromatic playing, and drawing tension with every other note.  Stephan "Pinner" Lipinski holds down one of two serious guitar lines, driving the tune with an infectious wah rhythm track, and also some downright nasty nasty soloing, finding that perfect space between the bass, trumpet and his wah.  And once again, we've got Scott Nelson taking a big guitar solo in the middle section, providing a huge sound and such masterful playing.   This one combines so much of what I love in fusion and also in SoundCloud.  The opportunity to express oneself with other similar minded musicians from around the world.  Pretty cool !  We hope you dig it - stick with it through the end for some funky playing:

Styrmonix:  trumpet and voice
Stephan "Pinner" Lipinski:  guitar
Scott Nelson:  guitar solo

Thanks as always for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares

Ba Ba De Bap - with Stephan "Pinner" Lipinski and Scott Nelson / guitars and Styrmonix / trumpet

Here's a fun one we've created as a tribute to the great Joe Zawinul, keyboard player with Weather Report, Weather Update, the Zawinul Syndicate and pianist with Cannonball Adderly.  Joe wrote Mercy Mercy Mercy in the 60s, but this tune brings in his 70's - 90's influence, where he used sounds and synthesizers, world class jazz musicians, and brought his undeniable influence to the world of electric jazz fusion.  

Joining us here are 3 of my favorite SoundCloud fusion players, Scott Nelson  https://soundcloud.com/scott-nelson-364333064 with his amazing guitar playing, Mirko Borach  https://soundcloud.com/stringburner with his slap funk bass mastery and now Athens' Themis Nikoloudis https://soundcloud.com/themis-nikoloudis on electric violin, who lights it up with a fabulous sound and exploration of rhythm, patterns and modes.   So great to have him join us here, and we're looking forward to working with him more soon.    These guys all deserve applause for their beautiful playing and spirit.  And while we are at it, let's raise a toast to Joe Zawinul with Cup of Joe...

The photo here is of the Alps, as Joe Zawinul was from Austria.

Thanks for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares.

Cup of Joe - with Scott Nelson / guitar, Themis Nikoloudis / violin, Mirko Borach / bass

Jazz/Fusion keyboard player, composer and producer.  Marketing, advertising, publishing and sales career.  Originally from Chicago, where I developed a strong appreciation for the blues and classical, and moved to New York, where jazz and the fine arts are so deep.  Key musical influences include Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Zawinul and Weather Report, Chick Corea and Return to Forever, John McLaughlin and the Mahivishnu Orchestra, Stanley Clarke, Scott Henderson and Tribal Tech, Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer, Mike Stern, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Emily Remler, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Jimmy Smith, Joey DeFrancesco, Larry Young, Buddy Guy, Santana and Earth Wind & Fire.   Former classical clarinet and piano player.  Unless noted, my music on SoundCloud was composed, recorded and performed using only keyboards.  An avid photographer.  Many covers here are my shots.  To see my photography look for Herbiejazz on Instagram or search for Herbiejazz on Google.  And a big thumbs up to SoundCloud and the SoundCloud community, and so many friends who have joined me to create.  Thank you all.