mark knopfler

In this podcast Joe analyzes George Harrison's guitar solo. George's solo, considered by many his finest, is a textbook example of a how to construct a musical statement through thematic development, repetition, sequence, alluding to past and future events, melodic and rhythmic motives as well as the creation of tension and calm through the interplay of chord and non-chord tones.  

In this series of podcasts Joe traces the evolution of song from the Middle Ages until the present. In "Something" by George Harrison we have a classic song covered by many artists, most notably Frank Sinatra who called it "the greatest love song of the past 50 years".
The song, and equally important, George's solo - called by many his greatest - I believe had a strong influence on the evolution of guitar soloing in the rock idiom. Also highlighted is the use of melodic, rhythmic and harmonic motives as well as modulations, secondary dominants and variations in form. 
 

Join us as we revisit this fine interview from 2011 with Trombonist/bandleader Chris Barber, who has just announced his permanent retirement from full-time music after leading his internationally popular band since 1954.

Born in Welwyn, Hertfordshire in 1930, Barber became an avid collector of jazz and blues records before buying his first trombone at age 18 and forming a semi-professional band in 1949 when he recorded for the first time. He studied trombone and double-bass at the Guildhall School of Music and assembled his first professional band in 1953, fronted by trumpeter Ken Colyer. Colyer was replaced by Pat Halcox in 1954 who remained with Barber for 54 years. His small group initially played in jazz clubs but by the late 50s became an attraction in large concert halls throughout the UK and Europe. Barber’s Jazz Band first toured the USA in 1959 after having a million-selling hit with "Petite Fleur" that year, featuring clarinetist Monty Sunshine. He also featured a skiffle group with singer/guitarist Lonnie Donegan, which led to a national craze for such blues-based music. The powerful blues singer Ottilie Patterson, who later married Chris, starred with his band for 20 years.

It was Barber's passion for Afro-American music that inspired him to bring many American blues and gospel legends to Britain to appear with his band, including Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters, Louis Jordan, Sonny Boy Williamson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Together with his business partner Harold Pendleton, Chris opened the celebrated Marquee Club in London in 1958 where many British blues performers were first showcased including Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated and The Rolling Stones.

Rolling Stone Bill Wyman notes, " If it had not been for Chris Barber I don’t see how the 1960s bands would have ever happened in the UK. Apart from his own successful Trad Jazz Band, & the talent he had for bringing over to England a multitude of blues artists over the years - he created a section during his shows to play Skiffle music. Together with Lonnie Donegan they created hit records from this music that inspired a multitude of young people to pick up guitars. This included myself, Mick Jagger, the Beatles, the Kinks, the Who, and many others, who began their careers in small skiffle bands. As Donegan moved on to solo success, Chris then added Alexis Korner to his shows to play a blues segment. This inspired Brian Jones to form the Rolling Stones band & play blues music, together with other up & coming blues-inspired musicians. Chris Barber is entitled to be named the founder of the British music scene of the 1960s."

Over the years Barber successfully developed his Jazz and Blues Band and, due to his love of Duke Ellington’s music, in recent times he augmented his personnel and renamed it The Big Chris Barber Band featuring many talented young musicians, bringing a new lease of life to his music and touring widely. The band recorded prolifically over the years in its many forms with numerous special guests. Barber was awarded the OBE in 1991. His autobiography "Jazz Me Blues," co-written with Alyn Shipton, appeared in 2014. The double album “Memories of My Trip” featuring his career-spanning collaborations with other jazz, blues, skiffle and gospel luminaries was re-issued by the Last Music Company on October 4th, 2019.

The limited edition 4-CD compendium, “A Trailblazer’s Legacy” was issued in 2021. Chris sadly passed just prior to its release.

To learn more about Chris Barber, visit www.ChrisBarber.net

Find the album "Memories of My Trip" here:

https://lnk.to/ilxoeMta

Find “A Trailblazers Legacy” here:

https://lnk.to/TgoV5gRI

D

We are talking about his love for Mark Knopflers music, the influcence of Jedi Mind Tricks and music producer Gramatik on his development as a musician.

Immex is a self taught guitar player, that started with passion for music and with the help of his community as he has a lot of friends in bands, a network he draws upon often.

He likes hip-hop and rock’n'roll and is situated in between genres.

He actually prefers this sometimes uncomfortable place between two chairs and accepts it as a source of inspiration.

As an Innovator Immex is switching between classical Guitar and a Laptop as his favorite instruments to create music.

Today he is multi instrumental, playing also drums, base guitar, keyboards and even sings.

His beats are used on major Youtube channels such as Unbox Therapy with more than 15 mill. fans

He is a master of the computer as a complex instrument but he loves playing the guitar and keeps one around all the time. He again supports his friends bands regularly in their shows.

He has build his own style as a musician and a producer and believes he is still on a journey with more to come.

Immex is using the digital platforms to his advantage to address a global audience from his hometown in Macedonia.

In our conversation Immex also talks about the right place and time to be creative and about the Vision that starts his projects.

His dream is to play with Mark Knopfler from the Dire Straights.

Immex is also the creator of this show's theme song.

This is the first episode. Starting the podcast with a conversation with a musician seemed appropriate. The bandwidth of the creative as well as the commercial process a musician has to cover is enormous and serves as a good example for innovators I think.

Find Immex on

• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/immexbeats
• Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/immexinthehouse

Links

• Mark Knopfler https://www.markknopfler.com

• Jedi Mind Tricks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_Mind_Tricks

• Impressed by https://www.gramatik.net

• Unbox Therapy https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsTcErHg8oDvUnTzoqsYeNw

• Mark Knopfler Song mentioned in the conversation: "Boom, Like that"
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sYK2RwH5E8
  https://open.spotify.com/track/2UQ2GTQgffhZtMCSOieaiP?autoplay=true&v=T

Thank you to

• Immex
• David Nebinski
• Alex DiPalma & Seth Godin from The Podcasting Fellowship
• the other aspiring podcasters of the fellowship
• Andreas Urra from the University of Konstanz
• Colin Gray from the Podcast Host com

Find more information on the show's website.

Connect with the2pt5 on:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Linkedin
• Mailing list

The 2pt5 - conversations connecting innovators
Please leave a review to help others discover this podcast.

Hey hey hey! This week John Illsley of Dire Straits talks nostalgia, the pressure of being huge, and whether bass players should make solo albums.

Also, you may remember The Connells for their hit "74-75" but there's a lot more to the band's career. It was awesome to talk to Mike Connell from the band about their past and future.

theconnells.com

johnillsley.com

Find me on Twitter @signalspodcast

Find me on Instagram @sendingsignalspodcast

If you can, please subscribe, rate, and review the show if you haven't already. Thanks!