Guitar Circle Journals

First sun roof day of the year. Yes!!

Meeting at 10:00 In White Plains to discuss an upcoming meting next week. Somewhat but not totally informative as there are still some unknowns.

Home by 12:30. Take Rena, Gaia and one of their friends to lunch. A good time.

Goldens Bridge by 2:00. Make a lot of phone calls and then two sessions.

Drive to NYC to Irving Plaza to see Jeff Beck. I keep telling myself that I am getting way to old for general admission standing room only concerts. But then Jeff comes on stage and I forget all about it. You know he is one of my favorite players. I have been hearing a lot about his bass player Tal Wilkenson. She is 22 years old from Australia. An incredible musician watch for her! Jeff gave her two solo opportunities that were amazing. Really great funk player. Then they did something funny. Jeff played a funk line on the lower string of her bass while she improvised on the top three strings Good fun and awesome playing.

I was close to the stage and got to watch more of Jeff’s technique – this is always of interest to me. Tonight I noticed that a number of the vibrato and wammy sounding effects that he gets have nothing to do with the wammy bar. It has to do with his right hand picking technique that involves a combination of thumb and index crosspicking and plucking – Remember Jeff does not use a guitar pick. just outstanding. I have seen Jeff the past four years and every year I say the same thing. His playing improves every year – the subtitles are refined. I also heard him pull off some new and wild sounding harmonics at the second and third frets. Did not know this was possible. All in all an incredible show.