Hey All,

I saw Derringer's name on a smooth jazz chart, anyone heard the CD yet? I'm withholding final judgement until I do but my first thought is yet another faded rock guitarist trying their hand at smooth jazz, anyone have any thoughts or opinions on his release?

I haven't heard - or seen - this CD, but I'll be forever indebted to Rick Derringer for the quote: "The airport giveth and the airport taketh away" from the back cover of (I think) "Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo."

It's covers of his old songs done as Smooth Jazz radio songs..in other words its another CD of smooth jazz versions of oldies. Background music for people who are into nostalgia.. But the "single" is getting some airplay..the Smooth Jazz format being very nostalgia oriented these days. What is scary to me is that when you dwell in the past no foundation for future growth is being created.

Thanks Shannon,

It just seemed odd to me that the guy who did Hang On Sloopy and Rockin Roll Hoochiekoo would be doing guitar jazz now.

I agree with you 100% about the trend of redoing oldies, I am much more moved by hearing an original then I am by a cover. But then covers are what gets played on Radio I guess, arent there any Comtemporary Jazz radio stations out there or are they all either smooth jazz or classic jazz?

And why would that seem odd?

I used to listen to nothing but rock and pop music. But, since about 10 years ago, I listen to nothing but jazz.

We age, we grow, we change...so do our tastes.

On the other hand, I don't see anything wrong with listening to an occasional, tastefully done pop tune remade into a jazz version...this doesn't constitute "dwelling in the past", in my opinion.

A few years back Slash(former Guns & Roses axe-slinger)had a song that stayed on the smooth charts for an extended ammount of time.

Of course, Craig Chaquico has made a transition from playing in Jefferson Starship to being a very successful smooth jazzer.

So, even though my memories are of Derrenger playing wiht Johnny and Edgar Winter in some songs that melt paint, it'll be interesting to see if this is a one off.

Peace!
Paul

Go back and listen to "tell me in a whisper" from one of the Edgar Winter CDs..it had a real contemporary jazz sound.

The cool thing about Chaquico is that he moved forward, not backward..his transition to instrumental music was not marred by nostalgia at all and although he did redo "Find Your Way Back" and a killer uptempo version of Feelin Allright..but he is definitely an artist who is rooted in the present..I wouldn't call him smooth jazz though except for a few of the more computerized songs he's put out for radio..he's pretty much stayed away from the lite RnB.

Nothing's wrong with doing covers of old songs, regardless of what genre the original was in.
What I don't want to see is a group or artist who does nothing but that. An occasional tribute album is one thing. Or even one cover on an album of otherwise all-original material (and pray the radio statios don't key ONLY on the cover tune - my first taste of David Benoit was a cover of Michael Jackson's "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" but that station also played "Every Step of the Way," "Linus and Lucy" and "The Key to You").
I won't complain if the covers are of jazz standards. I didn't know jack about Duke Ellington (heard of him, but that's all) until I started listening to Steely Dan's cover of "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo." That works because I'm one of those who, when I like a good cover, always wants to go back and hear what the original sounded like. Most of the songs on BWB's "Groovin'" I had heard the originals of, but "Povo" is new to me. So in that sense, covers are a good thing.
However, artists, PMs and corporate suits would do well to remember the phrase "ENOUGH already!"

Shannon...

You are right, I should be more careful about that smooth tag....I know I hate it when reviewers call Pat Metheny Group or Spyro Gyra or other smooth jazz artists(even though a small portion of their music receive's airplay on "smooth" jazz staions).

Craig opened for Spyro Gyra in Indian Wells< Calif, and he is upbeat and energetic...I liked him alot!!

Peace!
Paul

Donna,

I wasnt bashing Rick for making an album in the jazz genre, I was just saying that for someone who hadnt before done any guitar jazz it seemed like an odd move. Now not having heard the CD, I gather that he redid some of his older songs, I guess I am a bit tired of hearing remakes of old songs, but you're right in that we all grow and change. I wasnt into Jazz of any kind until the early 90's and basically that's all I buy now or listen to, so growth is a good thing .

JJ-
if you have "real player" loaded on your computer, the rick derringer website automatically plays three tunes he redid as jazz covers (Is it really a cover, when he wrote the original?? Kind of like when Clapton redid Layla as an acoustic tune...it worked, but it was definitely different)- R&R Hootchie Koo, Frankenstien, and Free Ride. I won't say that I like them, but it is interesting to see that a rocker like him has migrated musically the same direction most of us did....the tunes aren't as good as Russ would do them, though :p
www.rickderringer.com

TonyY

Took a listen to all 3 songs...not bad...not good. I think if he had a better group of players with him the songs would sound a lot better. Sounds very flat,no groove,toss a couple of guys in there from SG that know how to groove,things would sound a whole lot better.

Peace

Spyro1

Spyro1, I agree- sounds a bit 2 dimensional, no fullness, no groove. Still not too bad, but I would prefer he just redo them with the original energy intact, and just back off on the distortion from the 70's.
TOnyY

I just heard "Jazzy Koo", Rick Derringer's instrumental remake of "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo" on Art Good's Jazztrax Studio!!

if you're unsure, you can listen to sound bytes on his web site. I think he still lives here in CT (as does Meatloaf, another fave from the 70's)

http://www.rickderringer.com/index.html

whatever tune is playing when you first go to his site is really good. It's sounds alive...
There are more samples on Amazon, and I am embarrassed to say that today was the first time I heard jazzy koo. I bought the CD, which is also the first contempo CD I have purchased in over a year... Wow. I have been spending too much time with the Polyphonic Spree and the excellent new Maria McKee CD “High Dive.”

well, when I just visited it, it says it's "Hot and Cool"- it is a good tune. Sounds more "new" than the remakes of his old tunes, but hey- there his, he can do what he wants with them, right?
Gotta go- vicious storm heading this way, need to unplug this box.....
TonyY

Ok, I have spent some time with this CD, but the vocal songs do not seem to mix well. Overall it's good, but after listening to it more and more, I think I will admit that this was an impulse buy - I'll blame on the champagne I was drinking.