Music Zephyr

"under-cover" Jackson Browne/Sara & Sean Watkins Pics

Please....scroll down for higher quality pictures taken at the same show along with a few comments! 

 See, strictly speaking Jackson Browne's people announced any photography is "strictly prohibited."
Thus my CCC (constant concert companion) used a throw-away non-digital camera for a few shots.  These are the best of the lot.  I know you understand we'd rather have a throw away camera confiscated by the security folks, than our REAL camera worth 20 times more.  

In all 3 shots, you see Jackson Browne on acoustic guitar in a dark shirt, the lovely Sara Watkins on fiddle and Sara's brother Sean Watkins (in the white shirt) on acoustic guitar as well.  Sara & Sean are/were two thirds of Nickle Creek of course.  I could help but think if one of boys were playing a mandolin, you'd have a nice regrouping of Nickle Creek and a very deep (due to Jackson Browne's huge catalog) play list!   When the trio were harmonizing, the vocals were magical, without any digital sweetening or processing. 

Better quality images and more verbiage are available below....please scroll down!

 CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE

 Zeph, out

Bruce Hornsby (solo) 

Wilkes-Barre, PA USA

2 November 2012

 Click On Image(s) to enlarge!
 Bruce Hornsby on solo acoustic piano (a gorgeous Steinway) played a good 2 hours plus to an audience full of "hard core" (his term) fans.  For the not so hard core he did the "radio hits" (his best of CD was titled Greatest Radio Hits by the way).  The hits included The Way It Is, Mandolin Rain, but NOT Jacob's Ladder (damn).  He did a great interpretation of his co-hit with Don Henley of Eagles fame, The End Of The Innocence.  He commented that "Don will always sing the crap out of that one..."   But, his point was he was not there to do note-for-note renderings of his songs. 

 The amazing part of the show was the technical ability on his instrument of choice.  Hornsby displaced a mastery of the acoustic piano, especially on some classical and jazz pieces with which this writer was woefully unfamiliar.   But I did know enough to realize I was witnessing and hearing the best acoustic piano player I have ever seen (sorry Elton!).  

Hornsby did make an announcement that made the crowd very happy (especially ME): He and Ricky Scaggs are reforming their band and will be touring as Skaggs/Hornsby again next year!   He promised to do, "Superfreak and everything...."   I hope that will mean a new duo CD available as well.  Search the entries of this blog and you will see what a great experience the duo were on their last visit to this end of Pennsylvania.  In particular, I recall The Way It Is done in the Skaggs/bluegrass style as a highlight of the show.   I hope they will put that version on a new CD or even put out a live duo CD???  Please Mr. Hornsby, pretty please????

Well worth the trip to see Hornsby solo by the way.  Treat yourself if you get the chance.

Zeph, out 

Jackson Browne jams with Sara Watkins

18 October 2012

Wilkes-Barre, PA USA 

 (click on any image to enlarge)

Do pick up the Best of Nickle Creek (Sara on fiddle and her brother, Sean Watkins on guitar joined the Jackson Browne group, and they were/are two-thirds of Nickle Creek), and also get the two more recent Sara Watkins solo CDs.  They are all beyond beautiful to hear.  

There is a tribute to Jackson Browne CD coming out, which will feature Bruce Hornsby by the way.....can't wait! 

Zeph, out