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The Old Grey Whistle Test

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This was a very popular BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It was the British version of North American’s Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert show … or is it the other way around? It first went on air in September 1971 and lasted for 16 years. The final show was broadcast on Dec. 01, 1987.

I just happened to run into this gem of an old show while researching my post about Allan Holdsworth on this blog.

… a ‘tin pan alley’ phrase from years ago. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys [doormen in grey suits] . The ones they could remember and could whistle having heard it just once or twice had passed the old grey whistle test. The meaning behind the name

To say that it became one of the most influential music shows for a generation would be an under statement.

This show had everything you wanted in a 1970’s – 1980’s Rock & Roll variety show! I’ve never seen this show, but maybe that was because I live on another continent! Anyways, check out the line up of who played on this show!

The first British TV performance of Bob Marley and the Wailers, U2, The Ramones, Supertramp, Eric Clapton, The Police, John Lennon Lynyrd Skynyrd, Talking Heads, David Bowie (beautiful) and Edgar Winter Group, just to name a few!

“I owe my whole solo career to The Old Grey Whistle Test. Mike and Bob were the only people who had faith in ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’ Rick Wakeman

They also did some great interviews of the musicians of the time. Keith Moon, The Rolling Stones, A very young Muddy Waters, Tom Scholz and Brad Delp of Boston, John Lennon part 1 & 2.

Another way to promote bands that where not actually playing on the show, was making a video of the song, specifically for the show. I’ve never heard of any show, or band for that matter doing something like this. It is really a testament to what lengths a band would go to, just to be put on the show! Led Zeppelin, Mike Oldfield were some of them!

So hats off to the grand old lady of British Rock Variety shows, The Old Grey Whistle Test!

Keep on Jammin’





Finally jamming with CounterPoint

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The Toronto (GTA) based progressive rock band called CounterPoint, is looking for a guitar player. I am a guitar player who is finally looking to join a band. After some 20 odd years of plying my wares, helping out fellow artists to expand their playing techniques or doing studio work I’ve decided that this is the band that I wish to be a part of … if they like my playing!

This post is about what was going through my mind before, leading up to, and during the first and only jam session that I had with the band … so far? (P.S. I thought it was already posted a while ago, technical problems here folks!)

In the very beginning, Rick Kazmirchuk, the extremely talented keyboardist of the band, told me what songs they wanted to play at this jamming session. I had told him about myself, what styles of guitar playing that I liked and played, what I had been up to over the years of playing/not playing and where I was musically up to that point.

I had not owned an amp for many years, my guitar foot pedals were feeling unwanted and neglected plus I hadn’t had the intonation done on any of my guitars in years to boot! So after our many talks and e-mails on this subject, I started to figure out how to play these tunes. I tried to play them in such a way that it would bring a nice full rounded sound to them.

Once the day of our jam session arrived, I walked into the studio and chatted with the guys who were there. Chris the bass player had not shown up at that point in time. So I then went over to the guitar amp, the amp came with the studio rental and started to hook things up. The device I use to practice at home with and sometimes in a studio setting, a Ibanez Rock and Play RP200 was of course, not working (Murphy’s Law strikes again).

So I now have this amp that I had no detailed working knowledge of, but as good luck would have it, I brought along my old trusty DigiTech Multi Chorus Pedal and it worked great … until the damn batteries ran out. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to open the damn thing up and replace the !@#$%^& batteries! Why didn’t I buy the adapter with this thing?!

The jam that night started off great, but I was a little nervous at first to be honest with you. 1/4 of the way through the very first song I suddenly began to feel more relaxed! It just felt right to me. Not that I am or was intimidated by their musical abilities, but as I’ve said before it’s been a long time since I have wanted to play in any band, and these guys fit the billing to a “T”!

After performing the assigned songs for that evening we kind of sat back, talked a bit and relaxed. Then came the free jamming part of the evening. This of course was a natural direction to follow due to my limited knowledge of their regular set. BTW, 100% of their repertoire is exactly the style in which I want to play, and I know that I can excel at it, if given the time!!!

Just a major bit of information here for you about my guitar playing thought process …

I just love to go over songs in great depth while playing with bands, even it we are just goofing around. I’m not one for jamming, or should I say playing endless progressions over and over while soloing around just for the sake of it. I just don’t really get that much out of it, truth be told.

In certain circumstances, it’s quite an asset to be able to try out different/new approaches to certain sections of a particular song, in an attempt to enhance a songs overall structure and feel. I do understand in this instance, that this is a quick way for the guys to get an overall feel for the depth of my playing abilities and what I can bring to the band, but for me I am a more methodical or structured type of musician. Or maybe it’s because I suck at it? Only time will tell. Come on, I’m pouring my soul out here to you, my good readership!

Now don’t get me wrong here, if there is some sort of technical problem going on in the background while playing live, I can solo around until it is finally resolved, quite easily. To me, this comes from a deep understanding of the song’s COMPLETE structure down to the minute details. Knowing how to play a progression in any song inside out, backwards and forwards or inverted if you will, allows me to shine! That is just how I am as a musician, plain and simple.

CounterPoint is the type of band that would allow me some latitude to express myself musically and perform at a level that I can scale to more lofty heights! They are a bunch of guys who share the same love and enthusiasm in progressive rock music, that I do. I’m just not sure if they saw this or have the time to wait … fair enough!

Over the last several years I have been applying my skills to play live, solo that is, and helping countless guitarist bring their skill set to a higher level. Teaching people to raise their own bar of abilities, to expand HOW they play a song, is my ultimate reward. I never really charge people for this, it’s just for the love of music!

So after the jam, we went our separate ways and here I am today, alive to tell the tale … and hopefully more to come!

Keep on Jammin’ CounterPoint

What is Trans-Siberian Orchestra?

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I’ve seen ads on the TV this past week about a band called Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

At first glance, it looks like some Las Vegas show that they decided to take it on the road. I’ve never heard of it before on blogs or even at the old water cooler at work. So what is this Trans-Siberian Orchestra experience all about?

Well it’s like a rock opera, according to one of it’s founders. They are Paul O’Neill along with Robert Kinkel and Jon Oliva. Paul, a long time producer/writer wanted to make his new musical experience much more than your average concert. Paul’s main desire was to combine two art forms that will help him create a much larger emotional impact on his audience!

  • (1) Form a great instrumental music show/band, which could be a show in itself
  • (2) Develop a Poetic production that could stand alone from any musical interruptions

once you put the two of them together, the sum of the parts would be greater than the whole, and you couldn’t imagine them apart.

So that is the essence of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra experience, a Rock opera. I think this new form entertainment could also be recognized as Art Rock. The only other time that I have heard of this new genre of music was my introduction to it at the Nuance festival in Toronto.

So who would play in this band and what were it’s working parameters? The band members, only the best musicians would fit the bill. It would be very difficult to keep these guys and gals together for an extended period of time, so they would come and go. The end result will be a constant evolution of music! As for the working musical sound/style of this group, it would evolve as well. Almost like Ringo Starr and his traveling All Star Band in some ways.

Moss does not grow fat under these rolling stones! I think this could be a show that you could see one year and fall in love with it. Then you could follow up with them following year and be just as mesmerized as you were the first time seeing it.

So I am wondering, who out there has seen one of these shows? Please share your thoughts about it with us because it may just help turn some music lovers towards this great experience that they call the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Keep on Jammin’

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