I'd forgotten about this recording. Jason kicked my ass, cut my head, and left me bleeding, but it was fun. This is when I knew that Jason was the sh-t:
No, I just felt as though I was playing at 85-90% on a night when even 125% wouldn't have been quite enough. I tried every trick I knew to cover up the fact that I just couldn't match what he was doing.
Last Edited by on Jan 29, 2010 4:08 PM
I've not come across the term of "Cutting Heads" before. Is that like a Harmonica battle where you trade licks and try to outdo the other player. I'd love to watch something like that. Brilliant playing from both sides there. ----------
Cutting heads is an old blues term for dueling it out. It was commonly guitar vs. guitar or harp vs. harp. I heard that it was common on Maxwell street in Chicago...
this is a fun thread. its like clash of the titans.
@tooka you never seen the movie crossroads? or Cadillac records? they use the term a few times in both movies. the final seen in crossroads is what its all about. ----------
I think the only clear cut winner that nite was the audience. Playing side by side, I can hear the influence the Doctor had on the young Turk. Jason was cutting through a little louder. Maybe it was his customs vs. stock MB's. LOL
This thread would actually be an excellent place in which to post head-cutting videos. Post away!
Truth be told, I don't enjoy head-to-head musical competitions, although I enjoy watching and listening to them. Dexter Gordon and Wardell Grey had a terrific recording called "The Hunt" that's basically that sort of two-man blowing session. I don't enjoy using music with the intent of manifesting aggression and showing somebody (and an audience) that I'm better than them.
I've only done that once, in fact, and Jason was in the house. Satan and Adam opened for James Montgomery at a club in Portland, Maine. I felt that aggression quite vividly. I decided that I was much better than Montgomery and wanted to let him know it. As I recall, he invited me onstage late in his set, quite generously, and I did my best to cut his head off. I may well have done so, but I felt bad about it later. He was a nice guy and a good bandleader.
Often, though, the spirit is "You bring out the best in me and I'll bring out the best in you." That's what I hear in my tangle with Jason, and that's why I posted it. There are no losers in that sort of situation.
Last Edited by on Jan 29, 2010 4:46 PM
@Tuckster: I could have been his harp, but I'm sure it also had something to do with the fact that I was playing through a 5-watt Mouse and he was playing through a Bassman.
If I were dying to tell you, I would have been posting about it, 6-7 years ago.
My challenge to Gussow was in jest and is truly the first time I've challenged somebody. I'm not a head cutter and have never purposefully stepped on a stage with the intention to cut heads. However, I don't ever back away from a challenge as a few people have experienced.
I always do my best to make the music and the experience for the audience, be the best it possibly can in that moment.
About ten years ago, Saxophonist Michael Brecker invited me on stage to play. I was in complete awe of his power and presence. He could have blown me away with the blink of an eye but instead he did everything he could do to support what I was playing. It was an awesome experience and it's one of the defining moments for me as a musician.
---------- "The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." - Joseph Campbell
then why let the cat out of the bag now? seems like a morsel you'd hold on to...ya know? tuck it away into the corner of your mind and keep it for yourself. It's all good... I understand the need. ---------- Kyzer's Travels
Buddha, when you related the tale yesterday of the head-cutting at SPAH 2003 you stresed your point that you "made him cry." You seemed determined for all of us to know that.
Today your re-telling of the story omits that detail. Why? Did Jason cry as you insisted yesterday or not? Please be specific.
I also like Adam better on the "Duel". Better tone and musicality. He loses at the number of notes/second, but I don't think playing is all about that.
Adam he didnt cut your head! I agree with Zack. You play with more suubtelty?? You just need to tur yourself up! Both awesomely brilliant bt Gussow has the edge here. ---------- "Blow as thou pleaseth"
I listened to this a few times, what great playing. To play the devil's advocate I think I see where Adam is coming from. I tried to play along, and came nowhere close to either, but I could understand what Adam was doing and get closer to it than what Jason was doing. He seems to be playing more in scales with a jazz mentality than Adam was. Still, Jason could do what Adam was if he wanted. That is consistent with the mentor/ prodigy student comment earlier. That is consistent with the discussion on what is modern blues harmonica, and how the younger players are pulling in skills and influences that are making it fresh and moving it forward. It is the resolution of the crossroads movie head cutting scene. The kid pulled out his classical licks and the devil could not match that. Does this make any sense? I have huge respect for both players, but I can see how Adam introduced this video to us in the way he did.
oh yeah, cut the stuff off after the last slash and your browser will give a list of files, different formats of the same recorded. There is a zip file with a bunch of this concert (about 13 JRNB and 5 of a set Adam did). There is also a pdf with a song list, and telling where the show was. I downloaded the whole thing, copied it to my ipod, and got even more depressed about how much I would have to learn to get within a light year of both these guys :-)
