Hey Friends,
We recorded Dave Grusin’s “Hurricane Country” about a year ago and actually we should have released it earlier this week instead. So many hurricanes, so little time to stay calm…
We’re gigging this week on Friday night. It’ll be our trio, Danny, Mack, and me searching for the magic notes. Come on out to Ki’s Restaurant for a stellar view, great food, friendship, and music. Look for details below.
For this week’s video we explore a Judee Sill masterpiece.
I was at a concert featuring guitarist Anthony Wilson years ago and he played an instrumental version of Judee Sill’s “The Kiss” and I was instantly knocked out. I’d never heard of Judee Sill.
Judee Sill (1944–1979) was an American singer-songwriter, composer, guitarist, and pianist whose music blended folk, country, baroque pop, and folk rock. Deeply influenced by Bach, her sophisticated compositions often combined intricate harmonies with spiritual themes of redemption and transcendence.
Signed to David Geffen’s Asylum Records, Sill released two critically acclaimed albums, Judee Sill (1971) and Heart Food (1973). Neither achieved significant commercial success, and a planned third album was never completed.
Sill had a hard time making her life work and passed away in Los Angeles in 1979 at age 35. Largely overlooked during her lifetime, her music was rediscovered in later decades, and she is now regarded as a distinctive and influential songwriter of the 1970s.
And here is our version of Judee Sill’s most gorgeous song called “The Kiss.” On vocals is the gifted Allison Adams Tucker.
Peter Sprague — guitar
Allison Adams Tucker — vocals
Tripp Sprague — piano, flute
Justin Grinnell — bass
Duncan Moore — drums
“The Kiss” is on the Guinnevere recording and it’s available at all of the streaming services including:
PS Online Store(opens in new tab)
YouTube Music(opens in new tab)
The album just got a good review in the All About Jazz publication. Check it out!
The ever creative Dan Atkinson, who organizes the amazing Athenaeum Jazz concerts in La Jolla, is putting on a big event this weekend at the Escondido Performing Arts Center. Billed as “San Diego / Tijuana International Jazz Festival” they are hosting concerts in both San Diego and Tijuana.
Here’s the lineup for this Saturday in Escondido:
CHARLIE CHAVEZ Y SU AFROTRUKO
2:00-3:15 PM
DANILO PÉREZ
with the SDSU Jazz Ensembles
3:30-4:45 PM
DINNER BREAK
Food Trucks &
Friends of the Festival
5:00-6:30 PM
LUCÍA AND THE FAMILIA GUTIÉRREZ
5:00-6:15 PM
MINGUS DYNASTY
6:45-8:00 PM
BRIAN BLADE & THE FELLOWSHIP BAND
8:15-9:30 PM
If you’ve never heard music at the Escondido Arts Center you’re in for a wonderful treat with great sound and gorgeous interiors.
I’m going for a listen and here’s the contact info in case you want to go:
happy trails, Peter