John Mayall has passed away


Sad. What a great talent. He was 90.

https://www.npr.org/2024/07/24/g-s1-13000/john-mayall-british-blues-pioneer-dies

128x128mofimadness

losing this one is a big one for me, what memories. Although his talent was vast, I feel his greatest talent was recognizing and surrounding himself with very talented people. RIP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cujG_O4KA4&t=36s

Tribute from Eric Clapton

RIP John Mayall

He was a great one, who gave us many years of entertainment while having fun himself. The blues are a little bluer today.  RIP

I was never deeply into his catalog, but the live Jazz Blues Fusion disc is not only a favorite, but it is one of the best recorded discs that I own live or studio. Great music and great players.

I was never deeply into his catalog, but the live Jazz Blues Fusion disc is not only a favorite, but it is one of the best recorded discs that I own live or studio. Great music and great players

It’s a good one. One of my favorite Mayall recordings from a guitar standpoint. F. Robinson’s jazzy approach is such a refreshing change from the Blues Rock approach... not that I don’t like that, as well. But his playing is, IMHO, a major contributor to the overall vibe of the record.  

 

 

 

I agree. His playing is elegant and beyond reproach. same goes for Ron Selico's drumming.

My favorite Eric Clapton guiltar playing was on 'John Mayall and the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton', aka 'the Beano album'. He sure ushered in a lot of British blues greats.... 

@dweller 

Definitely a sad day for music. 

First introduced to both John Mayall and Eric Clapton with John's Bluesbreakers.

Nice to hear such a heartfelt eulogy from Eric on what John meant to him, but also sad to hear the obvious regrets that Eric still carries with him.

Clapton's playing on that album is indeed some of the best of his career. I can't say it's my favorite. Forced to choose just one album, I'd pick Layla, mostly because I prefer its more melodically and harmonically sophisticated song structures, but for straight Blues played by Brits, Beano is about as good as it gets. I love P. Green's playing with F. Mac but I can't honestly say it's better. 

Saw him a couple years ago, first time since the early 70s. Carolyne Wonderland was the star of the show but John was still bringing it. RIP to an important elder.

@stuartk 

It's all good - one doesn't have to be better than the other.

A bit off topic but if you like FM with P. Green then check out this one.

Back to Mayall - This one is a fun listen to somebody that never let age get in the way of good music and a good time.  Fortunately, I purchased mine b4 they became scarce - $heesh.  Check out who is standing to his left.

John certainly knew how to spot talent, he had the all top players who went into their own fame in his groups over the years.

RIP

Laurel Canyon was always my favorite. RIP. Mayall was the launching pad for so many great musicians, there has never been anyone quite like him.

I didn’t mean any disrespect, but when I plugged JM name into a search engine (I hadn’t heard his name in 50 years or so), the SE spat out an article on Toots etc. another example of AI run amok.  That gave me a laugh.

  I remember someone in my dorm had tha Bluesbreakers album and played it incessantly while trying to learn the guitar solo

@mitch2 

Thanks. I'm familiar with both of those. 

I actually prefer the live Boston set to the other you mention. 

With both, I skip the J. Spencer stuff. 

The playing on the 70th anniversary set was better than I'd anticipated. 

 

 

 

Very first concert I ever went to, around 16 years old (72 now), Washington State University, in a very small college town around 40 miles south of where I grew up, mostly.

Warm up act, Duster Bennett, one man band, incredibly talented and entertaining.

Main act, John Mayall and the Blues Breakers and I was blown away by the whole event, might of had a bit to do with loaves of bread, bottles of wine and huge joints being passed around to it seems everyone was partaking....

If my memory serves me right it was the first time to also see Eric Clapton but I am not certain.

Over the years I was not that into much of JM music but it was always done incredibly well though I think his best aspect was introducing up and coming highly talented people which he did a great deal of.

I will always remember that as a very special event in my life, including seeing Duster Bennett and the rest of JM's band though some it seems a big hazy for some reason.

RIP JM, well deserved.

Rick

I'm listening to a Mayall album called A Hard Road (1967).

I don't know how I missed it when it came out but what a gem. Peter Green, John McVie, Ansley Dunbar. It's classic psychedelic blues with great performances and remarkably good sound quality. Peter Green is on fire. Highly recommended!

@mashif 

I have about a dozen John Mayall albums and I definitely agree with you, A Hard Road is excellent!