I imagine it was very inspiring to spend time with such a player!
Steve Morse pays tribute to Jeff beck
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I followed Steve and the DD's from day one, saw one of the first What If concerts in Tally. Ended up trading Steve a paint job on his Maule airplane (I live near the factory and am friends with them) in return for studio time in Steve's studio. My band mate promptly got a girlfriend and I lost my helper on the paint job, and never got him to the studio, so Steve graciously offered me a trailer full of music equipment including two SVT rigs, and a V4 that is branded "Winter" in stencil. He hosted us to several concerts during the year or so that I had the plane, and he was infintely patient to the many setbacks during the paintjob. Such a class act, he is truly a fine guy. Not to mention one of the best musicians on the planet... |
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I'm age 68. I've heard the name Steve Morse before, but never heard him play (unless incidentally). I never developed an interest in Dixie Dregs because I thought it would be another boring Southern Rock band. |
As Rick Beato states, 'Jeff Beck isn't copiable - he's 1 of 1'. Steve needs to throw away the pick as it adds too much staccato to the beautiful and flowing melody. He also needs to get a guitar with a whammy bar if he wants to emulate Beck. I forgot, there is no copying Beck. I've seen him a dozen times when he began with Rod Stewart, his solo tours and with SRV and ZZ Top. The most amazing part is that he seemed to get better every year of his career. |
I see what you mean. Perhaps it has to do with Beck's age at the time Blow By Blow was recorded relative to Morse's age when he covered the tune. 2 different interpretations. The story behind the song. Thanks to Stevie Wonder. https://www.musicradar.com/news/jeff-beck-stevie-wonder-superstition-cause-weve-ended-as-lovers The original LP version is has always been a favorite.
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I see what you mean. Perhaps it has to do with Beck's age at the time Blow By Blow was recorded relative to Morse's age when he covered the tune.
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I am almost 73, and one of my first music crushes was the Yardbirds with Jeff Beck. Having A Rave-Up was my first album purchase. Jeff’s melodic ear added a dimension to his blues chops that his contemporaries Clapton, Page, Green, and Taylor didn’t have. Listen to New York City Blues…completely unique phrasing, yet completely within the blues idiom. Beck brought the aggressive blues edge to his fusion playing, too. This brings me to the Steve Morse tribute performance stuartk posted…I had never heard Steve Morse! I just streamed a Dixie Dregs album to find out what I had missed. The posted track is magnificent, equaling the feel and sound of JB’ version and impressively expanding on it…with finger vibrato and string bending instead of the whammy bar Beck used. The only element JB brought that Morse misses is the occasional outburst of blues aggression. Maybe it’s the compression or lower volume, but when Beck wants to let the anger out, you know it, and in Morse’s hands it seems muted. But I am delighted to have been introduced to a master player. |
Glad you all enjoyed the video. I came across it after watching Rick Beato's interview with Steve. If you want to watch the interview, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jxp9k72M1c
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The thing is....they were competent players but weren't in bands and the rehearsal space was in the back of one of the guy's houses. He lived in middle Florida, Ocala I think, at the time so he had to drive down to Tampa to drop off the truck. It was a learning situation for them and they were completely blown away that Steve actually agreed to do it.......of course, he got his truck repaired for free and they had the music experience of their lives. |
Steve Morse is indeed a class act. Musician friends of mine in Tampa, who own an automobile body repair shop, traded Steve to repair a vehicle of his in the aughts (?). The price of repair was that Steve come and jam with them in their rehearsal space.....and he came down and played! The solo album High Tension Wires was a favorite of mine that I may have to dust off..... |
Thanks for that! I was fortunate to have seen The Dregs in 1978 and the most recent reunion tour in 2018. I have a couple of friends who lived in Macon in the 1970's and got to see them in local bars before they signed with Capricorn Records. I alerted both to this video and they thrilled, to say the least. For anyone inspired enough to pull out a Dixie Dregs album or CD after a long absence, look into the recent remaster of "Freefall" - "What If" & "Night of the Living Dregs." It is a 2 CD package put out by BGO Records in 2024; and, it's the best sounding recording of theirs that I've heard by far! |
What a wonderful way to start my day! Thank you @stuartk ! |
Sadly, Morse is afflicted with serious arthritis. Notice how he plays much more from the elbow, now. Rick Beato did an interview with him in which he goes into, among other things, his efforts to find workarounds. I saw him just once with the Dregs at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz in the late 70’s. One thing I love about older players is their lack of ego and their focus upon playing for the music and playing to communicate emotion. |
