On December 26, 2017, James Burns died aged 65. He was television producer and writer, best known as co-creator (with Robert Small) of “MTV Unplugged”. The show originally aired on “MTV” from 1989 to 1999, featured well-known musicians performing acoustic versions of their songs, among the others Elton John, Aerosmith, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nirvana, Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, LL Cool J, and 10,000 Maniacs.
Fontella Bass
On December 26, 2012, Fontella Marie Bass died aged 72. She was musician (piano, singer) and songwriter, collaborated with Little Milton, Bobby McClure (The Oliver Sain Soul Revue featuring Fontella and Bobby McClure), Maurice White, David Bowie, Minnie Ripeton and Art Ensemble of Chicago. She recorded 8 albums during her career.
Switchfoot: Oh! Gravity
On December 26, 2006, “Columbia” label released “Oh! Gravity”, the sixth Switchfoot album. It was recorded in 2006, at “Big Fish Recordings” in Encinitas, CA, Signature Sound” in San Diego, CA, “Starstruck Studio” in Nashville, and was produced by Tim Palmer, Steve Lillywhite, John Fields, Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, Jerome Fontamillas and Drew Shirley.
Personnel:
- Jon Foreman– lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar
- Tim Foreman– bass guitar, backing vocals
- Chad Butler– drums
- Jerome Fontamillas– rhythm guitar, keyboard, backing vocals
- Drew Shirley– lead guitar, backing vocals
- Keith Tutt II – cello
- Kybra Minisee – violin
- Sidney Cabrera – violin
- Andy Geibon – horns
- Charlie Peacock– Chimus Minutus
- Mark Felthamon – harmonica
- Sarah Mooridian – cowbell
- Sean Watkins, Sara Watkins– vocals, mandolin
- Noah Lamberth – space pedal steel
- Care House Choir: Jennifer, Lukas, Dawn, Tierra, Lynsey, Steffany, Luke, Devin – vocals
- Tim Lord Palmer – additional “window treatments”
- Tim Palmer– recording, mixing
- Steven Miller, Chris Testa, Joe Marlett – additional recording
- Michael Harris, Matt Beckley, Cameron Barton, Zeph Sowers – recording assistant
- John Fields– mixing
- Tom Lord-Alge– mixing
- Ted Jensen– mastering
- Jamie Seyberth, Femio Hernandez – mixing assistant
- Joshua Marc Levy – art direction, illustration
- Andy Barron– photography
- Steve Lillywhite– executive producer
Track listing:
All tracks by Jon Foreman, except where noted.
- Oh! Gravity – Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman
- American Dream
- Dirty Second Hands – Jon Foreman, Todd Cooper
- Awakening
- Circles
- Amateur Lovers
- Faust, Midas, and Myself
- Head Over Heels (In This Life)
- Yesterdays
- Burn Out Bright
- 4:12
- Let Your Love Be Strong
Vic Chesnutt
On December 25, 2009, James Victor Chesnutt died aged 45. He was songwriter and musician (guitar, singer), Chesnutt collaborated with many musicians and bands including Bob Mould, Widespread Panic, Elf Power, Danger Mouse, Lambchop, Bill Frisell and Jonathan Richman. He recorded 17 albums during his career.
Tony T-Bone
On December 25, 2009, Robert Anthony Bellamy aka Tony “T-Bone” Bellamy died aged 63. He was musician (guitar, piano, vocals), performed with Dobie Gray, was a member of Peter and the Wolves (San Francisco band that evolved into Moby Grape), but was best known as founding member, vocalist, guitarist and pianist for Redbone.
Jaco Pastorius: Invitation
In December 1983, “Warner Bros” label released “Invitation” the third Jaco Pastorius album. It was recorded at various venues during a tour of Japan, featuring his “Word of Mouth” big band, and was produced by Jaco Pastorius.
Personnel:
- Jaco Pastorius— electric bass
- Peter Erskine– drums
- Othello Molineaux– steel drum
- Don Alias– percussion
- Jean “Toots” Thielemans– harmonica
- Bobby Mintzer– soprano and tenor saxophone
- Mario Cruz– soprano and tenor saxophone, clarinet, alto flute
- Randy Emerick – baritone saxophone, clarinet
- Alex Foster– alto, soprano and tenor saxophone, clarinet, piccolo
- Paul McCandless– tenor saxophone, oboe, English horn
- Randy Brecker– trumpet
- Elmer Brown, Forrest Buchtel, Ron Tooley – trumpet
- Jon Faddis– trumpet
- Wayne Andre– trombone
- Dave Bargeron– trombone, tuba
- Peter Graves – bass trombone, co–conductor
- Bill Reichenbach– bass trombone
- Peter Gordon, Brad Warnaar – French horn
Track listing:
- Invitation – Bronisław Kaper
- Amerika – traditional
- Soul Intro/The Chicken – Jaco Pastorius, Pee Wee Ellis
- Continuum – Jaco Pastorius
- Liberty City – Jaco Pastorius
- Sophisticated Lady – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
- Reza/Giant Steps/Reza (reprise) – Jaco Pastorius, John Coltrane
- Fannie Mae – Buster Brown, Clarence Lewis, Morgan Robinson
- Eleven – Miles Davis, Gil Evans
Jan Hammer & Neal Schon: Here to Stay
In December 1982, “Columbia” label released “Here to Stay”, the second Jan Hammer and Neal Schon album. It was recorded in 1982, at “Red Gate Studios” in Kent, New York, and was produced by Jan Hammer, Neal Schon, Mike “Clay” Stone and Kevin Elson.
Personnel:
- Jan Hammer– drums, keyboards, percussion, engineer, mixing
- Neal Schon– vocals, guitars, synthesizer
- Glen Burtnik– vocals
- Colin Hodgkinson– bass guitar
- Steve Smith– drums
- Ross Valory– bass guitar
- Steve Perry– vocals
- Kevin Elson– mixing
- Bob Ludwig– mastering
Track listing:
- No More Lies – Neal Schon, Glen Burtnik, Jan Hammer
- Don’t Stay Away – Neal Schon, Jan Hammer
- (You Think You’re) So Hot – Jan Hammer, Colin Hodgkinson
- Turnaround – Jan Hammer, Colin Hodgkinson
- Self Defense – Neal Schon, Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain
- Long Time – Jan Hammer, Glen Burtnik
- Time Again – Jan Hammer
- Sticks and Stones – Neal Schon, Jan Hammer, Colin Hodgkinson
- Peace of Mind – Neal Schon
- Covered by Midnight – Neal Schon, Steve Perry, Jan Hammer, Colin Hodgkinson
Jack Bruce: Always wanted to Do This
In December 1980, “Epic” label released “I’ve Always Wanted to Do This”, the seventh Jack Bruce studio album. It was recorded in August 1980, at “House of Music” in West Orange, New Jersey, and was produced by Jack Bruce, Stephen Galfas, Clem Clempson, Billy Cobham and David Sancious.
Personnel:
- Jack Bruce- vocals, bass, harmonica
- Clem Clempson- guitar
- David Sancious- keyboards, guitar
- Billy Cobham- drums
Track listing:
- Hit and Run
- Running Back
- Facelift 318
- In This Way
- Mickey the Fiddler
- Dancing On Air
- Livin’ Without Ja
- Wind and the Sea
- Out to Lunch
- Bird Alone
John McLaughlin: Promise
On December 21, 1995, “Verve” label released “The Promise”, the eleventh John McLaughlin album. It was recorded in 1995, and was produced by John McLaughlin and Eddie Kramer.
Personnel:
- John McLaughlin – acoustic, electric and MIDI guitar, keyboards, engineer, mixing
- Al Di Meola– acoustic guitar
- Paco de Lucía– acoustic guitar
- Jeff Beck– electric guitar
- Nishat Khan– vocals, sitar
- Jim Beard– keyboards
- Joey DeFrancesco– Hammond organ, trumpet
- Tony Hymas– keyboards
- Yan Maresz – acoustic bass, bass guitar, arrangements
- James Genus– bass guitar
- Pino Palladino– bass
- Sting– bass
- Dennis Chambers– drums
- Vinnie Colaiuta– drums
- Mark Mondesir – drums
- Trilok Gurtu– percussion
- Don Alias– percussion
- Zakir Hussain– tabla
- Mariko Takahashi– vocals
- David Sanborn– alto sax
- Michael Brecker– tenor sax
- Max Costa – arranger, engineer, mixing
- René Ameline, Gustav Hobel, Ken Jones, Eddie Kramer, Maurice Ouazana, Rd Rak – engineer
- Philippe Arnal, Adam Blackburn, Steve Cook, Simon Osborne – engineer assistant
- Sven Hoffman – engineer assistant
- Alberto Mayer – design
- Christian Rose – photography
- Jean-Philippe Allard – executive producer
- Christian Pégand – production coordination
Track listing:
All tracks by John McLaughlin, except where noted.
- Django – John Lewis
- Thelonius Melodius
- Amy and Joseph
- No Return
- El Ciego
- Jazz Jungle
- The Wish
- English Jam – Vinnie Colaiuta, John McLaughlin, Sting
- Tokyo Decadence
- Shin Jin Rui
- The Peacocks – Jimmy Rowles
David Richards
On December 20, 2013, David Richards died aged 57. He was musician (keyboards), engineer and record producer, who engineered and co-produced albums for many artists, including David Bowie, Queen, Roger Taylor, Chris Rea, Jimmy Nail, Feargal Sharkey, Iggy Pop, Magnum, Virginia Wolf, The Cross, Freddie Mercury, Montserrat Caballé, Yes, Brian May and Duran Duran.
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