RoadTrip!: The First State

You thought I'd forgotten, right?  Nope, just took a break and so today we're back on the road in tiny Delaware, home of DuPont Industries and Vice President Joe Biden.  It's called The First State (among other things) because it was the first one to ratify the Constitution in 1787 (for some reason I thought that was Connecticut) and while it may be small it's produced some amazing music, including the Jazz God and the Guitar God we're visiting today.

Clifford Brown was one of the most influential trumpeters ever.  In his tragically short life he worked with some of the greats, including Sarah Vaughan and Lionel Hampton, but it almost didn't happen for him.  He spent a year recovering from a car accident while he was in college and was visited and encouraged by Dizzy Gillespie.  Dude, that's like The Voice of God.  Can you imagine?  Anyway, Brown took Gillespie's visit to heart and came roaring back, eventually forming his own band with Max Roach.  They were later joined by Sonny Rollins and you thought Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was the first supergroup?  Yeah, no.  Anyway, I said tragically short and yes his life was.  He died in another car accident at 25, leaving behind a legacy that includes jazz standards like "Joy Spring."

So...the Guitar God.  If you've been reading for any length of time you know I love George Thorogood.  No, I can't resist the Bo Diddley beat or the Bo Diddley in "Bad to the Bone" or the Hank Williams covers or the slide or the anything else.  *Sigh*  I'll bet you can't, either.  Let's test that, shall we?

    

Okay, really?  If that didn't get you moving check your pulse.  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and you know what that means:  tryptophan.  There might be a hallucination in my future.  The things I do for my faithful readers.  Anyway, see you soon and have a great day whatever you're doing!