For anyone who missed it a while back in my first blogs, I am resurfacing this memorial tribute to Jimmy done on NPR. Jim Hall (who was interviewed on it) was kind enough to alert me to it and give me a cassette of it. Jimmy Raney Memorial Broadcast on NPR 1995

In an effort to keep more of a consistent blog message and align that with the audience I have created here, I have created another blog for non-music posts and offloaded the existing non-music posts. My interests extend beyond music ofcourse, but almost all of my recent posts have been more non music related. Some of this is due to my recent medical issues forcing me to stop playing; regardless, these type of posts are probably of less interest to the Jimmy & Doug Raney followers both old and new. The blog page is Other Raney Day Thoughts.

Young guitarist Joel Svensson did an admirable job on the transcription of Doug Raney’s solo to Four but don’t you think it’s about time we got a glimpse of the real deal!?? This clip was from a concert in Louisville, 1995. Also on the gig were pianist Phil DeGregg, bassist Tyrone Wheeler and drummer Norman Simmons. Note Doug’s concentration and how he is singing each phrase silently (watch his cheeks). Doug is da bomb! Watch the new Doug Raney Video on You Tube! and view the commentary.

It’s a great pleasure to present pieces of Jimmy’s marvelous 1993 master class to the world, finally. Those who enjoyed the first video a little while back will enjoy this one as well. As per usual, it’s not just about music, but rather the thoughts and insights of deep human being with understandings of things that most of us have to catch up with. As always a breath a fresh air. Again there are analogies made between language and music as I alluded to in follow up comments on the previous blog. Using your ear and learning from people who do it well is the key. Pay attention to what…

Recently, I re-discovered this little solo excerpt from a live concert from 2000. Although at the time I was pretty annoyed, when I listen now, I can’t help but crack up at the gentleman in the audience apparently in need of a lung operation during the performance. When I think on it I realize now that coughing during a concert is an established nuisance universally tolerated but secretly despised by performers and other audience members alike probably since the dawn of time. Picture if you will, the archetypal moment with all performers throughout the ages: bear skinned caveman over mastadon bones, angelic youth in a toga with aulos, Franz Liszt…

Just a note. The other day I got a very nice email/note to my Jon Raney website email from a pianist fan from Boston, MA. I reviewed it and was about to answer it the following morning, but somehow the email just vanished. It was nowhere to be found. I asked the admin at 1&1 email to try to recover it but they could not. So, to the fan out there hailing from Boston, MA thanks for the note and sorry for misplacing your email and I hope you visit again to the blog or jonraney.com. Sincerely, Jon Raney