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Topic: Jim Loessberg has recorded a beautiful album! |
Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 29 Dec 2004 8:02 pm |
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I'm sitting at home listening to a really fine steel guitar album not yet available, but soon to be on the market. Many of y'all are aware of Jim Loessberg, a great player and one of my close friends that I also consider MY teacher. As friends would do, he sent me an advance copy of his new instrumental album for preview and opinion.
My opinion: it's freakin' excellent, one of the best albums I've heard in a long, long time.
It's no secret that Jim can create a praiseworthy album, witness the recordings of Frenchy Burke, Dugg Collins, and Curtis Potter that Jim's produced. But I think he's done a rather remarkable job on this recording, his first as an artist himself.
The title is gonna be "Sawed Off Shotgun," from the Rocky Caple tune by the same name that starts the album. His playing is flawless throughout, and is country to the core, predominantly E9; he does take some awesome C6 jazz rides on "Hold It," and "Brown Derby." The latter is a Buddy Emmons jazz tune never recorded by Big E.
Other E9 numbers that I really like are his versions of Darrell McCall's "Marionette," "Sing A Sad Song" a' la Cherokee Cowboys, Hal Rugg's "Jonesy," Lloyd Green's "Midnight Silence," and Jimmy Crawford's "Pickin' Pot Pie."
I got a surprise out of his version of Paul Mauriat's "Love is Blue." "Faded Love" is pure corn, "Steel Guitar Rag" because everyone has to cut SGR at some time in their career  , and he does a different version of "Sleepwalk" that is also way cool.
How do you get an album this good? Well, talent is the first thing, but you need good help. He found good help: Bobby Flores on fiddles and awesome lead guitar (is there nothing that hombre can't play? ), Randy the Reinhearted on piano (it helps to have another monster steeler in the studio ), played-with-everybody-legend Bob Moore on bass, and Jim himself (he's also my favorite drummer to play with) on drums. The contribution of Bobby Flores can't be overstated. Bob simply plays his ass off on this record.
I've listened to this thing several times in the past couple of days when I should actually have been learning some songs I'll have to play New Year's Eve. It's so good it's distracting. Jim will undoubtedly be somewhat embarassed by what I've written, because he's a very self-effacing picker; but too bad JLo, this recording is too freakin' good!
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2004 11:19 pm
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I too got an advanced copy and OH MY GOSH; it just don't come any easier on the ears than Jim Loessberg. Anything more I can say would completly mirror what brother Herb just said...>It is THAT GOOD MAN.
And Jim; if your embarraced by our comments; too freakin' bad....ha...Your KING man and there is no bigger fan of Jim Loessberg than myself.
Ricky |
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Dicky Overbey
From:
Medina, Texas
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Posted 30 Dec 2004 3:49 am
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Hello Jim, Ricky, Herb and all,
I was riding with Jake Hooker to play a job the other day when he put a new C-D in his player for us to listen to. It was Jim.
All of us who are blessed enough to pick with Jim know if it's not right, Jim won't
let it go by. Jim is a great picker and a great person. This album is the best.It is a must have. Thanks for pickin' with us Jim.
Your Friend and Fan,
Dicky Overbey |
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Bill Plemmons
From:
Simpsonville, SC
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Posted 30 Dec 2004 7:54 am
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Will Jim's cd be available at the Dallas show in March? By the way Dickie, glad to see you in the Dallas line up. Are you bringing Jake with you?
Bill
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Chuck Cusimano
From:
Weatherford, Texas, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2004 11:25 am
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| The first time I ever saw Jim Loessberg, was in Ruidoso, New Mexico at the Cowboy Gathering a couple of years ago. I was to be on stage in the next show, or two, and I saw this guy with an old black Emmons. I KNEW right there this guy was a picker! We have become friends, and I can't wait to get my hands on this new CD! Jim, my friend you're GREAT! Your friend and Fan, Chuck Cusimano |
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Walter Stettner
From:
Vienna, Austria
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 30 Dec 2004 1:56 pm
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i was very fortunate to meet Jim Loessberg when he came over to France w: Pat James to play on the 4th of July.
i had contacted him previous to his coming and we worked out that he could use my rig since i was going to be playin' there as well.
Thierry Hadorn, a Swiss steeler & i were happier than pigs in muck to catch the real Mc Coy in action.
Those of you that have'nt heard Jim Loessberg are missin' out on some Xcellent playin'
Jim's instructional material is just as Xcellent
reckon i'm gonna check out his new side
[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 30 December 2004 at 01:57 PM.] |
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Jim Loessberg
From:
Austin, Texas U.S.A
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Posted 30 Dec 2004 3:53 pm
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Herbster!
How much do I owe you? You are right about several things, the first is my embarrassment. But thank you very much for the kind words. You are the first guy to come to the aid of a fellow musician and I consider myself to be lucky to have you as a friend. Two other things I have to thank you for: trading me the 1965 9-pedal Emmons wrap-around I used on the album; I know I was relentless trying to talk you into the trade. I couldn't be happier with the steel tone on the album. And thanks for the many years you were kind enough to share your table with me at the Dallas show.
You are right about several other things including the excellent musicians I was fortunate enough to have on my album. It really should have been a Bobby Flores album. He shines on EVERYTHING he touches, including jazz guitar. His fiddles are excellent on everything and I especially love the four parts on "Love is Blue". If Bobby wasn't already a great record producer with his own label I would definitely be making records on him myself.
My good friends the legendary Bob Moore and his lovely wife and excellent videographer Kittra were kind enough to drive to Texas so Bob could play upright bass on the album. Bob is the Hoss!
Randy Reinhard is my favorite area piano player (I love you too, Floyd and Ronnie!) and certainly one my top favorite steel players. I think Randy was eighteen when I first met him and he has been a very dear friend for a long time. Speaking of Randy I would like to thank him for teaching me the great jazz tune "Brown Derby". He used to play that Buddy Emmons instrumental as a chaser for the Barbara Fairchild show and when I heard it I loved it. I know Randy was hoping to record the tune someday and he was very kind to let me be the first.
Thanks, too to Buddy Emmons for his permission to record one of the great many tunes he has written. I am honored to be the first one with a studio recording of it and I hope I half way did it justice.
Thanks Ricky and Dicky for the very nice words and all the encouragement through the years and thanks Dicky for letting me be a part of yours and Bobby's Christmas album.
Another "thank you" to Crowbear Schmitt for the nice words and who wrote me prior to my recent trip to France and very kindly offered me the use of his Sho-Bud steel for rehearsals (I'm glad we finally found a replacement switch cover for the one I broke) and the use of his great Zum steel and Nashville 1000 for the gig. That Zum sounds and plays great, as they all do. Thanks as well to Thierry Hadorn for the use of the volume pedal.
And to Chuck Cusimano thanks for the nice words and the great steel guitar cowboy poem you wrote. I always get a great kick out of hearing that. In case some of you don't know, besides being a great cowboy poet Chuck is a great Country singer. Like I've told you many times, Chuck, I want to be the one to make your next record!
Other appreciation goes to the multi-talented Jake Hooker for being a guest drummer on "Faded Love" and Ed Jarusinsky for the great jazz drums (which I tried to do but couldn't) on "Brown Derby".
As always Justin Trevino did a superb job engineering the album and I appreciate his patience in the face of my nit-picking.
Let me say a final word about friends. This is my first album and even though I have made many albums on other artists in the past there is some psychological impediment to listening to your own performances. It was important to me to be able to send preview copies to you guys to get honest opinions and criticism. Sometime when I listened to the final product I would think, "O.K. that's passable" and other times I would listen and think, "I don't have any business making a steel guitar instrumental album". So all the sets of ears were invaluable. Thanks, friends, for helping me to have a better album.
My hope is everyone will like it and since there are many players interested in instructional material I have decided to make the rhythm tracks (with fiddles and guitar) and tablature book available as a course. I am planning a large update to my website before the steel show in Arizona which will include many great new pictures, new sound files with tablature and some videos. Some of the videos might not be posted right away but there will be at least one. It was shot by Kittra Moore and is Bob, Randy and me rehearsing "Faded Love" for the session. We were trying to decide between a swing version and a Country version. I think everyone will enjoy seeing it.
As soon as I get all the domain registration stuff squared away the new site will be jimloessberg.com. Much easier to remember that the AOL site I have now!
Best wishes,
Jim
[This message was edited by Jim Loessberg on 30 December 2004 at 03:58 PM.] |
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Don Ricketson
From:
Llano, Texas
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Posted 30 Dec 2004 5:26 pm
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Way to go Jim. I've really enjoyed your playing with Curtiss Potter at London Hall the past several months. I'll be waiting on my copy. You da man. Don.
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Mullen D10-8/5
Sho-Bud S10-3/4
Evans Amps
"Making The Stars Shine"
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Larry Hamilton
From:
Amarillo,Tx
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Posted 30 Dec 2004 9:34 pm
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I met Jim in about 1978 in Amarillo at the Caravan Club. I was playing the matinee and he played the night job with a road band he was with. He was about 21-22 years old and just blew me away. He showed me a couple licks while he was here, even had dinner at my apt. Then I didn't see him for over 20 years until the Dallas show about 3 years ago. He was the highlight of the whole weekend for me. None finer. Now after I get my copy at the Dallas show I can listen to Jim consantly. The Potter, Collins and Burke CD's are great but this will be all Jim's. See you in Dallas so save me one. It will probably be my first purchase.
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Keep pickin', Larry |
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Fred Justice
From:
Mesa, Arizona
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Posted 30 Dec 2004 9:52 pm
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Let me chime in here and just say I do agree
with all that Herb says about Jim.
However we at the SWSGA are very proud to announce that Herb Steiner and Jim Loessberg
both will be performing at the Mesa Az. show in January (real soon),welcome boys. 
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Fred Justice
Events Dir.
SWSGA www.swsteelguitar.com
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Steve Richter
From:
Neenah, WI USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2004 10:03 am
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Thanks Jim for your patience when I was waiting for the money for the LeGrande II!! ... and for showing me a few things to get me started down the right track. i can't wait to get my ears around this CD!!
Steve |
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Bobby Flores
From:
Blanco, Texas, U.S.A. (deceased)
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Posted 2 Jan 2005 10:49 pm
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Many thanks guys for the extremely kind mentions. I am honored to be on Jim's CD! The first thing that struck me when I first heard some of the tunes was the dang tone of Jim on his wrap! He gets a sound that is so authentic and pure. His Emmons is definitely one of the "jewels" but as we all know regarding players of that caliber so much of it is in his hands.
First met and worked with Jim and his brother Johnny in Johnny Bush's Bandolero band back in the early eighties. It was my first "road band on a bus" gig and so that whole group of players is very special to me, as is JB. And man, Jim was playing GREAT even BACK THEN! It's no wonder he's become a true master of his horn.
I have some of his instructional material and it's some of the very best I've ever seen & heard. And if you want accuracy, I highly recommend Jim's transcriptions as well.
And he does an excellent job on drums too! I'm with Herb, he's my favorite as well. I'm most proud to say that Jim plays in my band and it's always a pleasure to have him on any stage.
I'm so glad to see such a fine recording of his many talents (long overdue!!) and I know it's one steel CD that everyone would be glad to have in their collection. Jim is the Hoss!
Bobby |
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Jerry Tillman
From:
Florida
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Posted 2 Jan 2005 11:34 pm
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| I just wanted to chime in on Jims playing and his being a genuine nice person.I met him a few years back here in florida when the band I was in opened for his band.It was a very hot day and tuning was problem as we were outside on a big stage in the sun.Right before we were suppose to start my amp took a dump.Before I even got started banging on the top of the amp Jim came up on the stage and said to just use his amp and to reset it move it or whatever.Also offered for me to use his steel if need be.I had no idea what a great player he was until his band took the stage later.I have also enjoyed the sound clips he has on his site.Hope I have the chance to pay back the favor some day.He did offer to buy my 66 Emmons if it was for sale.That part was a mystery because he had a new looking Legrande that stayed in tune way better than my 66 did.Jim I still have the Emmons and you are welcome to use it or any of my amps anytime.Let me know if you ever hit Florida again. lakeshrk |
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