2023 was a year of major challenges for me and I had to skip a couple of Picks articles over the course of the year. So I’m quite happy to be getting back to my favorite pastimes – listening to music, playing music, singing music, researching music and writing about music. So here are a few productions that I had to play more than once. Hope some of them resonate with you.

CLASSIC ROCK: Green Onions: – Booker T. Jones (at Daryl’s House)

Aaaah – 1962 – I remember it well – what a great time to be alive, listening to what we now know as “classic rock”. Most of our garage bands only had drums, guitars and (maybe) bass so Booker T’s Hammond B3 organ was a whole new sound and feel. Here he is 50 years later – the legendary, multi- Grammy award-winning songwriter, record producer, arranger and front-man of “Booker T. & The MG’s”. The gang at Daryl’s House were having the jam of their lives and Booker T. was in his element. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVAFjvRBswY

COUNTRY/BALLAD: Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues – Earl Klugh & Chet Atkins

The song written and performed by Danny O’Keefe in 1967, but not released until It was recorded by The Bards in 1968 as the B-side of the song “Tunesmith” on Parrot Records. Talk about a low profile! But it’s a keeper if Chet takes time to play it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5AHko0sL6I

LATIN / GYPSY JAZZ: Blue Bossa – Joscho Stephan Trio feat. Matthias Strucken (vibraphone)

I think I first heard Joscho when I was listening to music online in the late ‘90’s. He and his father, Gunter were playing at the North Sea Jazz Festival and I was entranced by the unique sound of Gypsy Jazz. Whenever I need to hear this music style at its best, Joscho and his entourage are my “go-to”. Marimbist, Matthias Strucken is a perfect addition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8kofJJaOB0

CLASSICAL: La ronde des Lutins – Itzhak Perlman

How many thousands of hours go into developing this level of talent? He made number 19 out of 25 best violinists of all time (on classicfm.com) and has performed worldwide and throughout the United States, in venues that have included a state dinner for Elizabeth II at the White House in 2007, and the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama. Aaaaand – to top all that, he made it as a star on Sesame Street. No further endorsement required. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgZSHvexz28

INTERNATIONAL: Moon River – 王OK

“Moon River” is a song composed by Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer. It was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song and the 1962 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. “OK Wang”is an approximation of this Chinese pop star’s name. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE3kwHfeDaQ

WESTERN: Cattle Call – LeAnn Rimes & Eddy Arnold

I didn’t have much success tracking down the back story on this video but finally concluded that several video clips were layered over the production audio track – resulting in misfits in the lip-sync between audio and video. The original duet was filmed in 1996 but Eddy was struggling with his voice in that version. Both singers have done a masterful job on this Eddy Arnold hit song and the production of them together is a keeper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK2A0mca5dc

COUNTRY: God Must Be A Cowboy

New to me – great song. We were jamming with some friends and they dragged out this very cool production. Dan Seals’s comfortable voice and perfect backup. Almost makes me want to sell my guitars and just listen to the pros (but not quite) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxl913339uI