Taj Mahal on Jesse Ed Davis

[Retromantra]

I didn't know who this guy was, even though I had been enjoyng his playing for years.That may sound sad, but It is also a credit to his greatness, because I knew his playing was cool, and tasteful, wthout having to be sold on him by any clever marketing or image making. His music simply speaks for itself.

[ralphcraddock]

taj you said it all,

no equal.

[78locomocion]

Jesse Ed Davis rules

[Okpolosi]

Jesse made all Indians proud and bluesmen alike.Gone way too soon.I play a couple of Taj Mahal songs he graced.

[taildragger51]

What i'm trying to say here is basically i think the kind of recognition that Eric Clapton got back in 1969 should really have been bestowed, or at least shared, by many others like Jesse & Clarence White...and even Link Wray. Absolute apologies if my messages are offending anyone...this is just my opinion.

[Garret00074]

Well, yea...Eric and Jimi kind of took all the oxygen out of the room. There were a lot of great guitar players playing at that time...still are.

And everyone of them has a little to add to our musical dialog....

I mean, I really dig Eric and Jimi and Duane...but there are a lot of guitar players you've never heard of that were doing great groundbreaking work...Roy Buchannon, Steve Cropper, Bill Kirchen, Joe Messena, Robert White, Chris Spedding, Jeff Baxter...

[taildragger51]

Garret00074: Yes, i found that the more obscure player usually had the edge. Denny Dias, Amos  Garrett & Jesse Ed were on my list.

[clean3]

@Garret00074 What is this, an exerpt from Guitar magazine?

[lbj46]

jesse ed was and is my fovorite player very few crafted a solo like he did so sparce and tasty that you would lean in and strain to hear the next note.check out the solo in bacon fat...its tasty without the bacon

[longhairhiggins]

Jesse was always the guy who people said "Oh it's that guy!". He deserved MUCH more than that.

[jkoff76]

Someone should write a book about him. He is my favorite guitarist and no one knows all the things he did. The studio work and partying sapped his creativity. It just pisses me off.

I mean one of his greatest achievements had nothing to do with the six strings. It was in producing Gene Clark's greatest album, White Light. (I've heard 'No Other,' Bryds fans, eat me)

Taj is right. He really was the greatest guitar player.

[2raloo]

coolest guitarist and I love his vocal too.

[spools89]

Im a young Kiowa and Jesse, even though he died because of drugs, is an inspiration to me.

btw like the name...Paw=buffalo...goodle=re­d...teehee

[taildragger51]

spools89: I agree with you, Loads of musicians, writers, painters, poets died from drugs. Very few of these were Native people. Most were European. Jess Ed sadly got caught up with all that. Maybe if he'd been recognised for his unbeatable talent he wouldn't have been depressed(?)

[Paugoodle]

That is what our story is about

[DonGenarosDog]

Just remember, Jesse did so much, it's unnecessary to dwell on what he didn't do. You're right, lots of great men & women have been taken by drugs, whether they were creative or not. Jesse left this world after creating some incredible music, and that's more than most people, even if they died peacefully of old age.

Here's to you, Mr. Davis, w/ much love & gratitude!

[TheOunurse]

Thank you so much for your kind words about my cousin

[taildragger51]

TheOunurse: Sorry to cause any offense. Obviously i wasn't implying that JED was in anyway shallow, being a victim of various forms of depression myself.

[AnnieMcNeill]

Paugoodle, can you tell us more......are you making a doco on JED....sounds like it.....that would be so great!!!! Just please find a way of getting it to Australia!!!!!

[4kiowas]

@spools89 yea im a kiowa too



[mynameisjflo]

Jesse Ed Davis was a man who put his soul into his music every time he picked up the guitar!

[azzaz1]

When asked about his favorite guitar players in Hit Parader magazine he mentioned Steve Cropper, the 3 Kings ( Freddie, Albert, B.B ), Robbie Robertson. His number one then was James Burton.

[AnnieMcNeill]

azzaz, do you mean these were JED's favorites.... I love The Band but Robbie Robertson is sooooo different, I'm just a bit surprised to find him on the list....not surprised about any of the others!!

[AnnieMcNeill]

Gosh, I wish YouTube would fix up the way comments work!!!! All my comments are actually REPLIES to comments earlier for this clip - but they show up at the top of the list - I'm sure you've all worked out by now the only sensible way to see comments is to go to the bottom the screen and select "ViEW ALL XX COMMENTS" and then they appear in a logical order. My comments will seem weird as they are responses to some made quite some time ago.....

[azzaz1]

It comes fron a series of interviews the magazine did with each member of Taj's band ca.

'68. In his book Wheels on fire Levon Helm says that Jesse Ed Davis came to listen to The Hawks

when they played in Tulsa, ealy sixties, to watch R. Robertson play. Thanks!

[AnnieMcNeill]

Thanks...Yes, I re-read Barney Hoskyn's book on The Band last night and it repeated the same story.  Have also read elsewhere here on this clip in a comment by Paugoodle that they are doing an interview with Levon for a possible doco!

Have asked Pau to clarify what the project is....... Can't wait if there is to be a doco - just got to get it in Australia!

[CarlosCC24]

I don't know too much about Taj, but his playing on Lennon's Walls and Bridges is incredible.

[maxxsmith]

The music is taken directly from Howlin' Wolf's "Shake It For Me" (search for video).

Hubert Sumlin (Wolf's guitarist) seemed to be an influence on Jesse ed Davis (Taj's guitarist). And, of course Taj did a great version of Wolf. They caught that sound better than anyone.

[mojoelem]

maxxsmith: You are absolutely right.Having seen Howling Wolf in person i have to say Taj is the closest thing to him. Thank God he's still around...i wish Jesse Ed was too.

[jkoff76]

Just curious. Have you ever seen Captain Beefheart, either in concert or on record. 

I would really like to know how they stack up together. And I need someone who has heard both. They both sound like 747 Engines taking off.

[AnnieMcNeill]

Max, so agree re Hubert Sumlin having seen/heard him do Killing Floor.... he, like JED is real, real smooth and fast......

[brookdalebill]

his tone and phrasing are still unmatched

[mojoelem]

Jesse Ed Davis was beyond words. Albert King used him on "Lovejoy" and Clapton did as well. He outshone most other artists when in session. Together with Shuggie Otis Jesse Ed is one of the most underrated artists.

[Paugoodle]

Your insight is so helpful and enthusiastic. I am glad to know people know Eddie's history and every comment is helpful. More to come soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mojoelem]

Here in Ontario they have a programme called "Rez Blues" and they did a special on Jesse Ed Davis, Link Wray and Jimi Hendrix's Indian roots which helped some to realise JED's true potential.

[mojoelem]

"Rez Blues" is shown on the Native channel (APTN). It's a great prog since it shows the correlation between Delta Blues and Native Indian music. There's a distinct connection. It's had artists like John Trudell,Robbie Robertson and Buffy St. Marie and newer bluesmen like George Leach.

[mojoelem]

Actually i think if you type in "Rez Blues" on this site you get a couple of films.

[dulcinea2359]

Any idea how I could view that program on JED? Thanks. Would love to see it.

[mojoelem]

dulcinea2359; I shall try and contact the channel here in Canada and let you know. There are a couple of "Rez Blues" clips on youtube featuring the extremely talented & beautiful Native artist Pura Fe.(sort of a female Kelly Jo Phelps) Other than that you can just type in "Rez Blues" into your main search engine and you should get the info and channel site. As you've guessed, it's not an extremely hi-profile programme over here and it SHOULD be.

[bluesfunky009]

i'm from canada is seen pura fe perform on channel 73 the natvie channel -good stuff

[taildragger51]

bluesfunky009: She's great. The other night on "Rez Blues" they had one of the finest Native Blues musicians i've ever seen...Mark LaForme! This guy has a great voice, very soulful..alot like Boz Scaggs but better.

[mojoelem]

Puagoodle; The guy was astounding! On The Rolling Stones film "Rock 'n' Roll Circus Taj & Jesse Ed drove everyone else 6 ft into the ground! Infact their clip looks like it was done yesterday in comparison to the other feeble artists! Clapton didn't come anywhere NEAR JED in terms of style and general personality. And who could compare with Taj's "Wolf" growl?

[mynameisjflo]

I agree with you 100%! that Taj performance on R&R circus is to this day my favorite live performance on film!

[azzaz1]

I admire him also.For me he is one of the greatest guitar players.

[csason]

thanks..

[RoadWarriorPrincess]

I was a latecomer to JED's music: I'd heard him, liked him, but didn't really discover him until near the end of his life, on John Trudell's aka Graffiti Man. The good sometimes die young, but Jesse will live on in his music. He is missed. Thanks for the clip. Now where's the Clapton clip on JED that you promised us? :)

[Paugoodle]

Sorry It fell through. Red Buffalo Images will be interviewing Levon Helm in Woodstock,New York in August.

[Cherokee6194159]

Thankyou for your post on Jesse Ed Davis, i knew him from back in Okla. were i am from.if you would like to know more,ask wado

[merryberry1234]

JED was awesome, Lennon was nuts about him.

Thanks for posting, did'nt know he was on Doctor My Eyes.

[mrgwangi4325]

Jessse Ed was God!

[teresaslo3]

I wish Jesse Ed would have stayed with Taj...maybe he would still be here today

[nomad05]

JED was/is amazing thanks for the clip.

[ufohead1]

JED blows me away... Guitar Solo on Jackson Browne's

Doctor My Eyes is sublime ...one for the ages ....

some peoplpe just got it

[Paugoodle]

Thanks for checkin' this clip out! I will be posting a clip of an interview I did with Eric Claoton on JED III

[lazur1]

Check out Taj's version of "Six Days On The road": Jesse's great guitar solo backed by Jesse also on piano! and he did the calligraphy for the liner notes. I will miss him forever.