Leo Kottke - Deep River Blues

[fetuswrangler]

it just don't get any better my friends leo doc atkins and please don't forget about reeds



[theKobus]

@fetuswrangler And Tommy Emmanuel!

[zzausel]

A young man of over 50 years. Must have been done some right.

[XLIVwhodat]

That right hand... incredible.

[bluehealin]

sweet

[cctexun]

Holy Mother o god, For cryin out loud. Just makes me wanna skip and holler. Incredible. Just love this guy, was thinkin about him this mornin and well, for good reason. Wow. what a great song to get re-acquainted. Beautiful, still as mesmerizing as ever.

[edtamplin]

Have to agree with psloakan I love Kottke overall but bigger words don't make a sentence any more meaningful - sometimes they just disguise its essence instead.

[psilokan]

Out of all the renditions of this song I've heard over the years I still thing this is my favourite.

[meleeECI]

@psilokan I am sure you probably have heard it, but if not you should check out the Doc Watson version of it. It just makes me sit back and dream about riverboating. This one is too complicated for this relaxed song.

[psilokan]

@meleeECI Of course I've heard Doc play it... It's his song. Some of us just enjoy a bit of complexity in our music :)

[upinthembutts]

@psilokan

u callin doc not complex?!?

Leo and Doc are apples and oranges friend

[signjay]

I'm lucky to have seen Leo in his formative years, at The Scholar in Minneapolis. He just spellbound the audience, a 25 year old monster. He has done things on the 12 string no one else has ever accomplished. He's in a class by himself, though he would never like that being said about himself. Always one to give credit, he never fails to acknowledge those that influenced him , from Leadbelly to Jack Teagarden to Mel Blanc. Yes, I said Mel Blanc.

[piitinen]

as aguitarist i must say he is great.and seems so easy like all true art. thanks leo.pekka finland.

[78Jwalk]

talented

[caiolexrock007]

Fucking GENIAL...

[ballisticpinto]

Delmore Brothers wrote this great song. Alton and Raybon were wonderful.

[blueroxas99]

would love to hear Mr Kottke and Tommy Emmanuel play together

[trb4p]

Wow, this is great. I strolled onto this video you posted through the sidebar of related videos and almost never heard of this guy.. Such great playing!!! Thank you for uploading this!!

[XLIVwhodat]

My uncle refers to Leo as the slop master, I think it is out of his jealousy because he can't fingerpick well, he's a flatpicker.

[abc123gpl]

great

[GeekapaugGroove]

been so long since i heard the blues but they feel fresh as ever right about now =)

[vasostach666]

screw all the shredders, this is a true guitar mastery, hehe :)

[Grouchomx]

Goose farts on a muggy day (his own description)

[henk203]

marvelous!!! excellent



[CFLanger]

I love how you hear bits of "Too Fast" and "Room At The Top Of The Stairs". I wish I had that many tools and hooks in my toolbox to draw from. He inspires me to try to create sounds like this.

[TheDanification]

i wish the guitar wasn't so trebly. i think it personally would sound better with a bit rounder of a sound.

[Ccbroo]

this man FOR CERTAIN has those deep deep deep DEEP river blues!!

[MrApples6]

The advanced version of the tune. Minnesota bebop for country blues. Sure it's blues - 145 (eab) throughout with Kottke's funky twists. The guy's a genius.

[Nevyle]

I like it, but its just no blues...

[Ccbroo]

@Nevyle If there is one man that has the blues its old Doc Watson, and peolpe like Tommy Emmanuel that you are so fond of honor this living blues legend every day! This song is 110% blues! Old American pure blues, and a gutiar player like yourself should know it! :]

[Nevyle]

@Ccbroo

true, and like I said, I do like this very much, but I'll prefer Doc's version any day

[Ccbroo]

@Nevyle Doc Watson's version is the best there is for sure. I like this one too, if only its because its on a 12 string. If you like this one be sure to check out Fretkillr here on youtube, he gives a nice twist to it

[Nevyle]

@Ccbroo

oh yeah sure, fretkillr is pretty awesome with a pick :D

[NeverTrust82]

Great playing but he sped this song up way too much.

[Fingerpickerdude]

Going to see the man tonight in Wichita, my 5th time-never gets old. Can't get enough of his fingerstyle. Thanks Mr K!

[fenderboy88]

I like Leos very dry voice call me crazy but if Tom Brokaw was a musician he would sound like this.

[aspalding]

sounded like the intro to room at the top of the stairs.

[Isolatedcrossroadman]

Let It Rain

[tomartstone]

Love Leo Kottke.....Thanks for posting

[esl63]

he integrates single string melodic lines into his chordal picking patterns, a great style.

[esl63]

blown away...........

this is something else, unspeakable

i've always known him, but he still astounds

[spiritotheking]

Large guitar for a huge sound!

I was just blown away before he started singing. And then bliss =)

[JohnnyReb2009]

Why did Leo Kottke described his voice as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day"? I think he has a very bluesy voice.

[HNIC94]

soooo many, too many positive things I could say about this performance! my head is still spinning! awesome! bravo! some of those licks go by so quickly you have to do the 'musical math' in your head to see if it works out (And who really cares if it doesn't as long as it works- as it obviously did!!!)

Except for those 5 haters who clicked 'thumbs down'?! They need an island all to themselves! Could you not at least appreciate skill of this virtuoso?!! anyways, it's YT- anyone with a keyboard?

[frizzguitar]

great!

[jimbovius]

Ha, you should hear Leo's 'Busted Bicycle', Leo has a way of pulling your brain apart into multiple pieces and then kind of putting them back together. I love his playing. He is the most unique guitar player I have ever heard. You can hear some of his influence on John Mayer's acoustic pieces, My favorite album of Leo's is his 'Leo Kottke Live' album.

[jonfrodo]

The master of the 12 string, Tommy E can't play a 12 string like that, lol only Leo can.

[backwoodsmister]

Just saw Leo for the first time in Loveland, Colorado on 3.13.10

He still has it, folks. He talked a lot which was just as entertaining as his songs.

[flywheel44]

you should hear me play this on my air guitar,but after "united breaks guitars" I never fly with it!

[OdinsAcolyte]

Good ol'Leo. I almost had forgotten...

[MegaBroadband1]

Excelent playing very talented

[Musicplayful]

Mind blowing.... Thought Tommy Emmanuel's version couldn't be topped, but then bumped into this!

Out of this world.

[Seashells145]

One of the best renditions that I have heard played on the 12-string. Bravo Leo!

[joeyrockplayer]

awesome guitarist

[notbob50]

Ah! Shades of Doc Watson! Be cool to see them together on a stage. Leo is the best!!

[meatpole55]

@notbob50 yeah ..i'd like hear him play tuba..maybe do some vanhalen..

[morelmo]

Awesome guitar playing, amazing voice, i loved it!

[FlipFlopMonkey]

Someone was using my account. I offer my sincerest apologies to any who were offended. I am very sorry for any disruption/anger that sprouted from that idiotic comment. Gosh, I'm so embarassed.

[meatpole55]

@FlipFlopMonkey HARHAR....admit you coward it was you talking shit..

[trevmm]

great player 12 string at its best check outmy channel for more

[trotsky]

Your the Hulk dude, Count the tuning keys. 6 a side makes errrr 12 !

[DanieleBazzani]

hi hulk! nice to meet you.

[Georgiaboy130]

Hey Hulk, count the tuning keys if you can't tell from the sound.

[musictranscription]

I'm transcribing this song

[martinaxman]

lol. see you in a couple of years! Leo is amazing, you just picked a BIG project! Look forward to seeing the results.

[Smomkan]

What do you mean?

Has he recorded a new album?

[jbt2861]

First 25 seconds have plenty of groove. Been trying to get the notes out of my head for the last

three days. After the intro, well, as he put it one

time, " I don't have a tempo". Still, wonderful

improv. And that guitar... nobody makes a

12-string sing like Leo can.

[LittleBrotherBlues]

Awesome notes and vocals but my problem is NO GROOVE!

[da324]

Agree, I love Leo, but this seess forced. Doc's version just seems to ooze out of him. I dig your playing also LBB.

[LittleBrotherBlues]

Thanks da, I'm certainly not the best example either but I think the groove is the key. Doc certainly has a groove and a lot of soul. Probably the highest benchmark...

[TheRewinders2008]

"watch awesome tibetan guitarist (from switzerland?!), he will blow you away! just look for "purtag" (his name)"

I did. Not much to say but a bunch of finger acrobatics and whammy bar jacking off. Sorry.

[evsynator]

As some others have said ... its all down to personal preference .... I just find this particular song is done a bit to "jazzy" done in this style ....

[neurofire]

Definitive Kottke. I don't have an issue with LK tackling a tune strongly associated with Doc W. I betcha Doc digs it.

[freejrs]

Technically, great.....Musically, boring.

[AbsurdBrane]

Phrenetic blues .....I liked it!

[Lowdenjim]

Obviously an amazing technical performance - but I doubt he understands the concept of "less is more" - give me the Doc version every time. It's about balance - between song, tune, lyrics & guitar; if you get it right you have a classic.

[timjmoran]

oh...gee.. I think a player of Leo's stature is well aware of that concept. He is simply giving us his interpretation of a classic tune, one that is admittedly been long associated with Doc. However, I think Kottke's version is every bit as valid-

he takes the tune to some really interesting places rhythmically- and his

fingerpicking is nothing short of amazing- as usual.I guess it's all a matter of personal preference in the end.

[Lowdenjim]

I agree - I'll always tune in to his playing because he is an amazing guitar player and pushes the boundaries of rhythmic expression - a true innovator. On a personal preference level though I remain a tad disappointed listening to his songs; nothing really grabs me where it hits the buzz button. Personal preference though , as you say.

Richard Thompson hits the mark frequently though.....

[owlet1963]

lowdenjim, of COURSE, you will not compare Watson and Kottke! They are BOTH great guitar players with their individual styles, Kottke may sound a little weird at times, but he plays a real mean guitar too!

[Lowdenjim]

I'm not comparing their guitar styles - both brilliant - but just saying that the package doesn't grab me as a whole.

It's not just about technical skill though - eg. Dylan is not a great guitar player, or a good harp player, and his singing voice leaves many cold - but the package certainly hits the mark for me.

[thestranglevine]

Leo switched to using a thumbpick because he was screwing up his hand.

[timjmoran]

no- I believe it's the t'other way around..he

ditched the picks because of some issues with hand pain- you might notice he does not use ANY picks in this

vid- and I don't think he has for quite a while now. Doesn't seem to have slowed him down - does it?

[toptenhits]

I agree with u timjmoran ''..nothing short of amazing.''

[mariantogo]

obviously deep river blues doesnt sound too well on a 12string

[erikjarl]

Good playing, awfull guitarsound.

[Gminor7]

Simultaneously funky, syncopated, polyrhythmic, effervescent and crunchy. As always with Leo.

[Shamantiks]

thats a real sweet sound. can you imagine how many cars they'd sell if he was hired by a used car lot?

[apmosco]

Are you Leo Kottke in disguise? I don't think he could have said it any better in his own skewed comic view of the world.

[rabbitshirt]

Leo's got a really interesting style. All kinds of stuff going on there.

[anybutbush]

No, Doc is great but he is not the only one to do this tune. This is an inspired version with subtle changes and rhythmic tension between vocal/ guitar. This is a classic also, along with Docs version.

[fridrikur]

Only Doc can sing it.

[vindicari]

basic doc, sometimes extrapolation is not an improvement. keep it simple keep it true. and doc was technically far better without the finger pickin waffle. didnt need it. hey put up a standard every gunnie will come after ya.

[josephgelb]

it has to be a hard melodic progression based on a basic deception like he has to be a step ahead instead of behind or equal

[cwujek]

this just gets me more excited to see him live in seattle. love the way he plays this song.

[alxc90]

Where did you find this video? These are great performances.

[Mouldytone]

I`m glad you enjoy the clips. They were recorded of Television in the late 1990s.

[2xVitamR]

That's big, first class fingerpicking

[thorneswift]

ya half to love the 12 string.

[LynneGo]

Very unique and novel to hear "Deep River Blues" on a 12 string lol....I love the song (play it myself) but it is kind of disheveled on a 12 string. By no means am I dissing Kottke, he is a genius on guitar!!!! Master of the 12 string!

[Mouldytone]

Thanks for commenting on the song and thanks for what I think is a lovely use of the word "disheveled". Very descriptive and accurate I think. Gotta say if I tried to play this piece, disheveled wouldn`t be the word people would be searching for to describe it. :)

[mordenkaiden1]

As a 12-string player I know that the upward and downward strokes are significally distinct. Kottke is a thumb oriented player and the thumb is what gives the bass strings the higher dual string sound. So in certain passages the intended tone we expect is very diffucult to acheive with specific finger combinations thus the alternative may sound muddy, or "disheveled."

[telsport]

@Mouldytone It is marvelous to hear educated and meaningful discussions like this. Almost as much fun as hearing the music. Uplifted and uplifting minds. Thank you.

Tom Loughlin Jr.

[telsport]

@Mouldytone It is marvelous to hear educated and meaningful discussions like this. Almost as much fun as hearing the music. Uplifted and uplifting minds. Thank you.

Tom Loughlin Jr. Utica NY

[Mouldytone]

@telsport Cheers Tom. I`m very pleased that this clip has attracted such positive comments. Nothing less than the wonderful Mr Leo Kottke deserves of course but we both know that not all YT comments are so balanced and heartfelt!

Tony

[timjmoran]

REALLY? Disheveled? Doesn't that imply"sloppy"?HARDly the case here.You are certainly welcome to your opinion..BUT I think that might be the wrong word-Kottke plays the Hell out of this..a PERfect illustration of his genius, the way he takes an old,oft-played tune and makes it his

own.I love his playing on this,the way he starts a 1/2 step below the root and hammers

or slides up to it.Just Great!

This is more or less what he has been doing for nearly 40 years,but SOMEhow it never gets

old.

[lebarosky]

@LynneGo : great word for the kind of sound Leo obviously likes. He is the kind of guy who can sound like a relaxed group of three guitarists playing the blues.

[psilokan]

@LynneGo Personally this is my favourite rendition of Deep RIver Blues there is.

[ehaber197]

excellent!! thanks for these 54th street sessions . . they're among the best in my opinion.

[giorgiopicker]

!wownderful!

tnx!

[jessupar]

Not too bad. I greatly prefer the Doc Watson version, because the 12 string he's playing sounds pretty damn muddled to me, but it's still a 5 star performance.

[chuckkottke]

nice bass tones too!

[martinaxman]

Leo is amazing! Thanks for this clip!! Never enough.