THE CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC REPORTER

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

JORMA KAUKONEN LEGENDARY GUITARIST W/THE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE AND HOT TUNA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

J O R M A

K A U K O N E N

LEGENDARY SINGER-SONGWRITER-GUITARIST

With

J E F F E R S O N A I R P L A N E

And

H O T T U N A

EXCLUSIVE!
JORMA KAUKONEN INTERVIEW
CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

In a career that has already spanned a half-century, Jorma Kaukonen has been one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and rock. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy recipient, Jorma was at the forefront of popular rock and roll, one of the founders of the San Francisco sound and a progenitor of Psychedelic Rock. He is a founding member of two legendary bands, Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna. Jorma Kaukonen is a music legend and one of the finest singer-songwriters in his field. He continues to tour the world bringing his unique styling to old blues tunes while presenting new songs of weight and dimension. His secret is in playing spontaneous and unfiltered music, with an individual expression of personality. In 2016, Jorma, Jack Casady and the other members of Jefferson Airplane were awarded The GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award for their contributions to American music.

In 1965, met Paul Kantner and was invited to join a new not-yet-named rock band Kantner was forming with Marty Balin. As a self-described blues purist, Kaukonen was initially reluctant, but found his imagination excited by the arsenal of effects available to electric guitar, later remarking that he was "sucked in by technology." With the group still looking for a name, Kaukonen suggested Jefferson Airplane, inspired by an eccentric friend who had given his dog the name "Blind Lemon Jefferson Airplane." Jorma invited his old musical partner Jack Casady to come out to San Francisco and play electric bass for the new band, and together they created much of Jefferson Airplane’s signature sound.

A pioneer of counterculture-era psychedelic rock, the group was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve international mainstream success. Their 1967 record Surrealistic Pillow is regarded as one of the key recordings of the "Summer of Love."

Jorma and Jack would jam whenever they could and would sometimes perform sets within sets at Airplane concerts. The two would often play clubs following Airplane performances. Making a name for themselves as a duo, they struck a record deal, and Hot Tuna was born. Jorma left Jefferson Airplane after the band’s most productive five years, pursuing his full-time job with Hot Tuna. Over the past five decades Hot Tuna has performed thousands of concerts and released more than two-dozen records. The musicians who have performed with them are many and widely varied, as are their styles — from acoustic to long and loud electric jams, but never straying far from their musical roots. What is remarkable is that they have never coasted. Hot Tuna today sounds better than ever.

J O R M A

K A U K O N E N

AIN'T IN NO HURRY

AVAILABLE AT

AMAZON.COM

Purchase Jorma’s memoirs

Been So Long: My Life and Music

at amazon.com

“Been So Long is a survivor’s tale, well told and sprinkled with a bit of 1960s fairy dust.” —Wall Street Journal

"Jefferson Airplane guitarist Kaukonen’s candid and affectionate memoir resembles the rambling and free-flowing road trips he enjoys.... A mesmerizing storyteller, Kaukonen delivers a memoir as intricate and dazzling as his music." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This is his searingly honest story, a tale of extraordinary success, excess and addictions” —Iain Patience, Blues Matters

“It's not only exciting, it's deeply honest, and it's full of experiences and thoughts ... amazing and timeless!"

—Uli Twelker, GoodTimes

“Jorma Kaukonen's Been So Long: My Life and Music stands apart.... an incredibly insightful look inside the life of a musician who was not only influenced by some of America’s greatest music but who also left an indelible mark on that very same musical landscape." —AXS

"It is thoughtful, insightful and downright fun.” Jesse Finkelstein, Blues Radio International

For more information about Jorma Kaukonen

and Hot Tuna visit

www.jormakaukonen.com

www.facebook.com/groups/JormaKaukonen

www.hottuna.com

www.furpeaceranch.com

www.facebook.com/FurPeaceRanchFPR

www.youtube.com/user/FurPeaceRanch

Jorma blogs consistently.

Cracks in the Finish:

http://jormakaukonen.com/cracksinthefinish/

BreakDownWay.com Online Guitar Lesson Workshop: Jorma Kaukonen & Friends Online Guitar Lesson Workshop, brought to you by the good folks at the Award-winning Fur Peace Ranch. Learn American Roots, Blues, Folk, Finger-picking and more, with enough to occupy all ranges of skills from beginner to advanced. http://breakdownway.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BreakDownWaycom/195747373778909?sk=info&tab=page_info

Hot Tuna Tour 2020-2021

DATE VENUE PERFORMER NOTES

09/19/20 Ryman Auditorium

Nashville, TN Jorma Kaukonen Jorma opens for Tommy Emmanuel

09/21/20 Diana Wortham Theatre

Asheville, NC Jorma Kaukonen also Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley

09/22/20 Carolina Theatre

Greensboro, NC Jorma Kaukonen also Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley

09/23/20 Brooklyn Arts Center

Wilmington, NC Jorma Kaukonen also Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley

09/25/20 City Winery

Atlanta, GA Jorma Kaukonen

09/26/20 Songbirds Guitar Museum

Chattanooga, TN Jorma Kaukonen

10/17/20 Fur Peace Station

Pomeroy, OH Acoustic Hot Tuna RESCHEDULED from March 21. SOLD OUT

11/01/20 Fur Peace Station

Pomeroy, OH Jorma Kaukonen Jorma opens for Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams. SOLD OUT

11/14/20 Fur Peace Station

Pomeroy, OH Electric Hot Tuna SOLD OUT

12/18/20 Neptune Theatre

Seattle, WA Acoustic Hot Tuna

12/19/20 Capitol Theatre

Olympia, WA Acoustic Hot Tuna

05/28-30/21 Legend Valley

Thornville, OH Jorma Kaukonen Dark Star Jubilee

07/08/21 Count Basie Theatre

Red Bank, NJ Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio

07/12/21 The Mahaiwe Theater

Great Barrington, MA Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio

07/13/21 The Wilbur

Boston, MA Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio

07/14/21 Flynn Theatre

Burlington, VT Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio

07/16/21 Paper Mill Island Amphitheater

Baldwinsville, NY Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio

07/17/21 Penn’s Peak

Jim Thorpe, PA Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio

07/18/21 Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall

Munhall, PA Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio

Hot Tuna discography

Hot Tuna (1970)

Pair a Dice Found (1990)

Live at Sweetwater (1992)

Live at Sweetwater Two (1993)

Live in Japan (1997)

And Furthurmore... (1999)

Steady as She Goes (2011)

Jorma Kaukonen studio albums

Quah (with Tom Hobson) (1974)

Jorma (1979)

Barbeque King (with Vital Parts) (1981)

Too Hot to Handle (1985)

Embryonic Journey (with Tom Constanten) (1994)

The Land of Heroes (1995)

Christmas (1996)

Too Many Years (1998)

Blue Country Heart (2002)

Stars in My Crown (2007)

River of Time (2009)

Ain't In No Hurry2015)

MY NEW BOOK IS
FINALLY OUT!

THE ROCK STAR

CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE

CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE

…Order yours today on

Hardcover or E-book

at bookbaby.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations
with some of the greatest rock legends
the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA… JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER... RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER... ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY...

PETE BEST

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

LESLIE MANDOKI (MANDOKI SOULMATES) TEAMS UP WITH JETHRO TULL LEGEND IAN ANDERSON TO SAY "WE THANK YOU" EXCLUSIVE!

L E S L I E

M A N D O K I

(MANDOKI SOULMATES)

and

IAN ANDERSON of JETHRO TULL

release

“#WeSayThankYou”

expressing the feelings of gratitude

many of us have felt in these troubled times

EXCLUSIVE

LESLIE MANDOKI INTERVIEW
CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

In 1991, Ian Anderson, Jack Bruce, and Al Di Meola became founding members of Leslie Mandoki’s band project ManDoki Soulmates, and for almost three decades, Leslie Mandoki has continued to unite a “who is who” of the icons of Anglo-American and European rock and jazzrock in the Mandoki Soulmates band.

IAN ANDERSON with LESLIE MANDOKI

The remarkable lineups in the band’s recordings and performances over the years has included singers and players including Ian Anderson, Jack Bruce, David Clayton-Thomas, Chaka Khan, Chris Thompson, Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, Eric Burdon, Greg Lake, Al di Meola, Randy and Michael Brecker, Peter Frampton, and Jon Lord.

The Soulmates concerts are marked by the musical synergy of all these musical icons united in one supergroup of Grammy award winning legends, where everyone’s egos come second. Original Soulmates compositions and collective improvisations on highest levels are just as much part of the concerts as world-renowned hits of the individual Soulmates members. “One stage – one band!”

With his Soulmates Leslie Mandoki raises Jazz-Rock back to socio-political relevance, to quote him in his own words: “Even in times of Twitter, social media and short news on the smartphone, when mental laziness often blocks the perception, music for us is still like a love letter to our audience – handwritten with ink on paper.”

This band is pure sophisticated JazzRock, or as Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) put it: “One of the best bands you will ever hear!” As the world continues to be consumed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson sings and plays flute with Mandoki Soulmates mastermind and leader Leslie Mandoki. Mandoki has found inspiration and a new spark of hope amidst the chaos.

He has penned a powerful new song in appreciation for the heroes who have emerged in this global crisis, the nurses, doctors, and other health care providers as well as the grocery store clerks and food delivery personnel who have stepped up to serve their communities. The new song, entitled simply “#WeSayThankYou,” expresses so clearly the feelings of gratitude many of us have felt in these troubled times.

Mandoki explains, “As an artist, I feel it is my duty to contemplate ideas for a better world. Now, like so many of us, I suddenly have the time. Let us grab this uncommon moment of pause together and take a new approach to the problems of the world. And let’s take a hard look at who this crisis is casting in a heroic light, and who comes out the villain.”

The duet is available through the Purple Pyramid imprint of indie giant Cleopatra Records, Inc. and is Mandoki Soulmate’s first release in the recently inked partnership with the L.A.-based label. Additional Mandoki releases are set to follow later this year.

Leslie will be donating the royalties from the sales, syncs, and airplay of “#WeSayThankYou“ to a To-Be-Announced Charity.

“#WeSayThankYou” was written in the context of Leslie’s own isolation in Germany, where his doctor wife, Eva, is a first contact physician.

Ian and Leslie have worked together for over 20 years on various collaborations with his jazz-rock band Soulmates featuring the good and great of classic rock and jazz. Mandoki’s Soulmates toured North America in 2018.

MANDOKI SOULMATES

with

IAN ANDERSON

we say thank you

available at

iTunes Store, Apple Muisic and Amazon Music

MANDOKI SOULMATES

NEW

DOUBLE ALBUM

RELEASE

Living In The Gap

Hungarian Pictures

at iTunes Store, Apple Muisic and Amazon Music

For more information about Leslie Mandoki

and Soulmates

visit

http://www.twitter.com/lesliemandoki

https://www.mandoki-soulmates.com

https://www.instagram.com/themandokisoulmates/

https://www.facebook.com/mandoki.soulmates

Mandoki Soulmates with Ian Anderson

https://orcd.co/mandoki-soulmates-with-ian-anderson

Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull website

http://jethrotull.com/

Discography

Back to Myself (Jupiter, 1982)

Children of Hope (Gong, 1986)

Strangers in a Paradise (Titan, 1988)

Drums and Percussion (Selected Sound, 1991)

Out of Key...with the Time (Electrola, 1992)

People in Room No. 8 (PolyGram, 1997)

Soulmates (Paroli, 2002)

Soulmates Classic (Sony, 2003)

Legends of Rock (Paroli, 2005)

Aquarelle (NEO, 2009)

BudaBest (Sony, 2013)

Living In The Gap + Hungarian Pictures (2020)

MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!

ENTITLED

THE

ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE

CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE

…Order yours today on Hardcover or E-book

at bookbaby.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of

the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

PETE BEST

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES BOOK TRAILER

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show.

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan.

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives.

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music. The second noteworthy thing is the use of high definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/ Gold Award Winner