Hi Tomo, and GW friends,
Tomo, I love this jam you did with Eric Gale, and Matt Schofield.
Listened carefully at least 30 times.
Listened total about 50.
I had never heard of Eric. Heard of Matt, haven’t listened to him. I know Tomo a little from GW and Kyoto.
Avoiding internet research.
Limitations and boundaries are good.
But, I saw about ten minutes of an Andertons video with Eric. He said he knows a little guitar after 17 albums hahaha…I found 12 on iTunes, I skimmed first and last albums.
Last one (2025), first sounds is a tribute to ljk. Little Jimmy King. Emmanuel Gale, Albert King’s “grandson”…I am stopping myself from a deep dive into Eric’s music, putting a pause on that right now.
Another thing Eric says that just vibes with my heart is while he is recording, he says his wife is wiping away the tears.
I feel that, have felt that, I know that.
That’s the truth.
I hear the truth when you guys are playing Tomo. I hear Jimi. When you play I hear Kyoto at first…then I realize that’s not Kyoto…that’s you.
It takes 3 listenings to realize Eric is using a delay, not reverb.
After 5, I am hearing country rock, something like that in one of your solos.
After 10, I am looking at notes Richard wrote for me on music I was learning…
After 15, I realize Eric is playing a right handed guitar as a left handed player.
Damn. I am left handed. As a kid I would I was putting rubber bands better the bed posts to hear…to hear the truth. I even tried to build like…it was a piece of plywood, on one side, nails on the bottom…in a line…nails on the top…at an angle…an angel aaahh…I put rubber bands between the nails…not like the guitar.
My mom put me in guitar classes.
(Thank you Amma. So much time spent putting me in all kinds of art classes…so much time on the chalkboard teaching me math…i am a solid C-/D student until 6th grade…then I am an honors student…)
I don’t remember the store but it was at the Fremont hub, must have been late seventies. I hold the guitar like Eric.
It’s a giant acoustic steel string. I am too young. Instructor tells me to turn it around. That’s how I learn to play…
After 30…I realize Matt’s sound is low and earthy; yours bright, clean, precise; Eric’s…man something open and hopeful…I heard this before…is it Albert….is it the truth?…tone is in the middle of you and Matt.
After 50…I am writing this. I am filled with joy. I must pick up my guitar now.