Show notes
The B’s are getting so crowded that apparently started pulling in the C's..
In Episode 11 of Tone Chasers & String Benders, Chaz Charles and Dr. Porifera Glund continue their alphabetical journey through 1,000 legendary guitarists with two Becks, two Beckers… and a Larry Coryell who wanders into the proceedings and refuses to remain merely a diversion.
Featured guitarists in this episode:
Jeff Beck – Where do you even start? The Yardbirds. Truth. Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. “Shapes of Things.” “Heart Full of Soul.” “Beck’s Bolero.” Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Eric Clapton, Hendrix, Les Pauls, Strats, Tone Benders—and a guitarist who seemingly spent his entire career refusing to sound like anybody but Jeff Beck. The guys follow him all the way to Ozzy Osbourne’s “Patient Number 9” and discover the obvious problem with putting Jeff Beck on a five-guitarist show: eventually you have to stop talking about Jeff Beck.
Joe Beck – Jazz guitarist, session monster and owner of a résumé that casually includes Miles Davis, James Brown, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra and Gil Evans. The trail leads through Esther Phillips, Kudu and CTI Records, “From a Whisper to a Scream,” “Lay Down Beside You,” and Beck’s own 1975 solo work. Another record gets saved to Chaz’s library. Mission accomplished.
Larry Coryell – Except Joe Beck inevitably opens another door. Coryell was supposed to be a diversion. Then they actually start listening. And once Tone Chasers starts digging through a guitarist’s records, there really is no such thing as a diversion anymore. Coryell officially earns his place in the five as the show veers deeper into jazz fusion—and even plants the seed for a future visit to that Jim Pepper “peyote chant” where Coryell absolutely cranks.
Jason Becker – A genuine shred phenomenon whose trajectory seemed limitless: Cacophony with Marty Friedman, then the David Lee Roth gig following Steve Vai, with the chops to stand in a lineage that included Eddie Van Halen. ALS tragically ended Becker’s performing career, but not his music or his connection to the guitar community. Chaz and the Doctor listen to the Roth-era work, marvel at Becker’s playing, and naturally find time to examine a few of Diamond Dave’s more dependable lyrical and visual trademarks.
Walter Becker – Just when it seems the episode might be over, another Becker appears. The guitarist, bassist, songwriter, producer and Donald Fagen’s partner in Steely Dan leads straight into the question of what Walter himself brought to a band famous for hiring some of the greatest guitarists alive. The answer becomes clearer when the guys hit Becker’s solo work—11 Tracks of Whack, “Junkie Girl” and Circus Money—and hear just how much unmistakable Steely Dan DNA came directly from Walter Becker.
And in between?
There’s unfinished Don Beck business, the Yardbirds family tree, Jimmy Page sightings, guitar-gear archaeology, CTI session-player rabbit holes, Larry Carlton, Marty Friedman, Diamond Dave being Diamond Dave, and the increasingly obvious realization that “we’ve diverted a lot on this show” may actually be the show’s mission statement.
This isn’t a ranking. It isn’t a lecture. It’s five guitarists at a time—unless somebody finds another record and everything goes sideways.
Five more guitarists down. 945 to go.
Hosted by Chaz Charles and Dr. Porifera Glund.
Only on the Boneless Podcasting Network.
