I've been rediscovering the incredible Django Reinhardt, which is how I just learned that "Jessica" was Dickey's tribute to the legendary guitarist.
Very briefly, he was so good on guitar as a teenager that someone(s) from England was trying to locate him to further his career. But around this time he was burned so badly in a fire that his doctor(s) wanted to amputate his right leg, and told him he'd never play guitar because his left ring and little finger were crippled beyond repair. He had so much drive and passion that he quickly surpassed himself, and pretty much every guitarist after.
FFI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_(instrumental)
FFI#2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Django_Reinhardt
Django made 900+ recordings in his short career, often performing the same song multiple times, with each version being unique. You can find a lot of his audio on YouTube, as well as a few of the rare known videos of him in action. One of the best is
. Watch him at about 0:42.
I'm pretty sure this is a silent clip with the appropriate tune added.
Track him down!
Billastro
It’d be great to have conversation like this - can’t believe I didn’t bounce here b4 - got Django in my collection alright, some, however, on cassette - been minus cassette player for awhile now
🍄✌️if like minded people, you Bill, myself, others
….wanted to converge here in Dickey’s forum for friendly easygoing Musical conversation
….one of those cassettes, freely traded for, is My Father‘s Place 4/85 - for sure raved about it on the old site, just a Tremendous set by Dickey that night🎼🎵🎶
everything has a shelf life, not ABB music tho
or even Wishbone Ash - just didn’t dig Argus like the 1st 2
but Blowin Free - just a great song - the Live Dates version covers it for me but still
….the studio version must have made me forget the rest of what was on Argus, many cite that album as their peak
Micro Mike is the one I know by title - basically have a Django record & cassette - the cassette, called simply Jazz Guitar, is real nice
another favorite Dickey passage is his rhythm playing during the closing part of Mtn Jam from 7/26/70 stony brook - adore that tape - it’s been awhile tho, hope I’m recalling the right show (date/venue are correct)
🎼will find the right cassette player yet, it’s a must, most of mine are homemade & it’s been too long🎶
will be listening this weekend to Spectrum, an excellent 2 CD comp by the Tony Williams Lifetime - it’s real different music
“Dickey, music just wouldn’t be the same without ya bro”
-
….& won’t be going forward
Rest well bro
”when I die don’t put me in no graveyard
Lord that’s one place I don’t wanna be
lay me down somewhere along the highway Lord
let that ol south wind take care of me”
