BR: And that’s what you use for the crunchy stuff on the new album?

JK: That’s right – and I play my Chet Atkins on the fingerpicking stuff. Now – seeing’s how we’re talking about gearhead stuff … (laughter)

We were at Levon’s studio and Larry’s got all these great old vintage amps and stuff, you know? The lead guitar on “Angel Of Darkness” is being played through an old high school PA amp made by Bogen.

BR: Bogen?

JK: Yeah – that’s what I was plugged into. It’s not made for guitars; it’s just a crummy little PA made for, like, announcing high school basketball games. (laughter) We used my Louis Electric speaker cabinet with it, but that was the amp.

Larry’s got a bunch of great gear. We did a Rev. Gary Davis song called “Children of Zion” and I used an Oahu steel guitar amp Larry had from back in the 1930s. It wasn’t as crunchy as the Bogen, but it’s got hair on it. (laughter)

BR: How much flatpicking vs. fingerpicking do you do on the new album?

JK: Actually, almost everything is flatpicked, except for some of the obvious acoustic things like “Second Chances” and “Things That Might have Been”. The electric stuff was almost all done with a flatpick.

BR: Wow – it’s been awhile, hasn’t it? I would’ve said you’ve been concentrating on your fingerpicking for years …

JK: Yeah, you’re right – I played more flatpicked guitar during the sessions for this album than I had in decades. I told Larry at one point, “You know, if I kept this up I could get good at it.” (laughter)

BR: And what drove you back to it?

JK: Well, part of it is having spent so many years with fingerpicks and doing that alternating thumb thing – sometimes it’s hard for me not to do that and it clutters up the rhythm track when you’re playing electric. Jack and Skoota play so tight on these songs and I just didn’t want to mess things up. I figured I’d play in a more traditional guitar player way and just play the notes that needed to be played. I tell you what: I was actually thrilled – thrilled – to be able to do that.

BR: When you’re writing – and I’m talking over the years, not just this album – do you hear Jack in your head? Do you think about what he’s going to do with a song?

JK: You know, I don’t. And I’ll tell you why: I know he’s going to do the right thing. I’ve never told Jack what to play; he always comes up with cool stuff. His musical taste is impeccable, as far as I’m concerned.

BR: I hear you. I’ve seen times in a live setting where you guys are free-falling and just going with it and suddenly you shoot him a look like he’s just gotten into your head and it’s weirded you out … in a great way.

JK: And it is a great way. I’ll tell you, it’s an interesting thing with Jack. When I improvise with people, I have collections of architected moves, you know … but when it comes time for Jack to take a solo, it’s almost like he’s channeling another universe. He comes up with so much different stuff; he’s relentless. It’s unbelievable to me. And you’re absolutely right: there are times when he’ll do something like that and I’ll shoot him the look – like, “Where did that come from?” (laughter)

BR: You mentioned improvisational moments; I think outside of the Tuna setting with Jack, my favorite examples of some of your live jamming were the shows you did with Phil Lesh & Friends a number of years ago. You and Steve Kimock were on guitar.

JK: Oh man – we had Steve out at the ranch in November. He’s such a brilliant guitar player … he really is.

That was so much fun playing those shows with Phil. I’ll tell you a quick story: Phil’s mantra was “Whatever happens, don’t quit playing.” And I remember we were on stage at the Warfield Theater jamming on “The Eleven” and we kept playing and playing and playing … and I went over to Steve and said to him, “Steve – I can’t think of anything else to play!”

And he said, “I can’t either – but don’t quit playing!” (laughter)

BR: I’m paraphrasing, but I remember Phil saying something to the effect of, “The songs are the islands; it’s how we sail from island to island … those journeys are what we’re after.” Something like that.

JK: Absolutely – and you can’t make those journeys if you don’t take the chances. We all know that some nights we’re more successful than others, but if you don’t take that risk, you’ll never find the treasure.

BR: Cool – that’s right. That’s right. So we’re on the eve of the electric Hot Tuna tour that’s coming up – besides the core four, who else will folks be seeing with you at the shows?

JK: Well, we’ve got G.E. Smith back on board –

BR: Oh, neat.

JK: Yeah, he’s taking a break from The Wall tour with Roger Waters; they’re not playing for a while, so he’s with us on this tour. And we have Charlie Musselwhite on harp, who is not only one of the great, great blues players but simply a tasteful, talented musician. I’m so looking forward to backing him on whatever he wants to do – and I know he’ll be doing some really sweet harp stuff on some of our tunes. I can hear him playing on “Second Chances”, you know?

Plus, we have Jim Lauderdale on board, as well. He’s one of my favorite songwriters and has a great, great voice. Jim can do it all; the consummate artist. I’m looking forward to not only having him do some of his stuff, but to sing some harmonies with me, as well.

BR: And folks will be hearing not only old Tuna favorites, but plenty of tunes from the new album as well?

JK: Absolutely – you bet.

BR: Well, great. Look, I’m going to let you go, but I’ll be talking to Jack a little later … is there anything you want me to mention to him or ask him about?

JK: Give him my best and tell him I’ll see him day after tomorrow – it’s tour time. (laughter)

Oh – you know what you should ask him? Ask Jack about the gear that he used during the sessions for the album. I’ll tell you beforehand: he used a tiny, little Alessandro tube amp. His bass sound on the album is awesome.

Ask him about that; that’ll be a half-hour right there. (laughter)

BR: Thanks for that – I will. And thanks for taking the time to talk, Jorma – I really appreciate it.

And congratulations on everything that’s going on in your world right now. You know, I’ve always thought that you had a great smile – but these days it seems to be brighter than ever, man.

JK: Well, you’re absolutely right. People ask me, “What was the best time of your life?” And I tell them, “Right now.”

BR: That’s my wife’s bumper sticker: “I’d rather be here now.”

JK: Well, count me in, brother – I’m right there, too.

Look for Part Two, a conversation with Jack Casady, to follow next week

Pages:« Previous Page