Les Paul and His Trio: Simply Amazing

Les Paul and His Trio, Iridium Jazz Club, NYC ~ 4/20/09

Living guitar legend Les Paul plays two shows every Monday night right here in the heart of Manhattan. $50 for a ticket and whatever item minimum they banged me out for in the showroom was some of the best money I've ever spent. Les is feisty and funny and he and his accomplished circle of friends put on a tight and delightful show which he peppers with anecdotes. And the dude has anecdotes--he was born in 1915 for cryin' out loud! Les also features and interviews new musicians and surprise guests. If you go for the 10 pm set, and Les is feelin' it, he does a meet and greet with his fans afterward. Les Paul's 94th birthday is in June. He joked, "I need another birthday like I need a hole in the head!" Let's hope he has many many more; I want to go back. To put things in perspective, Les's smiley son Rusty, a senior citizen, works the show's merchandise booth. It's all awesome. All of it.

Click on my images for more awesome:

Lou Pallo and Les Paul.

Lou Pallo

Lou's fancy fingerwork

Les Paul

Unbeknownst to me, I was sitting beside one special guest, Rich Conaty, host of The Big Broadcast on WFUV whom Les invited up on stage to chat. Rich has been hosting the Big Broadcast for 37 years, and Les was not only travelling in a car across country when he heard the very first broacast-- he's been listening on Sunday nights ever since. The Big Broadcast features classic jazz and pop tunes from the 1920's and '30's. Rich named the show after a movie starring Bing Crosby, a very good friend of Les Paul's. I'll now be listening to the Big Broadcast along with Les; WFUV (Fordam University radio) is an amazing station. Stream it!