Current members of Tower of Power plus Chester Thompson, Lenny Pickett, and Ray Greene rehearsing "Squib Cakes" on May 28th, 2018 for their 50th anniversary shows in Oakland.
If you simply watch Chester's hands during his solo, you're missing a big part of his technique. His feet on those bass pedals just knock me out! When I first heard Back to Oakland and the album version of this song, I had no idea what it was but I knew I dug it hard.
Watching Chester is intoxicating. Kind of a daily habit some weeks. Wish there were more videos of him on RU-vid. Whoever has got them (and that's you, too, Chester, if you're reading), could please upload them!
Priceless. Never quite believed what I'd heard about Chester's technique playing that solo. Seeing is believing. Simple awe struck by how talented he is!
I was 11 years old when I first saw TOP. Throughout my teenage years I would catch them whenever they came to San Diego. Chester was always a huge highlight every concert I saw. I was fortunate to talk to him at a hotel Mexico City as an adult when he was playing with Santana. Very humble man...
I watch this over and over. As a rehearsal, this is one of the best renditions and the full crew is there, including Lenny. CT was so tight here and his left hand and feet were his own pocket back line. That’s why TOP is so special, because the drums and string bass just punctuate it more, though often Rocco and others would stop during CT’s solo so that the pedals would do all the talking for the bottom end.
i believe this is the best video available that clearly shows CTs technique / coordination of 3 different parts at once! and he was getting into some modal stuff with his right hand very impressive.
I made this movie just for me, but when I got home and watched it I knew I needed to share it with the organ playing community. There's nobody quite like him.
Can't thank you enough. This piece hits the sweet spot of my soul, ever since I first heard it. To watch the master at work from the vantage point that your film catches .. pure joy. You've done a great thing by posting this! @@braveDave57
That was before the train wreck. DG & MarkVW!!! Those guys are slayin' the groove. It's incredible to see them do it now after all they been through... I guess if this is what you knew you had to look forward to... there was never any alternative. Tommy E. & LP = Badd-azzed!
Lou Pomanti I shot this video just for me, but then when I got home from the shows And watched it I new EVERYONE who plays B3 would want to see it. Chester has such a unique sound!
Hi Gabor. Rocco was there that day... He played on 4 or 5 songs at the 50th anniversary shows. His health had deteriorated quite a bit by that time, and while he still sounded great, he didn't have the stamina to play more of the show.
Hey Bob! You just came up on Facebook as someone I may know... I thought we were already friends, but I guess not. Message me there if you get a chance!
Ok enough ..... DG needs to stop playing the same shit over and over. He phrases the same no matter what song or who's soloing. It's predictable, and an insult to the soloist. DG doesn't interact with the improv of the soloist, he only plays his stock phrasing and and what's become his 2 or 3 stock fills. It's been this way a long time now, well before his accident.
That's great psychology. Why don't you say something bad about my mother. Better yet, prove that you know what you're really listening to instead of posturing as a DG fanboy.